Christmas specials start to dominate the television lineup. In a holiday version of “Flashpoint” the team faces a hostage situation in which a deranged elf holds the reindeer at gunpoint. And “Criminal Minds” pays special tribute to the season with “Who is Killing Santa’s Elves?” Read more...

European debt continues to dominant that news.  To take advantage of the interest, there's a new reality TV show, "The Wheel of Debt". Customers spin the wheel to bet on which European country goes into default first. There's no winners. There's just the satisfaction of picking the loser and being right. And then there's the sure-hit, "Survivor Euro" in which European countries vie to see who gets voted out of the euro zone first. Greece is the odds-on favorite. Speaking of Greece, the hard-pressed country is nearing an agreement for a plan that would let it repay part of its obligations with feta cheese. Read more...

The airlines are getting more truthful. After the person at the desk gave the call for “first class, platinum elite, families with younger children, military personnel, people we feel like letting onboard early”, she then added, “and the rest of you riff raff.” Then when the usual announcements were being made, the flight attendant said, “In case the cabin loses pressure, oxygen masks will drop. Those in first class, please put them on. In coach, you can start the flow of air by tapping the cord with a major credit card. You can also insert cash in the slot above your head.” Read more...

Las Vegas bookmakers are taking bets as to which happens first, the U.S. government shuts down in a funding dispute or Greece is auctioned off.  “And what do I hear for the Parthenon? Think how this would look on your lot. A fixer upper that will make you the envy of your neighbors.” Who has the over-under on a U.S. default? Read more...