Surprise, surprise - the phony "fiscal cliff" negotiations have once again resulted in higher taxes and no serious spending cuts. But it doesn't matter, because, the truth be known, the U.S.

Some things about 2013 are easy to predict. We know that taxes are going to rise, and so will the federal debt. We know that there will be more guns in circulation at the end of the year than at the beginning.

Ebenezer Scrooge throws open his streetside shutters and shouts down to a boy in the street "What day is this?" Upon learning that the day is, in fact, Christmas day, the miser begins to live what readers know will be a changed life.

By DICK PETERSON The Dec. 21 Brainerd Dispatch published a guest opinion titled, "Why Was God AWOL at Newtown?" written by political columnist Robert Ringer.

By ROLF WESTGARD Earlier this month, the Doha (Qatar) UN Climate Conference came to a halt, and dispirited delegates from 194 countries went home.

President Barack Obama was right when he said after the Newtown, Conn., massacre that America had not done enough to keep its children safe. He closed his comments by reading the names of the 20 first-graders killed in the slaughter.

Most people who haven't finished their shopping are starting to worry about what gifts to give a friend, relative or spouse.

WASHINGTON - In today's world of social media, where everyone's every little thing is on display, it is sometimes difficult to recall a time when exhibitionism wasn't ubiquitous and was, in fact, not admired.

After the slaughter of 20 first-graders and six adults at a school in Newtown, Conn.

So here we are again, trying to make sense out of senseless tragedy, tragedy made even more horrific by the fact that most of the victims were small children. And the news media, doing what they're paid to do, have been analyzing the Newtown, Conn.