The Bookworm Beat 12/23/14 — The illustrated edition and Open Thread

I had lunch with a very dear friend of mine today and, as usually happens after a lunch with a good friend, I feel all bubbly and fizzy. He told me a charming story:

A rabbi kept pleading with God to give him a small taste of what Heaven is like. Finally, God yielded and said, while you cannot see Heaven until you’ve died, the Angel Gabriel will soon contact you soon with some information that may help you understand Heaven’s wonders. The rabbi was ecstatic.

A week later, the Angel Gabriel, in all his splendor, appeared in the rabbi’s study.

“Rabbi,” he said. “God has already told you that I cannot actually let you see Heaven for yourself, even for a second. I can, however, tell you what the closest thing on earth is to the joys of Heaven.”

“Yes,” the rabbi practically shouted. “Please, please, satisfy my curiosity and help me understand Heaven.”

Angel Gabriel replied, “For a man, the closest thing to Heaven on earth is a good wife.

And now, the cartoons, with thanks as always to Caped Crusader:

Enhanced interrogation and 911

Electric cars

Obama starts a new nuclear arms race

Racist to say only whites are racist

Cruz on unfairness of executive amnesty to American unemployed

Vets die on wait lists while illegals get money

Disagree with liberals doesn't make you racist etc

Bullet Christmas tree

In 1791 all guns were military style

Any season greeting is okay

Grandma not getting run over by a reindeer this year

Being unfriended for an anti Obama post is like the garbage taking itself out

Obama aging because lying is stressful

Drones more inhuman than water boarding or loud music

Obama voters get constitution and dictionary for Christmas

The sickness in government comes from Congress which gives Obama free rein

Obama didn't pass amnesty with Democrat Congress because he wouldn't have been reelected

Islamists do awful things but we're evil to liberals

Obama takes money from taxpayers

Girls should learn to shoot to protect themselves

Guns in hands of decent people threaten only harmful people

North Korean Cyberattacks

Bill Murray on dogs

Sony executives cowering under table

Thomas Reed on fact that legislation does not cure evil

Israel loves Senator Cruz