REMINDER:

IF YOU’RE CONTEMPLATING A CROSSCULTURAL MARRIAGE, READ THIS:  Cross Culture.

And for the record, my husband waited till the kids were adults, and then got them to join him in the revolution of “No more bacalhau for Christmas eve.” Sigh.

OPEN THREAD: Ring in the weekend.

THE E.U.’S MAIN FUNCTION IS TO ENABLE AND DEFEND ESTABLISHMENT WRONGDOING: Arday Affair Erupts Into U.S.-Belgium Diplomatic Dispute.

It’s a big deal that the U.S. is objecting:

DEM VOTER REGISTRATIONS DECLINING: From the “Maybe There Is Justice” file – Democratic voter registration is down in 93 percent of the 1,400+ counties in states that allow partisan filings, even as the GOP’s are up in 77 percent of them. And in several states, Colorado most notably, the Independent/Minor Party line is now bigger than either of the two major parties.