Breitbart.com;

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the last-minute fiscal cliff deal reached by congressional leaders and President Barack Obama cuts only $15 billion in spending while increasing tax revenues by $620 billion–a 41:1 ratio of tax increases to spending cuts.

Update: Are signs emerging of a GOP backbone? Stay tuned….
Related (this one is ugly): Putting America’s Tax Hike In Perspective

In the back of a pen filled with horses, Vacca saw an attractive dark bay mare that appeared crippled. She asked the “kill buyer” if she could purchase the horse from him. He said no. She asked if the mare was a Thoroughbred. He said no.
“He went in and flipped her lip, and said, nope, no tattoo,” Vacca said. “I knew he was lying.”

Not political. Just a great story.

“We are being played; it’s time we learned the game”
Drawing blood is always an option, but there’s also a “cleaner” way to control the crowds by manipulating their minds with the cattle prods of collectivist morals and a fictional narrative that supplants the reality. Let’s call it the Mind Game of Manipulative Illusions.

Raise a cup to the readers, contributors, sponsors, advertisers, and guest bloggers as we say goodbye to 2012 and another successful year at SDA. Auld Lang Syne, as only the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards can deliver.

Your tips are welcome in the comments.

Science Recorder;

A massive two-mile-wide comet will be visible from Earth in late 2013, possibly appearing brighter than the moon during November and December, according to astronomers.

National Post; Man dies of injuries after savage beating on Edmonton train

Right wing conspiracy nut and NBC News chief science/health correspondent Robert Bazell;

“All we have is a statement from her office. The hospital isn’t saying anything and the statement from [Hilary Clinton’s office] says that she had this blood clot that stemmed from the concussion and she’s being treated with blood-thinning drugs,” Bazell continued. “The problem is that usually when blood clots come from concussions, they can’t be treated with blood [thinners.] So either it’s not really related to the concussion and she’s got a blood clot in her leg or something, or there’s something else going on that we’re not being told. And right now, we’re just sort of seeking that clarification and hoping for the best as she’s being observed.”

Forbes;

The release came, FDA sources say, in response to the publication of an investigation in Slate by the Genetic Literacy Project two days before, on December 19. The GLP, which I head, had reported that the FDA had definitively concluded last spring that the fish would have “no significant impact” on the environment and was “as safe as food from conventional Atlantic salmon.” However, the draft assessment, dated April 19, 2012, was not released–blocked on orders from the White House.
The seven month delay, sources within the government say, came after discussions late last spring between Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius’ office and officials linked to Valerie Jarrett at the Executive Office, who were debating the political implications of approving the GM salmon. Genetically modified plants and animals are controversial among the president’s political base, which was thought critical to his reelection efforts during a low point in the president’s popularity.

h/t Odd Man Out

Graphic violence and language advisory. It’s Hollywood, after all.

NYPost;

The privileged daughter of a prominent city doctor, and her boyfriend — a Harvard grad and Occupy Wall Street activist — have been busted for allegedly having a cache of weapons and a bombmaking explosive in their Greenwich Village apartment.

Instead of a tips thread, today we invite your predictions for 2013 in the comments.

Now you can create your own, with the Thomas L. Friedman Opinion Column Generator!