The
 Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued to block Microsoft’s planned 
$69 billion takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard, saying 
it could suppress <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-mexico-europe-f16b8638b40cf649bc10acb35590bd6b">competitors to Microsoft’s Xbox game console</a> and its growing games subscription business.

The
 FTC’s challenge could be a test case for President Joe Biden’s mandate 
to scrutinize big tech mergers. The commission voted 3-1 to issue the 
complaint after a closed-door meeting, with the three Democratic 
commissioners voting in favor and the sole Republican voting against.

The
 complaint points to Microsoft’s previous game acquisitions, especially 
of well-known developer Bethesda Softworks and its parent company 
ZeniMax, as an example of where Microsoft is making some upcoming game 
titles exclusive to Xbox despite assuring European regulators it had no 
intention to do so.

“Microsoft has already shown that it can and 
will withhold content from its gaming rivals,” said a prepared statement
 from Holly Vedova, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. “Today 
we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading 
independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple 
dynamic and fast-growing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-game-awards-indie-neon-white-stray-1c66c4338c1b36868f293d832e4e6fa4">gaming markets</a>.”

The
 FTC said it was filing the complaint through its administrative process
 rather than taking the case to a federal court. That means an 
administrative law judge will hear the case.

Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, signaled in a statement Thursday that the company is likely to challenge the FTC’s decision.

“While
 we believed in giving peace a chance, we have complete confidence in 
our case and welcome the opportunity to present our case in court,” 
Smith said.

The company had been ramping up its public defense of 
the deal in recent days as it awaited a decision. Smith said Microsoft 
has been committed to addressing competition concerns and brought 
proposed concessions to the FTC earlier this week.

“We continue to
 believe that this deal will expand competition and create more 
opportunities for gamers and game developers,” Smith said.

Microsoft <a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition-call-of-duty-7a9e2bcc8f0b7b9049e4f93fe3e0a4dd">announced the merger deal</a>
 in January but has faced months of resistance from Sony, which makes 
the competing PlayStation console and has raised concerns with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-games-8d8340d840a531973c4c0be37b70a15f">antitrust watchdogs</a>
 around the world about losing access to popular Activision Blizzard 
game franchises such as the military shooter game Call of Duty.

Antitrust
 regulators under Biden “have staked out the view that for decades 
merger policy has been too weak and they’ve said, repeatedly, ‘We’re 
changing that,’” said William Kovacic, a former chair of the FTC.

That
 has put pressure on the FTC to fulfill its bold promises to “not allow 
dodgy deals and not accept weak settlements,” said Kovacic, who was a 
Republican commissioner appointed in 2006 by then-President George W. 
Bush. But he said Microsoft has a good chance of winning its legal 
challenge.

“It’s evident that the company has been making a number
 of concessions,” he said. “Microsoft would likely raise them in court 
and say the FTC is being incorrigibly stubborn about this.”

Microsoft announced its latest promise Wednesday, saying it would make <a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-nintendo-call-of-duty-deal-0dfea66c7e77f9bfd36cf3c1965c57c0">Call of Duty available on Nintendo</a> devices for 10 years should its acquisition go through. It has said it tried to offer the same commitment to Sony.

In
 an appeal to Biden administration priorities, Microsoft had also sought
 to characterize its deal as worker-friendly after announcing a “labor 
neutrality agreement” in June with the Communications Workers of America
 that would allow workers to unionize after the acquisition closes. The 
union’s president, Chris Shelton, wrote an opinion column in The Hill 
this week calling on the FTC to “seal the deal, not blow it up.”

The
 deal is also under close scrutiny in the European Union and the United 
Kingdom, where investigations aren’t due to be completed until next 
year.

FTC's decision to send the complaint to its in-house judge 
instead of seeking an urgent federal court injunction to halt the merger
 could drag the case out for months and give more “confidence to 
authorities outside the U.S. to take a swing at the deal on their own,” 
said Kovacic, who is now a professor at George Washington University Law
 School.

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a message to
 employees Thursday that the FTC’s action “sounds alarming, so I want to
 reinforce my confidence that this deal will close.”

“The 
allegation that this deal is anti-competitive doesn’t align with the 
facts, and we believe we’ll win this challenge,” Kotick wrote.

Kotick said the deal will be good for players, employees, competition and the industry.

"We
 believe these arguments will win despite a regulatory environment 
focused on ideology and misconceptions about the tech industry,” he 
said.

Led by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/frances-haugen-lina-khan-elizabeth-holmes-37d14570b9221962010171c0844e534a">FTC Chair Lina Khan</a>,
 a legal scholar who’s advocated for tougher antitrust enforcement, the 
commission is made up of three Democrats and one Republican after a 
second Republican stepped down earlier this year and left an open seat 
on the panel.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren tweeted 
Thursday that she welcomed the FTC action, noting that she had urged 
Khan to scrutinize the proposed merger.

“Corporate monopolies have
 had free rein to hike prices and harm workers, but now the Biden admin 
is committed to promoting competition,” Warren said.

Both the 
Justice Department and the FTC this year have looked at strengthening 
merger guidelines to better detect and prevent illegal and 
anticompetitive deals. The agencies have been stressing the importance 
of robust competition to the economy, workers, consumers and small 
businesses.

Federal regulators also on Thursday <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-lawsuits-government-and-politics-meta-platforms-inc-06cf1518344a1a08f339467a2d0da8de">opened their campaign</a> to block Facebook parent Meta’s acquisition of a virtual-reality company Thursday in a San Jose, California, courtroom.

In
 that case, the FTC sued to prevent Meta’s acquisition of Within 
Unlimited and its fitness app Supernatural, asserting it would hurt 
competition and violate antitrust laws.

Microsoft in recent years 
has largely escaped the more intense regulatory backlash its tech rivals
 such as Amazon, Google and Meta have endured. But the sheer size of the
 Activision Blizzard acquisition — which could be the priciest in tech 
industry history — has drawn attention.

Microsoft's <a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-antitrust-microsoft-doj-6a800b51cc9b6b1c4d1b23bad4510040">last big antitrust battle</a>
 occurred more than two decades ago when a federal judge ordered its 
breakup following the company’s anticompetitive actions related to its 
dominant Windows software. That verdict was overturned on appeal, 
although the court imposed other, less drastic, penalties on the 
company.

Associated PressThe
 Federal Trade Commission on Thursday sued to block Microsoft’s planned 
$69 billion takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard, saying 
it could suppress <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-mexico-europe-f16b8638b40cf649bc10acb35590bd6b">competitors to Microsoft’s Xbox game console</a> and its growing games subscription business.The
 FTC’s challenge could be a test case for President Joe Biden’s mandate 
to scrutinize big tech mergers. The commission voted 3-1 to issue the 
complaint after a closed-door meeting, with the three Democratic 
commissioners voting in favor and the sole Republican voting against.The
 complaint points to Microsoft’s previous game acquisitions, especially 
of well-known developer Bethesda Softworks and its parent company 
ZeniMax, as an example of where Microsoft is making some upcoming game 
titles exclusive to Xbox despite assuring European regulators it had no 
intention to do so.“Microsoft has already shown that it can and 
will withhold content from its gaming rivals,” said a prepared statement
 from Holly Vedova, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. “Today 
we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading 
independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple 
dynamic and fast-growing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-game-awards-indie-neon-white-stray-1c66c4338c1b36868f293d832e4e6fa4">gaming markets</a>.”The
 FTC said it was filing the complaint through its administrative process
 rather than taking the case to a federal court. That means an 
administrative law judge will hear the case.Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, signaled in a statement Thursday that the company is likely to challenge the FTC’s decision.“While
 we believed in giving peace a chance, we have complete confidence in 
our case and welcome the opportunity to present our case in court,” 
Smith said.The company had been ramping up its public defense of 
the deal in recent days as it awaited a decision. Smith said Microsoft 
has been committed to addressing competition concerns and brought 
proposed concessions to the FTC earlier this week.“We continue to
 believe that this deal will expand competition and create more 
opportunities for gamers and game developers,” Smith said.Microsoft <a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition-call-of-duty-7a9e2bcc8f0b7b9049e4f93fe3e0a4dd">announced the merger deal</a>
 in January but has faced months of resistance from Sony, which makes 
the competing PlayStation console and has raised concerns with <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-games-8d8340d840a531973c4c0be37b70a15f">antitrust watchdogs</a>
 around the world about losing access to popular Activision Blizzard 
game franchises such as the military shooter game Call of Duty.Antitrust
 regulators under Biden “have staked out the view that for decades 
merger policy has been too weak and they’ve said, repeatedly, ‘We’re 
changing that,’” said William Kovacic, a former chair of the FTC.That
 has put pressure on the FTC to fulfill its bold promises to “not allow 
dodgy deals and not accept weak settlements,” said Kovacic, who was a 
Republican commissioner appointed in 2006 by then-President George W. 
Bush. But he said Microsoft has a good chance of winning its legal 
challenge.“It’s evident that the company has been making a number
 of concessions,” he said. “Microsoft would likely raise them in court 
and say the FTC is being incorrigibly stubborn about this.”Microsoft announced its latest promise Wednesday, saying it would make <a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-nintendo-call-of-duty-deal-0dfea66c7e77f9bfd36cf3c1965c57c0">Call of Duty available on Nintendo</a> devices for 10 years should its acquisition go through. It has said it tried to offer the same commitment to Sony.In
 an appeal to Biden administration priorities, Microsoft had also sought
 to characterize its deal as worker-friendly after announcing a “labor 
neutrality agreement” in June with the Communications Workers of America
 that would allow workers to unionize after the acquisition closes. The 
union’s president, Chris Shelton, wrote an opinion column in The Hill 
this week calling on the FTC to “seal the deal, not blow it up.”The
 deal is also under close scrutiny in the European Union and the United 
Kingdom, where investigations aren’t due to be completed until next 
year.FTC's decision to send the complaint to its in-house judge 
instead of seeking an urgent federal court injunction to halt the merger
 could drag the case out for months and give more “confidence to 
authorities outside the U.S. to take a swing at the deal on their own,” 
said Kovacic, who is now a professor at George Washington University Law
 School.Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a message to
 employees Thursday that the FTC’s action “sounds alarming, so I want to
 reinforce my confidence that this deal will close.”“The 
allegation that this deal is anti-competitive doesn’t align with the 
facts, and we believe we’ll win this challenge,” Kotick wrote.Kotick said the deal will be good for players, employees, competition and the industry."We
 believe these arguments will win despite a regulatory environment 
focused on ideology and misconceptions about the tech industry,” he 
said.Led by <a href="https://apnews.com/article/frances-haugen-lina-khan-elizabeth-holmes-37d14570b9221962010171c0844e534a">FTC Chair Lina Khan</a>,
 a legal scholar who’s advocated for tougher antitrust enforcement, the 
commission is made up of three Democrats and one Republican after a 
second Republican stepped down earlier this year and left an open seat 
on the panel.Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren tweeted 
Thursday that she welcomed the FTC action, noting that she had urged 
Khan to scrutinize the proposed merger.“Corporate monopolies have
 had free rein to hike prices and harm workers, but now the Biden admin 
is committed to promoting competition,” Warren said.Both the 
Justice Department and the FTC this year have looked at strengthening 
merger guidelines to better detect and prevent illegal and 
anticompetitive deals. The agencies have been stressing the importance 
of robust competition to the economy, workers, consumers and small 
businesses.Federal regulators also on Thursday <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-lawsuits-government-and-politics-meta-platforms-inc-06cf1518344a1a08f339467a2d0da8de">opened their campaign</a> to block Facebook parent Meta’s acquisition of a virtual-reality company Thursday in a San Jose, California, courtroom.In
 that case, the FTC sued to prevent Meta’s acquisition of Within 
Unlimited and its fitness app Supernatural, asserting it would hurt 
competition and violate antitrust laws.Microsoft in recent years 
has largely escaped the more intense regulatory backlash its tech rivals
 such as Amazon, Google and Meta have endured. But the sheer size of the
 Activision Blizzard acquisition — which could be the priciest in tech 
industry history — has drawn attention.Microsoft's <a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-antitrust-microsoft-doj-6a800b51cc9b6b1c4d1b23bad4510040">last big antitrust battle</a>
 occurred more than two decades ago when a federal judge ordered its 
breakup following the company’s anticompetitive actions related to its 
dominant Windows software. That verdict was overturned on appeal, 
although the court imposed other, less drastic, penalties on the 
company.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670540769783.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>

FTC sues to block Microsoft-Activision Blizzard $69B merger

Celine Dion has put a halt on all performing after being diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl5xJY1AjAO/">In an emotional video messages posted in French and English on Thursday</a> on Instagram, Dion said stiff person syndrome was causing spasms that affect her ability to walk and sing.

"Unfortunately,
 the spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing 
difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to 
sing the way I’m used to,” she said.

Dion said she had no choice 
but to postpone her “Courage” tour, which was to restart in February 
after several delays. Her spring 2023 shows have been moved to 2024 and 
her summer 2023 concerts have been canceled.

"I miss seeing all of
 you, being on the stage, performing for you. I always give 100% when I 
do my shows, but my condition is not allowing me to give you that right 
now,” she said.

<a href="https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/stiff-person-syndrome/">Stiff person syndrome</a>
 causes rigid muscles and painful muscle spasms, which can be triggered 
by such things as loud noises or light touch. The cause isn’t known but 
it is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. Severe cases can cause 
difficulty walking and hunched posture.

Dion, who has five Grammy 
Awards and two Academy Awards, is the best-selling female artist of all 
time with hits like “I’m Alive” and “My Heart Will Go On.”

Associated PressCeline Dion has put a halt on all performing after being diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder.<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl5xJY1AjAO/">In an emotional video messages posted in French and English on Thursday</a> on Instagram, Dion said stiff person syndrome was causing spasms that affect her ability to walk and sing."Unfortunately,
 the spasms affect every aspect of my daily life, sometimes causing 
difficulties when I walk and not allowing me to use my vocal cords to 
sing the way I’m used to,” she said.Dion said she had no choice 
but to postpone her “Courage” tour, which was to restart in February 
after several delays. Her spring 2023 shows have been moved to 2024 and 
her summer 2023 concerts have been canceled."I miss seeing all of
 you, being on the stage, performing for you. I always give 100% when I 
do my shows, but my condition is not allowing me to give you that right 
now,” she said.<a href="https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/stiff-person-syndrome/">Stiff person syndrome</a>
 causes rigid muscles and painful muscle spasms, which can be triggered 
by such things as loud noises or light touch. The cause isn’t known but 
it is thought to be an autoimmune disorder. Severe cases can cause 
difficulty walking and hunched posture.Dion, who has five Grammy 
Awards and two Academy Awards, is the best-selling female artist of all 
time with hits like “I’m Alive” and “My Heart Will Go On.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670359455272.jpg" alt="Pixabay photo" />
 <figcaption>Pixabay photo</figcaption>
 </figure>

Celine Dion cancels shows because of stiff person syndrome

NEW
 YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court panel said New York can continue 
enforcing a new state law banning guns from “sensitive” places like 
parks and theaters while the judges consider a legal challenge.

The
 temporary stay from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday 
puts on hold most of a ruling last month from U.S. District Judge Glenn 
Suddaby, who found constitutional issues with multiple portions of the 
law related to carrying firearms in public places and to licensing 
requirements.

New York adopted the new gun law this summer after a
 Supreme Court ruling invalidated the state's system for granting 
permits to carry handguns outside the home. The law expanded who could 
get a handgun license, added new licensing requirements and created a 
long list of places where firearms would be banned.

Suddaby in 
November issued a preliminary injunction halting the state police and 
local officials named in the lawsuit from enforcing some provisions of 
the law. The appeals panel on Wednesday continued a stay put in place a 
week after Suddaby's ruling while it considers a motion from government 
officials opposing the injunction.

The panel’s decision makes an 
exception for people who have the "duty to keep the peace at places of 
worship, airports, and private buses.”

Among the new licensing 
rules Suddaby found constitutionally flawed was a provision requiring 
applicants to be of “good moral character,” and another that made 
applicants turn over information about their social media accounts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670536064198.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW
 YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court panel said New York can continue 
enforcing a new state law banning guns from “sensitive” places like 
parks and theaters while the judges consider a legal challenge.The
 temporary stay from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday 
puts on hold most of a ruling last month from U.S. District Judge Glenn 
Suddaby, who found constitutional issues with multiple portions of the 
law related to carrying firearms in public places and to licensing 
requirements.New York adopted the new gun law this summer after a
 Supreme Court ruling invalidated the state's system for granting 
permits to carry handguns outside the home. The law expanded who could 
get a handgun license, added new licensing requirements and created a 
long list of places where firearms would be banned.Suddaby in 
November issued a preliminary injunction halting the state police and 
local officials named in the lawsuit from enforcing some provisions of 
the law. The appeals panel on Wednesday continued a stay put in place a 
week after Suddaby's ruling while it considers a motion from government 
officials opposing the injunction.The panel’s decision makes an 
exception for people who have the "duty to keep the peace at places of 
worship, airports, and private buses.”Among the new licensing 
rules Suddaby found constitutionally flawed was a provision requiring 
applicants to be of “good moral character,” and another that made 
applicants turn over information about their social media accounts.

Appeals court allows New York to keep enforcing new gun law

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — A handful of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-california-veterans-parks-f1814a63c3bf7f6235a17c8882b76a14">centenarian survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor</a> gathered at the scene of the Japanese bombing on Wednesday to commemorate those who perished 81 years ago.

That's fewer than in recent years, when a dozen or more traveled to Hawaii from across the country to pay their respects at <a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-bombings-world-war-ii-cdb9ed8ee50b4de739f6d10b35234c3d">the annual remembrance ceremony</a>.

Part
 of the decline reflects the dwindling number of survivors as they age. 
The youngest active-duty military personnel on Dec. 7, 1941, would have 
been about 17, making them 98 today. Many of those still alive are at 
least 100.

Ira Schab, 102, was on the USS Dobbin as a tuba player 
in the ship’s band. He recalls seeing Japanese planes flying overhead 
and wondering what to do.

“We had no place to go and hoped they’d miss us,” he said before the ceremony began.

He fed ammunition to machine gunners on the vessel, which wasn’t hit.

He’s now attended the remembrance ceremony four times.

“I
 wouldn’t miss it because I got an awful lot of friends that are still 
here that are buried here. I come back out of respect for them,” he 
said.

Schab stayed in the Navy during the war. After the war, he 
studied aerospace engineering and worked on the Apollo program. Today he
 lives in Portland, Oregon.

He wants people to remember those who served that day.

“Remember
 what they’re here for. Remember and honor those that are left. They did
 a hell of a job. Those who are still here, dead or alive,” he said.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-us-news-ap-top-news-world-war-ii-honolulu-9aaa245fa4884f989d4427cd532d0dbd">About 2,400 servicemen were killed in the bombing</a>, which launched the U.S. into World War II. The USS Arizona alone lost 1,177 sailors and Marines, nearly half the death toll.

Robert
 John Lee recalls being a 20-year-old civilian living at his parent's 
home on the naval base where his father ran the water pumping station. 
The home was just about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) across the harbor from 
where the USS Arizona was moored on battleship row.

The first 
explosions before 8 a.m. woke him up, making him think a door was 
slamming in the wind. He got up to yell for someone to shut the door 
only to look out the window at Japanese planes dropping torpedo bombs 
from the sky.

He saw the hull of the USS Arizona turn a deep orange-red after an aerial bomb hit it.

“Within
 a few seconds, that explosion then came out with huge tongues of flame 
right straight up over the ship itself — but hundreds of feet up,” Lee 
said in an interview Monday after a boat tour of the harbor.

He still remembers the hissing sound of the fire.

Sailors
 jumped into the water to escape their burning ships and swam to the 
landing near Lee's house. Many were covered in the thick, heavy oil that
 coated the harbor. Lee and his mother used Fels-Naptha soap to help 
wash them. Sailors who were able to boarded small boats that shuttled 
them back to their vessels.

“Very heroic, I thought,” Lee said of them.

Lee
 joined the Hawaii Territorial Guard the next day, and later the U.S. 
Navy. He worked for Pan American World Airways for 30 years after the 
war.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs doesn’t have 
statistics for how many Pearl Harbor survivors are still living. But 
department data show that of the 16 million who served in World War II, 
only about 240,000 were alive as of August and some 230 die each day.

There
 were about 87,000 military personnel on Oahu at the time of the attack,
 according to a rough estimate compiled by military historian J. Michael
 Wenger.

The ceremony sponsored by the Navy and the National Park 
Service featured a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m., the minute the attack
 began, and a missing-man-formation flyover.

Navy and park service officials are due to deliver remarks.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670438162774.jpeg" alt="In this photo released by the U.S. Navy, the destroyer USS Shaw explodes after being hit by bombs during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941. A few centenarian survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor are expected to gather at the scene of the Japanese bombing on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, to remember those who perished 81 years ago. (U.S. Navy via AP)" />
 <figcaption>In this photo released by the U.S. Navy, the destroyer USS Shaw explodes after being hit by bombs during the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7, 1941. A few centenarian survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor are expected to gather at the scene of the Japanese bombing on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, to remember those who perished 81 years ago. (U.S. Navy via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — A handful of <a href="https://apnews.com/article/travel-california-veterans-parks-f1814a63c3bf7f6235a17c8882b76a14">centenarian survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor</a> gathered at the scene of the Japanese bombing on Wednesday to commemorate those who perished 81 years ago.That's fewer than in recent years, when a dozen or more traveled to Hawaii from across the country to pay their respects at <a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-bombings-world-war-ii-cdb9ed8ee50b4de739f6d10b35234c3d">the annual remembrance ceremony</a>.Part
 of the decline reflects the dwindling number of survivors as they age. 
The youngest active-duty military personnel on Dec. 7, 1941, would have 
been about 17, making them 98 today. Many of those still alive are at 
least 100.Ira Schab, 102, was on the USS Dobbin as a tuba player 
in the ship’s band. He recalls seeing Japanese planes flying overhead 
and wondering what to do.“We had no place to go and hoped they’d miss us,” he said before the ceremony began.He fed ammunition to machine gunners on the vessel, which wasn’t hit.He’s now attended the remembrance ceremony four times.“I
 wouldn’t miss it because I got an awful lot of friends that are still 
here that are buried here. I come back out of respect for them,” he 
said.Schab stayed in the Navy during the war. After the war, he 
studied aerospace engineering and worked on the Apollo program. Today he
 lives in Portland, Oregon.He wants people to remember those who served that day.“Remember
 what they’re here for. Remember and honor those that are left. They did
 a hell of a job. Those who are still here, dead or alive,” he said.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-us-news-ap-top-news-world-war-ii-honolulu-9aaa245fa4884f989d4427cd532d0dbd">About 2,400 servicemen were killed in the bombing</a>, which launched the U.S. into World War II. The USS Arizona alone lost 1,177 sailors and Marines, nearly half the death toll.Robert
 John Lee recalls being a 20-year-old civilian living at his parent's 
home on the naval base where his father ran the water pumping station. 
The home was just about 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) across the harbor from 
where the USS Arizona was moored on battleship row.The first 
explosions before 8 a.m. woke him up, making him think a door was 
slamming in the wind. He got up to yell for someone to shut the door 
only to look out the window at Japanese planes dropping torpedo bombs 
from the sky.He saw the hull of the USS Arizona turn a deep orange-red after an aerial bomb hit it.“Within
 a few seconds, that explosion then came out with huge tongues of flame 
right straight up over the ship itself — but hundreds of feet up,” Lee 
said in an interview Monday after a boat tour of the harbor.He still remembers the hissing sound of the fire.Sailors
 jumped into the water to escape their burning ships and swam to the 
landing near Lee's house. Many were covered in the thick, heavy oil that
 coated the harbor. Lee and his mother used Fels-Naptha soap to help 
wash them. Sailors who were able to boarded small boats that shuttled 
them back to their vessels.“Very heroic, I thought,” Lee said of them.Lee
 joined the Hawaii Territorial Guard the next day, and later the U.S. 
Navy. He worked for Pan American World Airways for 30 years after the 
war.The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs doesn’t have 
statistics for how many Pearl Harbor survivors are still living. But 
department data show that of the 16 million who served in World War II, 
only about 240,000 were alive as of August and some 230 die each day.There
 were about 87,000 military personnel on Oahu at the time of the attack,
 according to a rough estimate compiled by military historian J. Michael
 Wenger.The ceremony sponsored by the Navy and the National Park 
Service featured a moment of silence at 7:55 a.m., the minute the attack
 began, and a missing-man-formation flyover.Navy and park service officials are due to deliver remarks.

Hawaii remembrance draws handful of Pearl Harbor survivors

LONDON (AP) — Microsoft agreed Wednesday to make the hit video game Call of Duty available on Nintendo for 10 years should its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition-call-of-duty-7a9e2bcc8f0b7b9049e4f93fe3e0a4dd">$69 billion purchase of game maker Activision Blizzard</a> go through — an apparent attempt to fend off objections from rival Sony.

The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-technology-new-zealand-games-ac1c3b81267f40f1d2be2406a764c1bf">blockbuster merger is facing close scrutiny from regulators</a> in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. Microsoft, maker of the Xbox game console, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-mexico-europe-f16b8638b40cf649bc10acb35590bd6b">faces resistance from Sony</a>,
 which makes the competing PlayStation console and has raised concerns 
with antitrust watchdogs about losing access to what it calls a 
“must-have” game title.

Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, tweeted that Microsoft “entered into a 10-year commitment" to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo.

Microsoft
 President Brad Smith tweeted his thanks to Nintendo, which makes the 
Switch game console, saying the same offer was available for Sony.

“Any day @Sony wants to sit down and talk, we’ll be happy to hammer out a 10-year deal for PlayStation as well,” he said.

Smith
 said the agreement would bring Call of Duty to more gamers and more 
platforms, and “that’s good for competition and good for consumers.”

Sony's
 European press office didn't respond to a request for comment. Adding 
to the pressure on Sony, Microsoft also said Wednesday it has committed 
to keeping Call of Duty on the platform Steam, a digital marketplace for
 PC games, in an agreement with Steam’s operator Valve.

In an 
op-ed for The Wall Street Journal this week, Smith raised concerns about
 the possibility that the Federal Trade Commission could take Microsoft 
to court to stop the deal. Antitrust watchdogs in both <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-united-kingdom-games-73b2157e21b7f20b71d52dee451dc827">Britain</a> and the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-games-8d8340d840a531973c4c0be37b70a15f">European Union</a> also are investigating the transaction over concerns it would distort competition.

At the heart of the dispute is <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-games-8d8340d840a531973c4c0be37b70a15f">control over future releases of Activision Blizzard’s most popular games</a>,
 especially Call of Duty, a first-person military shooter franchise. 
Activision reported last month that the latest installment, Call of 
Duty: Modern Warfare 2, had earned more than $1 billion in sales since 
its Oct. 28 launch.

LONDON (AP) — Microsoft agreed Wednesday to make the hit video game Call of Duty available on Nintendo for 10 years should its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition-call-of-duty-7a9e2bcc8f0b7b9049e4f93fe3e0a4dd">$69 billion purchase of game maker Activision Blizzard</a> go through — an apparent attempt to fend off objections from rival Sony.The <a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-technology-new-zealand-games-ac1c3b81267f40f1d2be2406a764c1bf">blockbuster merger is facing close scrutiny from regulators</a> in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere. Microsoft, maker of the Xbox game console, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-mexico-europe-f16b8638b40cf649bc10acb35590bd6b">faces resistance from Sony</a>,
 which makes the competing PlayStation console and has raised concerns 
with antitrust watchdogs about losing access to what it calls a 
“must-have” game title.Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, tweeted that Microsoft “entered into a 10-year commitment" to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo.Microsoft
 President Brad Smith tweeted his thanks to Nintendo, which makes the 
Switch game console, saying the same offer was available for Sony.“Any day @Sony wants to sit down and talk, we’ll be happy to hammer out a 10-year deal for PlayStation as well,” he said.Smith
 said the agreement would bring Call of Duty to more gamers and more 
platforms, and “that’s good for competition and good for consumers.”Sony's
 European press office didn't respond to a request for comment. Adding 
to the pressure on Sony, Microsoft also said Wednesday it has committed 
to keeping Call of Duty on the platform Steam, a digital marketplace for
 PC games, in an agreement with Steam’s operator Valve.In an 
op-ed for The Wall Street Journal this week, Smith raised concerns about
 the possibility that the Federal Trade Commission could take Microsoft 
to court to stop the deal. Antitrust watchdogs in both <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-united-kingdom-games-73b2157e21b7f20b71d52dee451dc827">Britain</a> and the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-games-8d8340d840a531973c4c0be37b70a15f">European Union</a> also are investigating the transaction over concerns it would distort competition.At the heart of the dispute is <a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-games-8d8340d840a531973c4c0be37b70a15f">control over future releases of Activision Blizzard’s most popular games</a>,
 especially Call of Duty, a first-person military shooter franchise. 
Activision reported last month that the latest installment, Call of 
Duty: Modern Warfare 2, had earned more than $1 billion in sales since 
its Oct. 28 launch.

Microsoft strikes 10-year deal with Nintendo on Call of Duty

Darlene Stanton, Russell County animal control officer

Many households in Russell enjoy the benefits of owning small flocks of chickens, so it is worthwhile to bring the issue of avian flu to your attention. 

The latest case affecting a “backyard flock” was reported in October near Topeka, bringing the total cases of “backyard flock” avian flu in Kansas this year to nine. Other cases have been showing up in the media but haven’t been confirmed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture defines avian influenza as “a rapidly spreading viral disease that mainly affects birds." It is very contagious and, although rare, humans and other mammals can be vulnerable. The disease exists naturally in wild birds and can be found following migratory bird routes, spreading through contact and ingestion of infected food or water. Symptoms in birds include coughing, sneezing, respiratory distress, decrease in egg production or deformed eggs, and sudden death. If you notice these symptoms in your birds, contact your local veterinarian or the Kansas Department of Agriculture - Division of Animal Health. 

 There is no treatment at this time, but knowing the disease is present can allow us to take appropriate measures to stop its spread. If you have a “backyard flock,” you should take the following precautions:

• Preventing contact with wild birds, especially waterfowl • Remove any nesting material, food, and water from the view of wild birds • Isolate any new birds you bring home

We must all do our part in protecting the health of our animals and our community.&nbsp;

Darlene Stanton, Russell County animal control officerMany households in Russell enjoy the benefits of owning small flocks of chickens, so it is worthwhile to bring the issue of avian flu to your attention. The latest case affecting a “backyard flock” was reported in October near Topeka, bringing the total cases of “backyard flock” avian flu in Kansas this year to nine. Other cases have been showing up in the media but haven’t been confirmed by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.The Kansas Department of Agriculture defines avian influenza as “a rapidly spreading viral disease that mainly affects birds." It is very contagious and, although rare, humans and other mammals can be vulnerable. The disease exists naturally in wild birds and can be found following migratory bird routes, spreading through contact and ingestion of infected food or water. Symptoms in birds include coughing, sneezing, respiratory distress, decrease in egg production or deformed eggs, and sudden death. If you notice these symptoms in your birds, contact your local veterinarian or the Kansas Department of Agriculture - Division of Animal Health. There is no treatment at this time, but knowing the disease is present can allow us to take appropriate measures to stop its spread. If you have a “backyard flock,” you should take the following precautions:• Preventing contact with wild birds, especially waterfowl • Remove any nesting material, food, and water from the view of wild birds • Isolate any new birds you bring homeWe must all do our part in protecting the health of our animals and our community.&nbsp;

Russell Co. warns of avian flu in 'backyard flocks'

NEW YORK (AP) — There's no rest for the spicy: Fresh off a world tour
 and two albums this year, Red Hot Chili Peppers are preparing for a set
 of stadium shows and festival stops across North America and Europe in 
2023.

Live Nation said Monday the band's 23-date global trek kicks
 off March 29 at BC Place in Vancouver, followed by shows in Las Vegas, 
San Diego, Houston, Lisbon, Madrid, Vienna and more before wrapping up 
on July 23 in Glasgow, Scotland.

Joining the band on select dates 
will be The Strokes, Iggy Pop, The Roots, The Mars Volta, St. Vincent, 
City and Colour, Thundercat and King Princess. <a href="https://redhotchilipeppers.com/">Tickets go on sale starting Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. local time at redhotchilipeppers.com.</a>

The
 funk-rock band gave us not one but two albums in 2022 — October's 
“Return of the Dream Canteen” and April’s “Unlimited Love.” Both spent 
time at No. 1 of Billboard's top album sales chart.

The Peppers 
recently took home the Global Icon Award, at the MTV VMAs and their 
single “Black Summer″ also won the award for Best Rock Video.

Trade
 publication Pollstar put the Peppers at No. 4 on its list of most 
lucrative concert tours in 2022, behind Bad Bunny, Elton John and Lady 
Gaga, with an average box office gross per city of $5,605,217 and an 
average ticket price at $134.39.

NEW YORK (AP) — There's no rest for the spicy: Fresh off a world tour
 and two albums this year, Red Hot Chili Peppers are preparing for a set
 of stadium shows and festival stops across North America and Europe in 
2023.Live Nation said Monday the band's 23-date global trek kicks
 off March 29 at BC Place in Vancouver, followed by shows in Las Vegas, 
San Diego, Houston, Lisbon, Madrid, Vienna and more before wrapping up 
on July 23 in Glasgow, Scotland.Joining the band on select dates 
will be The Strokes, Iggy Pop, The Roots, The Mars Volta, St. Vincent, 
City and Colour, Thundercat and King Princess. <a href="https://redhotchilipeppers.com/">Tickets go on sale starting Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. local time at redhotchilipeppers.com.</a>The
 funk-rock band gave us not one but two albums in 2022 — October's 
“Return of the Dream Canteen” and April’s “Unlimited Love.” Both spent 
time at No. 1 of Billboard's top album sales chart.The Peppers 
recently took home the Global Icon Award, at the MTV VMAs and their 
single “Black Summer″ also won the award for Best Rock Video.Trade
 publication Pollstar put the Peppers at No. 4 on its list of most 
lucrative concert tours in 2022, behind Bad Bunny, Elton John and Lady 
Gaga, with an average box office gross per city of $5,605,217 and an 
average ticket price at $134.39.

'Road Trippin' — Red Hot Chili Peppers unveil 2023 tour

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo isn't in the starting lineup for Portugal’s game against Switzerland in the round of 16 of the World Cup. The move came a day after his coach expressed frustration about Ronaldo’s attitude in the last match. 

Gonçalo Ramos is starting in Ronaldo’s place at Lusail Stadium. Ronaldo showed obvious displeasure at being removed from the game against South Korea on Friday. 

The 21-year-old made his international debut three weeks ago and his first career start for Portugal came in Ronaldo’s place in the knockout round of the World Cup.

LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Cristiano Ronaldo isn't in the starting lineup for Portugal’s game against Switzerland in the round of 16 of the World Cup. The move came a day after his coach expressed frustration about Ronaldo’s attitude in the last match. Gonçalo Ramos is starting in Ronaldo’s place at Lusail Stadium. Ronaldo showed obvious displeasure at being removed from the game against South Korea on Friday. The 21-year-old made his international debut three weeks ago and his first career start for Portugal came in Ronaldo’s place in the knockout round of the World Cup.

Ronaldo benched for World Cup match against Switzerland

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (AP) — Gov. Larry Hogan says Maryland is banning the use of TikTok and certain China and Russia-based platforms in the state’s executive branch of government. 

The Republican governor announced the decision on Tuesday, citing an unacceptable cybersecurity risk to the state. He says the emergency cybersecurity directive to prohibit the use of the platforms is needed, because they may be involved in cyber-espionage, surveillance of government entities and inappropriate collection of sensitive personal information. 

Under the directive, state agencies must remove any of these products from state networks.

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland (AP) — Gov. Larry Hogan says Maryland is banning the use of TikTok and certain China and Russia-based platforms in the state’s executive branch of government. The Republican governor announced the decision on Tuesday, citing an unacceptable cybersecurity risk to the state. He says the emergency cybersecurity directive to prohibit the use of the platforms is needed, because they may be involved in cyber-espionage, surveillance of government entities and inappropriate collection of sensitive personal information. Under the directive, state agencies must remove any of these products from state networks.

Maryland governor bans TikTok in state government

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service encouraged taxpayers to 
take important actions this month to help them file their 2022 federal 
tax returns.

This is the second in a series of reminders to help taxpayers get ready for the upcoming tax filing season. A <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">"Get Ready" page</a> outlines steps taxpayers can take now to make tax filing easier in 2023.

Here's what's new and some key items for taxpayers to consider before they file next year.

Reporting rules changed for Form 1099-K. Taxpayers should receive <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-k">Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions</a>, by January 31, 2023, if they received third party payments in tax year 2022 for goods and services that exceeded $600.

There's no change to the taxability of income. All income, including 
from part-time work, side jobs or the sale of goods is still taxable. 
Taxpayers must report all income on their tax return unless it's 
excluded by law, whether they receive a Form 1099-K, a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-nec">Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation</a>, or any other information return.

Prior to 2022, Form 1099-K was issued for third party networks 
transactions only if the total number of transactions exceeded 200 for 
the year and the aggregate amount of these transactions exceeded 
$20,000. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k">lowered the reporting threshold</a> for third party networks that process payments for those doing business.

Now a single transaction exceeding $600 can require the third party 
platform to issue a 1099-K. Money received through third party payment 
networks from friends and relatives as personal gifts or reimbursements 
for personal expenses is not taxable.

The IRS cautions people in this category who may be receiving a Form 
1099 for the first time – especially "early filers" who typically file a
 tax return during the month of January or early February – to be 
careful and make sure they have all of their key income documents before
 submitting a tax return. A little extra caution could save people 
additional time and effort related to filing an amended tax return. And 
if they have untaxed income on a Form 1099 that isn't reflected on the 
tax return they initially file, that could mean they need to submit a 
tax payment with an amended tax return.

If the information is incorrect on the 1099-K, taxpayers should 
contact the payer immediately, whose name appears in the upper left 
corner on the form. The IRS cannot correct it.

Some tax credits return to 2019 levels. This means 
that affected taxpayers will likely receive a significantly smaller 
refund compared with the previous tax year. Changes include amounts for 
the&nbsp;Child Tax Credit (CTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)&nbsp;and Child 
and Dependent Care Credit.

Visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-and-deductions">Credits and Deductions</a> for more details.

No above-the-line charitable deductions. During 
COVID, taxpayers could take up to a $600 charitable donation tax 
deduction on their tax returns. However, in 2022, those who take a 
standard deduction may not take an above-the-line deduction for 
charitable donations.

More people may be eligible for the Premium Tax Credit. For tax year 2022, taxpayers may still qualify for temporarily expanded eligibility for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/the-premium-tax-credit-the-basics">premium tax credit</a>.

Eligibility rules changed to claim a tax credit for clean vehicles. Review the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/plug-in-electric-drive-vehicle-credit-section-30d">changes</a> under the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/latest-news-on-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022">Inflation Reduction Act of 2022</a> to qualify for a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/plug-in-electric-vehicle-credit-irc-30-and-irc-30d">Clean Vehicle Credit</a>.

Avoid refund delays and understand refund timing

Many different factors can affect the timing of a refund after the 
IRS receives a return. Although the IRS issues most refunds in less than
 21 days, the IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a 2022 
federal tax refund by a certain date, especially when making major 
purchases or paying bills. Some returns may require additional review 
and may take longer to process if IRS systems detect a possible error, 
the return is missing information or there is suspected identity theft 
or fraud.

Also, the IRS cannot issue refunds for people claiming the EITC or 
Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. The law requires
 the IRS to hold the entire refund – not just the portion associated 
with EITC or ACTC.

Last quarterly payment for 2022 is due on January 17, 2023

Taxpayers may need to consider estimated or additional tax payments 
due to non-wage income from unemployment, self-employment, annuity 
income or even digital assets. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>
 on IRS.gov can help wage earners determine if there is a need to 
consider an additional tax payment to avoid an unexpected tax bill when 
they file.

Taxpayers should develop a recordkeeping system − electronic or paper
 − that keeps important information in one place. This includes year-end
 income documents like Forms W-2 from employers, Forms 1099 from banks 
or other payers, Form 1099-K from third party payment networks, Form 
1099-NEC for nonemployee compensation, Form 1099-MISC for miscellaneous 
income, or Form 1099-INT if you were paid interest, as well as records 
documenting all digital asset transactions. 

Ensuring their tax records are complete before filing helps taxpayers
 avoid errors that lead to processing delays. When they have all their 
documentation, taxpayers are in the best position to file an accurate 
return and avoid processing or refund delays or IRS letters.

An <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS Online Account</a>
 lets taxpayers securely access their personal tax information, 
including tax return transcripts, payment history, certain notices, 
prior year adjusted gross income and power of attorney information. 
Filers can log in to verify if their name and address are correct. They 
should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/address-changes">notify IRS if their address has changed</a>. They must notify the <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/">Social Security Administration</a> of a legal name change to avoid a delay in processing their tax return.

Get banked to speed refunds with direct deposit

The fastest way to get a tax refund is by filing electronically and choosing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>.
 Direct deposit is faster than waiting for a paper check in the mail. It
 also avoids the possibility that a refund check could be lost, stolen 
or returned to the IRS as undeliverable.

Don't have a bank account?&nbsp;Learn how to open an account at an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fdic.gov/getbanked/">FDIC-Insured bank</a>&nbsp;or through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">National&nbsp;Credit Union Locator Tool</a>. Veterans should see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP)</a>&nbsp;for access to financial services at participating banks.

Prepaid debit cards or mobile apps may allow direct deposit of tax 
refunds.&nbsp;They must have routing and account numbers associated with them
 that can be entered on a tax return. Taxpayers can check with the 
mobile app provider or financial institution to confirm which numbers to
 use.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599869632873.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IRSWASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service encouraged taxpayers to 
take important actions this month to help them file their 2022 federal 
tax returns.This is the second in a series of reminders to help taxpayers get ready for the upcoming tax filing season. A <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/steps-to-take-now-to-get-a-jump-on-next-years-taxes">"Get Ready" page</a> outlines steps taxpayers can take now to make tax filing easier in 2023.Here's what's new and some key items for taxpayers to consider before they file next year.Reporting rules changed for Form 1099-K. Taxpayers should receive <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-k">Form 1099-K, Payment Card and Third Party Network Transactions</a>, by January 31, 2023, if they received third party payments in tax year 2022 for goods and services that exceeded $600.There's no change to the taxability of income. All income, including 
from part-time work, side jobs or the sale of goods is still taxable. 
Taxpayers must report all income on their tax return unless it's 
excluded by law, whether they receive a Form 1099-K, a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1099-nec">Form 1099-NEC, Nonemployee Compensation</a>, or any other information return.Prior to 2022, Form 1099-K was issued for third party networks 
transactions only if the total number of transactions exceeded 200 for 
the year and the aggregate amount of these transactions exceeded 
$20,000. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/understanding-your-form-1099-k">lowered the reporting threshold</a> for third party networks that process payments for those doing business.Now a single transaction exceeding $600 can require the third party 
platform to issue a 1099-K. Money received through third party payment 
networks from friends and relatives as personal gifts or reimbursements 
for personal expenses is not taxable.The IRS cautions people in this category who may be receiving a Form 
1099 for the first time – especially "early filers" who typically file a
 tax return during the month of January or early February – to be 
careful and make sure they have all of their key income documents before
 submitting a tax return. A little extra caution could save people 
additional time and effort related to filing an amended tax return. And 
if they have untaxed income on a Form 1099 that isn't reflected on the 
tax return they initially file, that could mean they need to submit a 
tax payment with an amended tax return.If the information is incorrect on the 1099-K, taxpayers should 
contact the payer immediately, whose name appears in the upper left 
corner on the form. The IRS cannot correct it.Some tax credits return to 2019 levels. This means 
that affected taxpayers will likely receive a significantly smaller 
refund compared with the previous tax year. Changes include amounts for 
the&nbsp;Child Tax Credit (CTC), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)&nbsp;and Child 
and Dependent Care Credit.<ul>
 <li>Those who got $3,600 per dependent in 2021 for the CTC will, if eligible, get $2,000 for the 2022 tax year.</li><li>For the EITC, eligible taxpayers with no children who received roughly $1,500 in 2021 will now get $500 in 2022.</li><li>The Child and Dependent Care Credit returns to a maximum of $2,100 in 2022 instead of $8,000 in 2021.</li>
 </ul>Visit <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-and-deductions">Credits and Deductions</a> for more details.No above-the-line charitable deductions. During 
COVID, taxpayers could take up to a $600 charitable donation tax 
deduction on their tax returns. However, in 2022, those who take a 
standard deduction may not take an above-the-line deduction for 
charitable donations.More people may be eligible for the Premium Tax Credit. For tax year 2022, taxpayers may still qualify for temporarily expanded eligibility for the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families/the-premium-tax-credit-the-basics">premium tax credit</a>.Eligibility rules changed to claim a tax credit for clean vehicles. Review the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/plug-in-electric-drive-vehicle-credit-section-30d">changes</a> under the <a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/latest-news-on-the-inflation-reduction-act-of-2022">Inflation Reduction Act of 2022</a> to qualify for a <a href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/plug-in-electric-vehicle-credit-irc-30-and-irc-30d">Clean Vehicle Credit</a>.<h2>Avoid refund delays and understand refund timing</h2>Many different factors can affect the timing of a refund after the 
IRS receives a return. Although the IRS issues most refunds in less than
 21 days, the IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a 2022 
federal tax refund by a certain date, especially when making major 
purchases or paying bills. Some returns may require additional review 
and may take longer to process if IRS systems detect a possible error, 
the return is missing information or there is suspected identity theft 
or fraud.Also, the IRS cannot issue refunds for people claiming the EITC or 
Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. The law requires
 the IRS to hold the entire refund – not just the portion associated 
with EITC or ACTC.<h2>Last quarterly payment for 2022 is due on January 17, 2023</h2>Taxpayers may need to consider estimated or additional tax payments 
due to non-wage income from unemployment, self-employment, annuity 
income or even digital assets. The <a href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/tax-withholding-estimator">Tax Withholding Estimator</a>
 on IRS.gov can help wage earners determine if there is a need to 
consider an additional tax payment to avoid an unexpected tax bill when 
they file.<h2>Gather 2022 tax documents</h2>Taxpayers should develop a recordkeeping system − electronic or paper
 − that keeps important information in one place. This includes year-end
 income documents like Forms W-2 from employers, Forms 1099 from banks 
or other payers, Form 1099-K from third party payment networks, Form 
1099-NEC for nonemployee compensation, Form 1099-MISC for miscellaneous 
income, or Form 1099-INT if you were paid interest, as well as records 
documenting all digital asset transactions. Ensuring their tax records are complete before filing helps taxpayers
 avoid errors that lead to processing delays. When they have all their 
documentation, taxpayers are in the best position to file an accurate 
return and avoid processing or refund delays or IRS letters.<h2>Sign in to Online Account</h2>An <a href="https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account">IRS Online Account</a>
 lets taxpayers securely access their personal tax information, 
including tax return transcripts, payment history, certain notices, 
prior year adjusted gross income and power of attorney information. 
Filers can log in to verify if their name and address are correct. They 
should <a href="https://www.irs.gov/faqs/irs-procedures/address-changes">notify IRS if their address has changed</a>. They must notify the <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/">Social Security Administration</a> of a legal name change to avoid a delay in processing their tax return.<h2>Get banked to speed refunds with direct deposit</h2>The fastest way to get a tax refund is by filing electronically and choosing <a href="https://www.irs.gov/refunds/get-your-refund-faster-tell-irs-to-direct-deposit-your-refund-to-one-two-or-three-accounts">direct deposit</a>.
 Direct deposit is faster than waiting for a paper check in the mail. It
 also avoids the possibility that a refund check could be lost, stolen 
or returned to the IRS as undeliverable.Don't have a bank account?&nbsp;Learn how to open an account at an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fdic.gov/getbanked/">FDIC-Insured bank</a>&nbsp;or through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mycreditunion.gov/about-credit-unions/credit-union-locator">National&nbsp;Credit Union Locator Tool</a>. Veterans should see the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benefits.va.gov/benefits/banking.asp">Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP)</a>&nbsp;for access to financial services at participating banks.Prepaid debit cards or mobile apps may allow direct deposit of tax 
refunds.&nbsp;They must have routing and account numbers associated with them
 that can be entered on a tax return. Taxpayers can check with the 
mobile app provider or financial institution to confirm which numbers to
 use.

Tax time: What's new, what to consider when filing in 2023

By JULIAN GIVI <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-4-biggest-gift-giving-mistakes-according-to-a-consumer-psychologist-195169">The Conversation</a>

A good gift can elicit a surge of happiness and gratitude in the recipient. It also feels great to give, <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-point-of-holiday-gifts-173306">with psychologists finding</a> that the joy of giving a gift is more pronounced than the pleasure of receiving one.

Unfortunately, there are times when you receive a gift and you have to force a smile and fake your gratitude.

I’m a consumer psychologist <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=wjAq_TcAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">who specializes in gift-giving research</a> – in particular, gift-giving mistakes.

One way givers can err is by focusing too much on <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721416656937">the moment the recipient will open the gift</a>.

Givers want their gift to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/675737">desirable</a>. They hope <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.03.015">to surprise</a> the recipient and <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2733341">put a smile</a> on their face.

A chocolate fondue fountain might meet these criteria – it’s quirky and sure to elicit curiosity and smiles from onlookers.

However, when people receive a gift, they care less about the moment 
the bow comes off, and instead think about the weeks and months ahead.  

People want gifts that are <a href="https://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/1023703/volumes/v45/NA-45">useful</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/675737">reliable</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.03.015">meet their needs</a>.

How often would a chocolate fondue fountain realistically be used? 

Compare that to a new coffee maker, which could see action every day.
 Sure, it’s not a novelty – and probably won’t elicit “oohs” and “ahhs” 
on Christmas Day – but the recipient will be quite happy to have it on 
hand when their alarm rings each morning.

Another factor that can lead givers to go wrong involves unwritten rules for what constitutes good gift-giving practices. 

Givers often focus on these rules more than they should. For example, they may <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.05.023">avoid giving the same gift</a> to someone in back-to-back years because this goes against the norm of giving a unique gift each year. Givers also often <a href="https://doi.org/10.1348/014466604x23428">refrain from giving used products</a> as gifts because this violates the unspoken rule that a gift should be brand new.

In contrast, recipients are quite open to gifts that violate these norms. 

If someone loves a certain type of wine, they’re <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.05.023">more than happy to receive it</a>
 in subsequent years. And if one digital camera is lightly used but 
possesses several innovative features, while another is new but has 
fewer features, people <a href="https://doi.org/10.1348/014466604x23428">are happy to receive the used one</a>.

Givers can make missteps when they avoid gifts that they see as too risky. 

Consider sentimental gifts, like a scrapbook or a nostalgic memento.

Studies have shown that recipients <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcps.2017.06.002">love these gifts</a>; they <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000036">elicit happiness for extended periods of time</a>.

Givers, however, tend to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcps.2017.06.002">shy away from sentimental gifts</a>
 because they see them risky – sure, they could be a home run, but they 
could also whiff. Doubts can creep into shoppers’ heads as they consider
 sentimental gifts: What if it comes across as sappy? What if the 
recipient thinks I’m being cheap?

And so people tend to opt for <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S105774081730044X">safer, superficial gifts</a>
 that they assume will be at least somewhat well-liked. Or, to continue 
with the baseball analogy, givers are happy to take the sure single.

As another example, consider material goods versus experiences. 

When giving gifts, people often opt for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucy010">tangible objects over experiences</a>
 because material goods are on the safer side – almost everyone could 
use a new appliance or a new shirt. Experiences are trickier; they 
require a bit more of an understanding of who the recipient truly is – 
not everyone loves going to see the symphony.

Yet recipients tend to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jcpy.1281">more open to experiences than givers anticipate</a> – and these gifts <a href="https://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/1017575/volumes/v42/NA-42">are actually more likely to make people happier</a> than material goods.

Givers can also err by wanting their gift to appear especially thoughtful.

Of course, recipients appreciate thoughtfulness – but not when it 
comes at the expense of receiving something that’s actually useful.

This plays out when givers are shopping for multiple people. They’ll often <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/674199">choose unique gifts for each recipient</a>,
 rather than give the same gift to everyone, because a distinct gift for
 each person will make them feel as though they put more time and effort
 into gift selection. People do this even if they realize that some 
recipients will be receiving less desirable gifts.

You’ll also see this happen with <a href="https://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/1020146/volumes/v43/NA-43">gift cards</a>.
 Givers often choose specific gift cards – to a particular clothing 
store or restaurant, for example – that reflect the interests or tastes 
of the recipient.

But recipients are more open to gift cards that give them more 
flexibility and freedom – think an Amazon or Visa gift card. That way, 
they can decide whether to splurge on a new sweater, dine out at their 
favorite restaurant – or do both.

Julian Givi is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at West Virginia University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670276731039.jpg" alt="If only little Gregory got a gift card … Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>If only little Gregory got a gift card … Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By JULIAN GIVI <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-4-biggest-gift-giving-mistakes-according-to-a-consumer-psychologist-195169">The Conversation</a>A good gift can elicit a surge of happiness and gratitude in the recipient. It also feels great to give, <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-point-of-holiday-gifts-173306">with psychologists finding</a> that the joy of giving a gift is more pronounced than the pleasure of receiving one.Unfortunately, there are times when you receive a gift and you have to force a smile and fake your gratitude.I’m a consumer psychologist <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=wjAq_TcAAAAJ&amp;hl=en">who specializes in gift-giving research</a> – in particular, gift-giving mistakes. Here are four of the most common ones:<h2>1. Prioritizing the big reveal</h2>One way givers can err is by focusing too much on <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721416656937">the moment the recipient will open the gift</a>.Givers want their gift to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/675737">desirable</a>. They hope <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.03.015">to surprise</a> the recipient and <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2733341">put a smile</a> on their face. A chocolate fondue fountain might meet these criteria – it’s quirky and sure to elicit curiosity and smiles from onlookers.However, when people receive a gift, they care less about the moment 
the bow comes off, and instead think about the weeks and months ahead. People want gifts that are <a href="https://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/1023703/volumes/v45/NA-45">useful</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/675737">reliable</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.03.015">meet their needs</a>.How often would a chocolate fondue fountain realistically be used? Compare that to a new coffee maker, which could see action every day.
 Sure, it’s not a novelty – and probably won’t elicit “oohs” and “ahhs” 
on Christmas Day – but the recipient will be quite happy to have it on 
hand when their alarm rings each morning.<h2>2. Unique and new are overrated</h2>Another factor that can lead givers to go wrong involves unwritten rules for what constitutes good gift-giving practices. Givers often focus on these rules more than they should. For example, they may <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.05.023">avoid giving the same gift</a> to someone in back-to-back years because this goes against the norm of giving a unique gift each year. Givers also often <a href="https://doi.org/10.1348/014466604x23428">refrain from giving used products</a> as gifts because this violates the unspoken rule that a gift should be brand new.In contrast, recipients are quite open to gifts that violate these norms. If someone loves a certain type of wine, they’re <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.05.023">more than happy to receive it</a>
 in subsequent years. And if one digital camera is lightly used but 
possesses several innovative features, while another is new but has 
fewer features, people <a href="https://doi.org/10.1348/014466604x23428">are happy to receive the used one</a>. <h2>3. Being risk-averse</h2>Givers can make missteps when they avoid gifts that they see as too risky. Consider sentimental gifts, like a scrapbook or a nostalgic memento.Studies have shown that recipients <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcps.2017.06.002">love these gifts</a>; they <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000036">elicit happiness for extended periods of time</a>. Givers, however, tend to <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcps.2017.06.002">shy away from sentimental gifts</a>
 because they see them risky – sure, they could be a home run, but they 
could also whiff. Doubts can creep into shoppers’ heads as they consider
 sentimental gifts: What if it comes across as sappy? What if the 
recipient thinks I’m being cheap? And so people tend to opt for <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S105774081730044X">safer, superficial gifts</a>
 that they assume will be at least somewhat well-liked. Or, to continue 
with the baseball analogy, givers are happy to take the sure single.As another example, consider material goods versus experiences. When giving gifts, people often opt for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucy010">tangible objects over experiences</a>
 because material goods are on the safer side – almost everyone could 
use a new appliance or a new shirt. Experiences are trickier; they 
require a bit more of an understanding of who the recipient truly is – 
not everyone loves going to see the symphony. Yet recipients tend to be <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jcpy.1281">more open to experiences than givers anticipate</a> – and these gifts <a href="https://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/1017575/volumes/v42/NA-42">are actually more likely to make people happier</a> than material goods.<h2>4. Does the thought really count?</h2>Givers can also err by wanting their gift to appear especially thoughtful.Of course, recipients appreciate thoughtfulness – but not when it 
comes at the expense of receiving something that’s actually useful.This plays out when givers are shopping for multiple people. They’ll often <a href="https://doi.org/10.1086/674199">choose unique gifts for each recipient</a>,
 rather than give the same gift to everyone, because a distinct gift for
 each person will make them feel as though they put more time and effort
 into gift selection. People do this even if they realize that some 
recipients will be receiving less desirable gifts. You’ll also see this happen with <a href="https://www.acrwebsite.org/volumes/1020146/volumes/v43/NA-43">gift cards</a>.
 Givers often choose specific gift cards – to a particular clothing 
store or restaurant, for example – that reflect the interests or tastes 
of the recipient. But recipients are more open to gift cards that give them more 
flexibility and freedom – think an Amazon or Visa gift card. That way, 
they can decide whether to splurge on a new sweater, dine out at their 
favorite restaurant – or do both.Julian Givi is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at West Virginia University.<div><iframe src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/195169/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-advanced" width="1" height="1" style="border: none !important" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></iframe></div>

Psychologist: How to avoid the biggest gift-giving mistakes

Bob McGrath, an actor, musician and children’s author widely known 
for his portrayal of one of the first regular characters on the 
children’s show “Sesame Street” has died at the age of 90.

McGrath’s
 passing was confirmed by his family who posted on his Facebook page on 
Sunday: "The McGrath family has some sad news to share. Our father Bob 
McGrath, passed away today. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by 
his family.”

Sesame Workshop tweeted Sunday evening that it 
“mourns the passing of Bob McGrath, a beloved member of the Sesame 
Street family for over 50 years.”

McGrath was a founding cast 
member of "Sesame Street" when the show premiered in 1969, playing a 
friendly neighbor Bob Johnson. He made his final appearance on the show 
in 2017, marking an almost five-decade-long figure in the “Sesame 
Street” world.

The actor grew up in Illinois and studied music at 
the University of Michigan and Manhattan School of Music. He also was a 
singer in the 60s series “Sing Along With Mitch” and launched a 
successful singing career overseas in Japan.

“A revered performer 
worldwide, Bob’s rich tenor filled airwaves and concert halls from Las 
Vegas to Saskatchewan to Tokyo many times over,” Sesame Workshop said. 
“We will be forever grateful for his many years of passionate creative 
contributions to Sesame Street and honored that he shared so much of his
 life with us.”

He is survived by his wife, Ann Logan Sperry, and their five children.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670275959002.jpeg" alt="Bob McGrath, right, looks at the Cookie Monster as they accept the Lifetime Achievement Award for '"Sesame Street" at the Daytime Emmy Awards on Aug. 30, 2009, in Los Angeles. McGrath, an actor, musician and children’s author widely known for his portrayal of one of the first regular characters on the children’s show “Sesame Street” has died at the age of 90. McGrath’s passing was confirmed by his family who posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)" />
 <figcaption>Bob McGrath, right, looks at the Cookie Monster as they accept the Lifetime Achievement Award for '"Sesame Street" at the Daytime Emmy Awards on Aug. 30, 2009, in Los Angeles. McGrath, an actor, musician and children’s author widely known for his portrayal of one of the first regular characters on the children’s show “Sesame Street” has died at the age of 90. McGrath’s passing was confirmed by his family who posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>Associated PressBob McGrath, an actor, musician and children’s author widely known 
for his portrayal of one of the first regular characters on the 
children’s show “Sesame Street” has died at the age of 90.McGrath’s
 passing was confirmed by his family who posted on his Facebook page on 
Sunday: "The McGrath family has some sad news to share. Our father Bob 
McGrath, passed away today. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by 
his family.”Sesame Workshop tweeted Sunday evening that it 
“mourns the passing of Bob McGrath, a beloved member of the Sesame 
Street family for over 50 years.”McGrath was a founding cast 
member of "Sesame Street" when the show premiered in 1969, playing a 
friendly neighbor Bob Johnson. He made his final appearance on the show 
in 2017, marking an almost five-decade-long figure in the “Sesame 
Street” world.The actor grew up in Illinois and studied music at 
the University of Michigan and Manhattan School of Music. He also was a 
singer in the 60s series “Sing Along With Mitch” and launched a 
successful singing career overseas in Japan.“A revered performer 
worldwide, Bob’s rich tenor filled airwaves and concert halls from Las 
Vegas to Saskatchewan to Tokyo many times over,” Sesame Workshop said. 
“We will be forever grateful for his many years of passionate creative 
contributions to Sesame Street and honored that he shared so much of his
 life with us.”He is survived by his wife, Ann Logan Sperry, and their five children.

Family: Bob from 'Sesame Street' dies at age 90

NEW YORK (AP) — The Mendelson family would love to find the envelope <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tv-ap-top-news-bill-melendez-charles-schulz-ca-state-wire-7103be1c49b800d7373a38c2cfdb19ce">where their father, Lee,</a>
 scribbled some lyrics to jazz musician Vince Guaraldi's composition 
“Christmas Time is Here” for an animated TV special featuring the 
“Peanuts” gang in 1965.

The producer always said it had taken less
 than half an hour to write, and he likely tossed the scrap of paper 
away. He was in a rush. Everything was rushed. No one even knew, once 
the special aired, whether it would ever be seen again.

Instead, 
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” became an indelible holiday tradition and 
so, too, has Guaraldi's music — perhaps even more so.

“Christmas 
just doesn't feel like Christmas without hearing that album in the 
background,” said Derrick Bang, author of the biography “Vince Guaraldi 
at the Piano.”

The special itself was a bit of an oddity: a 
cartoon story of the meaning of Christmas soundtracked by a 
sophisticated, mostly instrumental jazz trio of piano, bass and drum.

Yet
 it worked. Guaraldi's cascading piano evokes both motion and lightly 
falling snow on “Skating.” The driving melody of “Linus and Lucy” is the
 eternal backdrop to a swinging party. “O Tannenbaum” shifts from the 
traditional carol to a bass-driven groove. A children's choir adds charm
 to “Christmas Time is Here.”

The soundtrack has sold more than five million copies. Its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/richmond-scholarships-coronavirus-pandemic-christmas-7749e8698a61fcc855950d24bb4a395f">nostalgia-fueled popularity</a> has only grown, getting a crucial boost in 1998 when Starbucks began selling it in stores, and fed steadily by new products.

The
 latest, a box set of outtakes released this year, came when Jason 
Mendelson, one of the late producer's four children, discovered tapes of
 Guaraldi's recording sessions in a Los Angeles warehouse while looking 
for something else.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” has aired every year since 1965, although that tradition is about to change.

The special’s run on broadcast television ends this year. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/television-broadcast-television-f644d4ee03e7eaa9f9fdff8cee5a82ba">Apple TV+ bought the rights,</a>
 and will stream it exclusively starting next year. While a recognition 
of television’s new direction, will that reduce the chances of new 
generations of children happening upon the story and music?

“I 
just remember, back in the days of three channels and scheduled 
programming, that was one of those things we were excited about because 
we knew it was coming on and we were familiar with it,” said Harry 
Connick Jr., who covered “Christmas Time is Here” for his own holiday 
disc just out.

“It was actually an amazing opportunity for music 
like that to be heard by a lot of people,” added Connick, a jazz devotee
 even as a youngster. “It was not necessarily the kind of music that 
would be played on regular radio.”

That's even less likely now, as
 jazz recedes into the history books or the background of dinner 
parties, said Nathaniel Sloan, musicologist at the University of 
Southern California and co-host of the “Switched on Pop” podcast.

During the 1960s, jazz was closer to the mainstream and more likely to be played alongside pop music, he said.

The
 music Guaraldi created for the soundtrack is ambiguous and more complex
 than most holiday music, Sloan said. Tied to warm feelings for <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-sports-travel-hockey-72f69be066a1b2cda57e7b87b05b8abc">illustrator Charles M. Schulz's</a> classic comic page characters, time has made it traditional holiday music.

The
 list of people who have recorded “Christmas Time is Here” is long and 
varied. They include John Legend, Alicia Keys, Gloria Estefan, Mariah 
Carey, Mel Tormé, Dave Brubeck, Sarah McLachlan, Stone Temple Pilots, 
Chicago, and Toni Braxton.

Similarly, the unexpected places where 
the melody to “Linus and Lucy” have appeared testifies to how ingrained 
it is in American life. Michelle Obama played it on the piano when 
returning to her childhood home in the “Becoming” documentary. Foo 
Fighters included it in a rocking “Saturday Night Live” holiday medley. 
Prince banged it out during his last concert.

It all started in 
the San Francisco area, home base for Guaraldi, as it was for Mendelson 
and Schulz. Mendelson's popular documentary on Willie Mays — Schulz's 
favorite baseball player — convinced the reclusive cartoonist to 
participate in a “day in the life” film about his work. One of 
Mendelson's favorite songs was Guaraldi's breezy hit, “Cast Your Fate to
 the Wind,” so the jazzman was recruited for a soundtrack.

In the days before cable and streaming, Mendelson couldn't sell the documentary, so it went unseen.

After
 the popularity of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 1964, a sponsor 
asked Mendelson if he'd considered making a “Peanuts” Christmas special.
 He lied that he had. Schulz agreed to outline a story, and Guaraldi 
came aboard, too, recycling “Linus and Lucy” from the documentary.

Animation
 is time-consuming, so the team had a tight deadline to make it onto 
television. It was Mendelson who decided that “Christmas Time is Here” 
was missing something without lyrics. He asked several songwriters to 
take on the task, but the deadline was too daunting.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Mendelson family would love to find the envelope <a href="https://apnews.com/article/tv-ap-top-news-bill-melendez-charles-schulz-ca-state-wire-7103be1c49b800d7373a38c2cfdb19ce">where their father, Lee,</a>
 scribbled some lyrics to jazz musician Vince Guaraldi's composition 
“Christmas Time is Here” for an animated TV special featuring the 
“Peanuts” gang in 1965.The producer always said it had taken less
 than half an hour to write, and he likely tossed the scrap of paper 
away. He was in a rush. Everything was rushed. No one even knew, once 
the special aired, whether it would ever be seen again.Instead, 
“A Charlie Brown Christmas” became an indelible holiday tradition and 
so, too, has Guaraldi's music — perhaps even more so.“Christmas 
just doesn't feel like Christmas without hearing that album in the 
background,” said Derrick Bang, author of the biography “Vince Guaraldi 
at the Piano.”The special itself was a bit of an oddity: a 
cartoon story of the meaning of Christmas soundtracked by a 
sophisticated, mostly instrumental jazz trio of piano, bass and drum.Yet
 it worked. Guaraldi's cascading piano evokes both motion and lightly 
falling snow on “Skating.” The driving melody of “Linus and Lucy” is the
 eternal backdrop to a swinging party. “O Tannenbaum” shifts from the 
traditional carol to a bass-driven groove. A children's choir adds charm
 to “Christmas Time is Here.”The soundtrack has sold more than five million copies. Its <a href="https://apnews.com/article/richmond-scholarships-coronavirus-pandemic-christmas-7749e8698a61fcc855950d24bb4a395f">nostalgia-fueled popularity</a> has only grown, getting a crucial boost in 1998 when Starbucks began selling it in stores, and fed steadily by new products.The
 latest, a box set of outtakes released this year, came when Jason 
Mendelson, one of the late producer's four children, discovered tapes of
 Guaraldi's recording sessions in a Los Angeles warehouse while looking 
for something else.“A Charlie Brown Christmas” has aired every year since 1965, although that tradition is about to change.The special’s run on broadcast television ends this year. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/television-broadcast-television-f644d4ee03e7eaa9f9fdff8cee5a82ba">Apple TV+ bought the rights,</a>
 and will stream it exclusively starting next year. While a recognition 
of television’s new direction, will that reduce the chances of new 
generations of children happening upon the story and music?“I 
just remember, back in the days of three channels and scheduled 
programming, that was one of those things we were excited about because 
we knew it was coming on and we were familiar with it,” said Harry 
Connick Jr., who covered “Christmas Time is Here” for his own holiday 
disc just out.“It was actually an amazing opportunity for music 
like that to be heard by a lot of people,” added Connick, a jazz devotee
 even as a youngster. “It was not necessarily the kind of music that 
would be played on regular radio.”That's even less likely now, as
 jazz recedes into the history books or the background of dinner 
parties, said Nathaniel Sloan, musicologist at the University of 
Southern California and co-host of the “Switched on Pop” podcast.During the 1960s, jazz was closer to the mainstream and more likely to be played alongside pop music, he said.The
 music Guaraldi created for the soundtrack is ambiguous and more complex
 than most holiday music, Sloan said. Tied to warm feelings for <a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-sports-travel-hockey-72f69be066a1b2cda57e7b87b05b8abc">illustrator Charles M. Schulz's</a> classic comic page characters, time has made it traditional holiday music.The
 list of people who have recorded “Christmas Time is Here” is long and 
varied. They include John Legend, Alicia Keys, Gloria Estefan, Mariah 
Carey, Mel Tormé, Dave Brubeck, Sarah McLachlan, Stone Temple Pilots, 
Chicago, and Toni Braxton.Similarly, the unexpected places where 
the melody to “Linus and Lucy” have appeared testifies to how ingrained 
it is in American life. Michelle Obama played it on the piano when 
returning to her childhood home in the “Becoming” documentary. Foo 
Fighters included it in a rocking “Saturday Night Live” holiday medley. 
Prince banged it out during his last concert.It all started in 
the San Francisco area, home base for Guaraldi, as it was for Mendelson 
and Schulz. Mendelson's popular documentary on Willie Mays — Schulz's 
favorite baseball player — convinced the reclusive cartoonist to 
participate in a “day in the life” film about his work. One of 
Mendelson's favorite songs was Guaraldi's breezy hit, “Cast Your Fate to
 the Wind,” so the jazzman was recruited for a soundtrack.In the days before cable and streaming, Mendelson couldn't sell the documentary, so it went unseen.After
 the popularity of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” in 1964, a sponsor 
asked Mendelson if he'd considered making a “Peanuts” Christmas special.
 He lied that he had. Schulz agreed to outline a story, and Guaraldi 
came aboard, too, recycling “Linus and Lucy” from the documentary.Animation
 is time-consuming, so the team had a tight deadline to make it onto 
television. It was Mendelson who decided that “Christmas Time is Here” 
was missing something without lyrics. He asked several songwriters to 
take on the task, but the deadline was too daunting.So Mendelson sat in his office and did it himself: “Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer...”“I've
 always loved the music and the melody, but I really didn't understand 
how beautiful the lyrics were until I recorded it,” said Norah Jones, 
who included her take on the song on a disc released last year.“The
 version with the children singing is so special,” she told The 
Associated Press. “There's something very unique and heartwarming about 
children singing.”The St. Paul's Church Choir from San Rafael, 
California, was hired to sing “Christmas Time is Here” and “Hark, the 
Herald Angels Sing.” Producers infuriated the choir director by choosing
 a slightly out-of-tune version of the carol; they thought it captured 
an innocence they were seeking, said Bang, who wrote liner notes for the
 box set.Some at CBS were nervous before the special aired. 
Executives wondered if viewers would accept their favorite comic strip 
characters come to “life” with voices and movement. Schulz’s insistence 
that the show quote from the Bible gave it a religious focus that 
television entertainment typically steered clear of.But it was a hit, winning Peabody and Emmy awards, and never went away.Guaraldi never had the chance to see his music age into standards. He died of a heart attack in 1976, only 47 years old.“He's
 the best-known jazz musician whose name you don't know, because the 
music from the Christmas special has become so ubiquitous,” Bang said.Lee
 Mendelson died at 86 in 2019 — on Christmas Day. Jason is reluctant to 
say how much money his father earned from his few minutes of writing the
 “Christmas Time is Here” lyrics. Here's one hint: The song makes enough
 money, every year, to pay for all of the extended family's holiday 
shopping.And he never tires of hearing Guaraldi's music, frequently attending concerts where the holiday songs are recreated live.“I've never seen a bad one,” he said.Cover image courtesy Pixabay

Misc