American composer James Pierpont published "One Horse Open Sleigh" more than 160 years ago. Today, the song is known by most everyone as "Jingle Bells."

Tradition! Tis the season of traditions this time of year and part of mine of course include screen time.  We of a certain age have to watch the claymation half hour specials of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and of course Santa Claus is Coming to Town. You know, Burgermeister- Meister-Burger. But a must see that I do always is:  It's A Wonderful Life.  It is a love story between George Bailey and the town he is a part of, and turns out the town is a part of him. Only at this moment the relationship is in crisis. In the opening scenes we learn through the community of voices concerned for him that on Christmas Eve 1945 George Bailey is at the end of his rope. All he ever wanted to do was leave his hometown and now at this moment, George feels he has failed everyone especially himself.  

The Shop Talk panelists discuss a story in Columbia Journalism Review, which reported that mass layoffs at the Denver Post a little more than a year ago led to a rebellion against the paper's owner, Alden Global Capital. 10 journalists defected from the Post to risk launching The Colorado Sun when a cryptocurrency and blockchain technology company offered them grant money to do so.