Hasta La Gadget!

John F. Kennedy will be remembered for many things. The lives he touched and the people of all backgrounds he brought together during his tenure in the White House leaves a legacy that will be emulated for ages. JFK represented a young and dynamic America that helped to sustain our leadership and strength among our friends and adversaries worldwide. The good he accomplished, whether it was the formation of the Peace Corps, NASA and the space program, or his deft handling of the Cuban missile crisis preventing a possible nuclear war, far outweighed the failures. But the difficulties he faced were made so much easier by the personal rapport he established with the people of the world, in large part due to his sense of humor.

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Flying this holiday? I’m sorry. Here’s to hoping you don’t get stranded in East Nowheresville on the way. As for the rest of us, the Misery Map is a fantastic way to sit back and bask in the misfortune of others. Or, uh, give thanks that we’re not stuck at an airport. Yeah, that second one.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — The race to Oscar has officially begun, as the slavery exploration “12 Years a Slave” was nominated Tuesday for a leading seven Spirit Awards, which honor independent film.

The Steve McQueen-directed drama is up for best feature, best director, best actor (Chiwetel Ejiofer), best supporting actress (Lupita Nyong’o), best supporting actor (Michael Fassbender), best screenplay (John Ridley) and best cinematography (Sean Bobbitt).

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McLEAN, Va. (AP) — To some of the Americans subjected to mock executions and other torment during more than a year as hostages in Iran more than 30 years ago, it seems like a mistake to trust the regime in Tehran to keep its promises in a nuclear deal brokered by the U.S. and other world powers.

The prolonged hostage crisis that began in 1979 gnawed at American emotions and touched off decades of animosity between the U.S. and a nation that had once been an ally. The latest deal has been touted as a trust-building endeavor, though some who endured captivity are skeptical.

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