GOOD JOB

This is the kind of surge we need more often

The joy of Christmas is especially wondrous when reflected off the beaming faces of children. And frankly, few things can brighten up a kid better than gifts on Christmas morning.

So we salute the U.S. Marine Corps for its 2009 Toys for Tots Hawaii program, which netted more than 44,000 new, unwrapped toys and more than $36,000 in monetary donations to buy items.

Things had been looking somewhat bleak up until Christmas Eve, prompting the program to put out an 11th-hour call that it was 15,000 toys short of its goal. But then came a last-minute surge in donations — and all's well. What an effort; what generosity. Merry Christmas, one and all.

GOOD WEATHER

From here, white Christmas seems overrated

OK, not to rub it in but …

… We couldn't help but check the weather reports in Chicago and in D.C. — on President Obama's behalf, of course. While the First Family is enjoying Hawaii's sunny, tradewind weather to start a 10-day vacation, Chicago posted an ice-storm warning yesterday and was enduring freezing rain or sleet. Today's high was forecast to be 41 degrees; the low at 22 degrees, with snow or snow showers predicted. The Washington Post online, meanwhile, had this weather phrase that said it all: “;A slick then sloppy Christmas.”;

Welcome home, Mr. President. Enjoy the warmth and sunshine. What a gift.