Charlie Pierce and Digby, among others, are put out with the whinging of Ken Langone about the things Pope Francis says about rich people. He doesn’t see how he can convince other rich Catholics to donate to his $180 million fund to rehabilitate St. Patrick’s Cathedral, if the Pope continues to be unkind.

Cardinal Dolan of NYC says that it is really a misunderstanding, and the Pope isn’t really talking about American rich people who are so generous, but the bad rich people in other places.

Okay, first off I would suggest Langone and Dolan find and open a New Testament to Mark 10:25, which says: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” It seems to be all inclusive on ‘rich men’.

Then, Cardinal Dolan should sit down with Mr. Langone, and other rich donors to the the rehabilitation fund and watch the nice little Christmas movie, The Bishop’s Wife, which puts the money spent on cathedrals in its proper place.

The BBC is reporting that Rescue for Antarctic ice-bound ship under threat

A rescue mission for a ship trapped in ice in Antarctica is under threat as reports have emerged that one of the assisting vessels may itself be stuck.

Fifty-two passengers and four crew members were due to be evacuated by helicopter from China’s Xue Long ship as soon as conditions allowed.

However, the Xue Long has barely moved in a day and may be stuck in the ice.

If you don’t keep moving in polar waters, the ice will collect around you. The Snow Dragon [Xue Long] has the helicopter that was to be used in the attempt to remove the passengers and crew from the Russian vessel, and may have held position too long hoping to launch its helicopter.

Now it looks like they are going to have to await the arrival of the US Coast Guard heavy icebreaker, Polar Star to break through the ice pack.

That’s Grandfather Frost [Дед Мороз] and he is the Russian ‘gift giver’. He is assisted by the Snow Maiden [Снегурочка], but ever the jolly, fun-loving people, the ‘gifts’ are a bit different. Threats of coal or sticks would be weird to a people who are trying to stay warm, they would consider them welcome.

Generally there are sweets, maybe salo [salted fatback], and other high energy food.

For the ‘naughty’ list there is the staff. You don’t get beaten, merely touched, which turns you into a popsicle. [I told you they were fun-loving.]

Tonight’s the night – you’ve been nice, right?