Military Families Send Holiday Wishes Overseas

If you're like most people, you'll probably be spending some time with family members during the holidays. But for thousands of military families with their loved ones deployed overseas in Iraq or Afghanistan this year, that's just not an option. Instead, some spouses are sending their own personal Christmas message on DVD, courtesy of the Sony Corporation. As Alison St. John of KPBS in San Diego reports, hundreds of wives spent time alone with a video camera recently, and discovered it was a surprisingly intimate way to communicate with their husbands.Reporter: Alison St. John

Afghans for Afghans

The Iraq War has overshadowed the other conflict in that region -- the one in Afghanistan. But a San Francisco-based charity hasn't forgotten, and less than two weeks before Christmas, its volunteers are knitting handmade gifts for people a world away. California Report producer Suzie Racho looks into the group afghans for Afghans.Reporter: Suzie Racho

• More: Afghans4Tomorrow
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Santa for Hire

The economy may be a little soft this holiday season, but if you happen to own a Santa Claus outfit, are willing to work weekends and don't mind kids jumping up on your lap for hours on end, well, then business is booming. Reporter: Scott Shafer

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California Song: "California" by Low

We continue our California Song series with Alan Sparhawk of the Minnesota-based band Low. In the song "California," Sparhawk describes his mother's unique migration from California to rural Minnesota.

• More: Low's official site

Taking the Megabus

The high price of gas and plane tickets have holiday travelers on the lookout for deals. Here's one: a $1 bus ticket. That's the fare Megabus is offering -- at least for the handful of people lucky enough to book their seats first. The UK-based company is just getting started on the West Coast, with service in and out of Los Angeles. KQED's Rori Gallagher likes to travel -- and can't pass up a bargain -- so she took a ride on the Megabus.

Christmas Boat Parade

In Southern California's beachside towns, building a snowman for Christmas is out of the question. So they have to make do with what they have. KPCC's Brooke Binkowski reports on a unique holiday tradition in one Orange County city.