One of 920 babes is baptised during a mass baptism ceremony in the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tbilisi, Georgia. (Image: Shakh Aivazov/AP/Press Association Images)

HERE ARE THE things we learned, loved and shared today.

THINGS WE LEARNED

#TRAGEDY: The nightmare continues today for the small Conneticut town of Newtown as the first funerals take place for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Six-year-old boys Jack Pinto and Noah Pozner have been laid to rest. Noah, described as “smart as a whip” was the youngest child killed in the horrific attack. He has a twin sister who survived the events of last Friday as she was in a different classroom in the school.

#UNION FLAG: At least 21 peaceful protests are taking place across Northern Ireland this evening as part of the loyalist opposition to the restricted flying of the Union flag at Belfast City Hall.

#LITTLE ‘UN: The wife of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un appeared on state television today looking heavily pregnant, fuelling expectations of an imminent addition to the ruling Kim dynasty.

#ABORTION: Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told RTÉ that the Cabinet will decide what action to take on the abortion issue tomorrow and moves will be made on the matter in the New Year.

#JOBSWATCH: In some good news today, Irish firm Eishtec announced that it will create 250 jobs at a Wexford call centre over the next ten months.

#SEPTIC TANKS: The Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, has announced a grant scheme for households whose septic tanks need to be updated. The initiative has been welcomed by both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin.

THINGS WE LOVED

• If there is one time of year we can admit to liking the Billy Barry kids, it’s Christmas. Look at how cute they are whilst performing at a special carol service in aid of KIDS Argentina at the Gaiety Theatre today. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
• We never, ever tire of seeing members of An Garda Síochána on segways.
• This Les Mis poster (it may have been doctored);

(Image: I-am-bored.com)

THINGS WE SHARED

• There is very little anyone can do to comfort those affected and traumatised by the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting last week. But an Illinois charity group came up with a gesture that may go some way to helping those who lost loved ones. The Lutheran Church Charities sent 10 golden retrievers to Newtown to ‘comfort, love and accept’. See the photos here.
• If you were trying to track down Indiana Jones, where would you start? Someone sent a package to Henry Walton Jones, Jr. at the University of Chicago, confusing the hell out of some academics who blogged about its awesomeness.
• Remember when television used to think the Internet was TERRIFYING? The Atlantic takes a look at the subject of the World Wide Web when it first became a thing.
• Thinking of buying an amateur some expensive photography gear for Christmas? Maybe have a look at this…and think again:

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