Music critics have weighed in with their mostly commercial choices for the best music of the year. WHFR.FM plays many different styles of music, and this week each DJ will give their own unique slant on what they think is the Best of 2012 in their own format! Tune in and join the fun!

So many holidays, so few days to celebrate! To help, our WHFR staff have prerecorded more than a dozen very special hour-long shows to celebrate: Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, the New Year, WHFR's Birthday (Dec. 20th--we're 27!), and WINTER, in general. Representing many of our regularly featured musical styles, our local hosts will give you lots of holiday music "little heard elsewhere on Detroit radio"--and best wishes to all our Loyal Listeners!

It's been a busy "lame duck" session in the Michigan legislature in Lansing these past weeks, and we will get the full story from our local Representative, George Darany, for the full hour. Note: this show will be available as a podcast for listening anytime after broadcast: click on Talk Shows--WHFR Journal--(select date).

"Theme Attic," the radio show that picks themes and plays music from a variety of genres about selected subjects, will split its time this week between Christmas and the upcoming Mayan calendar event. Believe it or not, there are even similarities between the two. Join host DJ Phil Maq on Thursday, December 20th, at 10:00AM for his clever and unusual takes on music!

This year's annual special Christmas broadcast from the Washington National Cathedral with the Cathedral Girls' Choir brings a unique performance of Benjamin Britten's much-loved Ceremony of Carols, marking 70 years from its first performance in England in 1942. Often performed by boys and harp, its first performance was in London with women's voices and the celebrated Welsh harpist Osian Ellis. The girls are joined by young actors from Princeton Day School in Princeton, NJ, who present the biblical narrative in their own words and commentary.

"Theme Attic," the radio show that picks themes and plays music from a variety of genres about selected subjects, turns two this week and takes a look back at some of this year's highlights. There will also be some Christmas songs for good measure! Join host DJ Phil Maq on Thursday, December 13th at 10:00 AM for his clever and unusual takes on music!

Note: Our regularly scheduled "Dearborn Heights News & Views" (every month on 2nd Tuesday) will not be broadcast today due to the unavailability of scheduled guests. HOWEVER, we proudly present three recent talk shows from the internet that we think you will find informative and entertaining: (1) "EarthSky22" with science and astronomy news, (2) "Freakonomics--The Things They Taught Me" proving how a college education matters, and (3) "Philosophy Bites--Peter Adamson on Avicenna's Flying Man" questioning are we only physical beings?

A music special from Public Radio International: More than two thousand years ago, in the days of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, the religious life of the Jews was brought almost to a halt by the ancient Greeks. But rather than give in to the pressure to assimilate, a band of Jews who practiced their faith in secret returned to their holy city and rededicated the Temple. Their courageous act and its aftermath form the focus of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. Mindy Ratner and Bill Morelock offer a program which explores the customs and music of the holiday: Dec. 9 until Dec. 16.

"Theme Attic," the radio show that picks themes and plays music from a variety of genres about selected subjects, usually has a playlist that's twice as long as the show. That means that a lot of GREAT music gets left out. This week's show takes care of some of that problem, as some songs that were accidentally left off of other themes get their chance. There will also be some seasonal songs as well. Join host DJ Phil Maq on Thursday, December 6th, at 10:00AM for his clever and unusual takes on music!

December 21, 2012 is almost upon us. This is the end date of the Mayan calendar and some say the “end of days”. Do these prophesies hold water or are they just all wet? Our guest will be Joseph Marra, a Doctor of Nursing Practice with an established practice at his Urgent Care Center in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Joe is also a hypnotherapist, reiki master, intuitive healer, and spiritual counselor. Joe’s teachings have been heard all over the globe through his Universal Talk Radio Show. Mr. Marra believes in curing the body, mind and spirit. He is also well versed in the 12-21-12 prophesy.