Bitter Brew: I opened a charming neighborhood coffee shop. Then it destroyed my life, from Slate.

Post-Traumatic Strike Disorder: One New Yorker's heroic struggle to commute to work, from Slate.

The Chronicles of Narnia Rap: It won't save Saturday Night Live, but it could save hip hop, from Slate.

What Beast Is This?: The trouble with Christmas dinner, from Slate.

Bah, Humbug: The horrors of December in a one-party state, from Slate.

The Maccabees and the Hellenists: Hanukkah as Jewish civil war, from Slate.

Eluding Happiness: A Buddhist problem with Christmas, from Slate.

Kazakh Adoption Diary, from Slate.

Clinton's Guantanamo: How the Democratic president set the stage for a land without law, from Slate.

Xbox Economics, Part 2: More reasons Microsoft isn't charging enough for the season's hot game console, from Slate.

Love Match: Couples who cross-donate kidneys, from Slate.

Are Journalists Underpaid? Pity the sad, broke New York Times reporter, from Slate.

Kitchen Confidential: Professional chefs reveal their shortcuts, from Slate.

Do Giant Babies Grow Into Giant Adults? Birth size and its consequences, from Slate.

When Chinese Sue the State, Cases Are Often Smothered, from The New York Times.

Hosed: Which pantyhose are best?, from Slate.

Nerds in the Hood, Stars on the Web, from The New York Times. The video.

Gen the Genius, from the Yarn Harlot, featuring the greatest fan sweater of all time.

Happy Hanukkah!, from You Knit What?? "Just because you're Jewish doesn't mean you're safe from the tacky holiday sweater."

ACLU Pizza Ad, from AdCritic, courtesy of Brad.

The War on Christmas, the Prequel: When the holiday was banned, from Slate, courtesy of Alison.

Pro Bikes: Maureen Bruno-Roy's IF Planet Cross, from cyclingnews.com.

Novak Leaving CNN to Join Fox News, from The New York Times. Surprise, surprise.

Christmas miracle: Turtle gets braces, from The Boston Globe.

Cool fixed gear, courtesy of Kevin.

Funny cycling-themed mobile phone ad from Europe, courtesy of FenderGal.

Big Air!, from Fat Cyclist.

House Backs McCain on Detainees, Defying Bush, from The New York Times.

A Happy Hipster Hanukkah, from The New York Times.

FrankenFido: Our creepiest genetic invention, the dog, from Slate.

The "Out to Lunch" Defense: Karl Rove's story doesn't make sense and Beyond Spin: The propaganda presidency of George W. Bush, from Slate. both courtesy of Mark A.

The Backwards Bush Keychain, courtesy of Miyon. This keychain displays a digital countdown to the next election.

Show, Interrupted: Arrested Development lingers between death and resurrection, from Slate.

Naked and the Dread: I pose nude for students. Will the art world ever be the same?, from Slate.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Really Foul Candy: In pursuit of Turkish Delight, from Slate.

The Other Asian Miracle: The intimidating secrets of raising high-achievers, from Slate.

The Price of Motherhood: Ready to have a baby? You'll earn 10 percent more if you wait a year, from Slate.

Japanese get fat penguins to exercise, from The Boston Globe.

Non-denominational wrapping paper, from ThinkGeek.

Ask the Doctor: A brighter shade of.... yellow?, from VeloNews.

Glossy Skin, Vinyl-Clad Heart, from The New York Times.

When the War Room Is the Family Room, from The New York Times.

It's Not Your Grandpa's Moral Hazard Anymore: The problem goes corporate, from Slate.

Japan goes high-tech to catch gropers, from The Boston Globe.

Inquiry Details Claims of C.I.A. Prisons in Europe, from The New York Times.

Children Learn by Monkey See, Monkey Do. Chimps Don't, from The New York Times.

It's Sensitive. Really, from The New York Times. Fascinating article about narwhals.

When Clothes Help Make the War, from The New York Times.

Environment and Cancer: The Links Are Elusive, from The New York Times.

Team GB miss out on pursuit gold, from the BBC, courtesy of Mark A. Features some stunningly pathetic whinging.

Operation USO Care Package -- click here if you'd like to send one to a member of the U.S. Armed Forces stationed overseas. The cost is $25.

Suggestions for the Lance Armstrong Movie, by Fat Cyclist, from cyclingnews.com.

Men in Love: Is Brokeback Mountain a gay film?, from Slate.

It's All Too Much: Is there anything left to say about the Beatles?, from Slate.

Recent Engrish Discovery, courtesy of Josh.

A Necessity Airlines Shouldn't Take for Granted, from The New York Times.

Temp Jobs at the Wine Shop: Let the Orientation Flow, from The New York Times.

Yours, Mine and Heirs', from The New York Times.

Secretary Rice's Rendition, from The New York Times.

Ever So Humble, Cast Iron Outshines the Fancy Pans, from The New York Times.

Sit Happens: A search for the best desk chair, from Slate.

The Medical Tourist: How my shoulder sent me to China, from Slate. The Medical Tourist: Getting the Beijing treatment, from Slate.

Oh how I wish I could have seen Mario Cipollini on the Italian version of Dancing with the Stars.

Bike-powered iPod charger, courtesy of Mark A.

The Right Price for Digital Music: Why 99 cents per song is too much, and too little, from Slate.

Marathon of Mirth: Had enough Christmas parties yet? Bush has to host 26 of them, from Slate.

Better Bananas, Nicer Mosquitoes, from The New York Times.

Surf, Shave Ice and Sunsets on Kauai, from The New York Time.

A Star Chef at Your (Expensive) Stove, from The New York Times, courtesy of Mark A.

The "Left Behind" Movies: How to end the world on a budget, from Slate.

Vietnam War Intelligence 'Deliberately Skewed,' Secret Study Says, from The New York Times, courtesy of Mark A.

Field of Hallucinations, from The New York Times, courtesy of Brad.

The Shorts List: Amazon's selling stories and essays for 49 cents. Is anybody buying?, from Slate.

Hug and Run: John McCain is standing with Bush but running from Bushism, from Slate.

Moody? Cranky? Tired? Feed Me!, from The New York Times.

The Bicycle Diaries: Is it possible to live in America without a car? Uh, sort of, from Slate.

Emily, the stowaway cat, is coming home, from The Boston Globe.

Nobody Bikes in L.A.: But they'd be a lot happier if they did, from Slate.

After Storm, Riding His Heart Out, from The New York Times.