Conservative black writer Star Parker has an insightful op-ed this week about the infamous Michael Richards comedy club outburst and how it illustrates the state of race relations in the United States today. She points out that decades of affirmative action and other efforts to increase racial diversity...

This time of year brings many traditions to life. For many people, watching A Charlie Brown Christmas is one holiday tradition they can’t live without. It seems this year, however, ABC has created a special edition of the program to drum up more viewership. A clip is below:

Classy: At a private reception held at the White House with newly elected lawmakers shortly after the election, Bush asked Webb how his son, a Marine lance corporal serving in Iraq, was doing. Webb responded that he really wanted to see his son brought back home, said a person who heard about the exchange...

Il Papa in Turchia and Advent quickly approaching… What are Western Christians to do? I am reminded of a discussion concerning the (questionable?) date of Christmas that occurred in a patristics class at the Divinity School. The impetus for Christmas falling on 25 December has been widely disputed...

On Wednesday, Nov. 29th, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the case of Massachusetts, et al. v. Environmental Protection Agency, et al. It’s a fascinating case (at least for lawyers) in that state governments are arguing the federal government is ignoring its charge to regulate carbon dioxide emissions....

I took the occasion of last Black Friday to give some thoughts on the Deadweight Loss of Christmas, which I still think is an interesting phenomenon (hint: go read the post again before you go out shopping). I also spent a couple of paragraphs on gift cards, which are good substitutes for unwanted gifts...

There is, of course, quite a lot to be thankful for, but I’d like to take a small opportunity to express my gratitude for pockets. They’ve always struck me as extraordinarily useful things, and I’m awfully glad we have them.

Last Thanksgiving the New York Times ran an op-ed by Professor James E. McWilliams on the first Thanksgiving. According to McWilliams, the Pilgrims found the Native American food “exceedingly filthy and most execrable” and the holiday’s strong association with food was an invention...

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The New York Times on how to save the New Jersey GOP. That story could have been written about any of the states north of New Jersey as well. After this month’s elections, New England was left with precisely one GOP member among its 22 House seats — Connecticut’s Chris Shays. How did...