Israel’s gamble in Gaza
How a ground offensive against Hamas affects the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Obama’s tax cut
Deciding whether tax cuts or public spending will save the economy
Why the right hates Al Franken
And why the relationship will only get worse if Franken becomes Minnesota's new senator
From around the Web: Today's Best Columns
“In slumps this deep, no car company is immune.” Not even Toyota.
Business
Russia threatens Europe’s gas flow- Gazprom cuts off Ukraine’s natural gas, and Europe feels the chill
Slimming down, Sobering up- Good day for magazine weight loss, Bad day for the power of sin and vice
News & Opinion
Blagojevich’s Senate stunt - The Illinois governor throws Senate Democrats a curveball
The GOP’s ‘Magic Negro’ flap - A parody about Obama shakes up the Republican leadership race
Israel’s battle in Gaza - As fighting conintues, what should Israel and Hamas do next?
Sarah Palin, grandmother - The Alaska governor’s daughter delivers a grandson
Iran's Christmas address - How should we react to Iran's controversial Christmas message?
Arts & Leisure
J.D. Salinger’s 90th birthday - Speculating about the reclusive author of 'The Catcher in the Rye'
Where ‘Revolutionary Road’ leads - How Sam Mendes handles Richard Yate's novel about suburban malaise
Remembering Eartha Kitt - The self-described "sex kitten" and international icon dies at 81.
Tom Jones’ wet whistle - Tom Jones loves to drink, and does so with “finesse.”
Best books … chosen by Carrie Fisher - Actress and best-selling author Carrie Fisher has just published a memoir, Wishful Drinking. Adapted from her one-woman stage show, it describes her life growing up as Hollywood royalty.
Books of the year: Fiction - The titles selected by critics as the best of 2008.
Evaluating ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ - Does Brad Pitt breathe humanity into the story of a man aging backwards?
Show of the week - Frontline focuses on octogenarian Herbert Gettridge and how he set about rebuilding his home after Hurricane Katrina.
Cartoons & Short Takes
Obama gear, and more - Good week for: Unlimited minutes, Revenge, Finding Obama under the tree; Bad week for: Taking a personal day, Perspective, Couch potatoes
A great evangelistic opportunity, and more - Evangelical churches around the nation are reporting a surge in attendance and new memberships, a trend church leaders attribute to harder economic times.
A Turkish shoemaker thrives, some of his shoes in Iraq don't - Good day for the guy who made the shoes hurled at President Bush, Bad day for the shoes
Palazzo Versace's refrigerated beach, and more - The Versace fashion house is opening a hotel that will feature the world’s first refrigerated beach.
One huge Christmas tree, and more - A 35-foot tree grows through a two-story house.
Bank bailout faltering, and more - The billions of federal dollars funneled to the nation’s banks aren’t trickling down to businesses and consumers, experts testified this week.
Editor's Letter: Merry Christmas, my friends, and happy Hanukkah -
