Last year, I received a holiday present from an person I'd never met, sent to my work address. It was We, a dystopia by Yevgeny Zamyatin. It was a great gift, catering to my interests …

I can report, not just advise, a happy Thanksgiving. Food and fun, as the saying goes. The fun included Taboo, Once Upon A Time, San Juan, Settlers of Catan, Illuminati, and the film Hitchhiker's Guide …

Jon Carroll's Thanksgiving column, as annually reprinted.

Sumana: Should we dress up for Thanksgiving at your uncle's? Leonard: No, we don't need to dress up. Sumana: OK. I'll put on my ripped Poison t-shirt, then.

I just mailed a package and bought stamps (American Scientists) at the post office, just an ordinary Salon customer/holiday card-sending transaction, and I felt nervous and dry-mouthed as though I were going on a date. …

Sometimes Steven Frank draws women in a way I find charming. Examples: "she likes peeping on girls" and "if you only had this years ago".

Immigrants learn the meaning and traditions of Thanksgiving.

I still find it surprising that Christmas is on the exact same date every year.

My family used to see a movie the day after Thanksgiving, and lots of US residents shop for Christmas presents in the three days after Thanksgiving. Instead, I saw the new Harry Potter movie yesterday, …

According to Freedom House (via an article in the Atlantic Monthly, December issue), Russia is now less free than it was in 1990. This week's MC Masala is "Mourning the Russia that liberated me". Meanwhile, …