Welcome to the Convo, where ACG Blog contributors get together for discussion and analysis. Today’s topic is this year’s “Doctor Who†Christmas special “A Christmas Carol.â€

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Merry Christmas, Whoniverse! Ever since the BBC’s flagship science-fiction program Do… Read full post »

“It’s the creepiest Christmas song,†one of my co-workers said.

“Kind of date rape-y,†another added.

Of course, they were talking about “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,†the 1944 Frank Loesser duet that’s technically not a Christmas song but still is popular during the season. Coi… Read full post »

Welcome to the Convo, where ACG Blog contributors get together for discussion and analysis. Today’s topic is last night’s episode of “Glee,†“A Very Glee Christmas.â€

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Glee Christmas — another mixed bag. Is this show really as good as, or does it have the pote… Read full post »

Elizabeth Bennett and Fitzwilliam Darcy stand opposite each other in a crowd of bubbly, intoxicated socialites, brooding at one another while the band begins its next song. They gently take hands and flutter across the floor, weaving in and out of the people on either side of them, remarking on the… Read full post »

Welcome to the Convo, where ACG Blog contributors get together for discussion and analysis. Today’s topic is last night’s episode of “Glee,†“Special Education.â€

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Last night was all about capitalism vs. socialism, baby. That’s right: Glee-conomics. Okay, it wasn’t… Read full post »

Thanksgiving is over, and the pots and pans have been washed (I hope). If you’re feeling a little oversaturated with turkey and desserts, fear not; this recipe is easy and quick while remaining light and sweet.

1 small package vanilla instant pudding mix
1 small package butterscotch ins… Read full post »

Editor’s Note: The ACG Blog will be on Thanksgiving hiatus for the rest of the week. Enjoy your holiday!

Draught guidance: a kilt need underwear [via The Daily Telegraph]

Ach! The Scottish Tartans Authority — the top authority for Scottish tartans — has begun a campaign to stop kilted men… Read full post »

Donated Organ Saved from UK Plane Crash [via ABC News]

A liver en route for transplant survived a central England plane crash and was rushed to the nearby hospital, where it was successfully transplanted. The jet carrying the liver was landing in Birmingham when it clipped an antennae and crashed at… Read full post »

Thanksgiving is this week, and with it comes myriad rich foods and starchy sides. These honey roasted sweet potatoes, however, remain light and almost fluffy while tasting strongly of honey. Even better, it’s simple to throw together and doesn’t take much attention while baking, making an excelle… Read full post »

Australian twins had suicide pact at shooting range [via The Denver Post]

In an update on Wednesday’s story about the twin shooting victims in Colorado, police have announced they believe the women had created a suicide pact with one another because one was to be deported back to Australia. They ea… Read full post »

Scientists briefly trap a form of antimatter [via The Los Angeles Times]

Physicists at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, have confirmed that they successfully trapped 38 particles of antihydrogen for two-tenths of a second. The achievement is being hailed as a scientific breakthro… Read full post »

Welcome to the Convo, where ACG Blog contributors get together for discussion and analysis. Today’s topic is last night’s episode of “Glee,†“The Substitute.â€

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Last night’s episode of “Glee†was riddled with problems and came out as the worst episode sinc… Read full post »

Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe exhumed to solve mystery [via the BBC]

16th century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe’s corpse has been exhumed in Prague in an attempt to confirm a cause of death. Brahe, who served as a mathematician for Bohemian Emperor Rudolf II, had previously had his 1601 death attri… Read full post »

USA 2010 Word of the Year: Refudiate [via OUPblog]

The New Oxford American Dictionary has named “refudiate,†a portmanteau of “refuse†and “repudiate†accidentally coined by former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin in a tweet, its word of the year. “From a strictly lexi… Read full post »

Singer James Blunt ‘stopped World War III’ [via the BBC]

English singer-songwriter James Blunt, perhaps best known for his 2005 hit “You’re Beautiful,†revealed that during his military service he risked a court martial by ignoring an order to attack Russian troops in Kosovo. Blunt was refe… Read full post »

If you’re looking for something light, fancy and easy, these fancy pizzas are perfect appetizers or even light meals.

 

1 red onion, sliced
3 cups arugula, coarsely chopped
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 whole-wheat tortillas OR naan bread OR pre-cooked pizza dough
4 ounces reduced-fat… Read full post »

I have a letter in The New York Times.

Read full post »

In Ghanaian Village, American Woman Reigns As King [via NPR]

Ghanaian-American Peggielene Bartels goes by a different name when she’s in her home country: King Peggy. She became the king of the 7,000-person fishing town of Otuam in west Africa two years ago after her uncle died. She learned about h… Read full post »

Sex toy drive-thru: Alabama ship to offer window service [via The Huntsville Times]

An adult store in Alabama famous for challenging the state’s ban on sex toys is opening a new location with three drive-through windows for customers on the go. The first such store in the country, according to the… Read full post »

Welcome to the Convo, where ACG Blog contributors get together for discussion and analysis. Today’s topic is last night’s episode of “Glee,†“Never Been Kissed.â€

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I would like to start by saying that I totally called it — Salt (what I call him since he’s al… Read full post »

Federal scientists see big increase in bird beak deformities in Alaska, Northwest [via the AP]

A U.S. Geological Survey study has found “the highest rate of beak abnormalities ever recorded in wild bird populations in Alaska and the Northwest,†topping the previous statistics tenfold. The specifi… Read full post »

Last week, a veteran came to speak to my American studies class about his experience in the US military. This dude was young — I’d say about late 20s, early 30s — but also an experienced soldier, having served oversees for almost ten years. He told us he enlisted as soon… Read full post »

Mentioning old friend Jeffrey Dahmer is a sure way to get out of jury duty [via The Cleveland Plain Dealer]

Cleveland resident John Backderf knows a great way to get out of jury duty, but it probably won’t work for most people: tell the judge you were close personal friends with… Read full post »

Climate scientists plan campaign against global-warming skeptics [via The Los Angeles Times]

Some 700 members of the American Geophysical Union have agreed to form a rapid-response team to speak out about the realities of climate change, a topic with virtually universal support in scientific circles… Read full post »

French onion soup is the kind of hearty yet healthy meals that can put a soothing capstone on a hectic winter day. The only problem is this recipe, while simple, takes several hours to simmer and so might be best made beforehand — or on a snow day.

 

2 teaspoons olive… Read full post »