New York’s currently: a grease-flavored snow-cone

 Iraqi Shiite leaders call for non-violence after twin blasts kill 60 people in Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala; 50 suspects have been arrested in connection with the Najaf bombing.

 Clashes in Congo town bring fears of a return to full-fledged war.

 Op: How we’ve let the genocide happen in Darfur.

 “There’s definitely a lot of trash that comes with the prize of being famous. It’s a nice gift, but there’s a lot of wrapping and paper and junk to cut through.” Bill Murray interviewed while running errands in Manhattan.

 Purchase books by the yard. [via things]

 Better than Tang: Improving on astronaut cuisine.

 “Most of the Festivi had a theme. One was, ‘Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?’ Another was, ‘Too easily made glad?’ The very real origins of the Festivus for the rest of us.

 Geniuses who take smart drugs to become super-geniuses are making the rest of us look kind of dumb.

 To father—What do you know of the value of a dollar? And more from a Eugene O’Neill Christmas.

 Why you wouldn’t really want to get a car for a Christmas present.

 What do you want to do with your life? Find others who feel the same way.

 A catalog of creatures with spliced genes, available for order in October 3032.

 Statistics show that in the last 20 years Americans gave up smoking and took up eating.

 The 25 laws of Japanese animation.

 Major award or eyesore? It’s the leg lamp from A Christmas Story.

 A cup of holiday cheer to everyone who donated to TMN last week! Your contributions really do help!