22 December 2004

By The Morning News — 22 Dec 2004

New York's currently: wishing the very best for you and yours

Blast at mess tent in Mosul kills at least 22, wounds 66, the deadliest attack on a U.S. base since the invasion.

Though some claim the mess-hall attack was a lucky hit, signs it was a precise strike have military experts concerned.

U.S. troops in Iraq get shipments of candy canes, said to be good for getting insurgent info from children.

The Philippine votes were all counted at last / And Arroyo was once more in power. / But no comeback for Bill, though kid Clinton could still / Pull crowds with a vapid memoir. What happened in 2004, in verse.

French teenagers beat up Santa Claus for candy. Photos of kids who are scared of Santa.

"A Visit from Saint Nicholas (In the Ernest Hemingway Manner)" by James Thurber, "Homecoming" by William Maxwell, "Christmas Is a Sad Season for the Poor" by John Cheever.

Every Christmas the Guardian publishes the notorious King William's College quiz; bone up for this season's with those from years' past: 2003 (questions, answers), 2002 (q, a), 2001 (q, a), 2000 (q, a).

Give: The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund.

How Robert Burns added to "Auld Lang Syne" and the version we know now.

Baby, it's cold outside: But do you need a jacket? Find out.

Here's the year in weird news.

Many galleries of old holiday postcards.

We still don't understand what Boxing Day is all about.