December 18 2012: Afternoon
- Boehner goes alone on "fiscal cliff" deal, introducing back-up plan.
- [The Republican] party is a threat to democratic discourse and to fiscal sanity. Their ideological mania knows no prudential restraint at all.
- Even in gun circles, Freedom Group's industry domination is a mystery.
- Argument for using the phrase "gun safety" in place of "gun control."
- Assault-weapon shoppers at a gun fair in New Orleans say the only good gun control is more guns.
- Researchers rage against the "more guns" argument, pointing out that "more guns" unequivocally equals "more death."
- Study finds most children who live through gun trauma are likely to get better, though "better" is relative.
- Related: In case you haven't seen the cover of today's Daily News.
- Ke$ha's new single "Die Young" yanked from the radio after Newtown massacre.
- Short film on the “overview effect” — the profound feeling that grips astronauts when they see our planet hang in space.
- Round-up of the very worst rap songs of the year.
- See also: Pitchfork's best of 2012.
- History and liner notes for familiar Christmas songs you thought you knew.
- From Gwyneth Paltrow to John Mayer, white people who believe their "hood pass" allows them to use the n-word.
- Secretary from 1960s-era Playboy explains what Mad Men was really like.