Sunday afternoon roundup

Ancestors of the Jews who fled the Inquisition to Colombia are rediscovering their identities.

In memory of Vladka Meed, who wrote about maintaining one's humanity "in the face of hell."

Are Afghanistan's Hazara at [more] risk [than usual]?

Secretary Rice (former, not potential) explains the Middle East for you. But don't forget Algeria or Kuwait. Also, let's play "who won the latest conflagration": reconcile the Ombudsman's very valid response to criticisms of bias in middle east coverage with this reality.

Andrew Soloman's book on the parents of children with serious conditions.

Your guide to the Richard III debate and to last century's war on Mexico.

Tom Toles nails it (while ALEC fights it). Oh, while we're on cartoons, check out these.

Look, I love going carless as much as anyone, but if DC's going to make parking harder, they need to make their Metro trains and buses more reliable. I've drove to a party in DC last weekend--it was not quite near a Metro--and to Thanksgiving in DC on Thursday--I was lugging food, and I was
glad to be able to park.

This remarkably silly piece made it no surprise to find that it was written by an expert on the internet, not a psychologist.

The Smithsonian on the history of how we eat.

Gracie would have voted for Hank the Cat if she could have.

Date Lab is most pleasurable at its most vapid.

Speaking of vapid, the Post's piece on cycling in the winter is lacking in anything new or interesting (here's an idea: wear warm clothes when you bike).