“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ” 
― Norman Vincent Peale

It’s the last link post of the year, kittens, so I made it an extra long one. This weekend we are packing up, deep cleaning the flat, and sending off the last of our (heinously late) Christmas presents. Then on Monday we fly out to the States for the holiday! Two of my three siblings will be there and I predict a lovely week and a half of board games, movies, and tromping about in the woods.

It’s been a hectic couple of months here, one that hopefully I’ll get the time to talk more about over the break. In the meantime, tell me what your Christmas plans are and if you’re traveling anywhere fun.

This photo spread is everything.

Tumblr find of this week.

Tumblr find of next week. Possibly the year. (h/t Katarina)

And so it begins… (grips seat grimly and prepares for an ugly time of it until 2016).

Coming as I do from a culture that pedestal-s the role of women-as-mother, in ways I find really harmful, unhelpful, burdening, and damaging to women, this really resonated with me. Editor’s note: I do not degrade or demean motherhood in the slightest, after all I have a pretty kick-A one. But nor do I think it’s the essence of femaleness, and I find real  danger in those who try to make it such.

In women and religion this week, we’ve got two stories from opposite ends of the spectrum. In the HELL, NO corner we have this, and from the fist bump area we have this.

Oh for heaven’s sake….

Interesting short piece on how different types of relationships between men and women affected their attitudes on gender, particularly men’s.

People being fundamentally decent in the wake of tragedy.

Relevant to my holiday travel interests.

“Less armored cars, more body cameras.”

NPR has been elfed!

NYT columnists share their favorite books of the year, a topic which needs a post here at SDS quite frankly because I’ve read a lot this year. Another good NYT book post is this list of notable books from the year.

Marie Antoinette has to be one of the most mis-attributed women in history, even her boobs aren’t safe…

The thug life chose him.

Frightening, but important.

I’m genuinely curious (in the interest of being educated and a good ally wherever possible), are quirky takes on religious objects humorous or offensive? I know levels of orthdoxy and personal taste probably determine answers heavily, but I’d like to hear from anyone with thoughts on this one. I thought these were lighthearted and funny, but I’m prepared to revise.

Also h/t Katarina, the only ugly nail art I would ever allow.

An artist who “…realized the problem of sexual violence in India is not a legal issue but a cultural problem,” came up with an amazing graphic novel.

Striking gallery from the year in images.

Anagram anything you’d like! (Incidentally, my favorite for my own name is “Deacon, Dandle, Cow.”

I would not at all object to someone buying me this. Just saying.