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Do you hear what I hear? Christmas songs, 24-7 on the airwaves. Even classic rock stations have been hijacked by Jingle Bells and Rudolph. And they seem to start earlier each year. Halloween decorations hadn’t even been put away when Bing Crosby started crooning White Christmas. On the radio, in malls, grocery stores, cafes, and coffee shops, we’re accosted by an endless barrage of festive tunes. There are good ones among them, of course … I’m not a complete Grinch. The classics can be moving and there are a handful of modern gems. But hearing some holiday jingles once per season is quite enough. So for a change, here’s a list of great Christmas songs with a different twist. Sorry, there will be no mention of Rudolph, sleigh bells, silver bells, or jingle bells. Nor will there be any figgy pudding, holly jollies, or gay apparel. You might, however, hear the words Africa, war, bum, scumbag, punk, and collard greens. Here are 5 popular Christmas songs with an unusual twist.

As each Christmas season approaches, the Bible story of the birth of Jesus is retold anew. Amidst the parable, one particular event stands out in the minds of those of us who watch the night sky; the Star of Bethlehem, mentioned in the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 2 as “a star in the east” which led the three wise men on a pilgrimage to Bethlehem. The appearance of the star was said to have fulfilled a prophecy from the Old Testament put forth in the Book of Numbers of the birth of the Messiah … but what was it? Do any astronomical events match the description in the scriptures, and could we link Jesus’ birth to a historical date? Following are astronomical phenomena that provide tantalizing comparisons to that famous star.

It’s tough to get anywhere without a college degree these days, but it may be equally tough to get anywhere with a degree in Puppetry. Or EcoGastronomy. Or as a UFO reporter. Sure, the collection of strange but true college courses and degrees we’ve dug up sound like tons of fun — particularly if you like zombies, demons, and serial killers — but some could spiral students into massive debt in fields where there are few if any jobs available.

As a woman it’s always amazing to me how some men can remember the score of Super Bowl IV but have no insight into the hearts and minds of the women they live with on a daily basis. I’m not going to waste your time helping you find the “perfect” gift for your wife or girlfriend, because that is almost as impossible as the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series. Instead, here is a practical guide that will help you avoid the minefield that comes with giving your estrogen-laden better half a thoughtless, insincere or just plain bone-headed gift.

Chili pepper aficionados are as avid about their passion as wine connoisseurs, debating the merits of habaneros, poblanos and serranos, visiting chili pepper festivals and gathering with other “chiliheads” to enjoy spicy foods. But even if you don’t like anything spicier than ketchup, chili peppers could one day benefit you in several ways, because the active ingredient in chili peppers, capsaicin, is one of the most versatile and amazing compounds on Earth. Here are five surprising health benefits of chili peppers and capsaicin … and you don’t even have to eat a pepper or any spicy food to benefit.

As the Republican presidential candidates match wits in a seemingly endless run of primary debates, they know that their best sound bite might be replayed on a few newscasts, but a great quote could define their career. On the other hand, a huge gaffe on their part will quickly go viral on the Internet, be ridiculed by critics, and probably become the subject of a Saturday Night Live skit. In a worst-case scenario, the blunder might be remembered for years. Here are five memorable sound bites from past presidential (and vice presidential) debates.

What Twilight has done to resurrect the popularity of vampires, the hit TV series The Walking Dead is doing for zombies. A post-apocalyptic world where the dead have risen to hunt and devour the living is hip again. Zombies have come a long way since Bela Lugosi’s 1932 White Zombie and the clumsy, shuffling creatures first created by the “Godfather of all Zombies,” George A. Romero. The slow, “you couldn’t even catch my grandma” monsters have been replaced by lightning-quick, dead guys on speed. Could it be the hormones in meat? GM frankenfoods? Call it the rise of the modern zombie.

The definition of zombies has also expanded to incorporate unfortunate victims of viruses turning into vicious, raging killers. In the past, a movie zombie was usually a corpse coming back to life for whatever reason. The rules are flexible for vampires, and so they should be for zombies, despite what purists may think. But unlike vampires, these films are about the human survivors, not the monsters, who, let’s face it, are never going to develop personalities or invoke our sympathy. There may also be some loose metaphors about the state of humanity thrown in, the brainless consumerism of “mall zombies” for example. That said, here are the top 10 zombie movies.

Polls have shown the United States military is by far the most respected American institution. Like all institutions, its core is not buildings, mission statements or budgets, but people. The U.S. military features both active duty personnel and reserve forces. These reserve forces are comprised of Army and Air National Guard units — which are controlled by their states in peacetime — as well as the federal Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps Reserve units. The 845,000 Guard members and Reservists have served extensively in America’s wars, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the National Guard celebrates its 375th birthday on Dec. 13, here are five surprising facts about the Guard and Reserves.

For many of us born in the latter half of the 20th century, Sesame Street provided our first introduction to the alphabet, numbers and other need-to-know stuff. Through the years, the show has hosted a number of high-profile guests to help Elmo and the gang in their mission, and some of these special appearances actually turn out to be more interesting for parents than their children. Here are five classic guest star appearances from the show’s 42-year history.

Texas governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry is still feeling the heat from his 2009 statement implying that Texas might secede from the union, but to be fair, Perry never even used the term “secession.” Meanwhile, numerous legitimate secession movements have sprouted around the United States in recent years. No one expects any of these efforts to succeed, but they offer a revealing look at the fragmentation of U.S. politics today, as rural and urban interests, conservatives and liberals battle it out in state houses across the country. They also provide an interesting exercise in “What if?” Here are 10 notable secession proposals in recent years.