Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah? For some interfaith families, it’s both (RNS) — Two Texas families share how they navigate honoring different religious heritages during the holiday season. The post Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah? For some interfaith families, it’s both appeared first on RNS.

I Saw A Cool Van Holy smokes, is that a lifted four-wheel-drive third-generation Ford Econoline Club Wagon? Sometimes when I’m out walking the dog I find myself face to face with a truly never-before-seen specimen of automotive awesomeness. This time it was Ford’s incredible box van turned adventure machine. Out here in the American… Read more…

Meditation and religion are two separate things, says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar BOONE, N.C. (RNS) — The spiritual, but not religious, practice of meditation has never been more popular, thanks to renowned teachers like Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. The post Meditation and religion are two separate things, says Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar appeared first on RNS.

A Disney World Monorail Under The Christmas Tree Made My Holiday Even More Special Putting a train under the Christmas tree was a time-honored tradition in the Kalmowitz household. When I was growing up, every year my family and I would spend hours setting up the train (sometimes two or three of them) under the tree, and I’d endlessly make them go back and forth. However, there was something I… Read more…

The (real) Hanukkah story and why it still matters (RNS) — Old debates continue. The post The (real) Hanukkah story and why it still matters appeared first on RNS.

Grants will support efforts nationwide to strengthen Christian congregations in small towns and rural areas Lilly Endowment Inc. The post Grants will support efforts nationwide to strengthen Christian congregations in small towns and rural areas appeared first on RNS.

At $8,700, Is This 1985 Mercedes 300TD A Braggin’-Worthy Wagon? With a recent paint job and a clean MB-Tex interior, today’s Nice Price or No Dice 300TD looks ready for duty. We’ll still have to decide what such duty might be worth. Read more…

Traffic Jams: The Mountain Goats – ‘Emerging’ The Mountain Goats don’t really have a Christmas album, or really any Christmas music, which is wild for a band that prides itself on being the best damn Durham-based Christian Dad rock on the planet (or at least in North Carolina.) Due to the lack of Christmas tunes, I nominate “Emerging” from the album Moon Colony… Read more…

Lexus’ Copper Crest Is The Most Beautiful Color On Sale Today, And Nobody Cares We all know most car colors are simply dreadful. For the most part, they’re a faded pastel of blacks, whites, grays and silvers. Sometimes, though, an automaker will come out with a color that is so lovely I’ve got to give it a shoutout. That’s exactly what Lexus did with its Copper Crest color that debuted on the… Read more…

Why Are You Reading Jalopnik On Christmas Eve? Today is December 24, which means there are only a few more days remaining before the horrors of 2024 give way to a fresh, new set of horrors in 2025. For many of you, that also means it’s the day before Christmas. For some of you, it’s the day before the first day of Hanukkah. For the most obnoxious Gen X-ers who… Read more…

The Anteros Coupe Was A Coachbuilt Supercar That Paired European Looks With American Power If you want an exciting front-engine car with American power and slick styling, then you might think your options are limited to the likes of the Dodge Viper or an early Corvette. There’s another option though, as an American workshop once set out to create a new sports car that paired European looks with American… Read more…

2024 Toyota Prius Is Hybrid Perfection There was once a time when the mere mention of the Toyota Prius elicited laughter and prompted remarks like “A Prius? Seriously?” from people who didn’t know any better. Not any longer. The fifth-generation Prius is the best looking and most powerful the hybrid has been in its 23-year history, and after driving one… Read more…

School Finance 101: Defining Productivity, Cost, and Efficiency School Finance 101: Defining Productivity, Cost, and Efficiency Recycled material here… The central problem with US public schools is often characterized as an efficiency problem. We spend a lot and don’t get much for it; and over time we’ve spent more and more but our outcomes have remained virtually flat. Yet rarely are these cla…

At Trump’s inauguration, reports of a pay-to-pray (RNS) — According to a report, you can pray with Trump and Melania. It’ll only cost you $100,000. The post At Trump’s inauguration, reports of a pay-to-pray appeared first on RNS.

Rome and the Vatican prepare to inaugurate the 2025 Jubilee VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Over 35 million pilgrims are expected to visit Rome in 2025 seeking forgiveness of sins and a chance to see the pope. The post Rome and the Vatican prepare to inaugurate the 2025 Jubilee appeared first on RNS.

Interfaith families find meaning in ‘Chrismukkah’ (NPR) — This year, the first night of Hanukkah falls on Christmas, which means many interfaith homes will be celebrating both holidays. The post Interfaith families find meaning in ‘Chrismukkah’ appeared first on RNS.

Why no campus outcries about Syrian atrocities? (RNS) — You mean you haven’t seen the campus demonstrations about what has happened in Syria? Hmm. The post Why no campus outcries about Syrian atrocities? appeared first on RNS.

Sri Lankan cardinal bans female altar servers, but why? (RNS) — Reckoning the cost of an archbishop having his way. The post Sri Lankan cardinal bans female altar servers, but why? appeared first on RNS.

80-Year-Old Woman Donates Manual RX-7 She Owned For 25 Years To Mazda After Giving Up License A Japanese woman celebrating her 80th birthday decided to mark the occasion in a unique way. She not only surrendered her driver’s license, but also gave upthe manual Mazda RX-7 she’s owned for the last 25 years. Don’t worry, though, this is a heartwarming story Read more…

New ‘Sacred Songs’ builds on Ailey Dance Theater’s spiritual repertoire NEW YORK (RNS) — ‘Sacred Songs,’ choreographed by interim artistic director Matthew Rushing, reimagines music omitted from the group’s signature work, ‘Revelations,’ 64 years after its premiere. The post New ‘Sacred Songs’ builds on Ailey Dance Theater’s spiritual repertoire appeared first on RNS.