Today's Boston Globe articles

1. Gays in the military:http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2010/12/19/senate_vote_ends_dont_ask_dont_tell/

Finally. It's about time for the military to end one of its most unequal and inimical policies. This episode will help to advance gay rights in America (sadly with more backlash to come).

2. Supreme Court: http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/12/19/under_roberts_high_court_is_becoming_business_friendly/

This trend is quite obvious for a while now and not necessarily good. In the much-heralded Arizona immigration and the ATT class action merit cases, the better outcome would probably be deciding against the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

3. North Korea: http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2010/12/19/weather_halts_s_korea_military_drills/

The situation on the peninsula is dire. Will war (gulp) actually break out? I would urge the South Koreans to exercise restraint, but not accede to North Korean demands to abandon the military exercises entirely.

4. Debt: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/12/19/credit_cards_the_devil_in_the_soft_sell/

So much for austerity. We Americans are addicted to debt; the financial reforms alone cannot save us from our spendthrift ways.

5. Ireland: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/12/19/romantic_ireland/

I liked this article a lot: it presents an accurate picture of Ireland past and the recently bailed out nation. I may be wrong, but think that Irish-Americans have a very tenuous relationship with their home country, regardless whether they remember it nostalgically or not.

6. Group Intelligence: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/12/19/group_iq/

I am convinced that group intelligence hardly resembles individual intelligence and should be measured differently. Even so, what characteristics best define group intelligence?

7. Conservatism: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/12/19/bedtime_for_little_patriots/

So, the conservatives finally begin to see education as a vehicle for their ideas. History ought to be retold by different voices, but how much will the conservative writers twist history to advance ideology over truth? (Liberal writers aren't guilt-free either).