Iraq war officially ends

Arizona immigration-enforcement law heads to Supreme Court

• Mindy Belz is the editor of WORLD Magazine.
• Mary Reichard is legal affairs correspondent for The World and Everything in It. Read Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's statement about the U.S. Supreme Court accepting review of the state's law that enforces federal immigration policy.

"Let the Candidate Speak": Rick Perry

• This is the fifth in our series highlighting speeches by presidential candidates. This address by Gov. Rick Perry of Texas was delivered Nov. 30 to the New Hampshire House of Representatives.
• The prepared text of Gov. Perry's speech is available here.

A TW&E Series: "Favorite Songs of Christmas"

• During December, our listeners are telling us about their favorite Christmas music.
• This week, we hear from Dr. Leslie Boucher, professor of music and Dean of Arts and Science at Emmanuel College in Franklin Springs, Ga.
• The story behind the world's most famous Christmas carol is told here. The Vienna Boys Choir is featured in a 2004 DVD titled The Story of Silent Night.

Tell us about your favorite Christmas song and favorite Christmas recording! Email feedback@worldandeverything.com

WORLD Magazine's Daniel of the Year: Alan Chambers

• Since 1998, WORLD Magazine has selected a Daniel of the Year, a person who has stood firm against ungodly cultural and intellectual trends (Daniel 6:6-16).
• This year's Daniel, profiled by WORLD news editor Jamie Dean, is Alan Chambers of Exodus International.

Some copyrighted audio used in this segment is courtesy of the Catalyst Conference. For more information about Catalyst and event details, visit www.catalystspace.com.

Janie B. Cheaney commentary: Teen tweeter, irresponsible adults

• Commentator Janie B. Cheaney is a columnist for WORLD Magazine. Janie is also the author of Wordsmith creative writing series, and she writes novels for young adults.

U.S. government narrowly avoids another shutdown

Religious Freedom commission gets eleventh hour reprieve

Reading the economic signs

Atheists displace Nativity scenes in California city

• Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.), a member of the House Budget Committee, writes here about the Government Shutdown Prevention Act.
• Read Emily Belz's WORLDmag.com Web Extra report on Congress reauthorizing the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
• The website of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom is here.
• The Los Angeles Times reported on atheists "hijacking" Nativity displays in Santa Monica, Ca.

The Olasky Interview: Jay Hein

• Read an excerpt from the interiew in the Dec. 17 issue of WORLD Magazine.
• Jay F. Hein, president of the Indiana-based Sagamore Institute, is a former director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. His book, Armies of Compassion, is scheduled for release in 2012.
• Marvin Olasky is the editor of WORLD Magazine and he holds the Distinguished Chair in Journalism and Public Policy at Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Va.
• The Olasky Interview is an occasional feature of The World and Everything in It.

At the movies: The Descendants

• WORLD News Group entertainment editor Megan Basham says this new George Clooney film is definitely one to stay away from. Read Megan's WORLDmag.com Web Extra review.

Making a modern-day Stradivarius

Recovering the earliest recorded sounds

• Reporter Michael Cochrane covers technology for The World and Everything in It.
• Learn more about the project of using CT scanning to recreate a Stradivarius violin.
• Smithsonian.com reported on the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory project that is recovering sound recordings from the 1800s.

The TW&E History Book

• Dec. 16, 1773 - The Boston Tea Party.
• Dec. 17, 1903 - Near Kitty Hawk, N.C., brothers Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successful man-powered airplane flight.
• Dec. 19, 1843 - Charles Dickens' yuletide tale A Christmas Carol is published in Britian.