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John Nichols wrote more than 20 works of fiction and nonfiction, most centered around his adopted home of northern New Mexico. He was a photographer as well. Susan Crutchfield/University of New Mexico Press hide caption

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Susan Crutchfield/University of New Mexico Press
Illustrations Copyright © 2023 by Jon Klassen

Inquiring minds want to know: 'How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney?'

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Palestinians search the destroyed annex of the Church of Saint Porphyrius, damaged in a strike on Gaza City on Oct. 20. Dawood Nemer/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Dawood Nemer/AFP via Getty Images

Kiss band members, from left, Tommy Thayer, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Paul Stanley participate in the ceremonial lighting of the Empire State Building on Thursday in New York. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP hide caption

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Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Global Citizen

'Wait Wait' for December 2, 2023: With Not My Job guest Dakota Johnson

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Squid Game: The Challenge is a reality game show based on the sensational 2021 South Korean drama series. But this gruesome, creatively misbegotten concept should never have made it past the first meeting. Netflix hide caption

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Netflix
Kurt Iswarienko/SHOWTIME; Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images

Jussie Smollett arrives at the BET Awards on June 26, 2022, in Los Angeles. An appeals court on Friday upheld the disorderly conduct convictions of the actor, who was accused of staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP hide caption

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Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

From left: a possible answer, a black-and-white photo, someone who left wills in her furniture. David Livingston/Getty Images, Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images, Noam Galai/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival hide caption

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David Livingston/Getty Images, Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images, Noam Galai/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore in a scene from May December. Francois Duhamel/Netflix hide caption

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Francois Duhamel/Netflix

Twelve-year-old Mahito journeys into an otherworldly realm in The Boy and the Heron. via Studio Ghibli hide caption

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via Studio Ghibli

In 'The Boy and the Heron,' Miyazaki asks: How do we go on in the midst of grief?

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Penguin Random House

A theater critic and a hotel maid are on the case in 2 captivating mystery novels

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Shane MacGowan live onstage in 1988, courtesy of the documentary film Crock of Gold: A Few Rounds With Shane MacGowan. Andrew Catlin/Magnolia Pictures hide caption

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Andrew Catlin/Magnolia Pictures

Shane MacGowan, irascible frontman of The Pogues, has died at age 65

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For Beyoncé's Renaissance tour Es Devlin designed a spherical portal — a 50-foot wide aperture — from which the star, her dancers and musicians could emerge and withdraw between songs. Es Devlin/Thames & Hudson hide caption

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Es Devlin/Thames & Hudson

When stars are on stage, this designer makes it personal for each fan in the stadium

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When you're stuck at the airport, you need the right soundtrack. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

Among the trove of games was an original version of the cult hit Chrono Trigger. Screenshot from NPR hide caption

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Screenshot from NPR

A forgotten trove of rare video games could now be worth six figures

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In Apple TV+'s Slow Horses, Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the slovenly, brilliant spy who's in charge of a group of failed British spies. The series is based on Mick Herron's Slough House novels. Herron says Lamb might not have "a heart of gold" but he does have "a moral code." Apple TV+ hide caption

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Apple TV+

Gary Oldman had 'free rein' in spy thriller 'Slow Horses' — now back for Season 3

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