The White Russian, a sweet cocktail made with vodka, Kahlúa and cream or milk, is seeing a renaissance thanks in large part to the cult following of “The Big Lebowski.”

White Russians Arise, This Time at a Bowling Alley

This anthology of Alison Bechdel’s weekly comic strip follows an articulate group of lesbians through more than 20 years of daily life, with plenty of sex and politics along the way.

The Days of Their Lives: Lesbians Star in Funny Pages

In the first such step by a major medical center, the clinic says it has begun publicly disclosing the business relationships its staff has with drug makers.

Cleveland Clinic Discloses Doctors’ Industry Ties

A decade ago exhibitions linking Africa and the Americas were not uncommon. They are now, though, which may be one reason that “S & M: Shrines and Masquerades in Cosmopolitan Times” looks so fresh.

A Multicultural Swirl of Africa, the Americas and Even Outer Space

NBC News has settled on Mr. Gregory as its choice to be the successor to Tim Russert as moderator of the program but the network has not finalized the deal.

David Gregory Is Likely to Host ‘Meet the Press’

The company will sell the right to buy an individual health policy in the future even if you become sick.

UnitedHealth to Insure the Right to Insurance

Tina Turner was a ferocious, shaky blur at Madison Square Garden on Monday.

Still Proud, Still Kicking, Still Nice and Rough

The president-elect must take charge of the agency in what is proving to be one of the more treacherous patches of the transition.

After Sharp Words on C.I.A., Obama Faces a Delicate Task

The chief executives of Detroit’s Big Three, who took a drubbing for flying on private jets to Washington last month for a Congressional hearing, will be driving to get to the capital this time.

Contrite Over Misstep, Auto Chiefs Take to Road

Behavioral economists offer insight that could be of use to the Obama administration as it works to devise a long-term plan to reduce deficits.

Budgets Behaving Badly

Many people in Michigan said in interviews that they could no longer see why the Big Three should be singled out for rescue.

Even in Michigan, Not Everyone Wants a Lifeline

Skyrocketing health care prices have led other countries to follow Britain’s example by asking how much life is worth.

British Balance Benefit vs. Cost of Latest Drugs

Fourteen years after leaving the governor's office, Mario M. Cuomo is still refusing to sit for his official portrait.

Gallery Awaits a Reluctant (to Sit) Cuomo

University officials have been told to expect a 30 percent drop in the endowment’s value because of the financial turmoil.

Harvard Endowment Loses 22%

The surprise move by the United Automobile Workers could help the auto industry secure federal aid.

U.A.W. Makes Concessions to Help Automakers

Conservatives alienated over the ordination of an openly gay bishop said they would create a rival denomination.

Episcopal Split as Conservatives Form New Group

If things turn out as expected, festivalgoers will have more to cry about than the room prices at Sundance next year.

Sundance Tilts to Heart-Tuggers

The Motorola/Kodak Motozine ZN5 is more of a proper digital camera than almost any phone before it.

Motozine ZN5 Makes Pictures Equal to Calls

Just before the city of Venice became nearly impassable, a production of Monteverdi’s “Return of Ulysses,” devised by William Kentridge, had a short, magical run at the ancient Malibran Theater.

In a Waterlogged City, Operatic Puppets and Shadows on a Curtain

The ascension of Philip J. Smith and Robert E. Wankel to the top of the Shubert Organization ended a 20-plus-year guessing game about the future of the largest theater-owning enterprise in the nation.

At Shubert, the Future Has Roots in the Past

Just as CBGB is getting its due alongside John Lennon’s piano and Jimi Hendrix’s guitar, its ownership and legacy are being challenged by a lawsuit that has riven the family of its proprietor, Hilly Kristal, who died last year.

Family Discord Over Spoils From the Punk Shrine CBGB

Months ahead of time Wayne Shorter’s 75th birthday concert at Carnegie Hall was being described as a kind of collaboration with Imani Winds, a classical wind quintet.

A Birthday Bash With a Harmonious Mix of Guests

India is feeling the cutbacks in America and elsewhere, as high-tech companies and outsourcing firms tighten their belts by freezing salaries and laying off workers.

Recession Trickles to India

With “Dancing With the Stars” retired from ABC’s schedule for the year and CBS’s lineup in repeats, television ratings were down considerably on Monday night, according to Nielsen’s estimates. Nonetheless, CBS still led over all, garnering the night’s most viewers at 9 p.m. with a rerun of “Two and a Half Men” (13.7 million). ABC led the 8 p.m. hour with the holiday special “Shrek the Halls” (11.2 million) followed by “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (11.7 million). Back-to-back episodes of ABC’s “Samantha Who?” averaged a much smaller 6.8 million viewers each at 9 p.m. NBC earned its best ratings of the night in that time slot with “Heroes” (8 million), but the network finished no better than third place over all, drawing 7.2 million for “Chuck” and just 4 million for “My Own Worst Enemy.”.

N0-Dancing Doldrums

With the possibility of crushing penalties, holders of foreign shelters are urged to contact the I.R.S.

I.R.S. Debates Way to Deal With Foreign Tax Shelters

Robert Bolesław Zajonc was an American social psychologist who is known for his decades of work on a wide range of social and cognitive processes. One of his most important contributions to social psychology is the mere-exposure effect. Zajonc also conducted research in the areas of social facilitation, and theories of emotion, such as the affective neuroscience hypothesis.

December 3, 2008

Headlines from December 3, 2008

White Russians Arise, This Time at a Bowling Alley

The Days of Their Lives: Lesbians Star in Funny Pages

Cleveland Clinic Discloses Doctors’ Industry Ties

A Multicultural Swirl of Africa, the Americas and Even Outer Space

David Gregory Is Likely to Host ‘Meet the Press’

Billboard 200

I Am...Sasha Fierce

Dark Horse

David Cook

Fearless

The Promise

Notable Deaths

Historical Context for December 3, 2008