December’s Peculiar Velocity

With only three weeks left in the year, December seems to have its own unique pace. As the month progresses, time seems to pass by more quickly, resembling a speeding downhill sled. Depending on your perspective towards the holidays or the passage of time in general, this can either be an exciting or bewildering experience. Regardless, here we go, ready or not, into the final hours of the year and the dawn of a new one.

Keeping Track of Time

One way to keep track of time is by reflecting on how you’ve spent it. What movies did you watch, books did you read, meals did you cook, songs did you listen to, or other experiences did you have this year? Best-of lists serve as a valuable tool for organizing a year, offering a positive way to look back on the past 12 months and ask yourself, “What did I love this year? What do I recommend?”

I’ve already compiled my own lists from The Times critics’ year-end selections, including the best movies, theater performances, comedy shows, and albums. While I appreciate these genre-specific lists, I always long for more comprehensive inventories of personal favorites that encompass various cultural aspects.

I desire a list that transcends genres and includes everything I enjoyed throughout the year. This means not only the best things I watched, but also the best meals I ate, the best advice I received, the best app I discovered, the most memorable movie lines, the best books sitting on my shelf for years, and even the best changes I made to my evening routine.

Last year, readers of The Morning shared their own highly personal, category-free favorites, resulting in a wealth of recommendations that I’ve been exploring for the past year. I invite you to indulge me once again and share your personal recommendations from 2023. You can submit them here, and I’ll feature a selection in an upcoming newsletter.

For More

One cultural critic, Fran Hoepfner, collected similar broad-ranging lists from her friends and published them in her newsletter, Fran Magazine. One of her friends’ lists included a corn chowder recipe, a book about memory, and Joseph Cornell’s boxes. Absolutely delightful!

Other resources to explore:

• The best advice readers of The Morning received last year.
• All of The Times’s best of 2023 lists.
• Many more year-end lists from around the internet.

The Week in Culture

Here are some highlights from the week:

• The U.S. blocked a U.N. resolution for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, citing concerns about Hamas regrouping. The vote was 13 to 1, with Britain abstaining.
• The Texas Supreme Court temporarily halted a judge’s ruling allowing an abortion for a Dallas woman whose fetus has a fatal condition.
• An appeals court upheld but narrowed the gag order on Donald Trump in his Jan. 6 criminal case, allowing him to criticize federal prosecutor Jack Smith.
• The F.D.A. approved two treatments for sickle cell disease, including the first therapy using the gene editing tool CRISPR.
• The U.S. labor market added 199,000 jobs last month, indicating a slowing but still robust market. The unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent.
• The E.U. reached a deal on a new law to regulate artificial intelligence technology, making it one of the world’s first comprehensive attempts to do so.
• A behind-the-scenes look at Sam Altman’s ouster from and return to OpenAI, involving tears, a boardroom brawl, and claims of a “coup”.

Culture Calendar

Here are some cultural events to look forward to:

• “Wonka” (Friday): Directed by Paul King, known for the “Paddington” films, this movie serves as a prequel to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and explores the early life of Willy Wonka. Timothée Chalamet stars as the eccentric chocolatier, with Hugh Grant playing a grouchy and orange Oompa Loompa.
• “The Crown” (Thursday): The final episodes of this Netflix series, which offers a fictionalized portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, bring the monarchy closer to the present. Storylines include Prince William’s courtship of Kate Middleton.

Recipe of the Week

Chicken Thighs With Sweet Potatoes and Dates

Whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah or simply looking for a delightful dinner, these braised chicken thighs with sweet potatoes and dates are perfect. Inspired by the Ashkenazi dish of tsimmes, which combines root vegetables and dried fruit, this recipe adds chicken, leeks, and orange juice to create a festive and colorful one-pot meal. The best part is that you can prepare it in advance and reheat it when ready to serve. Pair it with polenta, latkes, or crusty bread to savor the flavorful sauce.

Recommended Reads

Explore some of our recommended articles:

• 36 hours in Vienna: Discover the wintry charm and traditional allure of the Austrian capital.
• Skim milk: Is low-fat dairy truly healthier? Uncover the truth behind these products.
• Genes and aging: Learn how genes that enhance fertility can also impact our lifespan.
• Sleeping with a restless partner: Find out how to cope with sharing a bed with someone who has a tendency to toss and turn.

Advice from Wirecutter

Gifts that will last forever

When selecting gifts, it’s important to choose items that bring joy in the moment and continue to provide value for years to come. Wirecutter’s gifts editor believes in avoiding disposable or gimmicky items, and instead recommends gifts that stand the test of time. Some examples include a stovetop popcorn popper, a Vermont-hewn hardwood bowl, and high-quality hiking socks. You can find more timeless gift ideas in Wirecutter’s guide to gifts that will last forever.

Need assistance with gift recommendations? Text Wirecutter’s experts at (646) 350-0385 and describe your recipient with just one word (e.g., “Dad” or “Kid”) to receive personalized recommendations.

Upcoming Sports Event

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers, N.B.A.

Witness the championship game of the N.B.A.’s In-Season Tournament, a new midyear competition similar to those seen in European soccer. The match features the young and fast-paced Indiana Pacers, led by emerging superstar Tyrese Haliburton, against the Los Angeles Lakers, led by the incomparable LeBron James. James, still considered by many as the best basketball player on earth, is sure to bring his energy to the court as he competes for a trophy and a $500,000 prize. Tune in at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on ABC.

Now, it’s time to play!