Thanksgiving marks the start of the traditional holiday gift-buying season. Some say it’s madness. Some say it’s fondness for everyone we want—or feel compelled—to remember with a present. And some say it’s time to rethink a more responsible approach to holiday giving, especially in this year’s brutal economy.... Read full article

Every state in America has a so-called “safe haven” law, under which a troubled parent can safely surrender a newborn baby, usually at a hospital or fire station, no questions asked. But Nebraska’s safe haven law is different. Intended to protect only infants, it was written with the word “child” left undefined and without an age limit, opening a gaping legal loophole for an unprecedented human bailout.... Read full article

Paper or plastic? It used to be one of the dominant decisions for consumers. But as more and more supermarkets and other stores have phased out the use of so-called disposable plastic bags, a different environmental question still lingers: Paper or electronic?... Read full article

There’s a financial market for everything, it seems. Including your vote. As stock markets around the world continue to nose-dive, an unusual futures market called Intrade is heating up, with global investors focused on one bet: the outcome of the U.S. presidential election.... Read full article