MGH interns give Santa his annual medical workup
Surgical interns at Mass. General “admitted’’ Santa Claus last Sunday in a hospital tradition that dates back to the 1950s.
Bus 19
Hospital housekeeper sets aside her dream
Esther Chase came to America with dreams of a house of her own and a few extra dollars for retirement. At age 62, she is unable to inch closer to her goal.
Bus 19
En route to hope on Bus 19
Every day for the last two years, Debra James has ridden this route to her two jobs. She gets only a few hours of sleep each night, but won’t quit or cut back hours.
No snow, little go at ski resorts
Ski areas around the region are struggling to open terrain this year as snow drifts down a few inches at a time and above-freezing temperatures limit their ability to make it.
Peabody firefighter dies in blaze
James Rice, a veteran city firefighter and married father of three children, died yesterday from injuries sustained while battling a three-alarm fire.
Dolphins at Patriots, 1 p.m.
Patriots’ keys to a victory over the Dolphins
The Boston Globe looks at which team has the edge in today’s matchup between the Patriots and the Dolphins.
Opinion
Shopping all the way (ha! ha! ha!)
As foolish as the holiday shopping season may be, we all should be happy it occurs, writes Tom Keane.
“A third of the time, it’s really good skiing at Christmas; a third of the time, it’s marginal at Christmas; and a third of the time, it’s closed.”
Eric Friedman, spokesman of Mad River Glen
Inside The Boston Globe
Columnists
Metro
Calendar spotlights creative parking-space savers
A South Boston calendar shows off residents’ novel ways to protect their hard-earned parking spots.
Business
Amazon office in Mass. could mean tax on sales
If Amazon opens a Cambridge office next year, it may be compelled to collect taxes on purchases made in the state.
Politics
Political Notebook
Romney says Biden lives in 'fantasy land’
Mitt Romney responded to Vice President Joe Biden’s op-ed, in which he criticized the presidential candidate for trying to assume the role of protector of the middle class.
Nation & World
Two suicide bombs kill 44 in Syrian capital
Yesterday’s explosions in Damascus were the most brazen and deadly attacks against the government since the start of the uprising in Syria in March.
Sports
Bruins 8, Panthers 0
Bruins rout defenseless Panthers
The Bruins caught the Florida Panthers hibernating last night. Actually, the Panthers were in a cryogenic sleep as they slushed around TD Garden during the Bruins’ 8-0 victory.
Arts
Music
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones can still throw it down
The band released “The Magic of Youth’’ earlier this month and will stage their 14th Hometown Throwdown concerts next week at the House of Blues.
Celtics season preview
NBA preview 2011-12
Celtics season tips off with dream of 1 more title
A little late starting this year, the Celtics open their new season on Sunday. Rajon Rondo and the aging Big Three are out to re-create the championship ride they had in 2008.
Opinion
“UMass students now graduate, on average, with $24,000 in debt, up from $14,000 only four years ago.”
Robert L. Caret
Ideas
As tempting as it might be to imagine the Christmas trees we see today in public parks and central plazas as a quaint relic of small town life, it turns out that our modern public trees have politics woven right into their roots.
Leon Neyfakh