Afternoon Links — 11.11.10

There is only “case of collective conversion to Judaism in Europe in modern times,” and it occurred in a small southern Italian village in fascist Italy.

The prime minister of Canada describes what that country is doing to combat anti-semitism , which “targets the Jewish people by targeting the Jewish homeland, Israel, as the source of injustice and conflict in the world, and uses, perversely, the language of human rights to do so.”

The idea of “culture shock” was invented by the son of Finnish immigrants who grew up in a utopian community on Canada’s west coast. The community failed quickly, because too many members were shocked by the life.

People need to remember basic economics when comparing prices across time . The price of a beer, for example, increased 68% in real terms but not at all relative to average earnings.

In English movies, kings can swear but factory hands can’t . (Warning: the article includes examples.)

After the last election, the gender gap has closed , argues Charlotte Hays. Activists of various sorts ignore this.

Our contributing writer Mary Eberstadt — author of “Bacchanalia Unbound” in the November issue — asks should Christian boys join fraternities?

Our editorial board member Hadley Arks reflects o n the political world  — seen and unseen . In the election, “we come face to face again with the truth that somehow dares not speak its name even among Catholics: . . . the Republicans in our day have become the pro-life party in our politics.”