Check out this great treasury of holiday Santa-political awkwardness, because nothing says "Christmas" like Nancy Reagan flirting with Mr. T.

Last year, a "strippermobile" full of exotic dancers sparked controversy in Vegas. But this year, the owners filled the vehicle with Santas who gave out gifts to kids. Says the AP, "There was no gyrating or pole dancing this time."

If you're in North Carolina and you see a big bearded dude in a red suit about to accost you, perhaps you should let him. He might be trying to hand you a hundo.

Tomorrow is the first day of December, and we're already being inundated with Christmas crap! Here's a handy buyers guide.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 25: A man dressed as Santa Claus looks out from a cage during a photocall to promote the film 'Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale' at Carnaby Street. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Summer's basically over, which means Christmas is right around the corner. That is, according to the folks at Bronner's: This catalog arrived in the mail right before the Labor Day weekend.

Somebody emailed TMZ to point out that the picture of John F. Kennedy sunning himself while two naked ladies leap into the water may actually be from a Playboy photo shoot.

New research shows that belief in Santa can actually rise with age, and that three-year-olds believe in St. Nick just slightly less than they believe in the garbage man. But does kids' "magical thinking" have a larger purpose?

[Sydney, December 6. Image via Getty]

[Hornow, Germany; December 2. Image via Getty]

• Haifa Wehbe, a famous Lebanese pop singer, has come under fire for singing a song with racist lyrics. The song is from a children's album, and includes the line: "Where is my teddy bear and my Nubian monkey?" •

[Arcadia, California; November 7. Image via Getty]

[Sydney, August 5. Image via Getty]

Police in England are investigating a "mass Santa brawl" that took place on Saturday between a group of men dressed as Santa and another group of men "of dark-skinned African or Asian appearance." [Independent]

Great news! Researchers have decided that Santa's reindeer are probably female, since males typically shed their antlers before Christmas. Also: Because behind every great boy, there are at least a dozen badass broads. [NBC NY]

How did 1907 kiddies think Santa would appear in 2007? With a futuristic dildo-shaped blimp carrying Santa's haphazardly-attached toys. Meanwhile, artists — Juergen Teller, Moby — have recreated Santa for the 21st century. [BoingBoing, Guardian]

[Washington, D.C., December 15. Image via AP]

• A new book called Scared of Santa: Scenes of Terror in Toyland documents 250 screaming children perched on the lap of mall Santas across the country. •

• After last night's fellatio-esque interview of John McCain, reporters ask Jon Stewart if he's a real journalist and if he should've tried harder to ask a real question. No, and yes. [Comedy Central, Time, Rolling Stone]
  
• No one really cares, though, because Hillary might not actually stay in the race until August. [NY…