21 December 2006: Afternoon

NY Comptroller Hevesi to resign over criminal charges that he used state workers as personal aides, chauffeurs.

Politicians enjoy waxing the pastoral image of family farms, but the reality of modern farming is far more corporate--and well-financed.

The smew, a diving duck, flies west to the U.K. for winter from Russia and Scandinavia. This year, though, they have been mainly absent from the lakes and reservoirs between The Wash and the Severn. And other seasonal freaks.

In 2003, while preparing for the Sept. 11 commission, President Clinton's national security adviser destroyed documents illegally removed from the National Archives.

And he must feel pretty silly now! The documents would have been declassified anyway--in 20 years.

"They defecate on you, on purpose, hoping to make you reconsider what you're doing. It's not pleasant." Burmese pythons roam the Everglades, eating gators and striking at will.

Couple can't agree whether it was the pit bull or the pet ferret that chewed off their infant's toes.

Tree growers go on the attack against fake Christmas trees--aka "big green toilet bowl brushes."

Scottish Santa wears hardhat after pelting with mince pies.