News Roundup

• From the "Blackbird Pie" Department - A magpie in Australia has been relocated to an undisclosed location after attacking a young boy and possibly blinding him.  Relocation?  Is there a magpie relocation program in Australia?  Is the magpie now living in a small grove under an assumed name and species?  Are shotguns that tightly controlled in Oz?
• From the "Catch a Clue" Department - A man in Florida was arrested for DUI when he drove his car after being warned not to by a police officer.  Dude, when Officer Friendly is telling you that you probably shouldn't be driving, that's a hint and a half right there.  
• From the "No Kidding?" Department - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has announced that he will run for president of the Russian Federation next year.  Show of hands:  Who is actually surprised by this?  If Putin is successful, and there is every reason to believe that he will be, then he could be the head man of Russia for another 12 years.  Putin first came to power as the Prime Minister in 1999, so if he does the full 12, he will have been in power for 25 years the next time this question comes up.  Last person to do that long a stretch in charge in Russia was Stalin.  
• From the "Nothing to See Here" Department - A Saudi Man has been arrested after he tried to check several undeclared weapons on a flight from New York to Riyadh.  This was his checked baggage, so I doubt he was going to try to hijack the aircraft, but then again, a bunch of tazers and a can of mace is a good way to see if airport security would notice pressurized containers, high capacity batteries, and electrical circuits.  I'm probably just being paranoid, but you know what they say about paranoids.