Nunc Scio

Canada

• Growing fears about Chinese espionage force a Canadian citizen out of her public service job (Thanks, MN).
• 2008 is shaping up to be the first nation-wide white Christmas since 1971.
• Farewell, buck-a-bottle beer.

World

• Attendance at Chruch of England services is expected to fall from 1 million to 88,000 by 2050.
• The shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist was apparently savagely beaten, then forced to apologize.
• For the first time in history, model kits of Nazi airplanes are outselling British and American ones.
• The USA is finally, FINALLY, getting tough with Robert Mugabe.
• Iran closes human rights centres. Well, at least they’re being honest.
• Stray dog wounded in Mumbai attacks is on the mend, has also become a symbol of hope. Just like that pig that survived the China earthquake.

Media

• The Times of London is going back to a broadsheet format…at least on the weekends.
• A survivor of the Continental Airlines crash in Denver somehow managed to update Twitter while fleeing the burning aircraft. His tweet: holy f**king s**t.
• Warner walks away from YouTube after contract talks fall apart. No more authorized Rod Stewart videos for us!
• The Huffington Post is catching flack for stealing content. Little do people realize that the blogosphere is powered by theft.

Science & Tech

• The world’s first designer baby will soon be born in the UK.
• Why not spend the winter solstice in one of Canada’s “dark sky reserves“?
• Carbonate found on Mars. Carbonite – and Han Solo – remain elusive.
• For the awkward post-coital disorder file: the condition that makes you sneeze uncontrollably after orgasm.

Pop Culture

• A UK supermarket has restricted the sale of toy lightsabers over fears they might be mistaken for real weapons. Darth Vader is reassured by their overabundance of faith.
• The 2008 Detroit Lions are now officially the worst team in NFL history.
• AV Club published its annual list of bizarre band names.