State

Texas Tech is placed on probation. Gov Perry sticks by critiques of Bush, Democrats. Corpus Christi man charged for punching, killing state rep's father for cutting in line. Emails give insight into crazy astronaut Lisa Nowak's love triangle. A 14-year-old murder suspect will be tried as an adult, just in time for the holidays.

U.S.

Two items from the Say It Ain't So files: No! and NO!

However, God is in fact just, as Tim Burton is slated to direct a new spin on Alice in Wonderland. Meanwhile, scientists are working to help "trapped-in" man speak. The U.S. Senate closes the "Enron loophole." And no duh.

Outside the bubble

Apparently, Iranian prez Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has a blog, and even allows harsh dissenting comments. Global carbon tax urged at U.N. Climate Conference. Santa is pissed in Canada. Kenya's first lady slaps another official in the face. Iraqi soldiers find a mass grave in north Baghdad. A judge in Chile orders a priest to recite psalms for parking illegally. The U.N.'s human rights body supports a new probe of Myanmar's crackdown, though of course the gov says it did nothing wrong.

Finally, an oldie but a goodie: Older white women are flocking to Kenya to get some sex.