SANTA LYNCHING UPSETS COMMUNITY
A large blindfolded Santa hanging from a noose from a tree in a man's yard has angered homeowners in a Florida neighborhood, according to a local television station.
(WKMG-TV, unearthed by Matt McCarthy)

ILLINOIS JOINS SONY/BMG ROOTKIT FRAY
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said Friday she is investigating whether Sony BMG violated privacy and consumer protection laws, noting that her office has requested information from the company regarding anti-piracy software it included on music CDs that experts have shown exposes Microsoft Windows users to security holes and computer viruses
(WASHINGTON POST)
On a personal note, you might remember (see below) my travails with Best Buy and their practice of continuing to sell the products after the Sony recall. After I wrote the story, I returned to the store to exchange my product and ran into their "return of software" policy. I explained to the young lady that this was no mere "I didn't like it" return but that ten days before my purchase Sony had instructed retailers to remove any unsold music discs containing the rootkit software from their shelves. So, I inquired, "Why are you selling it?"

She referred me to the store manager who told me it was my fault for buying a recalled item, that it was a matter between me and Sony and that there was nothing that she would do. She thanked me in that phony Merchandizing 101 tone (you know, the "Hi, How are you doing?, Can I help you find something?") but told me that there was nothing that she could do. "Thank you and (smirk!) Have a nice day, Sir." I left Best Buy, now pissed at them and not at Sony.

My voicemail hell complaints to their national store were finally met with the same response: We don't care that we sold a recalled item, that's between you and Sony.

I'll put my Santana CD in the trunk of my car and when I get over being angry at Sony, Artisa, Santana and, most of all, Best Buy, I may put it in my CD changer and listen to it. That's a shame, because I had been excited at the idea that one of my favorite performers had a new release. I understand that Best Buy made a marketing decision to sell the product because of the impending holidays. But rest assured, my marketing plans no longer call for purchases at Best Buy.

DUMB COPS II
"A San Francisco police officer was suspended and others face discipline after making videos containing sexist, racist and homophobic material for an office Christmas party, officials said. About 20 officers participated in creating or performing in the videos."
(CBS, unearthed by Bill Messick)

WHAT ABOUT THE POSSE COMMITATUS ACT?
"Day after day, reports of suspicious activity filed from military bases and other defense installations throughout the United States flow into the Counterintelligence Field Activity, or CIFA, a three-year-old Pentagon agency whose size and budget remain classified. Programs such as CIFA, Eagle Eyes and Talon -- names unfamiliar to most Americans -- must receive robust scrutiny by Congress and the media,' "
(WASHINGTON POST)