Monday, Jan. 16

Dropping like flies: Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman drops out of GOP presidential race, endorses Mitt Romney … Meanwhile supporters of Texas Gov. Rick Perry urge him to drop out too … Wikipedia Shrugs: Popular online encyclopedia and other websites to go dark Wednesday to protest legislation they say will kill internet freedom … Meanwhile US Federal Trade Commission probing Google for possible antitrust violations involving new social media site Google Plus … Idol worship: Lifelike 12-inch action figure of the late Steve Jobs withdrawn after “immense pressure” from his family and Apple lawyers … Call it Bootylicious Beyonceous: Australian researchers discover new species of horsefly, name it in honor of Beyonce because of its beautiful golden butt … Down and out in Buckingham Palace: British government tells royal family it can’t afford to spend $92 million for new royal yacht … Congratulations, you survived it: Psychologist determines that third Monday in January is most depressing day of entire year.

It’s good to be the boss: Mitt Romney stirs controversy by telling business execs in New Hampshire, “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me.” (He was talking about health insurance companies) … Buddy who? Poll shows Buddy Roemer (he’s former congressman and Louisiana governor) has pulled ahead of Rick Perry in NH. “It's a lead of eight people versus six people, but still,” says one blogger … Homesick: White House Chief of Staff William Daley quits after less than a year in job, says he wants to go back to dear old Chicago … Tensions escalating: Iran’s Revolutionary Court sentences US citizen Amir Mirza Hekmati to death for spying; US says charges false … BFFs: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Iranian Premier Mahmoud Ahmadinejad meet, ridicule US, vow to “unite forever” … Back to cold turkey: Study finds nicotine patches and gum don’t help smokers quit permanently, may even make things worse … Twitterin’ Tebowers: Fans of Denver QB Tim Tebow send record number of tweets following Tebow’s dramatic overtime defeat of Pittsburgh.

Monday, Jan. 2

Flexing their missiles: Iran test-fires two long-range missiles, continues threatening to disrupt shipping through crucial Strait of Hormuz … Mission unaccomplished: Arab League observers admit they’d failed to stop violence in Syria, with 390 killed since they arrived three days ago … Bitter ending: Benjamin Colton Barnes, Iraq war veteran suspected of fatally shooting park ranger, found frozen to death in chest-deep snow in Mount Rainier National Park after massive manhunt … The force was with him: Bob Anderson, master swordsman who played Darth Vader in light-saber fights with Obi Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, dies at 89 … Fashionistas of the gridiron: University of Oregon football team astonishes world with Darth Vader-like uniforms. In related development, Ducks beat Wisconsin 45-38 in Rose Bowl.

Monday, Dec. 26

Guess they’re considering the alternatives: Gallup Poll finds 47% of Americans approve of President Obama, first time since last summer that positive rating’s been higher than negative … Now this is a shocker: Independent panel finds Japan wasn’t prepared for disaster at Fukushima nuke plant … Arab “Spring” in December: Arab League observers arrive in Syria and tour city of Homs; residents say government troops fired mortars and machine guns at them … No spring in Moscow: After tens of thousands of demonstrators call for ouster of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, government says it’s open to “dialogue” but won’t give in to protesters’ main demands … Oh, the indignity! Jennifer O’Neill, former personal assistant to Lady Gaga, sues ex-boss for $380,000 in overtime, complains she was forced to “ensure the promptness of a towel following a shower.”

Monday, Dec. 19

Flameout: Newt Gingrich’s lead among Republicans evaporates; Gallup now has him in virtual tie with Mitt Romney … With friends like these: Website that promotes adultery endorses Gingrich, puts up billboard of him with caption: “Faithful Republican, Unfaithful Husband … The Daily Gaffe: Texas Gov. Rick Perry, fading fast in GOP presidential race, describes defunct Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il as “Kim Jong the Second.” Wonder what happened to Kim Jong the First? … No deal: With Department of Justice antitrust enforcers looking over its shoulder, AT&T drops plan to take over T-Mobile USA … Syria agrees to allow Arab League to send in monitors as violence rages on; UN says at least 5,000 killed since protests started in March … Stand by votre homme: Anne Sinclair, wife of sex scandal-plagued Dominique Strauss-Kahn, voted Woman of the Year in France.