Here are today’s top stories in no particular order:
- Groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, the official seasonal weatherman, saw his shadow this morning, indicating another six weeks of winter are headed in our direction.
- Somalia welcomed a new moderate Islamist president, Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, over the weekend. His reception has been positive, amidst hopes for peace in the nation.
- Bids for a New Jersey man’s infamous cell phone number, 867-5309, have skyrocketed past $5,000 on eBay, more than 25 years after the song featuring the number hit number one on the pop charts.
- In an attack similar to one on former president George W. Bush, a student at Cambridge University threw a shoe at Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, calling him a communist.
- Barbie creator Mattel has reported a 46% drop in fourth-quarter profits. This comes as Barbie plans her 50th birthday bash, perhaps proving that 50 is not, in fact, the new 40.
- Snow is smothering Britain, with the heaviest snowfall in nearly two decades delaying and even canceling many forms of transportation. London is expected to see a foot of snow, with nearly two feet expected in northern England.