Seven theories on New Year's Resolutions by new Freakonomics blogger Justin Wolfers. tjc

The Lakota Sioux have declared their independence from the U.S, spanning parts of Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. tjc

Modern technology foils old-fashioned burglary attempt. jmj

DC Comics writer and action figure collector Scott Beatty has "penned" an action figure visual history book giving readers a chronological history of the likeness of popular DC Comics Superheroes, such as Superman, Batman, The Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and more. In all, the book includes over 1,400 DC Comics action figures. The DC Comics Action Figure Archive was published by Chronicle Books and was released yesterday (via Wired). jmj

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The Bush's Top Ten "Legal Fictions" of 2007. My favorite: tjc

5. Everyone who has ever spoken to the president about anything is barred from congressional testimony by executive privilege. This little gem of an argument was cooked up by the White House last July when the Senate judiciary committee sought the testimony of former White House political director Sara Taylor, as well as that of former White House counsel Harriet Miers, in connection with the firing of nine U.S. attorneys for partisan ideological reasons. Taylor was subpoenaed in June and, according to her lawyers, she wanted to testify but was barred by White House counsel Fred Fielding's judgment that the president could compel her to assert executive privilege and forbid her testimony. As Bruce Fein argued in Slate, that dramatic over-reading of the privilege would both preclude congressional oversight of any sort and muzzle anyone who'd ever communicated with the president, regardless of their wish to talk.

Today's NHL game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins will be the first outdoor professional hockey game in the United States. The NHL held an outdoor game in 2003 in Edmonton between the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens. jmj

From The Intersection: Is New Year's Eve arbitrary? tjc

In the words of Edward Tufte, one of the worlds leading analytical designers, strange maps presents, the best statistical graphic ever drawn. glc

First the Wii was used as exercise. Now the Wii Fit will cater to it. (thx cooper) glc

GOOD comes at you environmentally. Elizabeth Kolbert pioneers global warming investigations. Part of the BIG IDEAS! series, reduce your margins, save Rhode Island, relatively speaking. glc

Lifehacker offers up the year-end guide to free apps and software. tjc