Print edition for December 26, 2007

A Year-End Grab Bag of Bizarre Links: AP; But even dancing Wonder Women and Tetris-shaped Japanese game show contestants can be left out in the cold. To give them their due, here's a grab bag of Internet oddities that deserve notice before the year is out.

Jeff Haney reflects on the most memorable high jinks, happenings and scandals of the past year: By Jeff Haney; To the dismay of technologically savvy gamblers, officials at Pinnacle, a prominent offshore sports book, opted to pull out of the U.S. market in January largely as a result of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Las Vegas sports bettor/quipmeister Jeff Jones wasn't fazed. "There will still be offshore sports betting for Americans," Jones said.

SIGHT UNSEEN: Our favorite photos that didn't run this year: Long before my days at the Sun, or even before journalism had crossed my mind, there was a nocturnal itch that would always drive me to the farthest and darkest places in Nevada.

Teens approach basic issues practically: Kaileigh Bingham; A roomful of opinionated teenagers made for a great discussion in our group.The first topic we discussed: Should contraceptives be available in high schools? That health education needs to teach about sex and the use of contraceptives at a younger age was unanimous.Half argued that condoms should be available because that might cut the number of teenage pregnancies. The group said teens are practicing unsafe sex because they don't know how to practice safe sex.

Bill and Hillary play the crisis-and-rescue game: saxo-archive; Bill and Hillary play the crisis-and-rescue game

RISING TO NEW CHALLENGES: After little more to show for two years of construction than a giant hole in the ground, the Strip's least-publicized resort now rises like a giant Erector Set that's more Manhattan than anything yet built in Las Vegas.

Tales From the Tour: AP; By finishing in last place at the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship, he became the first player to receive FedEx Cup points. And with some help from the draw at The Barclays, Curtis was the first to hit a shot in the inaugural PGA Tour Playoffs.

Putin thrives on need for order: saxo-archive; Putin thrives on need for order

Looking in on: Education Budget ‘Grinch’ hovers over School District Educators struggle over how to absorb cuts, with some millions already spent: By Emily Richmond; Looking in on: Education Budget ‘Grinch’ hovers over School District Educators struggle over how to absorb cuts, with some millions already spent

Teens approach basic issues practically Where I stand Kaileigh Bingham: saxo-archive; Teens approach basic issues practically Where I stand Kaileigh Bingham

The truth about earmarks: saxo-archive; Though more reform is needed, Democrats get credit for increasing transparency

Saving a species is not an either/or proposition: saxo-archive; Saving a species is not an either/or proposition

Too high a price: saxo-archive; Bush administration ignored sound advice on stopping IEDs and America paid

Improved gun control: saxo-archive; Congress gives states better tools to prevent mentally ill people from buying guns

List of Maulings by Captive Animals: AP; Dec. 25, 2007: A Siberian tiger named Tatiana escapes from its enclosure at the San Francisco Zoo, killing one man and mauling two others, before being shot dead.

Letter: Smoking ban foe got one thing right: How nice it is, with the passage of the anti-smoking law, that we can finally enjoy our lifestyle and social activities without someone blowing his smoke in our faces!

Editorial: The truth about earmarks: Congress' passage of the defense spending bill in November and the year-end spending bill this month for other federal departments has given Bush another chance to climb atop his soapbox.

A Christmas more about survival than celebration: By Mike Trask; "Mama" takes shelter in her homemade stagecoach, a 4-foot-tall heap of plywood atop solid wheels and completed with a rear windshield that she rescued from the trash bin at the body shop across the street.

Letter: Terrorist prisoners expect torture: If waterboarding saves the free world as we know it, then that is much the lesser of two evils.

Letter: English can't be forced on Spanish speakers: The question is, at what cost? Does a superintendent of schools have the power to limit students' rights to free speech? Is it contrary to what these same students are being taught in their American history classes to compel them to speak only English outside of the school? Does the superintendent's power and the School Board's approval to control students' personal speech extend that far? If so, where does it end? Will the next step be an English Only School Police Force that monitors student speech at home?

LOOKING IN ON: EDUCATION: By Emily Richmond; Typically at this time of year, the mood is jolly across the Clark County School District. Campuses are closed and administrators have a chance to catch their breath before the end-of-semester crush in January.

Editorial: Improved gun control: The measure makes clearer what types of mental health records state and federal agencies must report to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Gun dealers use the database to screen prospective buyers. The legislation also dedicates $375 million a year for five years to help states streamline their reporting systems.

Letter: Atheists can have moral convictions: Regarding the atheists I know, we "share a common creed of moral convictions." People need to set "religious" and "atheist" labels and stereotypes aside and look for the merit and heart of the person. A Japanese saying illustrates true spiritual tolerance: "There are many paths to the top of Mt. Fuji."

Editorial: Too high a price: Krepinevich, a West Point alumnus and retired Army officer, has been a civilian adviser to the military and to policymakers. He called for basic counterinsurgency efforts such as training troops to find ways to work with Iraqis to turn the tables on the insurgents.