Here are some of the contenders for today's biggest...news...of...the...day...

• A report that says Cisco Systems Inc (CSCO) is making a push into consumer electronics...
• A group that is said to be interested in buying IndyMac Bancorp...
• Earnings from Cal-Maine Foods Inc (CALM)...
• A management shakeup at Sonus Networks Inc (SONS)...
• A rise in oil...
• An argument that the market has bottomed...
• Arguments for buying gold...
• A report that says the bankruptcy filing from Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc "wiped out as much as $75 billion of potential value for creditors..."
• A look into the "21 Dumbest Moments in Business - 2008..."
• A look into the "The 10 Biggest Cleantech Victories of 2008..."
• A look into the "The 10 Biggest Cleantech Disappointments of 2008..."
• The breakdown of a deal between Kuwait and Dow Chemical Co (DOW) that would have allowed Dow to repay a debt related to Rohm & Haas (ROH)...shares of DOW and ROH are down sharply this morning...
• FDA approval for an "eyelash-thickening drug" from Allergan Inc (AGN)...

While those are all stories worth watching, I think it is obviously clear that the biggest news is this set of stories -

• Giant snowman rises again in Alaska - mysteriously - "A giant snowman named Snowzilla has mysteriously appeared again this year - despite the city's cease-and-desist order..."
• Fur, feathers and scales: offbeat animal stories of 2008 - "A selection of unusual animal goings on in 2008..."
• Two thousand and strange: offbeat stories of the year - "A selection of weird and wonderful stories from 2008..."

So...we have ourselves a real life snowman mystery and controversy! Complete with a cease-and-desist order from the city - an act the mayor's office defended. I hope the mayor's office gets to the bottom of this soon. I can only imagine what would happen if people were allowed to build snowmen (or snowwomen) unchecked. People would spend time outside, interact with their neighbors, children would likely be running around...it would be anarchy!

As far as the last two stories go, they give you a good summary of the year. Many were stories featured in this space. Many fueled the idea that an animal uprising is looming. Here are a few of my favorites...

• "An elephant kicked its heroin habit..."
• "An Egyptian donkey was locked up for stealing corn on the cob..."
• "A young British woman expressed surprise after finding a live baby bat in her bra..."
• "A British woman is to divorce her husband after discovering he was having a virtual affair..."