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

• More job cuts from Motorola Inc (MOT)...
• Speculation that Microsoft Corp (MSFT) may cut jobs...
• A report that says American International Group Inc (AIG) "is prepared to ask the Federal Reserve to relax the rules on how bidders pay for assets in its $60 billion disposals program..."
• A notable drop in copper...
• A record gain for gold...
• Optimism on stocks such as McDonald's (MCD), Wells Fargo (WFC), U.S. Bancorp (USB), Visa (V), MasterCard (MA), Apple (AAPL), and Target (TGT)...
• "A messy legal dispute " for Starbucks Corp (SBUX) involving "a group called the Starbucks Workers Union..."
• A drop in retail sales...
• Concerns about more economic woes in 2009...
• A drop in jobless claims...
• A management shake up at Dell Inc (DELL)....

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

• Britain hunting lovelorn beaver - "...a giant beaver on the loose, wreaking havoc in southwest England..."
• Ore. woman, 88, gives naked intruder the 'squeeze' - "...an 88-year-old woman fended off a naked intruder..."
• To lift motorists, smiley masks for Thai police - "...motorcycle policemen with a bright red goofy grin painted onto their white anti-pollution masks..." [courtesy of Colleen]

So...we end the year in fitting fashion with a prime example of the animal uprising as a giant beaver terrorizes Britain. I wish everyone over there luck.

Meanwhile we find an 88-year-old woman making her own luck by taking on a naked intruder. I can only imagine what sort of problems the intruder will face in prison once word gets out he attacked an elderly woman...and lost. File this story in with the arrested while naked situations and sign her up for the elderly vigilante squad!

Regarding the last story, you have to click through to see the picture. I like the concept of getting people to smile but this looks more like the Joker from Batman. I think I would be scared if I saw that coming at me...