Spy or hero? The editorial boards of both the New York Times and the Guardian have called for NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden to be pardoned.

Tell that to the millions of Americans who just lost unemployment benefits. Manufacturing growth is at an 11-month high, construction spending has surged to its highest level in five years, and new jobless claims have fallen for the second week in a row.

Off target. Following in the wake of a massive security breach that threatens the credit and debit cards of 40 million customers, Target announced that some of the gift cards it sold over the holiday season were not fully activated. Oops.

Are there any alt-weeklies in Toronto hiring political reporters? Crack-smoking, pussy-eating, stupor-drinking Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has filed to run for reelection. Man, Seattle politics are boring.

Looks like Cienna has something to fall back on. An out-of-work former staff writer for the Raleigh News and Observer raised $3,900 on Indiegogo after asking for help paying his rent. Huh. Turns out begging pays better than journalism. Who knew?

When a man loves a woman... A man who hit a woman with his car outside a Seattle motorcycle club was allegedly shot in the chest by the woman's husband as he tried to drive away. No update on the conditions of the victims, but don't let anybody tell you that chivalry is dead.

Less chivalrous mayhem: Three other people were shot in Seattle on the first day of the new year, one fatally.

King County's finest: A King County Sheriff's deputy was arrested and placed on administrative leave after he was found slumped over unconscious in his patrol car. "A drug expert...believed the deputy was under the influence of a drug, possibly a narcotic."

Pot business profits up in smoke? The Washington State Department of Revenue is sending out letters to hundreds of medical marijuana "collectives" that have not been paying the state sales tax, demanding that they pay all future and back taxes.

Pot business up in smoke? Police suspect that malfunctioning equipment used in marijuana processing may have caused an explosion at a Kirkland apartment complex.

As if "Five Spice Donkey Meat" wasn't unappealing enough. Walmart has recalled its "Five Spice Donkey Meat" from its stores in China after tests revealed that the meat was adulterated with fox.

Abby Normal. An Indiana man has been accused of stealing brains from a medical history museum and selling them on eBay. Police were tipped off by a customer who bought six jars of human brain tissue on eBay for $600, who became suspicious after noticing labels on the jars. Because selling human brains on eBay isn't suspicious enough.