Here are the recent headliners, newsmakers, rebels, rousers, retards and retreads:

So I spent all this time in deep thought mode on the issue of video game violence lately, digging around for the latest research and studies and working up a couple of pieces for TwitchGuru (see Critic's Corner: TwitchGuru Speaks With a Leading Violence Expert on the Issue of Video Games and A Multiplayer Melee on Video Game Violence) with the intention of bringing a little sanity and logic to this heated debate. Then all of the sudden, a politician from my home state of Massachusetts decides to get a posse together and go after video games. Why? Because some 18-year-old New Bedford kid named Jacob Robida went on a rampage at a gay bar in New Bedford, Mass., fled to Arkansas with a female companion and then killed her and a police officer. After a high-speed chase, Robida died either by police gunfire or by turning his gun on himself. What did any of this have to do with video games? Nothing. According to Arkansas authorities, there was no connection between the crimes and any violent video games. But that didn't stop New Bedford mayor Scott Lang from using the senseless tragedy as a political springboard. Here's Lang's entire press statement from his Web site:

"This was a hate crime that has been perpetrated against our entire community, our entire society, and now the people of Arkansas. This is a tragedy at every level. I want to extend my sympathy to the families in New Bedford who have suffered, to the families of those who have lost their lives, and to the family of the Gassville, Arkansas police officer who sacrificed his life in the line of duty. Our hearts go out to the family of Officer James W. Sell who leaves his daughter and two grandchildren.

The actions of a single deranged individual act as a wake up call to our community and once again the nation. We must unify and begin a community wide effort to enforce a zero tolerance policy for crimes of violence, crimes of hatred, and anti-social behaviour. We cannot ignore what has happened in our community, we must address our situation immediately. All clergy, every church and synagogue in the City of New Bedford, must facilitate a positive, engaging dialogue with our young people and their families. This cycle of violence must stop. The guns have to come off the streets. The violent video games have to be taken out of our homes. Adults and children have to start coming forward with information, we must intervene to stop violence before it occurs. If you know someone who is exhibiting anti-social behaviour please seek an adult, a teacher, or the authorities help. We need to know about the next Jacob Robida and stop him before it is too late. I pledge the resources of the City of New Bedford, its school system, its social agencies, every asset we have, to work tirelessly to ensure that New Bedford is a safe, welcoming, tolerant community. Further, I ask every citizen in this city to join together in a manner, which indicates without any doubt that New Bedford will not condone, tolerate or allow its community to be subject to ignorant hateful acts of violence, of any kind and the atmosphere of fear that accompanies such acts. No one can rest until we accomplish this task."

It would be foolish, irresponsible and insensitive to overshadow what's really important here - hate crimes and the slaying of a police officer - with talk of video games. So I won't do it; I'll leave that to the idiot grand-standing politicians.