You qualified for the playoffs on the last day of the season with a losing record. (Laughter.) That's cutting it a little close, guys. (Laughter.) You beat your biggest rival, took down the defending champions on your way to the title game.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Welcomes the Major League Soccer Champions | The White House

Though it claims such budget-cutting is too much, too soon, Greece seems close to agreement with the troika (the IMF, the European Commission and the European Central Bank).

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne

No toilets will close as part of cost-cutting measures on Anglesey after the council said it had listened to people's concerns.

BBC: Anglesey public toilets saved from budget cut closures

This reflects a sharp drop in house prices and sales, cutting tax revenues and pushing the budget deficit close to the stability-pact ceiling this year, and probably over it in 2009.

ECONOMIST: The French president mollifies his tone towards Ireland

Hisense is certainly cutting things close with this late-December release, but if you click "add to cart" now, it may just arrive in time to make its way underneath a tree.

ENGADGET: Hisense Pulse with Google TV priced at $100, now available from Amazon