“The Defense Department is reportedly inventing a new medal designed to reward soliders who fight battles from the safety of their computer consoles. The Associated Press says the Pentagon is creating a new ribbon, called the Distinguished Warfare Medal that will be given for ‘extra achievement’ related to a military operation. That would include drone pilots…” [Atlantic]

“An eastern Kentucky pastor wants Tennessee wildlife officials to return five venomous snakes confiscated in Knoxville. Gregory Coots, who is known as Jamie Coots, is pastor of at the Full Gospel Tabernacle in Jesus Name Church in Middlesboro. Coots handles the snakes as part of worship services.” [AP, via jwmcsame]

Rubio’s awkward sip didn’t hurt him. If anything, he connected with Americans who fear such a public-speaking moment–aka everyone.

— Robert Costa (@robertcostaNRO) February 13, 2013

It’s time once again for our national celebration of Civic Calisthenics! Having endured dozens of them by now, that’s all we really remember about any of them — Aisle Hogs, Common Man Cameos, and Bouncy-Bouncy. (Well, plus the occasional Accusative from a Backbencher.) The ritual is so established, we swear you could set it to music.

“CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post incorrectly reported that Sarah Palin had signed on as a contributor to the Al Jazeera America news network. The blogger cited a report on the Daily Currant Web site as the basis for that information without realizing that the piece was satirical.” [WaPo]

Title: “The Genius of Dogs: How Dogs Are Smarter than You Think”

Authors: Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods

Rank: 72

Blurb: “Brian Hare’s stunning discovery is that when dogs domesticated themselves as early as 40,000 years ago they became far more like human infants than their wolf ancestors.”

Review: “I really don’t get ‘cat’ people.”

Customers Also Bought: “12 Piece Total Furniture Repair System”

Footnote: The infantilization of domesticated critters is not a new discovery. That said, cats have managed the transition while maintaining some degree of dignity. Or, depending how you regard it, spite.

The Genius of Dogs [Amazon]

Buy or Die [Stinque@Amazon Kickback Link]

“Rice hit a spectator on the sixth hole at Pebble Beach on Thursday after a bad swing went 50 yards into the gallery. The ball smacked the female fan in the forehead, causing what was later called concussion-like symptoms…” [Yahoo, via Political Wire]