Government and law enforcement access to people's electronic communications is the norm in dictatorships around the world, but the same intrusion appears to be creeping into North America, say opponents of a new online surveillance bill tabled in the House Tuesday.

One of the oldest leap year traditions is for women to challenge the norm and propose to men on Feb. 29 -- a tradition that is believed to have roots in Irish legend. Many women leaped at the chance this year.

As brinkmanship becomes the norm in this U.S. election year, some policy analysts, and even some long-serving Republicans, are calling out today's GOP for practising 'the new politics of extremism.'