VBVW for February 15, 2008: Fire And Water Sports

• The Very Best

The U.S. Senate passed a law to outlaw waterboarding. Of course, all the bad guys have already been subjected to this torture so it’s pretty much, as they say, water under the bridge.

Australia made a formal apology for “assimilating” some 100,000 Aboriginal children during the 20th century. The children were removed from their homes and sent to live in abusive government and church missions as part of an effort to “breed out the color” from their culture. What kind of godless country would exploit its own native population?

Singapore celebrated the inaugural flight of the world’s largest Ferris wheel, the 500-foot high Singapore Flyer. You can enjoy a cocktail while riding in your capsule or, for about $700, throw a private party 42 stories above Marina Bay. Just warn your guests that without onboard toilets, they’ll have to hold it in.

• The Very Worst

Namdaemun, the 610-year-old gate to ancient Seoul, was burned down. The 70-year-old arsonist responsible for torching South Korea’s most important national landmark was fresh out of jail for setting Seoul’s Changgyeong Palace on fire in 2006. Hey, Mr. Chae — time to retire.

General Motors reported losing $38.7 billion in 2007, the largest annual loss for a U.S. car manufacturer in history. That makes us feel bad, though not so bad that we’d buy an Impala.

Six different men won an online auction to have sex with a German woman. Now she’s pregnant and may have to sue the web site to get real identities for each of the potential fathers, whom she knew only by their screen names. Happy Valentine’s Day, Cybermom.