Around the Bend December 26, 2012

Well, first & foremost, I just wanted to wish everyone a hapy holiday season. Hope that you got to enjoy your Christmas with friends and family, if you celebrated it. If you live in a country that celebrates it, here's hoping that you are enjoying your Boxer Day, as well! We're closing in on 2013, and so this may be the last Around the Bend for this year, alhough maybe not. Usually, I like doing these on Mondays, but this Monday was a bit different. So, here it is. A bit late, but otherwise ready to go. Enjoy! And again, here's wishing the best to you & yours this holiday season!

Sandy Hook Shootings

Investigators continue to search for the motive that Adam Lanza might have had in committing the murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School, but they remain stumped, seemingly. He seemed to have left virtually no clues as to what was going on inside of his disturbed mind.


The Fiscal Cliff

Despite President Obama already having rejected Boehner and the Republicans "Plan B" of raising taxes on those who make $1 million or more, House Republicans decided to reject the measure before it ever reached the floor to be voted on. Washington lawmakers will return and go back to work today, with less than a week left before we reach the fiscal cliff.


Romney Never Wanted to Run

According to Mitt Romney's son, Tagg Romney, his father had "no desire to run" for the office of President, although he ran more than once, and seemed to have committed the greater part of the last decade, or possibly more, in pursuit of that office that he did not want, evidently. "He wanted to be President less than anyone I've met in my life," Tagg went on to say.

Funny, because most people who don't want to be President don't run. That makes it sound like he was called upon to run, and despite not wanting to, decided to go ahead and run (twice), and wage a fierce campaign (twice), enduring all sorts of personal and professional attacks, because some mysterious others felt he was absolutely the best man. In other words, it is a major compliment, because he really wanted no part of the Presidency that he ultimately did not get anyway, but out of some noble sense of obligation from a huge show of support from as yet unidentified people who demanded that he make a run for the highest office in the land, he decided to do so (twice). And so, if we follow this logic, Romney ran, but reluctantly, although he himself said in his concession speech that he would have dearly loved to be the President.

Strange. I have no desire to hear from anyone in the political sphere with the last name of "Bush", but I have to tell you, that feeling is starting to grow for anyone named "Romney" as well. You can't trust anyone with those kinds of names, right now.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/mitt-romney-no-desire-president-tagg-says-191236665--election.html



George H. W. Bush Hospitalized

Former President George H. W. Bush, a President himself, and father of President George W. Bush, spent his Christmas in a hospital, as his health has been questionable as of late.




Movie Star Ben Affleck Considering a Run for Senate?

It seemed plausible enough. Ben Affleck was considered a serious candidate to fill the soon to be vacated Senate seat of John F. Kerry, who will be leaving it in order to fill the obligations of his new role as Secretary of State for the second Obama presidential term. But after rumors persisted and he kept being  asked specifically about it, Affleck has this to say on his Facebook page: "I love Massachusetts and our political process, but I am not running for office."


http://news.yahoo.com/ben-affleck-wont-running-senate-185449033--abc-news-politics.html




Around the World



Middle East

Israel - Despite condemnation from the EU, Israel announced that it would go ahead with development in the West Bank, in what the EU, and much of the rest of the world, views as Palestinian lands.
Israel - Hamas has forbidden local journalists from working with the Israeli media, declaring it "hostile".

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/12/26/3115441/hamas-forbids-local-journalists-from-working-with-israeli-media

Egypt - President Morsi has declared that the new constitution (which critics claim he rushed through) sets up  new republic. He has backed away of late from some of the sweeping powers that he had formerly seemed to grant himself, after massive protests. He has called on opposition groups to join in the dialogue and begin to get the country past the explosive divisions that have rocked the nation in recent years.

Syria - President Assad sent an envoy to Moscow in hopes of ending the conflict in his nation, which has threatened his long rule there.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2012/1226/Assad-sends-envoy-to-Moscow-for-talks-on-ending-Syria-s-conflict




Europe

Russia - Despite a huge degree of condemnetation and criticism the world over, the Russian parliament made a move towards banning Americans from adopting Russian children.

http://news.yahoo.com/russian-parliament-endorses-anti-us-adoption-bill-110523337.html

Italy - Italian Premiere Mario Monti has declined an offer by former Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi, who wanted ro run for Italy's top spot again, and wanted Monti to join him on a center-right ticket. He was turned off by Berlusconi's waffling. Berlusconi was often very critical of the government led by Monti, particularly of his economic policies. Yet, at other times, Berlusconi would praise the same government. It was this inconsistency that greatly contributed to Monti rejecting the offer, and saying that, in the end, "I couldn't accept his offer."

http://news.yahoo.com/italys-monti-turns-down-berlusconi-offer-run-111315555.html




Latin America & Caribbean
Venezuela - Amidst concerns about the health of President Chavez, who has been diagnosed with cancer, Vice President Nicolas Maduro announced on Christmas Eve that Chavez is up and walking around, although many remain skeptical of such glowing reports of the President's health. In the meantime, the nation's Supreme Court is deciding on whether or not it is constitutional to postpone the swearing in ceremonies of President Chavez, due to his health.

http://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-court-could-decide-chavez-swearing-234326529.html



Asia
Japan - Newly elected Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has declared that fixing the nation's ailing economy is the top priority on his agenda.

China - 70 of the nation's leading scholars have pushed the new Communist regime here in China for some modest reforms that included, but was not limited to, separating the party from government. They fell short of requesting an end to one party rule, however. They also requested greater freedom of speech, more free enterprise, and an independent judicial system.

http://news.yahoo.com/chinese-scholars-push-mild-political-reform-092942854.html

Philippines - Fires in the nation's capital of Manila have left eight dead and set off chaos in the capital city, as a riot has broken out.

http://news.yahoo.com/8-dead-christmas-day-fires-riot-philippines-052614842.html

India - Police have lifted barricades in New Delhi, as anti-rape protests have eased a bit there.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/26/world/asia/india-rapes/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

South Korea - The nation will get it's first woman President soon. Park Geun-hye has made history, and shw has vowed to "take care of our people one-by-one." She wants to lift much of the nation out of poverty that remains common throughout.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/19/world/asia/south-korea-presidential-result/index.html?hpt=wo_bn4

Africa
South Africa - The world continues to watch the condition of Nelson Mandela, iconic leader of South Africa, in more ways than one. This is a man who committed his life to trying to help resolve the extreme racial tensions prevalent throughout the country, and which always threatened to plunge the nation into some racial war and chaos. Yet, it is Mandela's level-headed leadership and foresight which is often credited with averting what had seemed like South Africa's inevitable destiny, and was seen as the impetus for what was (and still largely is) considered a success story, from a dictatorial, racial state, to a democratic "rainbow nation' with "one man, one vote".

But Mandela, who is 94-years old, appears to be ailing, and on the verge of death, possibly. Many in South Africa are nervous to see what that might mean for the country, and many others are saddened by the possibility that Mandela could die. Still, others are accepting, and figure that if he must go, then he must go. We all end up there in the end.

Mandela has spent significant time in a hospital in Pretoria, and was diagnosed with having a lung infection. He spent his Christmas there.

On top of the sadness and concern that many feel watching Mandela's deteriorating health, there is a debate raging in South Africa now about a patient's right to privacy versus the public's right to know, and the media's role in all of this.

Breaking - It was just reported as I wrote this that Nelson Mandela has been deemed fit for release from the hospital.


http://news.yahoo.com/south-africa-world-watches-mandelas-struggle-160632980.html


Central African Republic - The government here has requested assistance from France in order to hold off rebels advancing on the nation's capital. France has troops stationed in the nation, and the nation used to be a colony of France. Paris did not immediately respond.

http://news.yahoo.com/anti-rebel-protestors-attack-french-embassy-central-african-143503013.html

Nigeria - A warehouse that produced fireworks exploded in Nigeria's capital and largest city of Lagos  earlier today, killing one person. It also set off a fire that is threatening surrounding neighborhoods, and sent up a plume of smoke that can be seen for miles.


The United Nations 


Sports


NBA


After a hot start to the season as an introduction to their new home, the Brooklyn Nets have cooled off considerably. They lost seven of their last ten games, and following a hot start, the team just barely enjoys a winning record following another loss, this time to their division rivals, the Boston Celtics. The Celtics also have a 14-13 record after soundly defeating the Brooklyn Nets, 93-76, on Christmas day.

In the meantime, after a dismal start, the Lakers are beginning to put things together, and are looking more and more like a contender (unfortunately).


Soccer/Football

Former coach of the French National Team, Raymond Domenich, has claimed that the coaching spot for the American national team would be a dream job, following Jurgen Klinsmann's departure from the role. "There's a job I'd rather have!' declared Domenich. He cited an easy schedule against teams that he viewed as weak  He elaborated on just how easy the schedule tends to be for the American team, and that is why they "always" qualify.

It seems to me that Domenech has fallen prey to a certain overconfidence, and that if he ever was to become the American coach (a move that would probably not be in the interests of the American national team), the team might suffer. Instead of approaching every game as a test, he seems instead to overlook not just one or two, but almost all of his opponents, which itself seems to be a recipe for disaster. No wonder why the French national team, which had gone as far as the 2006 World Cup Final (and barely lost to eventual champion Italy in the shootout) fell by the wayside in 2010, and became the joke of those games in South Africa. He hardly seems like the strongest candidate for the job, and his arrogant and dismissive remarks suggest other weaknesses in his approach to the game, in general. I don't believe it would be in the best interests of the U. S. National team to even consider Domenich as an outside candidate for the position, let alone as a serious contender.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/former-france-coach-raymond-domenech-235400002--sow.html

France - Ligue 1

French Ligue 1 Standings

Here are the current standings for Ligue 1 in France following this past weekend. PSG, Lyon, and Marseilles are in a three-w ay tie for first, although they all got there through very different routes.

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/ligue-1/

FBFR

Place	Team	Games Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	Goals For	Goals Against
1	Paris Saint-Germain	19	11	5	3	38	36	12
2	Lyon	19	11	5	3	38	33	17
3	Marseille	19	12	2	5	38	24	20
4	Rennes	19	10	2	7	32	29	24
5	Lorient	19	8	7	4	31	32	29
6	Valenciennes	19	8	5	6	29	31	24
7	Bordeaux	19	6	11	2	29	21	14
8	Lille	19	7	8	4	29	24	18
9	Nice	19	7	8	4	29	26	26
10	St. Etienne	19	7	6	6	27	24	14
11	Montpellier	19	7	5	7	26	29	24
12	Toulouse	19	7	5	7	26	25	20
13	Bastia	19	6	4	9	22	26	41
14	Brest	19	6	3	10	21	20	28
15	Reims	19	4	7	8	19	16	20
16	AC Ajaccio	19	5	6	8	19	21	29
17	Evian	19	5	4	10	19	22	32
18	Sochaux	19	4	4	11	16	17	29
19	Troyes	19	2	7	10	13	20	37
20	AS Nancy-Lorraine	19	1	8	10	11	15	33