As Finals Commence, Life Continues Elsewhere

Submitted By Harry Baumgarten Clock Dec 17, 2011 2 Comments

In the midst of finals it’s easy to stop following the news, let alone writing it. Here are ten stories that you may have missed- but shouldn’t:

1. Newt Gingrich surged ahead in the polls. The former Speaker of the House is over ten points ahead of Romney and has the largest following of any primary contender to date. (Huntsman’s also gaining momentum with 2.5%- still above the margin of error in most polls).

2. In local news, Elizabeth Warren and Scott Brown are polling neck and neck.

3. Iran claims to have captured a US drone. Meanwhile, the US has struggled to come up with a consistent response. Chances are that if it’s real it will go to China. (See EP-3, 2001).

4. There was another shooting at Virginia Tech.

5. A German-negotiated plan raises hopes that the European economic crisis may be mitigated, but analysts warn that its implementation will be slow, insufficient, and fly in the face of US designs.

6. Russia hosted elections that the US alleges were plagued with fraud. Protests ensued.

7. The Muslim Brotherhood made gains in Egyptian elections that will continue into January.

8. Controversial pundit Christopher Hitchens is dead.

9. President Obama made yet another historic speech. Speaking from Kanasas, he assailed growing income inequality.

10. The Iraq War is over (again). Troop levels are at their lowest point since the war began, however thousands of troops will be re-stationed in nearby Kuwait and the American embassy in Iraq will be the largest in the world.