TIME MAG PERSON OF THE YEAR

[Duchess]

Do you have a personal nominee?

[Maggot]

Karl Marx

[Jimbone]

Karl Marx

He's doing very well for a dead guy actually, so this is a good pick.

Plus, Americans really seem to love the shit out of him!

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't think my picks will be on Time Magazine's short list, but here they are anyway. (Lots of interesting people in 2012, being a year of presidential election and Olympics.)

I was encouraged by Ron Paul's ability to hang in there and make waves throughout this election year, as a Libertarian candidate (well, under the Republican umbrella, but still). I think, or maybe just hope, he may have really opened the door to broaden the restrictive two-party candidate system in future elections. Plus, he's just a really interesting guy to watch and listen to. I think he's one of the few politicians that means what he says almost all of the time.


It was inspiring to watch Oscar Pistorius, first double amputee Olympian sprinter, this year. And watching Usain Bolt run like lightning and break the world record was a rush too.


Marissa Mayer's 2012 jump from executive at Google to President and CEO of Yahoo fascinates me; professionally ballsy but personally very challenging and possibly rewarding move. At 37 (and pregnant for the first time when Yahoo copped her), she is the youngest CEO of any Fortune 500 company. Betting on her to turn Yahoo around.

[QueenBee]

I pick you, Duchess....for keeping all the animals in this here zoo in line.

[Midwest Spy]

While pondering this, I was left scratching my head. There didn't seem to be any viable candidates.

Then, I realized there was a person who exemplified what every man strives to become: Rich and Powerful, and most importantly, able to buy himself out of any trouble he may have stumbled in to.

Read on:

Dominique Strauss-Kahn settles sexual assault case with hotel maid.

A hotel maid who claims she was brutally sexually assaulted by Dominique Strauss-Kahn has settled her civil action against the former IMF chief for an undisclosed sum, in a move that allows her to "move on with her life", lawyers said.

In Bronx supreme court on Monday, a judge announced that an agreement had been reached just minutes before the session started, adding that the amount – which is rumoured to be as much as $6m – remained "confidential".

It brings to an end a lengthy New York court battle for the man once tipped to become French president, having earlier seen criminal charges of attempted rape dropped. Nonetheless, Strauss-Kahn's legal woes are not completely behind him – he is yet to hear if prosecutors in France will be allowed to pursue charges of aggravated pimping related to an alleged prostitution ring in France. A court is due to rule in that case on 19 December.

The lawsuit settled in New York on Monday relates to claims by Nafissatou Diallo, a 33-year-old former housekeeper at the upmarket Sofitel hotel in Manhattan.

She says Strauss-Kahn attacked her on 14 May 2011 as she attempted to clean his room.

Diallo alleges that Strauss-Kahn ran at her naked, molested her and forced her to perform oral sex on him. The claims led to a criminal investigation against the IMF boss last year, and to his house arrest in Manhattan.

But charges of attempted rape, sex abuse, forcible touching and unlawful imprisonment were eventually dropped, with prosecutors citing "substantial credibility issues" with Diallo.

Despite the collapse of a criminal investigation, Diallo continued to pursue Strauss-Kahn through the civil courts, leading to a counter defamation suit by the former IMF head.

At first, Strauss-Kahn's lawyers tried to claim that their client had diplomatic immunity him from being sued. But that failed, with the courts dismissing his claims of protection.

A settlement in the case was widely expected ahead of Monday's hearing. Strauss-Kahn's New York attorneys had previously acknowledged that talks had taken place. But they dismissed as "flatly false" a French newspaper's report that the amount agreed to was a payment of $6m to Diallo.

In court on Monday, judge Douglas McKeon confirmed that a deal had been struck, but not the amount.

"Ten minutes ago we reached a settlement in this case, which was put on the record," he said during a brief session.

He added: "The amount of the settlement is confidential."

McKeon also confirmed that a claim against the New York Post – which had reported that Diallo had worked as a prostitute – had also been settled. Again, the terms were not discussed in open court.

Diallo sat through the court proceedings accompanied by her legal representatives. Dressed in a snow-leopard skin print headscarf and emerald blouse, she made no statement while in the courtroom.

But in brief comments on the steps of the Bronx supreme court, Diallo, who was born in Guinea and who is the mother to a teenage girl, thanked her supporters.

"I just want to say I thank everyone that supported me all over the world. I thank everybody; I thank God," she said.

Her attorney, Kenneth Thompson, said Diallo was a "strong and courageous woman who never lost faith in our system of justice".

"With this resolution, she can now move on with her life," he added.

Strauss-Kahn was not in court. Nor did his legal representatives offer any comment after it was announced that settlement had been struck, other than to thank the court.

Monday's hearing marks an apparent end to Strauss-Kahn's New York legal battles. But it has come at cost for the 63-year-old. As well as losing his job at the IMF, it ended any realistic chance Strauss-Kahn had at a run at the French presidency as further lurid details of his lifestyle later emerged.

In addition, it led to a raft of other sexual allegations being made against him and likely contributed to his separation from his wife, French journalist Anne Sinclair.

Next week, Strauss-Kahn will hear if a separate attempt to get charges levied against him by French prosecutors thrown out has been successful.

[username]

Anybody but Obama.

[HarleyGuy]

I would think the women of Mock would be nominating James Dyson!

He has revolutionized the vacuum cleaner!

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovatio...ics-with-l

[Jimbone]

I would think the women of Mock would be nominating James Dyson!

He has revolutionized the vacuum cleaner!

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovatio...ics-with-l

I really need him to revolutionize room vaporizers.

They are a bitch to keep clean, and if anyone can come up with a great design it would be that guy.

[HairOfTheDog]

While pondering this, I was left scratching my head. There didn't seem to be any viable candidates.

Then, I realized there was a person who exemplified what every man strives to become: Rich and Powerful, and most importantly, able to buy himself out of any trouble he may have stumbled in to.

Read on:

Dominique Strauss-Kahn settles sexual assault case with hotel maid.

You were dropped on your head repeatedly as a baby, right?

Yeah, Strauss-Kahn should definitely be 2012's person of the year. And, like him, every man wants to become rich and powerful so he can financially settle his way out of sexual abuse cases? I suspect that you speak as accurately for all men as you do for all women.

[Midwest Spy]

While pondering this, I was left scratching my head. There didn't seem to be any viable candidates.

Then, I realized there was a person who exemplified what every man strives to become: Rich and Powerful, and most importantly, able to buy himself out of any trouble he may have stumbled in to.

Read on:

Dominique Strauss-Kahn settles sexual assault case with hotel maid.

You were dropped on your head repeatedly as a baby, right?

Yeah, Strauss-Kahn should definitely be 2012's person of the year. And, like him, every man wants to become rich and powerful so he can financially settle his way out of sexual abuse cases? I suspect that you speak as accurately for all men as you do for all women.

That was a pretty funny nomination, huh?

It's actually pretty disgusting. At least she got a reported $6M out of it.

That was said in jest, BUT, I was serious when I said I'd love to bang Katy Perry and/or Lindsay Lohan.

[Duchess]

You were dropped on your head repeatedly as a baby, right?

HaHaFuckinHa.

It's so unusual to see this side of you. I like it!

[HairOfTheDog]

You were dropped on your head repeatedly as a baby, right?

HaHaFuckinHa.

It's so unusual to see this side of you. I like it!

Happens every year around this time. The same very serious stuff is happening with work as it does each holiday season.

So, I'd rather do this:

Than this:

[HairOfTheDog]

Anybody but Obama.

Sorry, user.

Obama is Time Magazine's person of 2012...



http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/20...r/1779183/

[username]

Anybody but Obama.

Sorry, user.

Obama is Time Magazine's person of 2012...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/20...r/1779183/

WTF?

[HairOfTheDog]

Anybody but Obama.

Sorry, user.

Obama is Time Magazine's person of 2012...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/20...r/1779183/

WTF?

He's an interesting and powerful man and I hope he does better in his second term than he did in his first.

But, yeah, wouldn't have been on my short list either this year. Seems like a "default" business choice, coming fresh off of his election victory, imo.

Time will probably sell more mags and get more hits than if they'd chosen someone perhaps more deserving but lesser known, imo.

[username]

I've agreed with him and I've disagreed with him but for sure, I don't think he deserves to be person of the year. For whatever reason, he's just not able to bring people together. I know it's not entirely his fault but the buck has to stop somewhere.

Bad choice.

[Maggot]

Love is in the air.......

[Duchess]

Wow. Obama. I'm very surprised.

[Tammy75]

I suppose I am the town idiot but what exactly has Obama did that makes ppl hate him so much?