Winners
Jodie Foster: The famous actress-director gives a fascinating, witty and intelligent speech at the Golden Globes, suggesting she is gay while at the same time suggesting it’s nobody’s business.
Cuba: The island nation’s government relaxes heavy travel restrictions that greatly limited citizens’ ability to visit other nations.
Parkview Field: Named among top Minor League Baseball experiences in the country for the second straight season by Stadium Journey magazine.
St. Elmo Steakhouse: Famed Indianapolis restaurant gets starring role in Thursday episode of NBC’s “Parks & Recreation,” where six male cast members filmed a scene that included a cameo by Newt Gingrich, who just happened to be dining there.
Tossups
Indiana public schools: Gov. Mike Pence’s budget includes just a 1 percent increase in school funding – about $65 million – but House Speaker Brian Bosma, a fellow Republican, says the state should restore more than $300 million cut in recent years.
China: Beijing records worst air pollution on record – but the censorship-heavy government allows extensive media reporting of the issue.
Losers
Lance Armstrong: Yes, the disgraced cycling champion finally came clean about using performance-enhancing drugs, but only after years of adamantly denying it and as part of a well-orchestrated image-rebuilding strategy.
Boeing: FAA grounds six new 787 Dreamliners after a string of safety incidents involving the high-tech plane.
Labor unions: U.S. manufacturing has added half a million workers since 2009, but union membership in factories fell 4 percent from 2010 to 2012.
Milestones
Dear Abby: Pauline Friedman Phillips, who wrote the advice column under the pen name of Abigail Van Buren, dies at 94. Her death comes 11 years after that of her twin sister – and chief competitor – Esther Friedman Lederer, better known as Ann Landers.
Clarence Thomas: “Well – he did not” isn’t exactly great oratory, but those words were the first the U.S. Supreme Court justice uttered from the bench since 2006. Not a question, the phrase was apparently a joke regarding the quality of Harvard Law School vs. Yale, his alma mater.
Bearcreek Farm: The country resort that has offered shows, lodging, dining and other attractions near Bryant in northern Jay County since 1975 announces more limited hours and that 2013 will be its last year. The closing will not affect owner Don Strong’s other area business, Richard’s Restaurants.
