Image: ABC News

Charles Gibson, who has worked for ABC News for 34 years and currently anchors “World News” has announced that he will retire at the end of this year. At age 66, the former Congressional correspondent and co-host of “Good Morning America” will retire. Charles Gibson said:

“It has not been an easy decision to make” Gibson said in his email to colleagues. “This has been my professional home for almost 35 years. And I love this news department, and all who work in it, to the depths of my soul.”

He didn’t really give a reason for why he is leaving “World News” and bringing his career to a close, but if I had to guess I’d say it’s because he is old. Given his position, he probably has plenty of money to live off of for a while, without even needing a low rate personal loan.

Diane Sawyer to take over “World News”

The new “World News” anchor will be “Good Morning America” host Diane Sawyer. There’s no official word yet on who will replace Diane Sawyer on “Good Morning America,” but rumor has it that Elizabeth Vargas, one-time “World News” anchor and current “20/20″ anchor, is a serious candidate.

Diane Sawyer previously was anchor on “60 Minutes” and “Prime Time Live.”

Charles Gibson’s 35-year career

Charles Gibson first started working for ABC News in 1975. At that time, he was a political reporter. He covered the House of Representatives and the White House, and served as a reporter for “World News with Peter Jennings.”

From there he moved on to host “Good Morning America” before ending up in his spot on “World News,” which he took over in 2006. Charles Gibsaon moderated the 2008 Democratic debate in Philadelphia, and he was first to interview Sarah Palin after it was announced she’d be John McCain’s running mate.

Charles Gibson family life

Now that Charles Gibson is retiring, perhaps he will spend more time with his wife, Arlene, his two daughters, Jessica and Katherine, and his grandchild.

Want to check out Charles Gibson’s Facebook page? Who doesn’t? I have to warn  you, though, he has not updated his status since March. Of 2008.

Charles Gibson’s goodbye e-mail

The e-mail that Charles Gibson wrote informing his coworkers of his decision has been published all over. Here it is:

I have always been taught you should never bury the lead _ so I write to tell you that I have told David Westin I want to step down as anchor of World News, and retire from full time employment at ABC News.

It has not been an easy decision to make. This has been my professional home for almost 35 years. And I love this news department, and all who work in it, to the depths of my soul.

I have received much comment, and quite a few emails and letters referring to the signoff Eddie Pinder convinced me to use – wishing that everyone has had a good day. But the proudest part for me has been saying “…for all of us at ABC News…”, since those words signify in my mind that I have been in a position to speak for an entire news department that I consider second to none.

It had been my intention to step down from my job at Good Morning America in 2007 but with Peter’s illness, Bob’s injuries, and Elizabeth’s pregnancy, the job at World News came open in May of 2006, and David asked me to step in as anchor. It was an honor to do so. The program is now operating at a very accelerated, but steady, cruising speed, and I think it is an opportune time for a transition _ both for the broadcast and for me. Life is dynamic; it is not static.

I have told David I would like to continue in some capacity contributing occasionally to ABC News. He has been receptive to the idea – and we will be discussing what that role might be.

Australia’s Parliament may soon have to submit to Breathalyzer tests

Yes, Virginia, you heard it.  The Australian Parliament is contemplating instilling a rule that would make it a requirement for all members of parliament to submit to a breathalyzer test before voting on any legislation, like on regulation of payday loans.  Various levels of Australian government have had alcohol related scandals over the years; there are some that are seeking an end to it, or at least prevention of anybody being allowed to drink and legislate.  Laws exist in the country that makes it mandatory for any and all crane operators to take a breathalyzer before they can begin work with the massive machines.   Public transport operators have also called for random drug screening of members of parliament, stating that since they have to put up with the intrusion for the sake of the public’s well being, it is decidedly just as important that the legislators of the country do as well.   This is all in the wake of a member of parliament who had to resign his post as a spokesperson for his particular party after he got drunk at a Christmas party, and apparently shoved a female colleague.  Granted, that may not make him Ted Kennedy, but it is still reprehensible enough.
Seems fair enough doesn’t it?  If you are a person whose vote could decide the fate of a country, or large groups of people and enormous sums of money, it would seem imprudent to imbibe in any alcohol or any other substances with intoxicating effects while you are at work.  In fact, not very many professions in the world allow a worker, at any level, to be intoxicated at work, even if inside the legal limits.  So far, Australian Parliamentarians seem to be somewhat receptive to the idea, though some believe that if it were to be so installed, it should be voluntary only, rather than mandatory.

Drinking while politicking isn’t unheard of, but it is still wrong

Now we’ve all heard of politicians that enjoy a tipple or two in their off time, and Winston Churchill was known to down copious amounts of brandy and smoke cigars until the wee hours of morning regularly (FDR was rumored to have to take several days to recover from his visits), but members of any government in the world should not be drunk at the wheel of their respective countries.  The rest of us shouldn’t be drunk at the wheel of our finances, and if we have a sudden gap we need to fill, we certainly shouldn’t try to medicate our sorrows away – we can get payday loans.

The Biggest Gift Items are often the Biggest Targets

One of the largest gift ideas that many of us have for our loved ones is jewelry.  Now obviously, the jewelry that a lot of people like to be able to afford during the holidays goes beyond your average pearl or cubic zirconium earrings; we’re talking the high class, multiple thousand dollar diamond necklace, or bracelet, or ring type of stuff here.  Jewelry is a constant attention getter for thieves. On Thursday, December 4th, a diamond heist went down at the Paris location of Harry Winston Jewelers as night was beginning to fall and just before the store was about to close.  Harry Winston is one of the largest and high class jewelry companies in the world – some of the particular store that was robbed has a clientele list that lists names like: Richard Burton (the actor who was married to Elizabeth Taylor), Aristotle Onassis (Greek shipping tycoon, married Jacqueline Kennedy, widow of JFK), Nicolas Sarkozy (The President of France), the former Shah of Iran, Scarlett Johannson, Gwyneth Paltrow, Hilary Swank, just a few.  The heist went down in a matter of only a few minutes, the robbers being very well prepared, and made off with €85 million, or about $108 million dollars, or over a hundred million payday loans‘ worth.  The robbers may not be likely to find a buyer for extremely high price jewelry including rings and watches that will be far too easily identified, but its likely mobsters will be able to find buyers around the world with the ill gotten gains.  Apparently, three of the robbers were dressed as females, so as to drag investigation efforts to a slower pace.  This is the second time the Paris Harry Winston store has been robbed in a the last year, as they were robbed almost a year to the day of about $16 million in cash and jewels.

Hopefully, Santa will bring these thieves a lump of coal – and a prison sentence

We all know what it is like to wish we had some extra money during the holidays.  It would be great to get everybody the things on their wish list, make the family happy, and see our wives or girl friends eyes go wide open as we put a big shiny rock on their finger, but we’re not going to rob anybody to do it.  However, we do know that if we have a sudden expense come up, in the holiday season or not, we have legal, affordable, responsible options to help us out, such as payday loans.

What’s so civil about war anyway?

Somalia has been in a state of near constant civil war since 1991, when the government at the time was overthrown.  The situation degenerated quickly after that as hostilities grew along tribal lines that began to escalate out of control.  The UN decided to act to quell the violence, but even with a mostly US led coalition of peacekeeping troops, there was little that could be done to stem the fighting between tribes and rival warlords.  By 1996, the UN had withdrawn completely from the area to avoid further casualties without success.  The country has been experiencing fluctuating levels of hostility ever since, and there has been little stability to be found anywhere, except out of various regions which are, even then, rarely stable by most other country’s standards.   Attempts at central governments have been ineffectual at best, existing more or less in name only.  Some industry exists in the form of agriculture and agricultural exports, but not much development has been forecast for the near future.  Tensions and battles between both paramilitary and Islamic Law factions have been ongoing for over a decade, and show no signs of slowing.
In the absence of law and order, some Somalis have decided that a form of cottage industry was the way to go – piracy, in absence of other financial options like payday loans.  Since Somalia is located on the coast, the opportunity to partake in one of the worlds’ oldest professions was a juicy one – the Gulf of Aden leads to the Suez Canal, making it one of the highest areas of maritime traffic.  Just recently, a Saudi supertanker, the Sirius Star was taken, and her cargo and crew held hostage.  The norm is for Somali Pirates to hold a crew and cargo hostage for ransom, and once paid, release the cargo and crew unharmed and absconding with the cash.  The catch is that it seems to be working.  In the absence of any social mobility, people are turning to crime – and doing well at it.  They are able to purchase homes, keep a good supply of food, get more guns, bigger and faster boats, and also comfortably host their hostages.   (Captives report nothing but hospitality – plenty to eat and drink, entertainment, access to communicating with their families, and courtesy from their captors, which is probably better _treatment than some of them get from their employers.)  This is turning out to be the easiest form of upward mobility that Somalis have access to.

It may not last too long

In the wake of recent incidents of piracy, many countries are pledging the use of their Navy in order to guarantee the safety and stability of international trade and shipping by patrolling for pirates, and some pirate ships have already been sunk.  If you are in a crunch and need money, don’t turn to piracy – call for payday loans instead.