With the Olympics well under way, one would think a feeling of good-natured competitiveness would be settling over the planet. Worldwide, people are feeling proud of the accomplishments of their country's athletes, while admiring the hard work, skill, and determination of the athletes from other countries. One might even expect that the worst behavior exhibited by leaders and extremists would take a short holiday, kind of like the unofficial Christmas lulls in hostility during the two Great Wars.

That notion, however, is a pipe dream (or perhaps a half-pipe dream). The reality is that aggressive, stupid, and/or irrational behavior is alive and well and making misery the world over while we try to focus on the positive aspects of the Olympics.

At the Olympics themselves, there's the obsessive tracking of the "medal count", as if countries were competing against each other instead of individual athletes. In a venue where sometimes winning a bronze and going home empty-handed is decided by tenths of a second, it seems to cheapen the hard work and accomplishments of those that "missed it by that much".

The U.S hockey goalie Ryan Miller was not allowed to keep his slogan "Miller Time" on his helmet and had to cover it up. Why? The official reason is that was considered an advertisement (even though it's funny, considering his name). Methinks Anheuser-Busch complained as well. Stupid...

But it's the world stage where things really shine in their own buzzing flickering neon sign kind of way. Libya is considering barring and ejecting visitors from 25 European countries. Why? Because Gaddafi's son was arrested in Switzerland for beating his servants. This response is actually just the tip of the iceberg of his over-the-top claims and absurd responses.

Just across the Mediterranean, Italy's government is seeking to gain control of all online video content available in that country. Is it to quell alternative and dissident voices? Is Italy returning to fascism? Surprisingly, it already has. The "free press" in Italy is largely owned by Italy's prime minister Berlusconi. He is trying to protect his TV empire from the competition of online video, and using his governmental power to do so.

Meanwhile, our favorite crazy from Iran - Mahmoud I'mADinnerJacket - is trying to guess Israel's summer vacation plans. A week at the beach?... a European vacation?... How about war with Iran? In a case we can file under "I know what you're going to do next summer", he claims that Israel is planning a war with Iran. How does he know this? He isn't saying, and no one is asking.

In a strange confluence of US, Europe, and apparent terrorism, a J.P. Morgan building in Greece was hit by a bomb. Why? The article at the link doesn't say. Perhaps someone didn't like their early withdrawal penalties. If this was in the U.S., it would be all over the news, and groups would be clamoring to take credit.

But what about the United States? Don't we have anything going on? Well - I suppose, if you count being traded like a cheap whore. It seems the China doesn't want us anymore, and sold off a big chunk of our debt to Japan, who is now the largest holder of our balls. I guess this means we can get more aggressive with China. Meanwhile, Toyota is thinking "who's your daddy?" as the US tries to get Toyota's recall documents.

Maybe that will get Mexico's foreign minister Jorge Castañeda to rethink his idea that Mexico, the U.S., and Canada should have a unified "North American" currency. What would it be called? The "International Overspend Unit", or the IOU?

Perhaps it's best we all just go back to the TV and watch figure skating. No controversies there... fur-lined emo cross-dressing skaters excepted...