World Cup Final Today: Spain v. The Netherlands

Today is the final of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Spain will be playing the Netherlands. Holland is undefeated in this year's tournament, while Spain has been one of the top 2 ranked teams in the world for the last three years (the other, Brazil was vanquished by the Dutch team in the quarterfinals).

One week after I watched him win his 2nd Wimbledon title, Spaniard Rafael Nadal will be in the audience to watch his team, La Furia Roja battle for their first World Cup title. Only seven countries have won the World Cup since the quadrennial competition began in 1930 (Uruguay, Italy, Germany, Brazil, England, Argentina, and France) so today history will be made.

Yesterday, 2-time defending champion Spain was eliminated from the Davis Cup by France in the semifinals. Is this a harbinger of Spain's defeat in the World Cup? The world's most famous cephalopod, Paul the Octopus has chosen Spain as the winner over the Netherlands today. He has not been wrong in all of his predictions at this year's tournament. He also correctly picked Germany to defeat Uruguay in the third place (runner's up) match. Germany won with a thrilling come-from-behind 3-2 victory to seal an all-European sweep.

MadProfessah's prediction: Netherlands (2-1)

World Cup Semifinal Spain v. GermanyToday

The second semifinal of the World Cup ishappening today. Spain is playing Germany. The winner will play the Netherlands, who defeated Uruguay 3-2 in the other semifinal while I was over Greenland yesterday.

With Rafa Nadal winning Wimbledon on Sunday, many are expecting Spain to win, as does Paul the prognosticating octopus, who has not been wrong yet!

Uruguay Now Most Pro-LGBT Country in South America

Uruguay is rapidly gaining a reputation as the most pro-gay country in South America despite neighboring Argentina and Brazil.

The small country enacted nationwide civil union legislation in 2007, ended it's ban on gays openly serving in the military earlier this year and last week opened up adoption to same-sex couples.

MadProfessah visited the country in 2006 (Montevideo) and quite enjoyed it!

Uruguay and Hungary Enact Civil Unions Laws

Flag of Uruguay	Flag ofHungary

Blabbeando alerts us to the fact that Uruguay is poised to become the first country in Latin America to enact civil unions for unmarried couples (both same-sex and opposite-sex).

On the same day came the news that Hungary has enacted the Registered Partnership Act, which would allow same-sex couples to have access to many of the rights and responsibilities of marriage in the eastern European country.

Uruguay To Legalize Same-Sex Civil Unions Soon

Blabbeando reports that Uruguay will become the first South American country to legalize same-sex unions nationwide next month, when the upper legislative house reconciles its previously passed bill with a bill that passed the lower house recently. The law would allow gay and straight couples who have lived together for 5 years to register their union with the state and receive social security, parenting, pension and inheritance rights and protections.

Mad Professah visited the capital of Uruguay, Montevideo, in October 2006 and is very happy to see the country make strides in recognizing gay rights. In Latin America, the cities of Buenos Aires and Mexico City and one State in Brazil also recognize same-sex couples and provide state-mandated benefits to registered partners.