Not For Nothin’ Top 25: 5-2

Not for nothin’, but here it is, the top five stories of the year.  And what a year it was.  We will be embarking on a new year and 2008 will be in the history books.  It’s hard to imagine how the next year could be better than the last, but something will happen and there’ll be another 25 significant stories to write about.

Not For Nothin’ Top 25 Stories of the Year: 5-2

#5 – Governor Rod Blagojevich Scandal - To continue in Illinois political corruption tradition, when their current governor Rod Blagojevich was arrested fraud and solicitation of bribery charges.  Blagojevich was being accused of seeking out money or other personal gain in return for the vacant Senate seat in Illinois, that he was to fill by appointment.  It was called the “pay to play” scandal and the complaint released by federal investigators went into the recorded conversations of the governor making attempts to sell the seat, however much of conversations weren’t fit for publication.  But after all the scandal, the distancing of other political figures, the calls for resignation, and the proclamations of innocence by Blagojevich, he still managed to appoint the seat.  It didn’t sit well to many, most not upset with the appointee, but the appointer.  Blagojevich was the latest of several Illinois governors who have been arrested and/or indicted on corruption charges.

Sarah Palin mania

#4 - Sarah Palin Mania- Six months ago, would you have thought that a hockey mom from Alaska would have made so many headlines?  Well, a hockey mom did, and she was Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.  When John McCain picked the governor as his vice-presidential nominee for vice-president it created an immediate positive reaction for his campaign.  The young and energetic Palin came with a host of attributes that attracted many people to her, unfortunately many of them weren’t in the voting capacity.  Sarah Palin managed to grab headline after headline during the two month long general election.  From her children, to her experience, to her looks, to her catchphrases, to her winking there was always some for anyone to either like, dislike, or report on with Palin.  There’s an argument out there with her being the reason for the lost, but if the GOP would have won then it would likely have been because of Palin as well.  Put it this way, election is over with and the losing vice-presidential candidate is still making headlines.

# 3 – Beijing Olympics 2008 - One of the world’s most highly anticipated events every four years, the Summer Olympics is always a big story.  2008 in Beijing was no exception.  The first time China hosted the Olympics proved to be a huge success.  Logistically, everything was well put together.  The Opening Ceremony was a spectacular sight to see.  And last put definitely not least the athletic performance put on by all was superb.  But if any one stood out above others it would certainly have to be swimmer Michael Phelps as he made Olympic history getting the most gold medals in the Olympics and breaking almost every swimming record they could think of.  Honorable mention for athletic performance goes to Jamaica’s Usain Bolt who was crowned the world’s fastest man in his lightning fast 200 meter track and field feat.  It was a good job all around, every country has something to be proud of.

Government making deals on bailout

#2 - Economic Crisis- The United States of America saw the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.  Stocks, houses, retailers, credit, etc…if it had something to do with money it go hurt at some point during 2008.  It was almost like a domino affect.  It started when people weren’t able to keep their homes, whether their own fault or indirectly their fault, then the banks paid for it.  Because people didn’t have the financial dependency we normally depend on banks took a hurting too.  Either they didn’t know, didn’t show, or didn’t about what was to come.  Well they should have but now its too late.  The whole country is in a bind now because of it.  Thousands of homes lost, millions of jobs lost, and at the end of the year retailers felt it the hardest with a slow holiday season.  This all prompted the U.S. government to get involved.  These institutions tried helping themselves, specifically the banks, but when that wasn’t helping they went to the government for help.  That’s when the term “bailout” came into play, because that’s what exactly the country needed to get out of this mess.  The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 will be known for when our president asked the country for $700 billion to help contain this crisis.  Additionally, it would have been one thing if this was an isolated event, but this crisis was felt on a worldwide scale, with many other countries finding themselves in the same situation.  It would be fair to say that this crisis will affect (either directly or indirectly) everyone in the world.

Not For Nothin’ Top 25: 10-6

 Not for nothin’ but the next stories have the ability to be among the most memorable news stories for the next decade.

Not For Nothin’ Top 25 Stories of the Year:  10-6

#10 – Polygamist Ranch Bust – In one of the most talked about stories of the year was when at least 130 women and over 400 children were removed from a polygamist compound in Texas.  All of the children were placed in state custody because a judge said they were in danger of being abused.  Authorities raided the YFZ Ranch owned by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FDLS), a Mormon branch that practiced polygamy and allegedly forced teenage girls into sexual relations and marriages.  There were several teenage mothers and pregnant teens among those removed.  The comound’s former leader and founder Warren Jeffs was already serving time for charges of incest, rape, and other related charges.  The children were later returned to their families after a court ruling overturned the originly saying no threat was being posed.

The missing Caylee Anthony

#9 - The Search For Caylee Anthony -This story captured thousands across the country.  But then again, why wouldn’t it.  It first came as a mystery, a two-year-old child went missing in Orlando.  On top of that, the child’s mother Casey Anthony neglected to report her missing, up until her mother call the authorities.  What took place afterwards was investigators would have to work around a boundless amount of lies and deceit from the child’s mother Casey.  All of which did not look good for her and led up to Casey being indicted for the murder of her daughter Caylee.  Six months after Caylee was last seen, her remains were found in a wooded area.  The only mystery that’s left is, will Casey be found guilty of the death of her child?  Well, we shall see.

 #8 - Mumbai Terror Attacks - India would find itself in the grip of terrorism.  Ten terrorist unleashed an assault on the country’s financial capital, killing 164 people and injury hundreds others.  The attack came from gun fire, grenades, and other types of explosive devices.  The attackers primarily focused their assault on two hotels, but it wasn’t limited to hotels as people in markets and train stations also had to run for their lives.  In the end, after the three day long siege, one lone gunman was captured.  At this point the attack was likely spawned from a Pakistani based terrorist organization.  The relationship between India and Pakistan was already strain, and this perhaps could have been the last straw.

#7 - Big Three Automobile Bailout- Collateral damage in the years global financial crisis, this year proved to be quite the turbulent year of auto makers in America.  The big three of Ford, Chrysler and GM saw their sales plummet so low that they did the same as some other industries this year and sought out help from the federal government.  Price of oil from years previous was high.  That combined with the loss in sales from the big three’s bread and butter of the sports utility vehicles because of the gas prices really hurt the industry.  It didn’t get any better with the recession and credit crunch.  It was essentially the perfect storm for the industry to fall behind.  The year ended with the respective CEO’s going to capitol hill asking for part of the rescue bill that was passed months earlier.  The problem will likely extend into 2009, and may see this list next year.

The rise of piracy

#6 - The Rise of Piracy- Its been a long time since piracy on the high seas was an international issue.  This year pirate attacks have been one of the most talked about concerns on a worldwide level.  There was a 75 percent increase in attacks from last year.  The word piracy took on new meaning, specifically in the area off the coast of north Africa and in the Indian Ocean.  The pirates, usually from the lawless country of Somolia, had seized over 100 ships from millions of dollars in ransom money.  No ship was sacred as their attacks got bigger and bigger making the whole world take notice.  Worldwide efforts would soon join in the fight to help combat the new pirates.

Not For Nothin’ Top 25: 15-11

Not for nothin’, but this year (in review) is just getting started.  The best stories have yet to come.  Next topic!

Not For Nothin’ Top 25 Stories of the Year:  15-11

#15 – Governor Eliot Spitzer Scandal – The first governor’s scandal of the year came to us from New York.  The mysterious “Client-9″ of the prostitution service Emperors Club VIP, was identified as Governor Eliot Spitzer.  For the tryst with the woman identified as Ashley Dupre that took place in Washington, D.C., Spitzer paid for travel from New York, transportation to/from hotel, hotel expenses, and room service.  All of this in addition to the $4,300 paid for the service of the female.  He resigned a week after the scandal broke.

#14 – Gas Prices – 2008 saw one of the largest swing in gas prices that any single year has seen in decades.  At one point this year prices were the highest in years, but at another point prices were the lowest in years.  Around Memorial Day, some motorist were paying as much as $6 a gallon for gas.  While it wasn’t that high everywhere, it wasn’t uncommon to see gas at close to $5 a gallon at many place around the country.  But on the last weekend of the year, some of us are seeing prices below $1.50 a gallon with a national average of $1.64 a gallon.  The lowest it’s been since February 2004. 

TV achor beaten to death

#13 - TV News Anchor Beaten To Death - The country was rocked when we heard of the brutal beating of a television news anchor in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The 26-year-old Anne Pressly, was savagely beaten by a then unknown attacker within inches of her life.  She would succumb to her injuries and passed away within the week.  Within the month, police built a case and named a suspect.  Curtis Vance was arrested on November 26.  No motive was given, but burglary was suspected. 

Heath Ledger's "Joker" impresses

#12 – The Dark Knight’s Fallen Star- At the time of his death, actor Heath Ledger just finished with the movie The Dark Knight.  His death, if anything fuel buzz on the movie and had audiences worldwide eagerly awaiting one of Ledger’s final performances.  Ledger was already one of Hollywood’s most promising stars, but he could have been looking at new heights after the release of The Dark Knight.  The film went on to be the highest grossing movie of the year and in the top five of movie gross of all time.  And for a movie of this genre to receive Oscar buzz is usually unheard of, but Heath Ledger’s performance is changing that.  He’s been nominated for several awards, including a Golden Globe.  An Academy Award nomination is likely immenent. 

 #11 – Russian Georgian War – There’s always cause for alarm when a nuclear-armed country gets involved in a military conflict.  Neighboring countries of Russia and Georgia found themselves in a five-day war in early August.  Tensions between the two countries were strained every since Georgia broke away when the Soviet Union collapsed and Georgia declared their independence.  But tensions essentially turned into war over a conflict between two regions of Georgia, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.  The two of them wanted to be recognized as independent themselves, but Georgia didn’t want that.  The situation wasn’t helped when superpower Russia took the side of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.  Georgia would eventually move forces into the South Ossetia capital, just to be ousted by Russian military forces a few days later.  That’s when other Russian military forces began marching into Georgia on another front.  The two sides would eventually come to a peaceful solution…for now.

Not For Nothin’ Top 25: 20-16

Not for nothin’, but we’re just at the tip of the iceberg for this year.  Let’s move on to what else moved and shook us this year. 

Not For Nothin’ Top 25 Stories of the Year:  (20-16)

#20 – Chinese Earthquake- Just days after one part of Asia was struck with massive deaths of a natural disaster, another major natural disaster struck in China.  This one came in the form of the 19th most deadliest earthquake of all time.  The Wenchuan Earthquake measured an 8.0 on the Richter magnitude scale and killed close to 70,000.  Five million people were left homeless in its wake. 

Joe the Plumber

#19 -Joe The Plumber- This years election season gave us dozens of stories to keep us busy throughout the year.  But one guy became more than what he should have in the fall.  It could have been joked that “Joe the Plumber” had a better chance at winning the presidency than John McCain.  After an incidental man on the street meeting with Joe Wurzelbacher with Barack Obama, he found his name mentioned 26 times in the following debate between Obama and McCain.  Naturally he became an instant celebrity.  Joe, supposedly portraying the average American, would eventually allign himself with McCain and receive a firestorm of media criticism in his 15 minutes of fame.  This type of hype has gotten people to higher places, but lets hope we do not have to hear from Joe the Plumber again.

#18 - O.J. Simpson Trial, Again- The law caught up with O.J. Simpson this year.  On October 3, he was convicted of robbery, burglary, assault, kidnapping and other felony related crimes in an attempt to retrieve items he said were his from a Las Vegas hotel.  Simpson was already made famous from being one of the best professional football players in history, and made infamous by being acquitted of double murder in the mid 90’s.  He was sentenced in December and will likely spend the next decade in prison.

Twilight

#17 - Twilight- Fans, moviegoers, and excited teenage girls were all apart of the phenomenon this year know as Twilight.  What was initially released as a series of books and became hugely popular, Twilight was made into a feature length film.  Scores of people brought the movie in with a bang that had a hand in reinventing the vampire myth for 2008.  The film’s young stars became instant icons and for weeks late in the year there was hardly any movie, actor, or actress more talked about.  I guess the good news for some is that, there’s a chance this could be on next year’s list.

#16 – 2008 Hurricane Season – This year, we saw some deadly hurricanes, both of which seemed to have focused on an area already ravaged by Hurricane Katrina just a few years prior.  Hurricane’s Gustav and Ike, both thought by some to be the second coming of Hurricane Katrina, were quite damaging in their own right.  While not as deadly and destructive as Katrina, the two of them combined for close to 300 deaths and $40 billion in damage to the Caribbean and U.S. Gulf Coast.

Not For Nothin’ Top 25

Not for nothin’, but it’s been an incredible year for events, news, and information.  It’s always nice to look back and reflect at the best and worst of the year.  There’s been a lot of good and a lot of bad.  So not to waste too much more time, let’s get to it.

Not For Nothin’ Top 25 Stories of the Year:  (25-21)

Same-sex marriage controversy

#25 - Same Sex Marriages - The right of a man to marry another man or a woman to marry another woman showed up in two different stages this year with the second causing it to appear on this list.  Back in the summer of this year, same-sex couples were allowed to marry in California.  But since then, the infamous Proposition 8 in California and similar legislation in a couple other states made it illegal.  There’s been so much public outcry, California could actually end up overturning it.

#24 – Thousands die in cyclone in Myanmar – A strong tropical cyclone made landfall in May and caused the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of the region.  Over 90,000 deaths were originally reported.  The death toll would eventually hit at least 146,000 with even thousands more still missing.  They actually stop counting to minimize the political fallout.  When its all said and done, the number could be well over one million.

#23 - Large Hadron Collider - Was it the greatest threat to mankind in the history of the world, or just a science experiment?  We’ll have to wait till next year to find out.  A European group set out to explore the mysteries of teh beginning of the universe with the world’s larges particle accelerator.  There were theories floated around the world that this experiment could actually suceed in creating a black hole and destroying the world.  It was never founded as the experiment had to be halted due to technical reasons.  They’ll try again next summer.

#22 – The Hudson Murder Tragedy – In late October, the country was shocked to find out that a triple homicide in Chicago’s southside was that of three family members of actress/singer Jennifer Hudson.  Hudson, the star of American Idol fame and film Dreamgirls, had her mother, her brother and her seven-year-old nephew slain.  William Balfour, estranged husband of Hudson’s sister was arrested and eventually charged with the three murders.

Fidel Castro resigned in February

#21 – The Resignation of Fidel Castro – One of the most influential people of recent history, Fidel Castro took over leadership in Cuba in 1959 and established the communist government that’s still in place to this day.  Although to no surprise, after deteriorating health and almost 50 years of being at the helm of one of the remaining communist nations in the world, he retired and resigned in February.  He transferred his power and responsibility to his younger brother Raul Castro.

No Boxing Day In America

No Boxing Day in America

Yes America, there isn’t a Boxing Day…at least not in the United States.  Boxing Day is a holiday, usually celebrated the day after Christmas.  Many countries observe the day, such as in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and several other countries in the Commonwealth of Nations that have a significant Christian population.  However, the holiday is not recognized by the United States of America.  

Boxing Day, similar to many holidays, American or not, has either a double purpose or has lost its true meaning if you ask some people.  Boxing Day was originally the day that servants and the lower class would get a day off (since they usually worked on Christmas) and would receive gifts from the upper class in boxes.  So similar to the day that precedes it, it was a gift giving day.  It has eventually transformed to where nowadays, it is widely known as a day where retailers sell goods at discounted prices and a significant amount of shopping is done.  For those of us in America, it would be if our Black Friday were a federal holiday.  

The original American colonist brought over many customs from England, as they were still English citizens.  But tensions with the British rose and American became more secular and Americanized, some of those traditions were either modified with American versions or dropped altogether.  Even Christmas was not immune to this as it was in danger of becoming non-existent in America in the late 1700s to the early 1800s.  Over the years, Americans saw growth in popularity of many aspects of the holiday season.  Our own Thanksgiving day, Black Friday, Christmas Eve, and New Years Eve were all days that had special meaning to many Americans, if not for its special meaning but for the joy and fellowship it brought.  There are other traditions in America like Santa Claus, American football (and other sports), and things in the American media which are also widely popular in America.  All of which could have contributed to America not having a Boxing Day, as it doesn’t carry much significance in comparison.

But as Boxing Day is known for a popular day for shopping at discounted rates, even though not recognized by American, the day is still quite the shopping day in America.  Its a day where malls and stores are packed with people returning gifts, using gift cards, or looking for those post-Christmas deals.  This year, retailers were eager to get shoppers back because sales prior to Christmas were the lowest in decades.

Not for nothin’, but Americans shouldn’t feel bad for not being included in a holiday that many of the other first world countries partake in.  How many of you actually work or go to school on the day after Christmas anyway?  In many ways its still celebrated the same way.  Besides, we have Thanksgiving and they don’t.

Magic Of Movies, Or The Magic Of Christmas?

Movies are a holiday tradition

There is a correlation between the Christmas holiday season and movies.  It’s almost as prominent as the holiday music that’s constantly during this time of year.  But the relationship of movies and Christmas actually takes on a variety of forms.  For starters, five major films are being release on Christmas this year.  It has become tradition for many people in America to go to the movie theater on Christmas.  According to box office analysis, they bank on it, saying the audience is there because there’s no work or no school and everyone is usually looking for something to do after Christmas morning festivities and the holiday meal.  What better way then to take in a movie?

Movie magic?

But that’s not the only way Hollywood plays (or has played) upon our Christmas cheer.  This evening millions of us are just finishing up on the marathon tradition of watching one of the most popular Christmas movies, A Christmas Story, that plays continuously on TBS.  But that by far isn’t the only movie we watch time after time again, every year.  Your “Christmas movies” are usually divided up three ways.  Those movies directly about the Christmas holiday, the movies that have a main plot that’s not entirely related to Christmas but are set during the Christmas holiday, and then there’s the movies that have nothing to do with Christmas and are played during Christmas time just because people are used to seeing them around Christmas.

Not for nothin’, but it’s just another reason why this is called, “the most wonderful time of the year.”  It’s the magic of movies, what they do to people, and simply just relating them to the holiday season allows for more cheer.  You’re either in a good enough mood to go see a newly released movie, or any of the plethora of movies during the holiday season are sure to put you in good spirits.  So is it the magic of movies or the magic of Christmas?  You decide.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

The story of Christmas

“Twas the night before Christmas,” is the popular first line and what many believe is the title of a poem, A Visit From Saint Nicholas.  But what many do not know is that the poem, along with Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, amongst other works, actually served as an effort in the early 1800s to reinvent the Christmas holiday as many people particularly those in Britain and America thought the holiday was dying out.   A Visit From Saint Nicholas is largely responsible for what many of us know as our Christmas traditions that include shopping, gift giving, and Santa Claus.

As we all know, most cultures and religions have holiday celebrations to end the year (or to begin in some cases), and the Christmas celebration that Christians celebrate is the culmination of parts of several cultural traditions.  What started as a religious tradition became much more, which would eventually cause some controversy.   The day, December 25, marks the birth of Jesus Christ, hence the compound of the meaning Christ’s Mass.  While it wasn’t the actual birth date of Christ, the day has been long celebrated with feasts in conjunction with the birth of Christ, a Roman Festival, or the winter solstice being the reason why it was chosen.  During the Middle Ages, the Epiphany overshadowed the actual day and the holiday gained a lot of popularity.  In America it fell out of favor, especially during the American Revolution, as it was thought of more of a British tradition.  But as bigotry and discrimination fell, a new push for revival arrived.

Thomas Nast's Santa Claus

The figure Santa Claus and the role he plays has seen a varied amount of changes throughout time.  Santa Claus, derived from the Dutch Sinterklaas as the name given to the figure that is celebrated on Saint Nicholas’ day.  Saint Nicholas was a Turkish bishop who is known as the patron saint of children who had a reputation for giving gifts to the poor and children.  He is the inspiration and model for the modern Santa Claus.  The figure also has numerous similarities to Odin, a major God to Germanic people.  These similarities and traditions such as yule log, stocking stuffing, the evergreen tree, and flying in the air with supernatural beast were all celebrated during the same festival time by the Germanic people and eventually brought into the modern culture when they were Christianized.  Those depictions were eventually combined with the European figure Father Christmas, a merry (usually drunk) old bearded man whose image is commonly seen as the Ghost of Christmas Present in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. 

So the rebirth of Christmas came with works like the afore mentioned poem A Visit From Saint Nicholas, and the image of Santa Claus was primarily presented by cartoonist Thomas Nast a few years after the poem was published.  Traditions and myths grew over the years, and with mass commercialization, marketing and advertisement of Christmas and Santa Claus being linked through soft drinks, the Salvation Army and such, we come to know the holiday as it is today.

Not for nothin’, but for it to be the most wonderful time of the year, there has to be some sadness abound because many people neglect the history of the holiday and cannot fathom the significance of it.  In fact, that’s the reason why it has been mared by controversy because people upset that the commercialization of the holiday upsets the religious aspect.  But that’s what’s so good about  it is that the holiday is about the best of both.  It’s the time to be happy because of everything it represents.

Obama Report Released In Blago Probe

No inappropriate contact between Blagojevich and Obama

As many of us, even to include U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and President-elect Barack Obama, have thought to be true that Obama nor his team had any inappropriate contact with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is being accused of trying to sell Obama’s vacant senate seat for cash or other personal gain.  

White House attorney Greg Craig released the report that detail the contact and said that Obama and his aides did not try to cut any deals with Blagojevich.  But it also read that Obama and two of his top aides met last week with federal investigators in case.  After releasing the report, Craig said in terms of communication and contact that he was satisfied that nothing inappropriate took place between the governors office and transition officials.

While no deals was discussed between anyone in between the two parties, Obama’s Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who was said to have spoken with the governor, did speak to him about the Senate seat.  The report said Emanuel had four conversations with the governor’s chief of staff John Harris, and two conversations with the Blagojevich himself.  Craig said that Harris did not make any attempt to extract personal gain for the governor in any of his conversations.  Those conversations were “totally appropriate and acceptable,” Craig said on Tuesday.

Governor Blagojevich attorney Edward M. Genson, is also using this opportunity to help build his client’s case of his innocence, saying the report just corroborates it.  Since U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald released the investigation and Blagojevich was charged on December 9, he has claimed his innocence and rejected many calls for resignation.

Not for nothin’, but opposing critics are going to just have to try again somewhere else.  If all they can latch on to is “why wait so long to release it,” then they’re criticism is weak.  Not saying that Obama is squeaky clean (is anyone), but his isn’t the case for them.

Source

Search For Clues In Plane Accident

Search for clues in plane accident

A National Transportation Safety Board member announced Monday that the black box recovered from the the accident involving the plane in Denver, should help figure out exactly what caused the accident.  On Saturday, a Continental Airlines flight trying to take off suddenly veered off the runway into an adjacent ravine and burst into flames.  Although over three dozen people were injured, there were no fatalities.

NTSB member Robert Sumwalt said that a team of investigators will begin what is usually a three day process of deciphering what is on the voice recorders found within the cockpit’s black box.  According to Sumwalt, it’s too early in their investigation to identify exactly what the issue was, some believe part of it could have something to do with the crosswinds.  The tail rudder could have been used to counteract the winds that were at an estimated 31 miles per hour, but if the controls were relax, it could have caused the plane to veer off.  But even if that was a contributing factor, it likely wasn’t the only reason.

Monday investigators spent the day reviewing evidence collected at the site, inside and outside the plane, speaking with passengers and reviewing maintenance records.  They were also curious to look into what is know as perishable evidence, such as skid-marks in the snow that have the potential of not being there at a later time.  While there is no indication at this point of engine malfunction, NTSB says nothing is being ruled out as a cause. 

Not for nothin’, but this was the worst nightmare of airline travel for anyone who has flown on an airplane.  Luckily for 115 people who are fortunate to live through this accident, it will can continue to be a nightmare.

Source