2012 has been a crazy year! Lots of news and events happened and some of it was tough to swallow. So here is my list of the top 10 stories of 2012! But first, enjoy the Jib Jab‘s year in review video. It’s very funny!
President Obama Re-Elected
Get used to it folks, President Obama won a second term in a landslide. He got 332 electoral votes and won the majority of the popular votes. Mitt Romney ran a good campaign but some of the gaffes including the 47% comment and binders full of women is what made him lose. Many of us millennials who are under 30 years old voted for Obama because we trust him. The Republicans will have to do better in 2016 or they will never win the presidency ever again!
Pink Slime In Beef
This was probably the ugliest story of 2012. ABC News came out with a story showing some companies using ammonia to separate the fat from the meat in beef trimmings. Around 70% of all beef in the stores contained pink slime before the news story was shown. Many people were disgusted of this practice and soon the companies discontinued the provision of ground beef with the additive. Pink Slime is not fit for human consumption!
Chick-fil-A Controversy
Chick-fil-A makes this list because so many people either supported them or boycotted them. When Dan Cathy made the statement that he supports the biblical definition of the family unit. This touched off a media firestorm. Some people boycotted the restaurant because they don’t support gay marriage. Others went to Chick-fil-A during the unofficial appreciation day and this caused massive lines! I support anyone’s right to marry whomever they want, even if it’s the same-sex. That sign above was mine!
Felix Baumgartner Jump from Space
Was this crazy or what! Felix Baumgartner broke a world record when he jumped from space 24 miles up in the sky. He also broke records for reaching an estimated speed of 834 MPH or Mach 1.24. And he became the first person to break the sound barrier without vehicular power on his descent. The Red Bull Stratos project was a huge success! Here is the video to remind yourself of this feat!
Facebook Going Public
Facebook went public on the stock market and ever since the stock price has fallen! Sure, at the end of 2012 the stock price is starting to hold steady but this story has a lesson for all of us! Sometimes its better to not chase every dollar you can grab. Life is better when you are not greedy! Many people do not appreciate Facebook charging money so you can send your status updates to everyone. I don’t like that!
Hurricane / Superstorm Sandy
Remember the storm that everyone has called Superstorm Sandy. Sandy went up along the eastern seaboard and then made the sharp left turn into New Jersey. The storm caused massive damage along the New Jersey coastline, but the biggest news was in New York City. The pictures from the storm flooding New York City and the underground system were just amazing! The total damage cost from the storm is around $63 billion!
Multiple Mass Shootings
From the Aurora Theater Shootings to the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shootings. 2012 has been a year filled with multiple mass shootings. Many victims have been killed due to gun violence and the big topic now is what kinds of gun control America should have? For me; I still support the people’s rights to have guns but certain weapons like assault weapons should be banned!
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympics in London were awesome! Michael Phelps became the best Olympian ever! Usain Bolt was a thrill to watch on the track! Gabby Douglas was an awesome gymnast! Oscar Pistorius made history by running with artificial lower legs. Mo Farah gave the Britains some gold medals. Missy Frankilin is the new star swimmer! And Ryan Lochte is a star swimmer for the guys! I loved the opening and closing ceremonies but did not like NBC’s time-delayed coverage.
Penn State University Scandal
This was a very sad story! Seeing Joe Paterno and Jerry Sandusky covering up the sexual abuse of kids was a huge disgrace! Jerry Sandusky will be in prison for the rest of his life while Joe Paterno passed away before he was put on trial. Penn State has removed all signs of one of the best coaches of college football history and it should be that way!
U.S. Economy / Fiscal Cliff
Sure, the economists have said the U.S. economy is out of the recession but are they so sure? Many people are struggling while the rich keeps on hoarding the money. So should we be surprised to be seeing the fiscal cliff? The Democrats wants to tax people more with very high income while the Republicans wants to cut some services to the people who needs it the most like me. I was on unemployment and now on food stamps because no one will hire me. Being unemployed for 18 months sucks! I wish our politicians would be put on the unemployment line but I am afraid our voters have gotten too dumb.
Related articles
- The 10 Worst PR Disasters of 2012 (entrepreneur.com)
- 2012 headlines dominated by partisan politics, tragedy (triblive.com)
- 2012 Year In Review: Top Music / Songs (geekalabama.com)
Categories: Interesting Stuff, News Talk Stuff
Between you and me, I’m pretty sure the U.S. fell off the fiscal cliff and into a deep dark hole a long time ago. We owe so much, it’s a sorry thing. That said, I do believe in our country. And its leaders. (Sort of.) But I believe in the people most of all. We can turn this mess around, but we have to be willing to hurt for a little while to pay for the sins of those who came before us. And to help to pay for clean-up due to natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy.
Happy New Year.
A lot of good things happened this year, too. You just have to look for them. 😉
Yeah; I am glad to see 2012 come to a close. I am look forward to great things in 2013. This is a quote I will be sharing on my New Year’s Day post. We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day. – Edith Lovejoy Pierce