Top 10 Best and Worst News Stories of 2008

I couldn't find a good top ten list so thought I'd make my own.


WORST

• Santa Shooter - it's "Silent Night Deadly Night" come to life thanks to a deranged divorcee.
• Global Economic Meltdown - As a US taxpayer, I feel like I'm paying dollar amounts I can't even understand to gigantic companies that should know better.
• Global oil prices - When I drove home this summer, gasoline was $5 / gal. Now it's $1.50 - and we're suppose to think this is a bad thing. WTF?
• Flood in the Midwest - and Lake Delton draining! They're filling it back up though.
• Middle East still a mess
• Mugabe problems
  
• Cyclone Nargis and the seeming inept response of Myanmar / Burma government
• China earthquake - the rescue response seemed well orchestrated, but the overall impact killed almost 70,000
• Mumbai India bombings - though the people's response was very inspiring
• Dmitry Medvedev & Putin and the Georgia-invades-Russia-invades-Georgia situation.
  

(a booby prize goes to Brett Farve for un-retiring and going to the Jets. What a twit.)

BEST

• 1/31/2008 -- Kevin Everett, NFL player for the Denver Broncos who suffered a catastrophic spinal injury during their season opener, walks onto Oprah. Amazing.
• 7/3/2008 -- Rescue Frees Hostages from FARC. Significant due to the fact that one of the hostages was held for over 6 years, and the plan was executed very sneakily.
• 8/5/2008 -- Large group of Western Lowland Gorilla found that had not been known to exist. Good to know there's still hope for endangered charismatic megafawna.
• 8/11/2008 -- Jet lands safely after blowing a tire. There were many other airline stories this year, but I remember hearing about this one and being proud of the pilot and crew.
• Missing Hikers found alive - again, there were a number of these, but I like to celebrate when someone doesn't end up dying on a mountain side.
• COOL - country of origin labeling for meat finally implemented (with the expected loopholes.) Now if they could just find a way of keeping the plastic out of the milk.)
• Summer Olympics - Go World! Despite all the things I don't like about China's politics, and despite the pompous metal counts, I still love the Olympics.
• Barack Obama elected - Go USA
• Space Shuttle lands safely - we really should celebrate every time one of these makes it back home okay, especially since after 2010 they will be retired. The Orion will take over.
• Water Ice found on Mars - Go Solar System!

Wisconsin - Land of Humor

From the Prairie du Chien "Courier Press":

Droppin’ of the Carp festivities scheduled

Once again the City of Prairie du Chien will welcome the New Year with the Droppin’ of the Carp. The program for Dec. 31 is as follows:

3 p.m. Carp bowl - Last half of the football game between Prairie du Chien and McGregor/Marquette, Iowa firemen, located on St. Feriole Island. The winning fire department will receive a donation of $500 for their department.

9:30 p.m. Bonfire will be lit at the entrance to St. Feriole Island.

10:30 p.m. Welcome, breaking of the pinata for young children, crowning of the King and Queen, on-stage entertainment provided by Not So Pure Prairie League, composed of Suzanne Shaw, Jade Halverson and Shane Hazen.

11:40 p.m. Clock will be started for the countdown

Midnight Droppin’ of the Carp, "Auld Lang Syne," Pledge of Allegiance, "God Bless America" and fireworks.

Here is an article about the origins of the festival:

Stupid idea turns into carp ritual

http://lacrossetribune.com/articles/2003/12/31/mattjames/james31.txt

And another:

PdC festival seeks royalty for New Year’s carp drop

http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/12/14/news/z05carp14.txt

And no, I did not apply to be Carp Queen.

Cathangover

My kitty, Jack the Beagle Tamer, has a hangover. On Thursday(Christmas), he visited my Parent's house with me and hung out with my fam's cats. Then my sister's beagle Diesel came over and we were playing with him, getting him all riled up by making him chase a laser pointer. Finally, Jack had enough and ran after the infernal dog, smacking him on the nose like a prize fighter. The Beagle rolled over on his back, exposing his underbelly and yelping! No one was harmed in the display.

However, Jack threw up a big pile of who-knows-what under the bed this morning as we had returned home, and I think all the stress and excitement finally caught up with the poor guy.