Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois, attempted to sell Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, which was deemed as the most outrageous event of the year. Blagojevich was arrested, charged with corruption and other crimes, and was later impeached for his actions. A series of earthquakes in Italy caused hundreds of deaths and left thousands homeless, representing the most tragic event. Embryonic stem cell research continues to be highly controversial as supporters argue it could lead to medical cures while opponents believe it amounts to murder. Bernie Madoff's massive Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of billions of dollars was viewed as the most scandalous news of the year.

2. Most memorable: Obama’s Inauguration
Barack Obama has made
history by becoming America’s
first African American
President. This inauguration is
especially memorable,
because it shows a change
from the years of segregation and slavery in our past to the
present reality, that America is now being led by a black
president. This shows people and children across the world
that you can accomplish anything you dream of, and nothing
is too far-fetched, no matter what race or religion you are.
The Democrats are also now slowly becoming the majority in
our government, giving America a change in views and
politics.

3. Most Outrageous: Rod Blagojevich
attempts to sell senate seat.
Rod Blagojevich has been arrested by federal because
of allegations with sufficient evidence made against
him. Blagojevich has been accused of attempting to
sell the senate seat of which Obama occupied
previous to his presidency. Blagojevich has been
charged with corruption, bribery, and mail fraud( Illegal persuasive materials designed
to trick consumers.) This is the most outrageous event of the year because this
governor, who should be leading Illinois in the right direction, is actually setting one of
the most corrupt examples ever. Fortunately, legal actions have been taken, and
Blagojevich has been summoned to attend a trial. Unfourtanetly, Blagojevich refused
to attend his own trial, which only raised suspicion and anger in American citizens.
Also, Rod Blagojevich has been impeached, and banned from running for office again.
It was corrupt, and wrong of him to do something like that, which makes it stand out
to many Americans.

4. Most Tragic: Earthquake in Italy
This year Italy has suffered both a great loss,
and a great tragedy. Italian residents have
been victims of a series of highly
underestimated earthquakes. In fact most
residents were aware that a series of
earthquakes were coming, they just did know the magnitude of the
earthquakes. This is because the were falsely assured repeatedly, that
the earthquakes were nothing to concern themselves with. Perhaps, if
residents had been more accurately, the earthquakes would not have
affected as many people as it did. This series of tremors and
earthquakes caused hundreds of deaths, and resulted in 17,000 people
becoming homeless. This forced people to find other source of food
and water, along with the task of having to seek shelter with friends or
relatives. Lives were not the only things lost, Italy lost history and
culture. Many historical sites collapsed, and museums were destroyed.

5. Most Controversial: Embryonic Stem Cell
Research
Embryonic stem cell research has been a very
controversial topic for many years, starting
with Clinton allowing stem cell research on
already discarded in vitro fertility experiments,
but not on existing embryos, going to George
W. Bush’s vetoing of several bills allowing stem
cell research, and then coming to now, when
President Obama recently passed a bill
allowing stem cell research. Many people are
in opposition to this new bill arguing that it is
murder, because to them, an embryo is
already considered a human life, that it is morally unacceptable. They also argue
that there should be testing on adult embryonic stem cells instead, so there would
be no theoretical “murder”. Those in favor of this bill argue that this could save
hundreds of lives. Most scientists seem to think that embryonic stem cells can
treat and hold many potential cures for many diseases and disorders such as spinal
cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cancer, Alzheimer's
disease, heart disease, hundreds of rare immune system and genetic disorders and
much more. Those in favor argue that if these diseases can possibly be cured, that
many future generations can be healthier, and that an embryo is not a life yet,
until it is born, so it is not actually murder. These two sides make very good points,
and this subject has caused many arguments and debates.

6. Most Scandalous: Bernie Madoff’s
Ponzi Scheme
Bernie Madoff formed a
gigantic Ponzi scheme,
operating over the span of
20 years and cheating many
people out of billions of
dollars. It is perhaps one of the largest frauds of Wall
Street’s history. Many foreign banks, charities,
celebrities, and even regular people invested their
savings in Madoff’s investment firm. He hired many
inexperienced workers and told them to create false
documents and records, moved money from bank to
bank to make it seem like there was active trading, and
told lies to his investors.

7. Most Unexpected: Swine Flu
Although the magnitude of the swine flu has
been exaggerated, swine flu still is a very
dangerous illness. In fact, locally (long island)
there have been a few recent deaths. The swine
flu was unexpected because, it was not a slowly
developing epidemic, it appeared when Mexicans who were more
susceptible to the disease crossed the border and appeared their illness.
Even though some people’s deaths have been linked to the swine flu, it is
only because they had underlying illnesses previous to the swine flu. Since
Mexicans are native to the disease border security is being tightened, in
efforts to prevent the illness from becoming worse. What makes this
unexpected illness even more dangerous is that it is airborne, so people
can get it very easily if they are near someone who is unaware that they
have swine flu. Scientists are now in a race for the cure.

8. Most Ironic: AIG bailout bonuses
A.I.G’s actions in the past year have
proved to be the most ironic. In this
time of slow economic activity, A.I.G’s
workers are being granted huge
bonuses. The irony in this situation is
that the unit that contributed the most to the company’s possible
collapse is the unit that is being granted the largest amount of
bonuses and the largest salaries. A.I.G received $170 billion in tax
payer’s money. Out of the $170 billion, they are giving $165 million
away in bonuses, to the executives in charge of thee unit
mentioned previously. Also ironically, though A.I.G’s workers have
caused their own downfall, we as American citizens have to pay to
clean up their mess, and yet A.I.G’s chief executives and lawyers
feel that is their obligation to pay their workers bonuses for a job
that was horribly executed. Unfortunately, even though many,
including the president, have tried to put a stop to these bonuses,
A.I.G has hired some of the best lawyers to defend and win their
case.