Editor’s Note: The year in review.
Thursday, December 30, 2004
It is mind boggling that perhaps the biggest news story of the year is currently unfolding in the last week: The earthquake and tsunami has killed so many and is promising to kill so many more. It is a disaster of a magnitude that is barely imaginable. It seems like only yesterday the entire world was shocked by the downing of the twin towers. Now we face a disaster where the loss of life may eventually exceed that one by one hundred fold. This tragedy is so great that there is no easy way to transition into the rest of this post.
Why do newspapers, magazines, and other news agencies feel compelled to do a year in review?
I’m often asked, "Why do newspapers, magazines, and other news agencies feel compelled to do a year in review?" The answer varies from organization to organization. Some feel that it is only proper to look back on the year and gain some perspective on how far we have come. Some are looking to fill pages left empty from the good will towards man following the holiday season. And many, like NewsBlog 5000, have incorporated in Delaware, where it is required by law.
In this spirit, we bring you the Instigator of the Year competition. The instigator of the year is the man or woman who has caused the most useless news in 2004. Someone who makes you roll your eyes whenever you see them on TV. Someone that makes you wonder why you aren’t in the news.
Let’s not forget Saddam Hussein and his badly nicknamed cohort Chemical Ali.
There were some good contestants this year that were overlooked. Celebrities are always a favorite. Janet Jackson comes to mind. It will be a long time before we forget about her boob, or the damage he did by exposing her breast. And of course, Britney Spears started off the year with a flash wedding which left most people scratching their heads. And lest we forget the men we love to hate, there was Scott Peterson who calmly watched whilst lawyers described the murder of his wife. There were Osama bin Laden’s occasional messages to remind us the despite the best efforts of most of the world, he was still alive. And let’s not forget Saddam Hussein and his badly nicknamed cohort Chemical Ali.
This is where most organizations would put pictures and short bios of all of their nominees. The beauty of the Instigator of the Year award is that if you do not know who they are, they don’t deserve your vote.
Update 1: Google has a nice page set up with a list of disaster relief agencies. If you weren't going to give anything, just give $5. You won't even miss it, and it will make a difference.
Dr. Ryan Maynard, Editor
NewsBlog 5000
