 |
| The victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting |
In Newton Connecticut on December 14th, 26 people- 20 students and 6 adults were shot and killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. 20 year old Adam Lanza, after shooting and killing his mother, set off to the school to participate in one of the most horrific and brutal school shootings. According to this article, at about 9:30 a.m., gun shots were heard across the school. Police and other first responders arrived on scene about 20 minutes after the first call. The gunman took his own life, police said. He took out a handgun and shot himself in a classroom as law enforcement officers approached.
 |
| Satellite view of Hurricane Sandy- October 28, 2012 |
Hurricane Sandy, one of the worst hurricanes to hit the east coast, killed hundreds and ruined thousands of homes. The hurricane destroyed hundreds of communities in New York and New Jersey, left thousands homeless, caused gas shortages, inflicted billions of dollars among damage and left over 8 million homes without power for weeks. Many programs were formed to help repair damage from the storm such as in this article. For homeowners of getting storm-damaged homes fixed up, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg created a program in which homeowners can register and contractors will perform the repairs, with homeowners not having to pay for it.
 |
| President Obama |
3. The Election
On November 6th, 2012, an estimated 126 million Americans casted their votes for the candidate that they wanted to run the country for the next four years. Obama, who took 51 percent of the popular vote and won 332 electoral votes, will began his second term on Jan. 20. Democrats claim his victory is a mandate, but Republicans argue that’s not the case. Either way, Obama will be a leading force for the next four years. According to this article, President Obama is only the sixth Democrat to be re-elected to office. The other five are Bill Clinton, Harry Truman, Franklin Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and Grover Cleveland. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the two candidates spent a total of $6 billion on the campaign, making it the most expensive election ever and surpassing the previous record of more than $700 million.
 |
| Jovan Belcher, linebacker of the Kansas City Chiefs |
4. Kansas City Chief Jovan Belcher murders girlfriend before heading off to commit suicide
According to this article, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot his girlfriend 9 times to death before heading to Arrowhead Stadium and committing suicide in front of the team's coach and general manager. Before pulling the trigger while standing in front of the General Manager Scott Piolo, and confessed to the murder of his girlfriend. “Guys, I have to do this,” he said. He knelt down behind a vehicle in the lot, made the sign of the cross, held the gun to his head and pulled the trigger. The team was aware of problems with the couple and had provided counseling. His struggles with personal issues were known and not unusual to those that everyone faces. "He had no major issues," the coach said. Cops recovered several legally owned guns from the Belcher residence, including the weapon used.
 |
| This image provided by Red Bull Stratos shows pilot Felix Baumgartner as he jumps out of the capsule during the final manned flight for Red Bull Stratos, Oct. 14, 2012 |
5. Skydiver Breaks Record For Highest Freefall
Felix Baumgartner, 44 year old Australian skydiver set the record at an estimated 39 kilometers, reaching 1,342 kilometers per hour (834 mph), on 14 October 2012, and became the first person to break the sound barrier without vehicular power on his descent. According to this article, after a weather delay of several hours, he set off at 9:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. ET) Sunday from Roswell, New Mexico. It took two hours to reach his target altitude. After free-falling for about four minutes and 20 seconds, he deployed a parachute for the last mile down to Earth. Baumgartner's successful jump broke Col. Joe Kittinger's record set in 1960. Kittinger fell from 102,800 feet as part of a U.S. Air Force mission. He said Baumgartner "did perfect," and all the others involved in making the mission a success. "It was a team effort, and Felix did a fantastic job," he said. "It was an honor for all of us to work with this brave guy."
6. Benghazi Attack
The attack on the United States Consulate in Benghazi, Libya resulted in the death of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others, which also led to questions about what the administration knew about its origins. U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice withdrew from consideration for secretary of State after Republicans charged her with giving misleading information about the Benghazi attack. According to this article, Clinton was scheduled to testify before Congress in early December about the attacks but had to cancel because of illness. She is expected to appear in some time in 2013.
7. Gay Marriage
Obama, after a drawn-out process of "evolving," said in May he supported the right of gay couples to wed. On Election Day, Maine, Maryland and Washington became the first states to legalize gay marriage via popular vote. And on Dec. 7 the Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases that could further expand same-sex marriage rights. According to this article, there are approximately 120,000 legally married same-sex couples in the United States. Said by John Eastman, chairman of the National Organization for Marriage, "that is the right outcome based on the law and based on the principle that voters hold the ultimate power over basic policy judgments and their decisions are entitled to respect."
8. Kimye
According to this article, Kardashian's boyfriend, Kanye West, revealed during a Dec. 30 concert in Atlantic City, N.J., that they are expecting their first child together. The couple went public with their relationship in March. Kardashian married NBA player Kris Humphries in August 2011 and their divorce is not finalized. "When you spend time with someone, you learn things from them, so I see what (his) views are in wanting to be private, so that's a choice we make together as a family just in how we're gonna raise our kid," she said. "... But my personal experience of having really open relationships on the show, I've done that, and for me I feel like I got really scrutinized when people didn't maybe understand my decisions at some point, so I feel like after that experience I've become more private more so than just like Kanye's views or anything." Kim Kardashian is due in July.
9. Trayvon Martin Shooting
According to CBS News, Unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of the 17-year-old Martin in February. The 29-year-old has claimed self-defense and pleaded not guilty. Zimmerman was granted a $150,000 bond and released in April. But the judge denied the bond in June after prosecutors presented evidence that Zimmerman and his wife lied to the court about how much money they had. He was later freed on a new $1 million bond. Zimmerman wasn't charged with second-degree murder until 44 days after the shooting. During that time, protesters around the nation demanded Zimmerman's arrest, and the Sanford Police Department was accused of racism and incompetence.
 |
| U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens |
The attack on the United States Consulate in Benghazi, Libya resulted in the death of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others, which also led to questions about what the administration knew about its origins. U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice withdrew from consideration for secretary of State after Republicans charged her with giving misleading information about the Benghazi attack. According to this article, Clinton was scheduled to testify before Congress in early December about the attacks but had to cancel because of illness. She is expected to appear in some time in 2013.
 |
| As of December 2012, nine states—Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington—as well as the District of Columbia and two Native American tribes—have legalized same-sex marriage. |
7. Gay Marriage
Obama, after a drawn-out process of "evolving," said in May he supported the right of gay couples to wed. On Election Day, Maine, Maryland and Washington became the first states to legalize gay marriage via popular vote. And on Dec. 7 the Supreme Court agreed to hear two cases that could further expand same-sex marriage rights. According to this article, there are approximately 120,000 legally married same-sex couples in the United States. Said by John Eastman, chairman of the National Organization for Marriage, "that is the right outcome based on the law and based on the principle that voters hold the ultimate power over basic policy judgments and their decisions are entitled to respect."
 |
| Kanye West (left) and Kim Kardashian (right) |
8. Kimye
According to this article, Kardashian's boyfriend, Kanye West, revealed during a Dec. 30 concert in Atlantic City, N.J., that they are expecting their first child together. The couple went public with their relationship in March. Kardashian married NBA player Kris Humphries in August 2011 and their divorce is not finalized. "When you spend time with someone, you learn things from them, so I see what (his) views are in wanting to be private, so that's a choice we make together as a family just in how we're gonna raise our kid," she said. "... But my personal experience of having really open relationships on the show, I've done that, and for me I feel like I got really scrutinized when people didn't maybe understand my decisions at some point, so I feel like after that experience I've become more private more so than just like Kanye's views or anything." Kim Kardashian is due in July.
 |
| 17-year-old Trayvon Martin |
9. Trayvon Martin Shooting
According to CBS News, Unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of the 17-year-old Martin in February. The 29-year-old has claimed self-defense and pleaded not guilty. Zimmerman was granted a $150,000 bond and released in April. But the judge denied the bond in June after prosecutors presented evidence that Zimmerman and his wife lied to the court about how much money they had. He was later freed on a new $1 million bond. Zimmerman wasn't charged with second-degree murder until 44 days after the shooting. During that time, protesters around the nation demanded Zimmerman's arrest, and the Sanford Police Department was accused of racism and incompetence.
 |
| Rudy Eugene, 31 (right) and Ronald Poppo, 65 (left) |
10. Miami Cannibal Attack
On May 26th, Rudy Eugene, was nude when he attacked Poppo by chewing off much of his face. A police officer shot and killed Eugene, and no motive has surfaced. This triggered a "zombie apocalypse". Speculation ran high that inexpensive synthetic drugs, or "bath salts," were involved, but an autopsy revealed that was not the case. Poppo shockingly survived and has even given interviews about his attack, telling a Miami TV station, "He just ripped me to ribbons." According to ABC News, Eugene was shot and killed by police. Surveillance video shows that for 18 agonizing minutes Poppo was disrobed from the waist down, kicked, punched and bitten before police shot Eugene four times. Poppo, 65, is now in a long term care facility in the Miami area where he is continuing to recover from his injuries.
On May 26th, Rudy Eugene, was nude when he attacked Poppo by chewing off much of his face. A police officer shot and killed Eugene, and no motive has surfaced. This triggered a "zombie apocalypse". Speculation ran high that inexpensive synthetic drugs, or "bath salts," were involved, but an autopsy revealed that was not the case. Poppo shockingly survived and has even given interviews about his attack, telling a Miami TV station, "He just ripped me to ribbons." According to ABC News, Eugene was shot and killed by police. Surveillance video shows that for 18 agonizing minutes Poppo was disrobed from the waist down, kicked, punched and bitten before police shot Eugene four times. Poppo, 65, is now in a long term care facility in the Miami area where he is continuing to recover from his injuries.
No comments:
Post a Comment