The year 2005 in review

While the holiday good food slowly digests in my belly and I at the moment can get away from holiday cheer with family for a few minutes, I am already thinking about this year in review. The first half of the decade of the new millennium is almost over.

As this year quickly slips away, it is time to review what I consider the biggest events for 2005. There is no apparent order or any rhyme or reason why one event is enumerated above or below another event. Obviously, there will be some overlap between lists and there may be disagreement about what events should make the Top 10, but these are my lists, my opinions. Feel free to send any comments.

As much as the 2005 year was an eventful year with its highs and lows, I pray that 2006 will be much better for all.

Traveler's Top Ten Local DC News in 2005

9. Will Anthony Williams re-run for mayor? News pundits have been asking this question throughout the 2005 year. In September, he said that he would not run for re-election.
8. Yet again, "mayor for life" Marion Barry is in the news as a DC Council member. Will he re-run as mayor?
7. Baby animals arrive at the Washington DC Zoo (Cheetah and Panda). Local citizens flock to see the new arrivals at the zoo and on the zoo's website. Awwwww!
6. Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks dies and her coffin is flown to the Capital for viewing. This type of honor is usually held for high government officials. Thousands visited the coffin to give their respect to this seamstress.
5. DC NHL arrives back in town in October 2005 after a long labor dispute between owners and players. The Caps are back.
4. The re-election (2nd inauguration) of "W".
3. Depending on the latest game, the Redskins may have an opportunity for post-season play.
2. Increase in local real estate prices. Local city dwellers aren't able to afford single family housing where prices can vary from $500,000 to over a million dollars. Due to the increase in housing prices and the limited number of properties, the condo market has skyrocketed, making affordable housing difficult to reach for many potential buyers.
1b. Will the Washington Nationals stay in DC? The DC council fight with Mayor Williams about the price of a new stadium and how will it be paid off. At this moment, it still is up in the air.
1a. Washington Nationals First Season. DC citizens got a taste of Professional baseball in the Nation's capital! Did they love it? For the most part, they do. Some DC dwellers are fearful of the prohibitive cost for a stadium. The concern is that local citizens will have to flip the bill with increased taxes and/or fees.

Traveler's Top Ten National Events in 2005

10. Copyright law is pushed to its limit as Google attempts to digitize millions of books. How is intellectual property protected? Musicians, authors, and artists are concerned about their content.
9. The Michael Jackson Trial. You could say it was more of a farce? At least, it can be considered strange.
8. "The Martha" is released from jail. Martha Stewart comes back from prison with a vengeance as she proceeds with her own personality show and her own version of "The Apprentice" reality show.
7. The national debate on euthanasia. Who can forget how are nation took sides over the death of Teri Shiavo as husband and her family battled how she should live and how she should die?
6. However you feel about the return of "W", the Bush administration is sworn again in January to declare a second term.
5. The Supreme Court. In 2005 Sandra Day O'Connor resigned and William Rehnquist died. The Bush White House gets two opportunities to mold the Supreme Court. Harriet Miers was a wash, while John Roberts was praised by Congress. Samuel Alito's confirmation hearings will start next month.
4. The Watergate Scandal. You would think that all news about this topic was completely done and written. Well, think again. Watergate Scandal's "Deep Throat" is revealed to be W. Mark Felt.
3. Lance Armstrong wins. Again, he wears the yellow jersey for the upteenth time. I stopped counting. He is elected as AP's male athlete of the year.
2. The national response to the Iraqi War trials, police action, terrorism, and elections.
1. The failing of government action during and after the Hurricane Katrina Disaster

Traveler's Top Ten International Events in 2005

10. UN and American intervention efforts continue with the Sudan Crisis over Darfur rebels
9. The war trial of Saddam Hussein. Is this better than reality TV?
8. Make poverty history. Bono of U2 rock band raised over 200 million dollars to aid African continent. Who said one man or one band could not affect the world? Afterward, he later was able to notify the world about poor countries ability to pay only the interest off their debts. On behalf of Jubilee 2000, he was able to convince Congress and other politicians to relieve the debt of African nations.
7. German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is elected as new Pope for the Catholic Church. Mixed reactions about this election and this pope.
6. The Paris fire burnings. French citizens, mostly poor and muslims rioted in the suburbs of Paris over unemployment, race relations, and what is considered French.
5. The London terrorist bombings. One set of bombings occurred in the first week of July to be followed by another attempted set of bombings.
4. Increase in Oil and Energy Prices
3. Wealthy nations lack of expenditures to decrease the spread of the global AIDS/HIV problem.
2. The remains of the Katrina hurricane disaster.
1. The global Tsunami disaster. At last count, I heard that the death toll is just over 280,000 dead or missing.

Other relevant Top 10 Lists of 2005

National Geographic Top 10 National News List of 2005. The photos of a live giant squid are simply amazing.

For you techies and geeks, here is a list of the Top 10 Biggest Microsoft Surprises for 2005.

*Please note that these news items were gathered from the Washington Post, National Geographic, Yahoo News, AP, and other online and print news sources.

Today's verse: Psalm 103:1-5 (New American Standard Bible)

Praise for the LORD'S Mercies.

A Psalm of David.

¹Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
²Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;
³Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;
⁴Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion;
⁵Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.