2009 in the rear view mirror

2009 was quite an eventful year. It began with home foreclosures higher than they had ever been, unemployment higher than it had ever been, banks failing and being bought out and taken over by the federal government. It saw GM and Chrysler being taken over by the federal government, and it brought us the Immaculation of the nation's first black president Barack Hussein Obama.

We lost a lot of famous people in 2009. Here is the rundown:

Jett Travolta - January 2, 2009 -

Natural Causes. He was only 16.

The celebrity death in 2009 that impacted me

the most was that of legendary broadcaster

Paul Harvey. He died February 28, 2009 of

natural causes. He was 90. Harvey's website

now consists simply of a blue sky image

with a flying eagle, and the words "a great

tree has fallen and left an empty place

against the sky". RIP Paul Harvey.

Natasha Richardson, 45 - March 28, 2009 - Skiing accident.

David Carradine - June 3, 2009 - Found dead in hotel room closet

after engaging in kinky sex act. Isn't ALL sex kinky when you're 72??

We lost both Farrah Fawcett (62) and Michael Jackson (50) on the same day, June 25 2009. Fawcett died after a long

battle with cancer. Jackson died from deadly interaction and overdose of prescription drugs.

Well known and well liked pitchman Billy Mays died

after hitting his head on the roof of an airplane during

a hard landing at a Florida airport on June 28, 2009.

Mays was 50.

Tennessee Titans QB Steve "Air" McNair was found shot to death

inside his Nashville apartment on July 4, 2009. He was 36.

Senator Ted Kennedy died of cancer at 77 on August 25, 2009.

Patrick Swayze lost his battle with cancer on September 14, 2009.

He was 57.

Actress Brittany Murphy died of cardiac arrest at her home on

December 20, 2009. She was 32.

2009 was the year that "Papa" John Schnatter
paid $250,000 to get his prized Camaro back.
That money would have been better spent on
giving his employees raises.

Lots of other people made news for various reasons in 2009. Models, actors, wannabees, politicians, even everyday people were thrust into, or in some cases thrust themselves into the limelight in 2009. Here is a photo montage of some of these people and the reason they became the focus of our attention.


Nadya Suleman, a.k.a. "The Octomom", became famous for givng birth to 8 kids as a single mom and the expecting everyone else to help her pay for raising them. Maybe someone should have helped her pay for birth control?!

ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews made news when a

nude video of her that was shot through a peephole

of her hotel room was posted on the Internet.

Kris Allen and Adam Lambert made news as winner and runner-up respectively of American Idol.

Lambert has gone on to make even more news, first for coming out as being gay, and for a provocative performance at a televised awards show.

Susan Boyle became an overnight sensation in America after her

appearance on Britain's Got Talent.

Carrie Prejean made news after her beauty pageant crown was taken from

her after she expressed her views against gay marriage. She later sued the

Miss America pageant for religious discrimination.

Sonia Sotomayer became the first Hispanic female appointed

to the U.S. Supreme Court. She said the court has been in

desperate need of the perspective of a "wise latina woman".

Latina, yes. Woman, yes. Wise, well, pardon the pun, but we

will be the judge of that Justice Sotomayer.

We need to cut this little guy some slack. Its not his fault he has

whacked out, manipulitvie parents. 8 year-old Falcon Henne, a.k.a.

"The Balloon Boy" became the subject of a rescue operation when

it appeared he had been accidentally whisked away in his father's

home-made balloon. Turns out it was all an elaborate hoax designed

to get his parents their 15 minutes of fame. They got it. Richard Henne,

the boy's father, also got 90 days in jail and Mayumi Henne, the boy's

mother got 20 days.

Probably the most prolific sports celebrity making news in 2009 was NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson who won his 4th consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship, a feat no other driver has ever accomplished.

Extra-marital affairs were certainly a topic of both news and conversation in 2009. There is a long list of famous people caught in affairs this past year.

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford heads up our

list of philanderers of 2009.

Also on the list is the dirt old man of late night TV,

David Letterman.

Also making the list was Jon Gosselin of the hit reality show Jon & Kate Plus 8. Hey, since he has experience with 8 kids, maybe he and the Octomom should hook up.

No doubt the most surprising and disappointing revelation of extra-marital affairs involves Tiger Woods. The golfer has admitted to numerous affairs and alleged to have engaged in illegal drug use as well. I guess this tiger wasn't so tame after all.

That puts a wrap on 2009. Can't wait to see what lies in store for us in 2010.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!