Don Roach: 5 Most Intriguing Stories from 2012

Don Roach: 5 Most Intriguing Stories from 2012

As 2012 winds down, I figured it would be a good time to take a look at 5 stories we won’t forget:

Cicilline not only survives, but wins comfortably

A year ago, I wrote that it was David Cicilline versus the world. Well, Cicilline proved that he is truly one of the most capable politicians in the state. In February, Brendan Doherty was crushing Cicilline in the polls, but right after the September primary Cicilline had not only erased Doherty’s lead but had built a double digit lead himself. He never looked back despite a credible late push by Doherty. As I have said over and over on these pages, I think Cicilline is bad for Rhode Island he should have been defeated in 2012. The truth is, it doesn’t really matter what I write or think – the voters selected Cicilline again, and it was a truly remarkable feat.

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America is shaken by Newtown

I just can’t imagine what went through the minds of those little six year olds as someone woke up one Friday morning hell bent on killing as many people as possible age be damned. Ultimately, this story could be the catalyst for gun control laws and increased dollars going towards mental health issues. What’s been disconcerting to me in the last couple of weeks since the shooting is the number of other shootings where people seem to be senselessly killing others than themselves. I’m trying to understand what our country become that so many are so willing to kill others and themselves without a care. Perhaps, without a care, is harsh, but what drives these people to these acts and where is the help for them?

I hope we learn from this tragedy, but I’m not overly confident.

Fiscal Cliff…close to the edge

The biggest story of 2012 could yet be the fiscal cliff that still looms. With T minus 5 days and counting, the Republicans, Democrats, and President seem no closer to solving the issue than they were 10 days, 1 month, or a year ago. This is what we call gridlock.

Like the Mayan prediction of the end of the world, it doesn’t seem like most people are taking this fiscal cliff all too seriously. However, unlike the Mayan prediction this potential catastrophe will affect us for years to come, and directly in our pockets next year.

I hope I don’t sound like a snake oil salesman when I say that, and instead hope that by the time the new year strikes there is a deal in place. If not, uh oh!

Gangnam Style takes over the world

On the heels of Call me Maybe, I didn’t think there’d be another viral video that would spawn as many parodies as the song about a girl hoping for a guy to give her a call. But Psy did it with Gangnam Style. I don’t have to tel you what it’s about as the video has well over 1 billion views making it the most watched video in Youtube history. I tried to steer clear from the video until about mid-September when I saw Psy on the Today Show and then I finally saw what everyone was talking about. And…I…was…hooked. To say that I’ve personally watched the video 100 times might be a little on the low side. And the parodies were awesome from Obama Style, Romney Style, and even Kim Jong Style.

In a year full of serious issues and tragedies, Gangnam style was a nice diversion given slightly overweight thirty-somethings like myself something to aspire to.

Sandy packs a punch

Finally, no one will recall 2012 without thinking of Hurricane Sandy. From many meteorologists this storm was going to be the storm that was going to hit New England unlike any other storm in decades. Irene in 2011 was bad, but this was supposed to be horrific. Ultimately, the devastation left by Sandy was horrifying but Rhode Island was spared the brunt of the impact. Unlike the economy, Rhode Island was not the most worse off state in the union. Nonetheless, images of parts of New York City underwater and the Atlantic City boardwalk in shambles will be images we won’t soon forget.

And so ends 2012. Can’t wait for 2013!