A Kinder, Gentler Nation Continued: A Collaborative Bush wins '92 TL: Story-only

November 5th, 1992. President Bush Narrowly wins a Second Term:

On November 5th, 1992, thanks to third Party candidate Ross Perot entering the race in February and deciding to stay in the race amid controversy, and allegations of rape coming out against Democratic nominee Bill Clinton, an unpopular President George Bush won the 1992 election narrowly:

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President George H.W. Bush (R-TX)/ Vice President J. Danforth Quayle (R-IN):275 EV/39.5 PV

Governor William J. "Bill" Clinton (D-AR)/ Senator Albert A. Gore Jr. (D-TN): 263 EV/38% PV

Businessman H. Ross Perot (I-TX)/ Ret. Vice Admiral James Stockdale (I-CA): 0 EV/ 21.8% PV

December 15th 1992: Lawrence Eagleburger is confirmed full time to the position of US Secretary of State, having served as Acting Secretary since August upon James Baker's resignation to become White House Chief of Staff.

January 1, 1993: The Alabama Crimson Tide defeats the Miami Hurricanes 34-13 to win the 1992-93 NCAA Bowl Coalition National Championship.

January 16th 1993: Former White House Chief of Staff and Transportation Secretary Samuel Skinner, having been recalled to government service, is confirmed as HUD Secretary, replacing Jack Kemp who had resigned ahead of Bush's second inauguration, frustrated at the lack of policy achievements in HUD.

January 20, 1993: President Bush is inaugurated. He promises to "continue to steer America along the track of growth" and declares "America must not fall back from our success but build on it." The speech is well-received. However with a Democrat Congress and voter fatigue and very little political capital there are questions as to how successful Bush's second term can be.

January 21st 1993: New Bush cabinet appointees, Treasury Secretary Michael Boskin (replacing Nicholas Brady) and Interior Secretary James Hansen (replacing Manuel Lujan) are confirmed and sworn into office. Alongside the appointments of Eagleburger and Skinner, they make up the new members of the Bush Cabinet. All other Cabinet Secretaries remained in post.

January 1, 1993: The Alabama Crimson Tide defeats the Miami Hurricanes 34-13 to win the 1992-93 NCAA Bowl Coalition National Championship.

February 1, 1993: The US unemployment rate falls to 7.0% President Bush's approval rating is at 50%

February 12, 1993: Nearly 20 House Republicans vow never to vote for a tax increase, even if its proposed by President Bush. One of these Republicans is Newt Gingrich.

February 13, 1993: Cult leader David Koresh is accidentally shot and killed while cleaning a submachine gun at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas.

February 18, 1993: 3 Iraqi men are arrested for plotting to assassinate the President.

February 19, 1993: The Iraqi government is linked to an attempt on the President's life. The US begins bombing Iraq in retaliation.

February 25, 1993: A draft budget bill from the White House is leaked. the draft shows the White House wants $150 billion in spending cuts, and no tax increases(in fact taxes are slightly cut). Congressional Democrats express disappointment with the budget, with Speaker Tom Foley saying "The administration needs to take serious responsibility for this country's dire fiscal state. It is unfair that the poor and ordinary Americans should exclusively suffer the burden of measures to cut the deficit."

March 12th 1993- A bomb explodes at Capitol South Metro Station in Washington D.C. 17 are killed, and more than 40 injured. There is severe damage to the station as well as moderate to light damage of the O'Neill House Office Building and the Cannon House Office Building.

March 13th, 1993: President Bush holds a Press Conference about the Attacks at Capitol South Metro Station:

"Good Morning. Barbara and I send our condolences to the families of the 17 people who tragically lost their lives in yesterday's attacks, and we pray for a speedy recovery for the 40 men and women who were injured in the attacks. I want to assure the American people that the United States government will do everything in its power to find who is responsible for these attacks, and when we find them, we will bring them to justice. Thank you."

March 16, 1993: A new UN mission in Somalia is authorized. Led by the US 28 nations dedicate troops to the UNISOM mission, a total of nearly 30,000 personeel. President Bush vows to restore stability to war-torn Somalia.

March 19, 1993: Supreme Court Justice Byron White retired.

March 20, 1993: President Bush's approval rating is at 46%.


April 3, 1993: President Bush makes speech on Bosnia crisis. Bush condemns "war crimes" and says "the international community shall not tolerate crimes against humanity." Bush calls on players in the region to make peace and declares "The United States and our allies are willing to do all that is necessary, including intervention, to ensure peace in Bosnia-Herzegovina."

April 3, 1993: Bush nominated Roger Miner for the Supreme Court. Miner, a moderate to center-right judge is widely acclaimed and faces little opposition, though conservatives wished for a more conservative nominee.

April 11, 1993: Bush and Russian President Yeltsin met and discussed the development of the former Soviet Union. The two partners both described the meeting, held in the White House, as very productive and strengthened US-Russian relations. Issues discussed ranged from free market transition, border disputes, nuclear weapons and long-term relations. Diplomats have expressed hope the two countries can move beyond their emnity to build a strong relationship.

April 20, 1993: US intervention in Bosnia came closer as the Serbs rejected the UN peace proposal. Secretary of State James Baker declared "The United States is very disappointed in the refusal of the Serbs and other players in the Bosnia-Herzegovina to make serious moves for peace."

April 24, 1993: Russia has defended Serbia and reaffirmed their ties to the country.

April 27, 1993: The White House has released its plans for the budget. The administration wants $200 billion spending cuts, mainly to social spending, but no tax increases. Democrats were furious, while conservative Republicans were happy with the proposals, seeing it as a welcome shift to the right.

May 2, 1993: The House passed its own budget which increased income taxes from 31% to 37% and increased corporate tax to 36%. There were only $25 billion in spending cuts and $5 billion in 'stimulus'. The administration was furious, decrying "obstructionism" and "political posturing" from Congress.

May 5, 1993: A new poll is released contrasting support for the two budget proposals. 54% of Americans support the administrations' budget plans, 34% supported Congress's plan and 10% were undecided. However Bush's approval rating had fallen to 44% and other poll results showed only 41% of Americans had 'great confidence' that the administration could 'seriously reduce the deficit' while 25% of Americans had 'no confidence' in that.

May 6, 1993:Congressional Republicans, congressional Democrats and the administration held a meeting on the budget to agree on a compromise. Democrats accept no major spending cuts, or at least wary of that, while Bush is wary of raising taxes again. Many analysts believe Bush will be forced to raise taxes just like in his first term.

May 8, 1993: Doubts are expressed by many in Congress that the controversial NAFTA(North American Free Trade Agreement) can ever get passed. Secretary of State Baker said Congress will pass it.

May 10, 1993: NATO will begin intervention in Bosnia in 48 hours unless 'concrete steps' are 'immediately undertaken' to get peace. President Bush declared "America will lead the new world order and America will do what is necessary to defend human rights and the innocent. America will stand up for its values."

May 15, 1993: Arsenal defeats Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 to win the 1993 FA Cup.

May 19, 1993: A bomb explodes during session of the Bundestag, destroying much of the building in Bonn and killing 139 of the Bundestag members, along with Helmut Kohl, Chancellor of Germany, his Minister of the Economy Günther Rexrodt and his Minister of Traffic, Matthias Wissmann, who was just six days in office...

May 20, 1993: A "responsibility claiming" letter by the RAF is sent to newspapers, most importantly the Hamburger Abendblatt and the FAZ. People are extremely sceptic due to the sophisticated nature of the bomb. Police continue to blaim the RAF, Commando Jan-Carl Raspe.

May 21, 1993: An "expert in graphology", Prof. Dr. Karl Anton Pfeiffer of the Stuttgart university, expresses doubt about the authenticity of the RAF letter. He is promptly fired.

May 21, 1993: The Bundestag, not being incapable of decision, elects Hans-Dietrich Genscher (FDP) as the next chancellor after he announced that he "would love to come back into politics in order to help Germany in this dire times". He is the first chancellor of the FDP who is not "acting".

Late May/Early June 1993: Hans-Dietrich Genscher reshuffles the cabinet to reassure FDP/CDU equality. Most importantly, a hawkish Manfred Kanther becomes foreign minister and "vice chancellor".

May 21, 1993: A certain Armee der Gottesfurcht/Esercito della timore di Dio (Army of the Fear of God) also claims responsibility for the Bonn attack, claiming in a letter that "the sinful communists of Bonn have been attacked, and more attacks will follow until the true faith in the one and only god, represented by The infallible Pope, has been restored".

May 21, 1993: Pope John Paul II. strongly and in very clear words condemns such terrorist attacks in the name of Christianity or Catholicism, and clearly states that those people responsible for the attacks cannot be truly Catholic.

May 21st 1993 - Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bill Clinton separate after months of allegations about his infidelity. Hillary Rodham moves back to her home state of Illinois with the couple's daughter, Chelsea.

May 22, 1993: Roger Miner is confirmed 95-2 by the US Senate and becomes a US Supreme Court Justice. This is Bush's final Supreme Court nomination.

June 1-9, 1993: The Montreal Canadiens defeat the Los Angeles Kings 4 games to 1 to win the 1993 Stanley Cup.

June 6, 1993:President Bush is forced to give into Congress on the budget. Democrats got tax increases in income tax from 31% to 37% and of capital gains tax to 36%, while Bush got $103 million in spending cuts, far more than what most Democrats wanted but less than his original proposal. Both liberals and conservatives were disappointed with the proposal but Congress is likely to pass it reluctantly.

June 12, 1993: Jurassic Park is released into theaters, immediately becoming a rousing success. It beats E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial to become the highest-grossing film of all time.

June 20, 1993: The Chicago Bulls defeat the Phoenix Suns 4 games to 2 to win the 1993 NBA Finals.

June 22, 1993: The budget is passed.

September 18, 1993: Kimberly Clarice Allen, age 18 from Kentucky, is crowned Miss America 1994.

September 24, 1993: The International Olympic Committee selects Berlin, Germany, to host the 2000 Summer Olympics.

September 25, 1993: The Bosnia war came to an end as a framework for peace is signed. This came after a NATO intervention bombing Serb positions. President Bush was and still is widely credited with successful leadership in Bosnia and in getting peace in the region.

October 1, 1993: President George Bush's approval rating is at 48%.

October 3rd, 1993. Battle of Mogadishu takes place, Mohamed Farrah Aidid and top aides captured: On October 3rd, 1993, the U.S. Joint Operations force, Task Force Ranger, participated in a mission to capture leaders of the Habr Gidr Clan, including its leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid, and the mission was a success. President Bush addressed the nation the next evening from the Oval Office. He congratulated the men and women that carried out this mission and also said that "with the capture of these men, we can soon restore order to Somalia and bring the Americans who are serving there home."

October 5, 1993: The Florida Panthers (in the Prince of Wales Conference) and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (in the Clarence Campbell Conference) make their debut in the NHL.

October 16-23, 1993: The Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 4 games to 2 to win the 1993 World Series.

November 4, 1993: The NBA awards expansion teams to Toronto, Ontario, and Vancouver, British Columbia, to begin play in the 1995-96 season.

November 7, 1993: Bush reiterated his opposition to the Brady Bill which proposed increased gun control. Critics accused, and still accuse, the President of being a puppet of the gun lobby.

November 12, 1993: The Brady Bill failed to pass the House, getting only 203 votes.

November 16, 1993: President Bush rules out amending NAFTA to appease Democrats wary of the agreement.

November 17, 1993:The House vote on NAFTA is tied, 217-217 for and opposed.

November 18, 1993: NAFTA passes the House 221-213. The agreement is opposed by many liberals as undermining environmental protections and many, including Ross Peror, believe it is dangerous to the economy and will lead to 'a giant sucking sound' of jobs going south to Mexico.

November 19th 1993 - News breaks that Former Governor of Arkansas and 1992 Democratic nominee for President, Bill Clinton is rushed into the University Hospital of Arkansas (UAMS), in Little Rock, Arkansas, it is not yet known why this is.

November 23, 1993: The US Senate passes NAFTA by the narrowest margin possible, averting a filibuster, The historic free trade agreement is passed and is a crowning accomplishment(or failure) of the Bush presidency.

November 21st, 1993 - After days of trying to supress the news, family lawyer, informs a crown of reporters outside the UAMS, that 40th and 42nd Governor of Arkansas and 50th Attorney General of Arkansas, William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton has died aged 47 from cocaine abuse and overdose. The family lawyer, then goes on to say that, Ms Hillary Rodham and their daughter, Chelsea, have been informed and would like to take this time to grief privately.

November 22nd, 1993: President George H. W. Bush delivers a statement on the death of his former presidential rival, Bill Clinton, mourning his loss as a "talented politician" and urging other Americans not to fall down the same path of drug addiction Clinton did, and offers kind words to the Clinton family.

January 1, 1994: The Virginia Tech Hokies defeat the Arkansas Razorbacks 24-10 to win the 1993-94 NCAA Bowl Coalition National Championship.

January 11, 1994: Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain announces a tempoary leave of absence from music in order to go to rehab for depression.

January 30, 1994: The Dallas Cowboys defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 48-9 to win Super Bowl XXVIII.

March 1994- Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis announces that her non-Hodgkin lymphoma had disappeared.

April 22, 1994: Richard Nixon dies.

April 23rd, 1994: At Richard Nixon's funeral, President Bush proudly recalls his days serving President Nixon at the White House and tells many uplifting stories about the former President, helping to rehabilitate his image and set the tone for the funeral.

May 14, 1994: Reading defeats Fulham 3-2 to win the 1994 FA Cup.

May 31-June 14, 1994: The Chicago Blackhawks defeat the New York Rangers 4 games to 3 to win the 1994 Stanley Cup.

June 8-22, 1994: The Chicago Bulls defeat the Dallas Mavericks 4 games to 3 to win the 1994 NBA Finals.

June 15, 1994: The Lion King, the 32nd Disney animated feature film, is released to cinemas. Claimed by Disney to be their first animated feature based on an entirely original story, the films breaks box-office records to become the highest-grossing traditionally animated film of all time.

June 17th 1994- O.J. Simpson is found murdered outside of his home in Brentwood, California.

June 18th 1994- LA Police declare Nicole Brown Simpson a person of intrest in the Murder of OJ Simpson

July 5, 1994: Former Wall Street executive Jeff Bezos founds Xanadu, an Internet retailer specializing in books. Over the years, the business would grow to include many other products such as clothing, electronics, and furniture.

July 17, 1994: Spain defeats Germany 3-0 to win the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

August 21, 1994: Ernesto Zedillo of the Institutional Revolutionary Party is elected President of Mexico.

September 1, 1994: President Bush signed a massive new crime bill putting 100,000 more police officers on the streets. The bill got widespread support at the time and the President declared "Now is not the time to be sot. Now is not the time for empathy. We can have that later. Now is the time to be tough, tough on crime and tough on criminals. That is what we owe to our country to stifle this crime epidemic." The bill has since been criticized for fueling mass incarceration.

September 16, 1994: Tomorrowland at Disneyland closes for an extensive renovation that will remove the 1964 World's Fair-esque architecture and replace it with a heavy science-fiction look.

September 17, 1994: Abby Driscoll, age 23 from Ohio, is crowned Miss America 1995.

September 22nd 1994- The critically acclaimed television series, Friends, premieres. (ATL, Leah Remini plays Rachel Green (the story about Aniston trying out for Monica and getting Rachel is the same thing here), Nancy McKeon plays Monica Geller, Megan Mullally plays Phoebe Buffay, Eric McCormack plays Ross Geller. Jon Cryer play Chandler Bing (who's gay like in the original script.) and Joey Tribbiani is still played by Matt LeBlanc)

October 15-22, 1994: The Montreal Expos defeat the Chicago White Sox 4 games to 3 to win the 1994 World Series.

October 16, 1994: The Finnish people vote 57.6% in favor of joining the European Union.

November 5th, 1994: Former President Ronald Reagan releases a statement admitting he is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, in what would be his final public statement to the American people.

November 8, 1994: Democrats retained a huge Senate majority, with 57 seats to 43 Republicans, unseating Republicans in Delaware, Minnesota and Vermont. As the opposition party they had the advantage in midterm elections. However a still struggling economy, opposition to NAFTA, and bitter partisanship on Capitol Hill, along with conservative frustration with the President, led to Democrat victories. Democrats gained 18 seats in the House to get 276 seats to 158 Republicans.

November 8, 1994: Democratic Senator Harris Wofford defeats Republican Rick Santorum to be re-elected as a Senator from Pennsylvania. Wofford's victory is attributed to President Bush's unpopularity as well as Santorum's more conservative views on social issues which were a poor fit with moderate voters in Pennsylvania, especially those in Philadelphia's suburbs.

November 8, 1994: Republican Pete Wilson is re-elected Governor of California over Democrat Kathleen Brown.

November 8, 1994: Democrat Ben Cardin is elected Governor of Maryland over Republican Ellen Saurebruy.

November 8, 1994: Republican Jim Edgar is re-elected Governor of Illinois over Democrat Dawn Netsch.

November 8, 1994: Democrat Ben Cayetano is elected Governor of Hawaii over Independent Frank Fasi and Republican Pat Saiki.

November 8, 1994: Democrat Catherine Baker Knoll is elected Governor of Pennsylvania over Republican Tom Ridge. She is the first woman to be elected Governor of Pennsylvania.

November 13, 1994: The Swedish people vote 58.2% in favor of joining the European Union.

November 23, 1994: Warcraft: Orcs & Humans is released on MS-DOS. The game is an instant hit.

November 23, 1994: On the 31st anniversary of Doctor Who, the BBC announces a joint movie production with Fox, which is written by Steven Moffat and Matthew Jacobs.

November 27-28, 1994: The Norwegian people vote 51.4% in favor of joining the European Union.

November 29th, 1994: Vice President Dan Quayle begins to assemble former Bush operatives to form the groundwork for a presidential campaign in 1996.

January 1, 1995: Norway, Sweden, and Finland officially join the European Union.

January 1, 1995: The Michigan Wolverines defeat the Washington Huskies 20-9 to win the 1994-95 NCAA Bowl Coalition National Championship.

January 29, 1995: The Green Bay Packers defeat the San Diego Chargers 27-10 to win Super Bowl XXIX.

February 15, 1995: Dick Gephardt announces run for the presidency.

March 2, 1995: Goldeneyes, the seventeenth James Bond movie premiers on cinemas around the world. The plot consists of 007 (Sean Bean) hunting down rogue CIA agent Alex Travels (Pierce Brosnan) who's trying to reignite the cold war by releasing the Goldeneyes computer virus into the defense systems of the global powers. Dame Judi Dench also stars as the new M. The movie is a global success, revitalizing the franchise while preserving the darker tone of Timothy Dalton's previous installments.

March 9, 1995: MLB announces that two expansion teams are coming to Phoenix, Arizona, and Orlando, Florida, to begin play in the 1998 season.

March 28, 1995: New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley throws his hat into the ring.

March 31, 1995: Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter mounts a run for President.

April 1, 1995: Reverend Jesse Jackson announces a third presidential run.

April 6, 1995: California Governor Pete Wilson announces a run for President.

April 10th, 1995: Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole of Kansas, despite overtures from the White House against him, announces he will run once again for the presidency. He is the first candidate from either party to announce a run.

April 19th 1995- A bomb explodes at The Federal Reserve Bank of New York. 317 people are killed and approximately 600 injured. The perpetrator is Billy Lee Davis, a Neo-nazi, and a member of Stormfront, his motive was to bring about "a war against the Jews who tyrannically control the world economy."

May 3, 1995:1992 Bush primary challenger populist Pat Buchanan announces a run for the 1996 Republican nomination. Pundits dismiss his chances.

May 4, 1995: Senator Phil Gramm of Texas joins the Republican primaries.

May 20, 1995: Reading defeats Aston Villa 3-1 to win the 1995 FA Cup.

May 27, 1995: Actor Christopher Reeve backs out of an equestrian competition in Culpeper, Virginia, due to a bout of food poisoning he experienced the night before.

June 2, 1995: Who Discovered Roger Rabbit? is released to cinemas. The film tells the story of Roger Rabbit's roots on a small Midwestern farm and his journey to Hollywood stardom.

June 3, 1995: Georgia Senator Sam Nunn announces a run for President.

June 4, 1995: Alan Keyes is running.

June 5th, 1995- Batman Forever premiers with glowing reviews. Critics site the selection of Sam Raimi as director, as he managed to strike a happy medium between the darkness of Batman Returns and the campier direction the studio was intent on pursuing to avoid further backlash. Other highlights include the young Christian Bale as Robin (who had great chemistry with Michael Keaton's Batman), John Malkovich's performance as the Riddler, and Clint Eastwood's performance as Two-Face.

June 7-20, 1995: The Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 to win the 1995 NBA Finals.

June 9, 1995: After the birth of his baby daughter, Blind Melon lead singer Shannon Hoon decides to go into rehab once again.

June 12th, 1995: Senator Bob Kerrey of Nebraska announces he will run for president again, becoming the first Democrat to announce a bid.

June 16, 1995: The International Olympic Committee selects Östersund, Sweden, to host the 2002 Winter Olympics.

June 17th 1995 - Texas Governor Ann Richards announces that she's seeking the Democratic Nomination for President in 1996.

June 17-28, 1995: The Detroit Red Wings defeat the Buffalo Sabres 4 games to 2 to win the 1995 Stanley Cup.

June 23, 1995: Pocahontas, the 33rd Disney animated feature film, is released to cinemas. While praised for its art direction and soundtrack, the film is criticized for a significant amount of historical inaccuracies, mainly the fact that Pocahontas married John Rolfe and not John Smith.

4 July, 1995: UK PM John Major wins a leadership contest in his party but resigns, thinking he got too little support.

July 11th 1995 - After weeks of speculation, Tennessee Senator and former Democratic Vice President Nominee 1992, announces that he will not be seeking the Democratic Nomination for President in 1996. Republican media rumour that he has dropped out, due to his links with Clinton.

July 14, 1995: Massachusetts Senator John Kerry joins the race for the Democratic nomination.

July 15, 1995: Indiana Senator Richard Lugar is running.

July 20, 1995: Vice-President Dan Quayle announces a run for the Republican nomination.

July 25, 1995: Former New Jersey Governor Tom Kean announces a run as a Republican for the presidency.

August 2, 1995: Delaware Senator Joe Biden runs for the Presidency.

August 2, 1995: Secretray of Education Lamar Alexander throws his hat in the ring.

August 7, 1995: Billionaire Steve Forbes is running.

August 11, 1995: Former Texas Senator and Dukakis running mate Lloyd Bentsen announces a presidential run.

August 12, 1995: Congressman Robert K Dornan is running.

August 22, 1995: Former Secretary of Education and 'tough on crime conservative' William Bennett is running.

Republican candidates as of November
  • Bob Dole
  • Dan Quayle
  • Pete Wilson
  • Arlen Specter
  • Pat Buchanan
  • Tom Kean
  • Steve Forbes
  • William Bennett
  • Lamar Alexander
  • Robert K Dornan
  • Richard Lugar
  • Alan Keyes
  • Phil Gramm

Democratic candidates as of November
  • Mario Cuomo
  • Evan Bayh
  • Howard Dean
  • Dick Gephardt
  • Jerry Brown
  • Bob Kerrey
  • George Mitchell
  • Sam Nunn
  • Doug Wilder
  • John Kerry
  • Jesse Jackson
  • Bill Bradley
  • Lloyd Bentsen
  • Ann Richards
  • Joe Biden


September 6, 1995: Former Virginia Governor Doug Wilder joins the presidential race.

September 6, 1995: Former California Governor Jerry Brown joins the Democratic field.

7 September, 1995: The UK Conservative Party elects Micahel Portillo as their new leader and PM, beating other opponents such as Ken Clarke.

September 16, 1995: Marissa Burns, age 18 from Massachusetts, is crowned Miss America 1996.

September 26, 1995: Penn State football coach Joe Paterno fires his assistant Jerry Sandusky mid-season over allegations of child molestation.

September 22nd 1995 - Hillary Rodham announces her candidacy for Senator of Illinois after incumbent Paul Simon decides not to run for re-election.

September 30, 1995: An FBI raid of Jerry Sandusky's home reveals heaps of evidence of child sexual abuse dating back to 1972.

October 3rd 1995- Nicole Brown Simpson is found not guilty of murdering O.J. Simpson

October 10, 1995: New York Governor Mario Cuomo will make a speech on the presidential race and either run or decline to do so.

October 11, 1995: New York Governor Mario Cuomo announces a run for the Democratic nomination and the presidency.

October 13, 1995: Indiana Governor Evan Bayh joins the race.

October 15, 1995: The Kansas City Wizards defeat the New York Skyliners 3-2 to win the 1995 MLS Cup.

October 17, 1995: Vermont Governor Howard Dean joins the race.

October 18, 1995: Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell of Maine enters the Democratic field. The field has at least 14 serious candidates(depending on you definition of serious).

October 21-26, 1995: The Oakland Athletics defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5 games to 2 to win the 1995 World Series.

November 3, 1995: The Toronto Raptors (in the Eastern Conference) and the Vancouver Grizzlies (in the Western Conference) make their debut in the NBA.

4 November, 1995:Israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin survives an assassination attempt by ultranationalist Yigal Amir, who opposed Rabin's peace initiative. Rabin and Palestinian leader Arafat were able to come to an agreement in the Oslo Accords after stellar negotiating by President Bush. Rabin living means the process can continue.

November 5, 1995 - Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and his wife, Aline, are found stabbed in their bed, within their house of 24 Sussex Drive. The assalunt, André Dallaire, a paranoid schizophrenic, is found dead in the basement, from a self inflicted wound.

November 5, 1995: Shannon Hoon comes out of rehab clean and is ready for a new life.

November 6, 1995 - Deputy Prime Minister, Sheila Copps, succeeds Jean Chrétien, to become the second female prime minister of Canada, is sworn in, while the Liberal Party, is in the process of organising a leadership election.

November 10, 1995: Influenced by Washington, D.C.'s long history of gun violence, Washington Bullets owner Abe Pollin announces he will change the team's nickname in time for the 1997-98 NBA season.

November 22, 1995: Toy Story, the first feature-length CGI film in history, is released in cinemas. The films focuses on Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) and Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Tim Allen), and the adventure they must go on after their owner Andy inadvertently abandons them at Pizza Planet.

November 22, 1995: Hare in My Soup, the fourth theatrical Roger Rabbit short, is released in front of Toy Story.

November 29, 1995: Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder (D-CO) announces that she will be seeking re-election in Colorado's 1st Congressional District. Because the 1st District is heavily Democratic, she is guaranteed to be re-elected the following November.

January 1, 1996: The Fordham Rams defeat the Navy Midshipmen 24-19 to win the 1995-96 NCAA Bowl Coalition National Championship.

January 28, 1996: The Houston Oilers defeat the Los Angeles Rams 27-6 to win Super Bowl XXX.

February 3, 1996: After a year of auditions for casting, Peter Capaldi is announced as the Eighth Doctor in Doctor Who Magazine.

February 12th 1996- Ann Richards wins the Iowa Caucuses in a six way race.

February 12th, 1996: Vice President Quayle seems to narrowly defeat Bob Dole in the Iowa caucus after a series of campaign trail gaffes by the former. Nonetheless, coverage is focused on Dole for seeming to "defeat" the incumbent Vice President. A recount a few days later discovers Dole won.

February 20, 1996: Bob Dole wins a narrow victory in New Hampshire on the Republican side. On the Democratic side, Mario Cuomo beats George Mitchell, with others far behind.

New Hampshire-Republicans
Bob Dole-21%
Tom Kean- 19%
Pat Buchanan-19%
William Bennett-12%
Dan Quayle-11%
Lamar Alexander-6%
Steve Forbes-4%
Alan Keyes-3%
Richard Lugar-2%

New Hampshire-Democrats
Mario Cuomo-31%
George Mitchell-22%
John Kerry-12%
Howard Dean-9%
Ann Richards-9%
Bill Bradley-6%
Jerry Brown-4%
Lloyd Bentsen-2%
Jesse Jackson-1%
Sam Nunn-1%


Several candidates left the race before New Hampshire.

After New Hampshire lots of candidates drop out. Only Dole, Quayle, Buchanan and Forbes are left for Republicans. Democrats have Cuomo, Mitchell, Kerry, Biden, Richards, Jackson and Brown left.

February 21st, 1996: After coming in third in Iowa but not even beating one percent in New Hampshire, Sen. Bob Kerrey exits the race but chooses to endorse Ann Richards for the nomination. He is the first former nominee to make an endorsement.

February 24th 1996- Democratic Presidential Candidate, Texas Governor Ann Richards, hosts SNL. In perhaps the most memorable sketch, Richards goes hunting with President Lyndon B. Johnson (also from Texas. Johnson is played by Darrell Hammond). In most of the sketch, Richards used made up "folksy" sayings, such as the famous, "Eyes of a bloodhound, nose of a fish." Richard's appearance caused her support in the polls to go up tremendously.

February 24, 1996: Joe Biden won the Delaware primary with 38% to 29% for Jesse Jackson and 20% for Cuomo. Bob Dole won Delaware with 32% to 30% for billionaire Steve Forbes.

February 27, 1996: Dole wins Arizona, North dakota and South Dakota. Dole is in a very strong position having won every state so far, and Quayle is set to be humiliated. On the Democrat side Ann Richards won a trifecta, and George Mitchell dropped out after poor showings.

February 27, 1996: Pokemon Red and Green is released in Japan for the Nintendo Gameboy, and thanks to a promotion centering around the character Mew, is a massive hit. The game is set for US release in September.

February 28, 1996: In an interview with Diana Sawyer, President Bush is asked about who is supporting for the Republican nomination. He fumbles badly with his response before saying that he believes Vice President Quayle has earned the opportunity. The clip from the interview is seized on by the other Republican contenders, particularly Senator Dole as a lack of support from the White House for the Vice President.

When asked about the interview, the Vice President comes off as both surprised and hurt, providing fodder for late night comedians for the next several months.

March 2, 1996: Richards wins Wyoming but loses South Carolina to Jesse Jackson who gets 44% of the vote to 22% for Richards. Dole wins both.

March 2, 1996: In an effort to save a dying campaign Vice President Dan Quayle hosts Saturday Night Live. While he does generate a good amount of sympathy and in some cases respect for his willingness to make fun of himself, overall his performance is considered stilted and wooden.

A skit where he plays himself and Dana Carvey plays President Bush advising him on his campaign comes off as sad.

March 3, 1996: Dole wins Puerto Rico. Cuomo also wins Puerto Rico.

March 5th - March 12th 1996- Ann Richards beats Jesse Jackson in the Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee Democratic Primaries. She easily wins Oklahoma and Texas without any real challenge.

March 5-12, 1996:Dole wins every contest, virtually wrapping up the nomination. The Democrat race remains competitive. Cuomo wins Colorado, Connecticut, Munnesota, Rhode Island and Vermont. Kerry and Mitchell win their home states of Maine and Massachusetts but with no other wins drop out. Cuomo wins New York. He loses Missouri. On March 12 he wins Oregon. Richards has a delegate lead due to her sweep of the South. The race is now Cuomo vs Richards though Brown stays in.

March 12, 1996: The Dana Carvey Show premieres on CBS. Featuring many players from Chicago's Second City and former cast members of Saturday Night Live, the show gets record late-night ratings for CBS and is immediately renewed for a second season.

March 13th 1996- Jesse Jackson ends his campaign for the Democratic Nomination.

March 19th, 1996: Businessman H. Ross Perot hints he may run for president again under the Reform Party of America banner. Perot has remained politically active and popular among disaffected voters since his 1992 campaign.

March 19th-26th, 1996: Governor Mario Cuomo sweeps in all but one of the contests that take place from March 19th-26th. Cuomo won the primaries in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Washington, and Cuomo also narrowly won California. Richards only narrowly won the State of Nevada.

March 29, 1996: The Kansas City Council narrowly approve plans for The Land of Oz, a theme park inspired by the works of L. Frank Baum.

April 1, 1996: A UK election is held. Conservative Prime Minister Portillo, despite a brief polling surge, suffers a crushing defeat. The Tories got 36% of the vote to 41% for Labour and 17% for the LibDems, but in seat terms the loss was truly devastating. The party, which had governed since 1979, lost 128 seats and were left with just 215/659 seats. Labour gained a 99-seat majority.

Tony Blair-Labour: 379+106 41.4%
Michael Portillo-Conservative: 215-128 35.5%
Paddy Ashdown-LibDem: 36+18 17.1%
659 seats
330 for majority

The centrist 'third way' of Blair's 'New Labour' was ascendant against a sleaze-ridden, divided, unpopular, tired and embattled Conservative Party. UK politics was dramatically changed.

April 23rd, 1996: The Pennsylvania Primary was narrowly won by Governor Cuomo. Although Cuomo won a lot of states in late March and April, Richards, with her Southern advantage remained competitive. With many Southern and competitive Western states up for grabs in May and June, Richards was still competitive and made clear that she wasn't ready to exit the race.

May 1st, 1996: In a televised interview, Sen. Al Gore of Tennessee endorses Gov. Mario Cuomo for the Democratic nomination in a surprise move, and discusses the environment. Reporters are told in advance Gore will not discuss Clinton or their campaign. Though his wishes are respected, the request leaks to the press.

May 3, 1996: New York Governor Mario Cuomo accuses Richards of being too conservative, saying " What's the point of defeating a Republican if we just elect a Republican anyway?!"

May 4, 1996: Cuomo's remarks cause a media firestorm, and they are widely condemned. Richards declares" I am a Democrat and I will lead our karts to victory and be a leader, while Governor Cuomo will fail to win the election or fix our problems."

May 5, 1996: Cuomo apologises for his comments, saying "Governor Richards is absolutely a Democrat and would be a fine president, however I would be a better president"

May 7, 1996: Richards sweeps the May 7 primaries. DC, Indiana and North Carolina go to Richards. In a resounding comeback Richards gets 69% in DC, 60% in North Carolina and Indiana is a closer win with her getting 49% to Cuomo's 43%.

May 8, 1996: In her victory speech Richards sets off controversy when she says "A lot of people aren't ready for the first female President, they can't stand it. Too many Democrats are afraid to make progress. And frankly, that's sexism." Cuomo's campaign says "It is appalling that. Governor Richards would accuse her opponents of sexism when we all know the disagreement with the Governor is a civil one questioning her credentials to lead the Democratic Party and the USA." Richards refuses to apologise, declaring "Sexism is a real fact in this campaign and we will overcome it."

May 11th, 1996: Illinois Senate candidate Hillary Rodham offers her support for Ann Richards and asserts that sexism is alive and real, but when asked to clarify, denies forcefully that opponents of Richards are sexist. She offers praise for Gov. Cuomo as well. Rodham successfully avoids controversy and partially defuses the tension created by Richards' statement.

May 11, 1996: Disney's Big Apple Resort & Spa opens in Times Square as part of the company's Disney Vacation Club chain.

May 11, 1996: Newcastle United defeats Wigan Athletic 1-0 to win the 1996 FA Cup.

May 12, 1996: The Doctor Who movie is released in the US and the UK. The story is about the battle of the Doctor (Peter Capaldi) and the Master (Kevin Spacey) against Lord President Rassilon (Timothy Dalton), after both get called back to Gallifrey. Before that happens, however, Rassilon reveals that the Doctor and the Master are brothers and sons of the time lord Ulysses, whose memories were erased by Rassilon. So,they fight against Rassilon and kill him, starting the Gallifreyan Revolution which culminates in the fall of the Time Council. The movie ends with the start of the Time War and the Dalek invasion of Gallifrey. The movie grosses $76 million in the US and $112 million in the UK, making it a relative success.

May 12, 1996: Democratic national poll;

Cuomo-45%
Richards-42%
Brown-12%

May 14th, 1996: Sen. John Kerry, a former candidate, and Sen. Ted Kennedy, both of Massachusetts, along with Kennedy's nephew John F. Kennedy, Jr., all endorse Mario Cuomo for the nomination, praising his work in New York.

May 14th 1996- After this point, Richards is expected to win the last of the primaries except for New Jersey. Despite this prediction, Richards' campaign determines that even though they have a majority of delegates, they won't have enough delegates to win on the first ballot. Ann Richards convinces Jerry Brown to withdraw to avoid a possible PR nightmare for the whole Democratic Party at a contensted convention. Brown agress, he withdraws and endorses Richard Lamn for President.

May 17th 1996 Democratic National Poll

Richards - 51%
Cuomo - 48 %
Other - 1 %

May 14, 1996: Tomorrowland 2055 opens at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Immersing guests in the worlds of Jules Verne and Buck Rogers, the refurbished land features such attractions as The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter, The Visionarium movie-in-the-round, the Plectu's Fantastic Intergalactic Revue animatronic show, and the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea submarine ride. The area also features updated versions of Autopia, Space Mountain, Rocket Jets (now named Orbitron), and the PeopleMover (now named The Rockettower PeopleMover).

May 29th, 1996: Film director George Lucas is hospitalized after a deadly car crash. He dies later that evening, aged 52.

May 29, 1996: Sublime lead singer Bradley Nowell goes missing during a tour and is reportedly walking down a beach in San Francisco.

May 31, 1996: Japan is announced as the host of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

June 4-16, 1996: The New Jersey Devils defeat the Calgary Flames 4 games to 3 to win the 1996 Stanley Cup.

June 4, 1996: The final Democratic primraies are held in Montana, New Mexico, Alabama and New Jersey. Cuomo easily wins New Jersey with 58% of the vote, Richards won Alabama similarly. Montana went richards too. However in an upset New mexico went Cuomo by a margin of 0.1%. No candidate had gotten a majority and so superdelegates would decide the race. Richards has won 23 contests while Cuomo has won 24. Overall Richards has a slight delegate lead as she has a few more landslides and big wins in the South and states like Texas. Superdelegates can throw the race either way.

June 5th 1996- Polish Officials announce they have found Raphael's Portrait of a Young Man. It had been missing since the end of WWII. Millions of Polish citizens celebrate as the armoured truck carrying the painting brings it back to Kraków in an almost parade-like fashion.

June 5-16, 1996: The Charlotte Hornets defeat the San Antonio Spurs 4 games to 2 to win the 1996 NBA Finals.

June 6th 1996- The last Democratic President, Jimmy Carter, in an interview, says that Ann Richards should be the Democratic Nominee because she won the popular vote and has more delegates.

June 7th 1996-Senators Robert Byrd and Ernest Hollings, and several other Southern Politicians serving as Superdelegates make a pact to endorse Ann Richards

June 1996-More and more undeclared Super-delegates decide to go with Richards after hearing President Carter "pseudo"-endorse Ann Richards for the Democratic nomination.

June 7th, 1996: Tim Burton's Superman Lives, starring Nicholas Cage, is released by Warner Bros to mixed reviews, but enjoys strong merchandising sales. While praise is given to many of the film's early sequences, the ending is universally panned. "Lexiac" becomes a popular term for a failed or illogical merger.

June 9th, 1996: Gov. Richard Lamm of Colorado announces he will run for the Reform Party nomination after an assurance that Perot would not enter the race. Nonetheless, sources close to Perot claim he is "still deciding".

July 1996: Presidential preference polls are released to members of the Reform Party including Ross Perot, Richard Lamm, and a write-in field. Anyone who qualifies for over ten percent of votes will be allowed to address the Long Beach convention in August. Perot has not yet announced a run, fueling curiosity.

July 10th, 1996:
Ross Perot announces on Larry King Live that he will be a candidate for the nomination of the Reform Party after months of speculation. Richard Lamm reportedly is upset, claiming later Perot had assured him he would not run again.

June 10, 1996: Bradley Nowell is found in the basement of a motel barely alive, with a stash of heroin, and crying about how it has ruined his life.

July 11th, 1996: DraftJerry.com is launched, a website urging voters to add their names to a mailing list urging Jerry Brown to run as the Reform Party nominee. It is assumed that Brown is a member of the Reform Party due to endorsing Lamm. Brown denies interest.

July 12, 1996: Nickelodeon Movies releases The Ren & Stimpy Movie to cinemas. The first theatrically released film based on a Nicktoon, it tells the story of how the two title characters go to Hollywood to meet Stinky Whizzleteats, singer of Stimpy's favorite song "Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy."

July 19-August 4, 1996: The 1996 Summer Olympics are held in Atlanta, Georgia. The host United States leads in the medal count, followed by Russia and Germany.

July 23, 1996: Texas Governor Ann Richards secures the 2,147 delegates needed to win. She will be the first female nominee of a major party in history. Cuomo drops out as superdelegates choose Richards. The New York Governor congratulated Richards, and saying "Ann Richards is our nominee. It is imperative that we do everything we can to unite our party and elect her. She will be an outstanding President and be the leader this country needs." Richards declared "This is the dawn of a new era, an era where America's potential is unlimited. Thank you all." Onto the Dole v Richards general election!

August 1996: A leak of possible Dole running mates linked to the press, attributed to the campaign. A Dole spoksman denies it's accuracy and claims it is a forgery, but it nonetheless sparked popular interest.

  • Vice President Dan Quayle of Indiana
  • Sen. John McCain of Arizona
  • Gov. George Pataki of New York
  • Rep. Jack Kemp of New York
  • Rep. John Kasich of Ohio
  • Justice Antonin Scalia
  • Gov. George Allen of Virginia
  • Rep. Newt Gingrich of Georgia
  • Sec. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee
  • Sec. Dick Cheney of Wyoming
  • Mr. Alan Keyes of Maryland
  • Mr. Pat Buchanan of Virginia

July 26th 1996- The Richards Campaign begins to reach out to possible running mates: Jay Rockefeller, John Kerry, Bill Bradley, and Joe Biden.

Ann Richards also visits with some of the last living suffragettes in Washington D.C., about 15 suffragettes attend, all are over the age of 95. Those who weren't able to make it get a phone call, a signed photograph, and letters personally written by the Governor. Richards cried after giving a speech in which she said "These brave, courageous, and patriotic women are the reason why I am able to run for President." Clips of the event would be used in several campaign ads later that fall.

July 28th 1996-The Washinton Post publishes a story by an insider in The Reagan Adminstration that President George Bush lied about his supposed "unawareness" of most of the Iran-Contra affair.

July 29th 1996-The White House claims that the supposed insider is merely an attention-seaker.

August 2nd 1996-Vice President Dan Quayle is caught on tape saying that President Bush was "involved in a lot that no one knows anything about."

August 3, 1996: The UK Conservative Party elects Ken Clarke as its new leader, with Clarke getting 114/215 MPs. Clarke is a Europhile but faces many Eurosceptics in the party ranks and the Tories are set for a new round of infighting.

August 5, 1996: Israeli PM Rabin calls a new election.

August 5th 1996- The Richards Campaign says they've made their decision on who their running mate will be, but they will not release the "Senator's name" until the convention.

August 9, 1996: A national poll shows Richards at 45%, Dole at 36% and Perot at 13%.

August 11, 1996: Another national poll shows Richards at 44%, Dole at 41%, and Perot at 9%

August 11th, 1996: The Reform Party's Long Beach convention is held. Perot and Lamm address the convention, as does Brown, who continues to deny interest and repeats his support for Lamm. He is nonetheless the most popular speaker at the convention. Voters will be allowed to select the nominee via mail for the next week, who will deliver an acceptance speech in primetime.

August 12th 1996- Tycoon Donald Trump says he'd be willing to run on the Reform Party ticket as a possible running mate.

August 12th-15th, 1996: The Republican national Convention takes place in San Diego California. Some Speakers at the Convention included President Bush, Vice President Quayle, Former President Gerald Ford, Former First Lady Nancy Reagan, and General Colin Powell. Bob Dole was officially nominated by the Republican Party and Jack Kemp, former New York Congressman and former HUD Secretary was chosen by Dole to be his running mate. Despite a smooth convention and a bump in the polls due to the success of the convention, Senator Dole still trailed Governor Richards 51-48%.

August 18th, 1996: Ross Perot wins the Reform Party's nomination narrowly over former governor Jerry Brown, who attracted a strong draft campaign despite not even running. To unify the party, Perot chooses Brown as his running mate.

August 19th 1996-Questions in President Bush's role of the Iran-Contra affair continue to rise after The Washington Post published a story nearly two weeks ago, that Bush lied about his knowledge of certain events in the scandal. In an interview about the allegations, the President gets very combatant and says "The whole thing was over my damned head the entire time, that's it. There's no controversy."

August 23, 1996: A new poll shows Richards leading just outside the margin of error, 42% to 38% for Dole, with Perot at 16%. It's the closest the race has been, and the media(and many Democrats) speculate that Brown's selection as VP could siphon off enough votes from Richards to make the race competitive.

August 28th, 1996: After the death of filmmaker George Lucas, Steven Spielberg's Dreamworks Studios purchases Lucasfilm and announces production will resume on Indiana Jones IV based on ideas he and Lucas had discussed before his death.

August 26th-29th 1996- The 1996 Democratic National Convention is held. Ann Richards is nominated, her running mate is announced as Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey. Speakers include Former Senators Eugene McCarthy, George McGovern, and controversial Senator Jennings Randolph, Representatives Bill Richardson and Gary Frank, and Current Senators, Dianne Feinstein and Carol Mosely Braun. In attendance are Former First Ladies, Jackie Kennedy and Lady Bird Johnson, President Carter and his wife, former Democratic nominees, Walter Mondale, and Michael Dukakis.

August 30th 1996 Presidential Election Poll:
Ann Richards/ Bill Bradley - 56%
Bob Dole/ Jack Kemp - 43%
Other - 1%

August 30th 1996- Musician Cher says she'll campaign for Ann Richards extensively. She eventually writes a campaign song for Richards, "A Strong, Tough Woman."

September 6th 1996 - The new British Prime Minister Tony Blair begins an affair with a Downing Street assistant, Lauren Hunter

September 4th 1996-The Richards Campaign bunkers down in Wilmington, North Carolina, as Category 4 Hurricane Fran is due to make landfall. Ann Richards says to her campaign staffers that they should have a Hurricane Party. In a video of the party, Ann Richards is seen dancing the Macarena.

September 7th 1996- United Airlines Flight 56, carrying 250 passengers and crew from Paris to New York City vanishes somewhere over the North Atlantic.

September 7, 1996: Rapper Tupac Shakur gets into an altercation with Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson, an alleged Crips member, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shakur is stabbed in the back of the neck, and is rushed to the hospital.

September 10, 1996: Tupac Shakur is released from the hospital after receiving 67 stitches on the back of his neck for the injury he sustained during a fight with Orlando "Baby Lane" Anderson.

September 14, 1996: Scarlett Baxter, age 21 from South Dakota, is crowned Miss America 1997.

September 14, 1996: israeli PM Yitzhak Rabin is re-elected with 55% of the vote and so the peace process is set to continue. Rabin had stirred controversy by disbanding settlements in Palestine but it looks like the bitter conflict is reaching its end.

September 16, 1996: A new poll shows Bush's approval rating rising to 60% as there is peace and prosperity. It seems Dole's strategy of distancing himself from the President is unwise.

September 21, 1996: Polls show Richards leading by double-digita. Voters express the desire for change and like Richards more than Dole. Many conservatives abstain from the election after 8 years of Bush.

September 23, 1996: The television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, created by Joss Whedon, premieres on the WB. It follows the adventures of teenager Buffy Summers (Elizabeth Anne Allen) who is "the Slayer," the latest in a long line of young women who have been magically chosen to battle evil forces. She is joined by supporting characters Xander Harris (Ryan Reynolds), Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), and Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) as well as recurring characters Cordelia Chase (Sarah Michelle Geller) and Angel (Nathan Fillion).

October 4th, 1996: It is announced that Perot narrowly misses the threshold for entry into the first presidential debate, having only 14%. An angry Perot vows to take the case to court.

October 4, 1996: The Carolina Cyclones (in the Wales Conference) and the Colorado Avalanche (in the Campbell Conference) make their debut in the NHL.

October 6, 1996: The first presidential debate is held between Dole and Richards, with Perot excluded. Richards wins, saying "We need leadership looking to the future for the new millennium, open and innovative government, and not tired leadership but leadership ready to lead." This outlined her case against Dole, that he was too old and tired and not open and innovative enough to lead America into the 21st century.

October 12, 1996: The 1996 New Zealand General Election is held, the first under the proportional MMP system. The center-right National Party gets 34% of the vote and 44/120 seats, center-left Labour gets 28% and 37/120 seats, while populist NZ First gets 13% and 17 seats.

October 16, 1996: The second debate goes similarly, with Richards being the winner.

October 18th 1996- Donald Trump calls Ross Perot an "idiotic lunatic who's screwing up the election."

October 19, 1996: A Gallup poll shows 51% Richards, 38% Dole and 11% Perot. It has a margin of error of 3%.

October 20, 1996: The Dallas Barons defeat the Tampa Bay Mutiny 3-0 to win the 1996 MLS Cup.

October 20-27, 1996: The New York Yankees defeat the Houston Astros 4 games to 3 to win the 1996 World Series.

October 21st 1996- Bob Dole says that Ann Richards isn't Presidential because she acts more like a celebrity than a candidate. Richards responds, "Poor Bob Dull, he's a tired old fuddy-duddy who doesn't know how to have a good time."

October 23rd 1996- The Washington Post story about President Bush's role in Iran-Contra is revealed to be an elaborate hoax, after it gained little traction in the media due to the Presidential Election.

October 24th 1996- A suitcase washes up on a Nova Scotia beach. It is widely believed to be from the missing United Airlines Flight 56 that vanished in September. Scientists say it's extremely unlikely and a "one in a billion chance"

October 25th 1996- A judge rules against Ross Perot's "debate-gate" allegations.

October 26th 1996 - The Cleveland Indians defeat the Atlanta Braves 4 games to 2 to win the 1996 World Series. Several blocks of downtown Cleveland are burned to the ground by drunken rioters celebrating Cleveland's first major sports championship in over 30 years.

October 28th 1996- In the last week of the Campaign, Bob Dole breaks his leg after falling off a stage in Dayton, Ohio.

October 30th 1996- Illinois Senate Candidate, Hillary Rodham, is photographed embracing an unknown woman outsider her house in Chicago. It appears on The front cover of the National Enquirer with the title, "Was Hillary Rodham rodded by this woman?" Rodded, which was a made-up word, quickly became a term to describe a closeted gay woman.

November 2 and November 3, 1996: A particularly warm year ends on a bad note: Hurricane Natania, reaching far above the requirements for Grade 5 despite its northerly latitude (off the coast of southernmost North Carolina) makes landfall in Brunswick, NC. There, it manages to blow away all emergency power systems for the Brunswick-1 and Brunswick-2 nuclear reactors and damages the reactor core containment severely. Due to the following power outages and severe operational negligence on the part of the workers, the incredible happens: The core melts in both blocks, the containment, already weakened by Hurricane Natania, does not hold out anymore and radioactivity in a dose double that of Cernobyl leaks into the atmosphere... but not into the ground, luckilly, as there is no graphite fire in addition to a molten core.

The prevailing winds are due north and northeast. Hurricane Natania soon is downgraded to Level 2, but the damage is done. The reaction to this event following in the few days before election will later be credited with bringing whoever wins his or her victory.

November 4, 1996: Final pre-election polls show Ann Richards in the lead. A Gallup poll shows 49% Richards, 38% Dole and 12% Perot. Pundits predict a Richards victory, Democrats keeping Congress and low turnout. However a CNN poll shows 14% Perot, 42% Dole and 42% Richards, in a result contrasting with other polls.

genusmap.php


Ann Richards (D-TX)/ Bill Bradley (D-NJ) - 437 EVS 45% PV
Bob Dole (R-KS)/ Jack Kemp (R-NY) - 90 EVS 32% PV
Ross Perot (RF-TX)/ Jerry Brown (RF-CA)- 11 EVS - 22% PV



November 5, 1996: Democrats retain both houses of Congress. Republicans gained 3 Senate seats(same results as IOTL, but Landrieu lost). the Senate balance of power was 54 D-46 R. In the House Democrats gained 2 seats to get 278 seats in the House. This gave President Richards a strong mandate for her presidency.

November 5, 1996: Republican Peggy Wilson is elected as a U.S. Senator from Louisiana over Democrat Mary Landrieu.

November 5, 1996: America has elected its first female President and after 16 years returned Democrats to the White House. With a 13-point margin of victory, over 400 EVs and solid majorities in both houses of Congress the new President has a mandate to lead America into the new millennium. Richards vowed new leadership for the new millennium, and her 'New Democrat' moderate approach, refining Bill Clinton's failed 1992 bid, managed to land her the presidency. The Richards/Bradley ticket stayed firmly in the center, though they also promised healthcare reform. The Dole campaign's best chance was to hug President Bush, who has returned to popularity with a good economy. But instead Dole distanced himself from the President, and his muddled campaign led to voters failing to get a clear sense of Bob Dole and allowing the idea that he was a tired dinosaur of the past to succeed. Ross Perot's bid, with Jerry Brown as his running mate, was even more successful than in 1992. Wooing disaffected liberals and conservatives, Perot got a stellar 22% and even electoral votes. Dole and Republicans are already blaming Perot for their defeat, with his running mate Jack Kemp saying to reporters "Ann Richards didn't get a majority. We lost because Ross Perot took our votes. He took conservatives from us and gave Richards the presidency." But given the extent of Richards's landslide that's hard to believe. What is clear is what Richards said in her victory speech "This is a new dawn for America, and the times are changing. The new era is dawning, the new millennium!" That is true, for good or for bad.

November 5, 1996 - John F. Kennedy Jr. stood for the New York 1st District against incumbent, Michael Forbes. Kennedy was able to gain the seat with a majority of 55.28% to Forbes' 42.72%

November 5th 1996 - Republican Yesse Yehudah narrowly defeats Democrat Barack Obama in a hotly contested race for the 13th District of the Illinois State Senate.

November 5th 1996- Hillary Rodham (nee Clinton) is elected Senator of Illinois. Jesse Helms defeated in a close race by Democrat Harvey Gantt. Gannt is the First African American to be elected to the Senate from the South in American History.

November 8, 1996: The Disney adaptation of Don Quixote is released to cinemas. The film features Brad Pitt as the voice of Don Quixote, John Goodman as the voice of Sancho Panza, Cheech Marin as the voice of Burro the Donkey, and a soundtrack by little-known Latin pop singer Ricky Martin.

November 12, 1996: Russian Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov was killed by Russian National Unity forces

November 15, 1996: Space Jam, starring the Looney Tunes and Michael Jordan, is released to cinemas. The film's theme song "Come On & Slam" becomes one of the biggest hits of the 1990s.

November 18th 1996 - Downing Street Press Secretary Alistair Campbell becomes aware of the affair, agreeing to cover it up despite warning Blair to end it

November 19th, 1996: Within a few months of being sworn in to his second term as President of Russia, Boris Yeltsin, dies at the age of 65 years old, during an emergency quintuple heart bypass surgery. Prime Minister, Viktor Chernomyrdin assums the role of Acting President.

December 1, 1996: Snap Presidential Elections in Russia. Alexander Lebed won in this elections with 56,4%. Viktor Chernomyrdin took the second place.

December 1, 1996: After protracted coalition negotiations, NZ First leader Winston Peters forms a coalition with the Labour Party, which is led by Helen Clark. To get a majority in parliament the coalition gets confidence and supply from the left-wing Aliance, led by Jim Anderton. And so Helen Clark becomes New Zealand's first woman Prime Minister, while Peters becomes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

December 2nd 1996- Campbell privately briefs security staff at Number 10 to ensure cover ups of Blair's affair are made by security, contrary to government rules/regulations

December 22, 1996: In their first season in Baltimore after leaving Cleveland, the Baltimore Ravens go 0-16. Most fans and commentators around the country consider the winless season to be well deserved karma.

December 22, 1996: The National Party caucus elects former Health Minister Jenny Shipley as their new leader.

January 1, 1997: The UCLA Bruins defeat the North Carolina Tar Heels 17-7 to win the 1996-97 NCAA Bowl Coalition National Championship.

January 20, 1997: Dorothy Ann Willis Richards is inaugurated President of the United States. Richards takes the office from outgoing two-term President Bush. Richards gives her address, saying "Well now, there's a woman as President!" The bulk of her speech was focused on outlining her vision for America. She said "We have a nation stronger than at any point before in history. But our work is not yet complete. More needs to be done, so we can be a kinder, gentler society. That is why I will push for measures as President that will lift people up and made America a better place. We are going to have healthcare reform, and we're going to always fight for the little guy, and the little gal. But a strong economy and strong society aren't mutually exclusive, we are going to work to balance the budget and keep our economy going strong. I promise you this, I will always fight for you as your President." Richards starts off with broad public support and few enemies, but that support is wide but likely not that deep.

Cabinet Appointees (OOC: Awaiting Congress Approval)
Secretary of State: John Kerry
Secretary of Defense: Sam Nunn
Secretary of Treasury: William Perry
Attorney General: Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Secretary of the Interior: Jesse Jackson
Secretary of Agriculture: Gary Hart
Secretary of Education: Bruce Babbitt
 
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Wow. Great Job. I tried doing this myself within the original thread, but never got around to finishing it. Great Job, and as always great job to all those that contributed. One of the best timelines I've seen.
 
Wow. Great Job. I tried doing this myself within the original thread, but never got around to finishing it. Great Job, and as always great job to all those that contributed. One of the best timelines I've seen.

Thanks! You can help me if you want
 
January 26, 1997: The Denver Broncos defeat the New York Giants 34-6 to win Super Bowl XXXI.

January 27, 1997: Governor Tom Carper (D-DE) appoints Lt. Gov. Ruth Ann Minner to the Senate seat vacated by Secretary of State Joe Biden. As a result, Minner becomes the first female Senator from Delaware.

February 3, 1997:
President Ann Richards announces the formation of the White House Council on Healthcare Reform (WHCHR, pronounced "Wicker"), a bipartisan committee consisting of 6 Democrats, led by HHS Secretary Mario Cuomo (D-NY), and 6 Republicans, led by U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA). Its goal is to determine the most viable options for healthcare reform.

February 8, 1997: Israel and Palestine come to an agreement at the Camp David accords, with Jerusalem to be partitioned, Palestine to recognize Israel, the right of return solved through monetary reparations, the formation of a Palestinian state and with some Israeli settlements being retained by Israel, but others destroyed. The agreement is widely supported, and former President Bush is lauded for helping the peace process pass, while Secretary of State Biden is credited with avoiding a late collapse of the process. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is expected to be over within the next few years.

February 9, 1997: The Dow Jones tops 7,000 for the first time in history.

February 22, 1997: A female sheep named Dolly is successfully cloned at the Roslin Institute in Scotland.

February 24, 1997: President Richards signs an executive order banning human cloning.

February 24, 1997: MLS announces the creation of the Miami Fusion (in the Federal Conference) and the Chicago Fire (in the National Conference), to begin play in the 1998 season.

February 28, 1997: President Richards calls on Congress to pass new federal programs to tackle poverty, with billions aimed at reforming and strengthening the social safety net. Republicans lambast the proposals, with Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott calling it a "travesty of big government tax and spend liberalism," and House Minority Leader Newt Gingrich saying "This proposal is extreme, it's socialist, it will undermine our society as socialism and big government has always done."

March 1, 1997: Vice President Bill Bradley defends the administration's anti-poverty proposals, saying "We are proposing appropriate, reasonable measures to fulfill the aim of a kinder, gentler society."

March 3, 1997: Senate Republicans filibuster the appointment of Jesse Jackson to the HUD.

March 7, 1997: Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun announces his retirement from the court.

March 9, 1997: Rapper Christopher Wallace, more commonly known as The Notorious B.I.G., is shot in the thigh in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles, California. The severity of the injury requires Wallace to use a cane when walking from then on.

March 10, 1997: President Richards announces a visit to impoverished eastern Kentucky in July.

March 10, 1997: After a rough honeymoon period, President Richards has a 52% approval rating.

March 19, 1997: President Richards nominates José A. Cabranes for Harry Blackmun's Supreme Court seat.

March 21, 1997: A week before Easter, masked gunmen shoot up the King of Prussia Mall in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, killing 49 and wounding 156. President Richards delivers a primetime speech across all of the major networks. She says, "This is an act of cowardice...an act of depravity. The United States Government will do everything it can do to bring justice to our fallen citizens. This Easter I ask you to remember those who lost their lives in this horrific, despicable, act of violent terrorism."

March 22, 1997: The attack on the King of Prussia Mall is linked to an Islamic terrorist group by the name of Al-Qaeda.

March 23, 1997: In an emergency Cabinet meeting, President Richards vows to find Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.

March 24, 1997: The 69th Academy Awards are rescheduled for April 7.

April 1, 1997: The Social Safety Net Reform Act is proposed with reforms and increased funds for welfare. It covers Pharmaceuticals on Social Security, increases funding for Social Security and Medicare, as well the abandonment of the Cap and adding those under the poverty line to the SSI stipends. Medicaid expansion is not included, with many pundits expecting it to be included in the healthcare reform bill. The bill is expected to add billions to the deficit, endangering hopes of balancing the budget. Republicans swiftly condemn the SSNR Act, with Newt Gingrich saying, "This is socialism, and it rewards laziness. It's the same old failed big government." Trent Lott said, "Ann Richards didn't get the support of a majority of voters, so she's on shaky ground. And here she's engaging in big government extremism." A Gallup poll show that 34% oppose the SSNR, 34% support and 31% undecided.

April 2, 1997: President Richards makes a gaffe when she says opposition to her social programs "has a big racism factor behind it."

April 4, 1997: WHCHR releases a preliminary report that a form of tax breaks and or write offs for all medical procedures totaling over $100 as well possibly offering a discount on insurance for those under the poverty line, would be the most likely solutions to Healthcare reform. Committee member, Senator Al D'Amato (R-NY), Calls it the efforts "meaningful compromise."

April 5, 1997: The Crocodile Hunter, a wildlife show hosted by Australian conservationist Steve Irwin, premieres on the Discovery Channel.

April 7, 1997: Tycoon Donald Trump says he is "very likely" to run in 2000, either as a Democrat challenger to Richards or on the Reform Party. He said, "I'm sure I would win, I always win. I would be a fantastic president, absolutely fantastic, much better than these losers."

April 8-29, 1997: Mysterious lights appear in the night sky throughout the American Southwest.

April 11, 1997: The House passes the SSNR Act by a margin of 255-180. Several conservative Democrats defect, while only 5 Republicans vote for it.

April 11, 1997: Major airstrikes are conducted against Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.

April 14, 1997:
Time magazine publishes an article about Islamic terrorism. It features the face of Osama bin Laden on the cover. In the article, it features interviews with Muslim activists who say "this isn't us."

April 18, 1997:
Jose A. Cabranes is confirmed as Supreme Court Justice, becoming the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice.

May 1, 1997: US unemployment rate falls to 4.5%.

May 2, 1997: The SSNR Act is filibustered in the Senate, with 56 in favor and 44 against. 2 Republicans voted for it but a Democrat defected.

May 3, 1997: President Richards addresses the nation on healthcare reform. She declares, "For too long, our healthcare system has not worked for all Americans. Our healthcare system has left too many Americans behind, and it is failing America. That is why I am calling on Congress to pass comprehensive reform of the healthcare system to reduce costs, increase coverage and give us a better system. Because America deserves a world-class healthcare system, and that is what I will fight with all my heart and soul to deliver."

May 5, 1997: A Gallup poll shows President Richards with a 55% approval rating.

May 7, 1997: Quantum Leap's ninth and final season ends on a two-part season finale. The highly-rated two-part episode not only has Sam Beckett return home for good, but it also involves the final destruction of the Evil Leapers when Sam Beckett gives the evidence of the crimes of the budding "Project LOTHOS" before the rival organization's time travel experiments started.

May 7, 1997: Test Track opens at EPCOT Center. Sponsored by General Motors, the innovative thrill ride allows guests to see how automobiles are designed and tested before being sold to the general public. The highlight of the ride is an outdoor loop where the ride vehicles zoom by at 65 mph, making it the fastest ride ever designed by Walt Disney Imagineering.

May 15, 1997: The Washington Bullets are officially renamed the Washington Heroes.

May 16, 1997: The Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997 is passed in Congress, it strengthens anti-terrorism laws, as well as increases sentences for terrorists.

May 16, 1997: Kumari Misra, age 24 from India, is crowned Miss Universe 1997.

May 17, 1997: Manchester United defeats Crystal Palace 4-1 to win the 1997 FA Cup.

May 25, 1997: Universal's Islands of Adventure opens in Orlando, Florida. The park features themed areas based on Dr. Seuss, Arthurian legend, Jurassic Park, Nickelodeon, and Marvel Comics.

May 29, 1997: The NHL announces plans for a major realignment of its teams, to take effect for the 1998-99 season.

May 30, 1997: Homer's Odyssey, Disney's retelling to the classic Greek epic, is released to cinemas. The film features George Clooney as the voice of Homer, Leonardo DiCaprio as the voice of Telemachus, Julia Roberts as the voice of Penelope, the Spice Girls as the voices of the Sirens, and a cameo by Charlton Heston as the voice of Zeus.

May 31-June 13, 1997: The Edmonton Oilers defeat the New Jersey Devils 4 games to 3 to win the 1997 Stanley Cup.

June 1, 1997: The SSNR fails to survive another filibuster. Negotiations begin to water-down the bill and compromise in it to gain Republican support. Trent Lott crows, "We beat back big government. We beat back tax and spend liberalism. Conservatism will win."

June 1-15, 1997: The Toronto Raptors defeat the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 to win the 1997 NBA Finals.

June 2, 1997: The Canadian general election is held. Prime Minister Jean Chretien and his Liberal Party lose a majority in parliament, getting 148/301 seats and 37% of the vote. Chretien loses his seat in parliament. Chretien is expected to form a minority government. Chretien, despite losing his seat, refused to resign.

June 7, 1997: Finance Minister Paul Martin challenges Chretien for the Liberal Party leadership, saying the 1997 election results showed Chretien had failed and new leadership was needed.

June 19, 1997: On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Blind Melon frontman Shannon Hoon says he is 100% drug-free and focusing on fatherhood now.

June 20, 1997: The fourth film in the Batman franchise, Batman and Robin, is released to critical acclaim. Most critics point to Anthony Hopkins' sinister yet sympathetic performance as Mister Freeze. Christian Bale continues to work well with Michael Keaton. The film introduces Julia Roberts as Barbara "Batgirl" Gordon. The critics heap praise on the genuine familial connection between her and Pat Hingle's Commissioner Gordon.

June 26, 1997: WHCHR announces it will release its final report earlier than expected. The report will be out on September 2.

June 26, 1997: The Hall of Presidents reopens at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World with an audio-animatronic figure of U.S. President Ann Richards. Also featured is an all-new script written by Columbia University professor Eric Foner, who focused more on slavery and other ethical and civil issues in American history.

July 1, 1997: President Richards arrives in eastern Kentucky. She visits and helps out on several home improvement sites throughout the region.

July 1, 1997: Sarah, Duchess of York has kept her brief relationships from the papers, though she cannot hide her financial troubles as easily, which are splashed over the front pages of the tabloids, with the Sun claiming she is nearly bankrupt.

July 8, 1997: Protests arise in Chisinau, Moldova, against President Petru Luchinscki. Demands of the protesters were the resignation of the president and parliament.

July 12, 1997: U.S. Senator Dale Bumpers (D-AR) announces that he will not be seeking another term in the Senate in 1998.

July 18, 1997: Jurassic Park II is released to cinemas. Taking place approximately two years after the first film, Henry Wu helps greedy travel agent Peter Conte (played by Michael Richards) give guided tours of the abandoned Isla Nublar. During one tour, with a group of teens on spring break, the plane goes down on the island, and the surviving passengers must escape the island. The film is notable for the screen debut of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who plays alpha jock Chad Harris.

August 1, 1997: President Richards arrives back in Washington, relieving Vice President Bradley of de-facto control.

August 3, 1997: The SSNR passes the Senate 63-35 after a renewed effort by the Democrats and amendments to placate Republicans. The welfare spending parts were amended, with nearly half scrapped altogether, other parts being turned into tax cuts and tax credits and only a small portion remaining unamended. The Social Security and Medicare spending was not touched. The Republican leadership still opposed the bill, and attacked the $50 billion addition to the deficit as "fiscally irresponsible" and "big government." President Richards signed the bill into law, and declared, "This is what a kinder, gentler nation looks like!"

August 13, 1997: South Park debuts on Comedy Central. Created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the show quickly skyrockets in both popularity and controversy. It nonetheless makes Comedy Central a household name in television.

August 20, 1997: President Richards proposes a bill increasing income taxes to 40% to balance the budget.

August 25, 1997: A first-person-shooter video game based on Goldeneyes is released on the Nintendo 64. The game receives widespread acclaim for its faithful adaptation of the movie and innovative gameplay features.

August 31, 1997: Diana, Princess of Wales, is paralyzed from the waist down after a severe car accident in Paris. Halfway across the world, aspiring singer Beyoncé Knowles of Destiny's Child is killed in a hit and run by a drunk driver.

September 2, 1997: WHCHR releases its final report. Medicaid will be replaced with a federal program which is available to all Americans. Americare will match Health insurance bills by a sliding scale. Those below the poverty line will only have to pay ten percent of all their healthcare bills. Those at the average income level will pay roughly fifty percent. Americare will be funded by FICA. The report also calls for greater efforts to increase the amount of doctors and nurses in the United States by 75 percent by 2007.

September 2, 1997: Senator Harris Wofford (D-PA) releases a statement in response to the WHCHR's report on healthcare reform in which he says that "the recommendations of the WHCHR are the necessary steps to ensuring that all Americans have access to quality healthcare. It is my hope that the House and Senate will take up these recommendations and pass them swiftly." Senator Wofford has been one of President Richards' strongest allies in the Senate on healthcare reform, having campaigned on the issue in both 1991 and 1994, and has been widely supportive of the adoption of universal healthcare.

September 2, 1997: After the crash in Paris that leaves Diana, Princess of Wales paralyzed, Sarah and Andrew reconcile at the urging of their children Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. The press, largely distracted by Diana, take little notice.

September 2, 1997: Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry visit Princess Diana at the hospital in Paris. While Charles and Diana are reported to be on civil terms, the boys are happy their mother is alive, although Harry is upset that others in the car died.

September 5, 1997: The International Olympic Committee selects Cape Town, South Africa, to host the 2004 Summer Olympics.

September 13, 1997: The House passes the Balanced Budget Act with the President's tax increases.

September 13, 1997: Cheri Lisette Harvey, age 17 from Maryland, is crowned Miss America 1998.

September 16, 1997: The Healthcare Choice and Patient Protection Act (HCPPA), colloquially known as Richardscare, is proposed to Congress, based on the WHCHR report.

September 17, 1997: A leadership review is held for the Canadian Liberals. Jean Chretien gets 51% of the vote, but Martin claims victory, saying this shows Chretien's weakness.

September 20, 1997: Dozens of Liberal MPs announce their support for Martin.

September 23, 1997: Using reconciliation, President Richards's tax increase is passed 52-47.

September 23, 1997: Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien vows never to step down, declaring, "I will win."

September 26, 1997: Jean Chretien steps down, saying, "I see no path forward for my career as Prime Minister or Leader of the Liberal Party and it is time for the party to choose a new leader."

September 28, 1997: A Gallup poll shows 50% of Americans support Richardscare, and 33% opposed.

September 28, 1997: A leadership convention is to be held for the Canadian Liberals.

October 1, 1997: President Ann Richards has a 50% approval rating.

October 1, 1997: Finance Minister Paul Martin announces he will run for the leadership.

October 2, 1997: Chretien loyalist and Minister of Industry John Manley announces a run for the Liberal leadership.

October 6, 1997: Several insurance companies announce they are 'concerned' about Richardscare, citing new regulations and government 'interference' in the healthcare system.

October 7, 1997: 10 Republican Senators, including Al D'Amato and John Chaffee announce they will support Richardscare.

October 9, 1997: Provocation in Transnistria from the Moldovan side. Russian President Alexander Lebed condemns the provocation.

October 10, 1997: House Minority Leader Newt Gingrich says he will not support Richardscare, saying it is "an assault on the private sector" and "will worsen, not improve our healthcare system with undue government interference."

October 15, 1997: Two rallies are held on Capitol Hill, one for Richardscare and one against. The anti-crowd, riled up by conservative firebrands such as Rush Limbaugh, is twice as big. A new poll shows that support for Richardscare has fallen to 47%, but opposition is still far smaller, at 35%.

October 16, 1997: President Richards makes a speech to Congress and the nation pushing for Richardscare to pass.

October 18, 1997: President Richards holds a rally on Capitol Hill with 30 politicians, among them 16 Democrats and 14 Republicans, and calls for Richardscare to pass.

October 18-25, 1997: The Toronto Blue Jays defeat the Chicago Cubs 4 games to 2 to win the 1997 World Series.

October 19, 1997: The San Francisco Earthquakes defeat the D.C. Express 2-0 to win the 1997 MLS Cup.

October 21, 1997: A new poll shows support for Richardscare at 54%.

October 27, 1997: The trial of Ramzi Yousef, the last living perpetrator of the King of Prussia Attacks, begins in Mentone, Texas. The trial is held there to avoid any possible press coverage. Mentone has a population of about 80 people and is in the remote Texas desert.

October 29, 1997: Steve Jobs is assassinated outside his home in Palo Alto, California, by an anarcho-primitivist. The assassination happens only six months after he returned to Apple.

October 30, 1997: Apple and other computer/technology corporation stocks plummet following Job's assassination. Wall Street closes in response.

November 1, 1997: In USA Today's political section, a controversial cartoon appears. It shows health insurance corporations as angry Nazi Stormtroopers leading middle-class Americans into concentration camps. An air bubble from the health insurance "Nazis" reads; "You're being selfish, give us your money."

November 2, 1997: The House passes HCPPA = by a margin of 300-146. The huge margin is due to dozens of Republicans joining the Democrats, showing the bill is broadly popular.

November 3, 1997: Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott vows to filibuster HCPPA.

November 3, 1997: Trading resumes on Wall Street after the death of Steve Jobs. Tech stocks, especially Apple, are at record lows, despite picking up substantially since the previous Thursday. Businessman Donald Trump quickly buys up stock in Apple.

November 4, 1997: New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections are held. Republican George Allen keeps the Virginia governorship for the GOP. In New Jersey, Republicans took it from the Democrats. This is seen as a warning sign for the Democrats heading into the 1998 midterms.

November 5, 1997: Former President Bush, in a surprise move, has endorsed HCPPA, saying, "This is a strong measure to combat healthcare costs and the attacks against it are false. This, Americare bill will be a comprehensive step to address rising healthcare costs and inadequate coverage."

November 6, 1997: Conservatives are furious at Bush's betrayal, with Rush Limbaugh thundering, "He's a liberal!" and Newt Gingrich saying, "I never liked him anyway."

November 16, 1997: Russian military intervention in Moldova begins.

November 25, 1997: President Richards condemns the Russian military intervention in Moldova.

December 6, 1997: After a month of debate HCPPA passes the Senate 70-29, easily surviving a filibuster. President Richards signs it into law, saying, "This is why I was elected. This is a great step to addressing the problems in our healthcare system."

December 7, 1997: On the 56th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, President Richards spends a half hour in the room where FDR was first notified of the attacks. Richards recounts in a later interview, "So many important events have happened in the White House, but I think FDR and Pearl Harbor is the one I connect to the most, since it was so vivid to me. I was eight years old, my family and I were coming home from church in an old Ford truck, the radio was on and then it switched to the first reports. I had no idea where Hawaii was, so I asked and my father looked absolutely scared, and he replied, the Pacific. So I imagined myself as that eight-year-old girl in that room where FDR was. It was a very powerful experience. Both are memories I'll always look back on."

December 15, 1997: After many years and much speculation about the costs, the wisdom of building a full scale sinkable Titanic, overruns, etc. James Cameron's epic disaster film Titanic is released to cinemas. The film is a huge success and dominates the cinemas for the year ahead, clearing over $.25 billion globally. The film cleans up at almost every award ceremony, including 14 Oscars, but it controversially beaten for Best Picture at the 70th Academy Awards by L.A. Confidential. Cameron is apparently unmoved by the loss (the huge pile of statues in front of him may have played a part). Famously he joked after, "Never let me do something like this again!"

The film sparks enormous interest in the ship, and by the end of 1998 tourists are being taken down to the wreck in Russian subs. Plans are started by many a company to cash in on Titanic, including plans for a full scale working ship in time for the centennial anniversary in 2012.

December 17, 1997: During the Battle for Chisinau, the Moldovan capital is seized by the Russian Armed Forces.

December 18, 1997: Actor and comedian Chris Farley has a near-death experience when he overdoses on a combination of cocaine and morphine at his home in Chicago. He is rushed to the hospital, and is in critical condition.

December 22, 1997: President Richards goes to Camp David to celebrate Christmas. Richards upon arriving, calls Former President George H.W. Bush, the conversation is as followed.

AR: "President Bush, I wanted to thank you for your support on Hipca.
HW: "Well you're very welcome, I thought that it was very hypocritical of Gingrich to oppose it. It was from a bi-partisan committee."
AR: "Healthcare is getting dangerously expensive, and Hipca was the best option we had. Oh and uh... do remember the '88 Democratic Convention?
HW: *Laughing* "No... what about it?"
AR: "Well um. I think I was just a tad bit harsh on you."
HW: "I think you were actually pretty soft... but yeah... I understand, it's hardball out there."
AR: "That reminds me, tell Junior he's doing a fine job as Baseball Commissioner, and tell Barbara and the family that I send my best regards and Merry Christmas. If you run in to the Reagans... give them my best wishes as well.
HW: "I will and I send my regards and Merry Christmases as well, but I know I won't run into the Reagans.
AR: "Have you heard from them?"
HW: "I heard from Nancy, but I haven't actually seen them since January, Ronald thought I was still at the U.N. He probably doesn't even remember me by now. It really goes to show you that Alzheimer's can affect anyone, even a President."
AR: "I can't believe Nancy and so many others have to go through that. Hipca's gonna help very much for at least some treatments."
HW: "Yes... well Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
AR: "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."

December 29, 1997: Secretary of Health & Human Services Mario Cuomo is named Time magazine's "Man of the Year" for 1997 for his role in creating Richardscare.

January 1, 1998: The Stanford Cardinals defeat the Northwestern Wildcats 38-28 to win the 1997-98 NCAA Bowl Coalition National Championship.

January 4, 1998: Building the Titanic, a sprawling, soap opera-like documentary about the making of the 1997 smash hit film Titanic, is released. of the dramas of making a film. From contract negotiations with Harland and Wolfe to build a huge water tank, getting massive tax breaks from John Major's government, outfitting the yard buildings and partial rebuilding the Aarol Gantry, recruiting the skilled workers, the still very raw tensions between Catholic and Protestant workers that occasionally spilled over into actual fighting, to finally filming the epic disaster movie itself, the cameras were on hand to capture it all!

January 16, 1998: Prime Minister Tony Blair breaks off his affair with Lauren Hunter, fearing his wife Cherie is getting suspicious.

January 25, 1998: The Miami Dolphins defeat the Detroit Lions 45-7 to win Super Bowl XXXII.

January 27, 1998: President Richards gives her State of the Union address to Congress. President Richards discussed education and her proposed reforms, welfare, healthcare and the budget deficit, and infrastructure reform. The president also discussed foreign relations, science funding, development, space travel, and the Internet. President Richards declared, "We've accomplished a lot in one year, from strengthening the social safety net, to shrinking the deficit and passing healthcare reform that will lower costs and bring coverage to millions of Americans. But make no mistake, more work needs to be done. I will push Congress to pass a bill making our education system stronger, fairer, and more equitable. For too long, education has fallen behind in America, and we have failed to ensure our children live up to their full potential. It is time that changes and so I will be introducing a bill with higher standards, more funding for inner-city schools, and efforts to reduce dropout rates and tackle our problems. I believe an education system where our government takes more responsibility for every child, and ensures no child left behind, will create a better future for America. I will detail this more later in my speech. There is also infrastructure reform. I hope to explore all possibilities on this issue so we can update our infrastructure and make it a world-class system. I want all of you to know that under my Presidency, I will not leave a single American behind."

January 30, 1998: Littleton, Colorado, police arrest teenagers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold for stealing tools from a van. Authorities look into Harris' private site, and, after finding references to pipe bombs and a hit list, promptly recommend extensive therapy, due to the King of Prussia terrorist attacks.

February 2-13, 1998: After a wave of Republican sentiment in the 1990s, the Australian Constitutional Convention is called by the Howard Government to discuss whether Australia should become a republic. The Constitutional Convention, which gathered at the Old Parliament House, debated the question with representatives from all Australian states and the wording of a referendum to be put to the Australian people in November agreed.

February 5, 1998: Blockbuster opens the first Block Party in Edison, New Jersey. Seen by many as "Chuck E. Cheese's for adults," the franchise would soon grow to have locations in 37 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces.

February 27, 1998: Donald Trump announces his run for New York Governor on the Reform Party ticket.

March 2, 1998: Former Vice President Dan Quayle announces his intention to run for Indiana's open Senate seat in 1998. He leads the primary and is expected to face Democrat Evan Bayh.

March 3, 1998: The No Child Left Behind Act is proposed by President Richards, setting national standards for schools and implementing steps to ensure the standards are met. The bill contains billions in added funding for schools, and new federal intervention in the education system. The bill attracts wide support, but concerns small-government activists and deficit hawks.

March 4, 1998: President Richards addresses Congress on education, and promotes the No Child Left Behind Act, saying "We must create a world-class education system, one with no child left behind."

March 6, 1998: Jerry Brown announces his run for California Governor on the Reform Party ticket.

March 9, 1998: Clint Eastwood announces his run for Senator from California on the Reform Party ticket.

March 20, 1998: Ohio Representative John Kasich announces he's running for the U.S. Senate to replace retiring Democratic Senator John Glenn.

March 21, 1998: President Richards gives a speech at a memorial service on the first anniversary of the King of Prussia attacks.

March 31, 1998: The Arizona Outlaws (in NL West) and the Orlando Coasters (in AL East) make their debut as the 29th and 30th teams, respectively, in Major League Baseball.

April 3, 1998: Honey, I Shrunk the Institute! is released to cinemas. Expanding upon the story of the Honey, I Shrunk the Audience! attraction at Disneyland and EPCOT Center, the film has Rick Moranis reprise his role as Wayne Szalinski and Eric Idle reprise his role as Dr. Nigel Channing, the Chairman of the Imagination Institute. Much of the film's plot revolves around Szalinski trying to save his job after his incident at the Inventor of the Year ceremony.

April 7, 1998: The New York Islanders announce they will be moving to Brooklyn at the start of the 2000-01 NHL season.

April 10, 1998: In an unprecedented act of diplomacy by Northern Ireland Minister Mo Mowlam, the Good Friday Agreement is signed in Belfast by the British and Irish governments. Although nearly scuppered several times, not least when Peter Mandelson, 'Minister without Portfolio' (i.e. a Busybody), tried to interfere with the process. This interference would later cost Mandelson his Cabinet job. Mowlam would oversee the creation of the devolved Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly and power-shairing Executive for Northern Ireland in 1999, and also bring in massive reform of the Northern Ireland Police Service.

April 10, 1998: The Titanic Experience, combining a movie tour of James Cameron's sets with a celebration of Belfast shipbuilding, opens in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The scale replica of Titanic is the centerpiece of the Experience, allowing visitors to walk the famous Liners' desks, visit the Bridge, Salons, Grand Staircase, etc. Some express unhappiness that the ship is not totally complete and they cannot stay on-board like the Queen Mary, but they are reminded it is a movie set.

April 16, 1998: A massive Force 4 tornado devastates Nashville. 25 die and hundreds more are injured, there is also nearly five million dollars in damage. President Richards declares Nashville a Federal Disaster Area.

April 22, 1998: Disney's Animal Kingdom opens as the fourth theme park in Walt Disney World. Encompassing over 500 acres, the park includes such attractions as Kilimanjaro Safaris, the Countdown to Extinction dark ride, and the Dragon Tower roller coaster.

May 1, 1998: Tim Burton's Superman Lives is released to record-breaking ticket sales. It features Nicolas Cage's Superman having to team up with Kevin Spacey's Lex Luthor to save the world from Pete Postlethwaite's Brainiac. The effects bringing the terrifying skeletal Brainiac to life are particularly praised.

May 3, 1998: Russo-European negotiations are held in Helsinki, Finland. As a result of negotiations, Moldova became an international zone of occupation. Transnistria and Gagauzia became a Russia's area of responsibility. Other parts of Moldova were occupied by UN Peacekeeping Forces.

May 4, 1998: The No Child Left Behind Act passes the House 355-77, with bipartisan support.

May 12, 1998: Margaux Lambert, age 21 from Belgium, is crowned Miss Universe 1998.

May 15, 1998: Warner Bros. Feature Animation releases Trolls to cinemas. Based on the fad toy line of the same name, the film features pop hits Ricky Martin and Mel B as the voices of two trolls who unite their village against the villainous troll hunter Zorgon (voiced by John Cleese). The film receives mixed to positive reviews, and goes on to win the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Martin's "Every Day's a Party."

May 16, 1998: Manchester United defeats Reading 2-0 to win the 1998 FA Cup.

May 17, 1998: Tom Hopkins, a fired Downing Street political staffer following poor local election results for the Labour party, sells the story of the Blair/Hunter affair to the newspapers, causing a great scandal.

May 17, 1998: The Simpsons, the animated sitcom on the FOX network, ends after 9 seasons and over 200 episodes. Some fans argued that it was time for it to end, while others argued that the show ended too soon.

May 19, 1998: Blair admits to having an affair, saying he apologises to his wife Cherie and to the nation.

May 22, 1998: Illinois Senator Hillary Rodham is interviewed by Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes about her late ex-husband, Bill Clinton. Rodham says, "I loved Bill and he loved me. To others it didn't look like it, but we did. Bill didn't love other women, he [enjoyed] other women. I was fine with it at first because it was just sex, but then the Presidential Campaign started and it just got too intense too fast. Had we won, Bill would've never lost sight of what was important, his family. He went into a downward spiral, and I couldn't go through that, he broke a promise to me. What I felt when he died is indescribable, I never stopped loving him and I still do." When Rodham is asked if she's seeing anyone, "Yes about a year now, and he's a really good man, but we want to keep our relationship out of the media for now." Finally, Rodham is asked whether she'd ever run for President, "I wanted to at one time, but I'm not ever going to, It's too stressful and it brings back too many memories."

May 24, 1998: Rumors and allegations begin to surface about whether improper abuses of power were made by Blair and Campbell in covering up the affair.

May 25, 1998: Lauren Hunter sells her story, arguing it was Blair who instigated the affair.

May 28, 1998: Actor and comedian Phil Hartman is shot and paralyzed from the waist down following an argument with his wife Brynn Omdahl at their home in Los Angeles, California.

June 1, 1998: The Land of Oz opens just in time for the 1998 summer season. The theme park and Silver Slipper Hotel quickly become two of the most popular tourist locations in Kansas City.

June 2, 1998: Amidst growing furore in the press about potential abuses of power, Alistair Campbell resigns as Downing Street Press Secretary.

June 3-14, 1998: The Vancouver Grizzlies defeat the Orlando Magic 4 games to 2 to win the 1998 NBA Finals.

June 5, 1998: President Richards proposes the Infrastructure Modernization Act (IMA) to improve America's infrastructure, with $50 billion more going to infrastructure and programs to modernize the infrastructure.

June 6, 1998: Fiscal conservatives attack IMA, with Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott saying, "This bill won't work, we need to cut regulations, we need free-market solutions, not big government, for our problems." Republicans vow to filibuster the bill.

June 7, 1998: A Gallup poll shows 39% of Americans think President Richards is "too liberal," while 37% label her "centrist" or "in line with my views."

June 9, 1998: Total Request Live, also known as TRL, premieres on MTV. The first episode's musical guests are Tupac Shakur, Blind Melon, and Tabitha's Secret. The first #1 video on the countdown is "Leave" by Tabitha's Secret.

June 9-20, 1998: The Quebec Nordiques defeat the Tampa Bay Lightning 4 games to 2 to win the 1998 Stanley Cup.

June 11, 1998: Rising dissatisfaction against the President in Democratic ranks mounts, with many Democrats thinking she is too moderate.

June 14, 1998: The Senate passes the No Child Left Behind Act, getting 82 votes and easily overcoming an attempted filibuster.

June 18, 1998:
Just over a month after the scandal broke, with growing political and personal pressure upon him, Tony Blair announces he is stepping down as Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party upon the election of a successor.

June 18, 1998: After dwindling profits, Apple, announces its going to merge with Microsoft. The Department of Justice says it will investigate the merger for a probable breach of antitrust laws.

June 18, 1998: Microsoft purchases the Atari name and assets from JTS for 5 million dollars. This purchase, along with the merger with Apple, only increases the chance of them being broken up for violating the Sherman Antitrust Act.

June 21, 1998: Reports emerge of trouble in negotiations with Congress over IMA, with Richards failing to woo conservative Democrats to back the bill.

June 22, 1998: Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, throws his hat into the ring, stating that he will unite that party behind a trust worthy candidate.

June 23, 1998:
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, states that he is the only true successor, with bookies placing him as the overwhelming favourite to succeed Blair.

June 23, 1998: A new poll shows President Richards with a 51% approval rating.

June 25, 1998: President of the Board of Trade Margaret Beckett who has served briefly as Leader of the Labour Party after Smith died suddenly, is the third person to place their name on the ballot.

June 30, 1998: An email is leaked between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, in which an angry Brown, demands Blair, to steak to their deal made at the former Granita restaurant in Islington, in which Blair promised to give Brown control of economic policy in return for Brown not standing against him in the leadership election.

July 1, 1998: Following the leaked email, Gordon Brown removes his name from the ballot.

July 3, 1998: With Brown's withdrawal, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook enters the leadership race.

July 4, 1998: Disney's America opens in Haymarket, Virginia. The theme park is themed after various parts of American history. Most critics of the project were either silenced by the educational appeal or by the massive amounts of money the park brought into the small Virginian town.

July 5, 1998: Retired Chicago Bears coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Mike Ditka infamously sings "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" at Wrigley Field during a game between the Chicago Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates.


July 6, 1998: Education Secretary David Blunkett joins the leadership contest.

July 10, 1998: Scotland Secretary Donald Dewar becomes the fifth Labour MP to enter the race.

July 12, 1998: In an upset victory, Brazil defeats France 5-3 to win the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

July 16, 1998: In a surprise turn of events, former Cabinet Minister Tony Benn enters the race, arguing the need for the 'true left wing' to be represented.

July 20, 1998: Nominations from MPs for the ballot close, with John Prescott, Tony Benn, Margaret Beckett, Robin Cook, David Blunkett, and Donald Dewar confirmed as the leadership candidates. The leadership election result is set to be formally announced on October 2nd 1998 at the Labour conference.

July 25, 1998: The Sun reports that Foreign Secretary and Labour leadership contender Robin Cook had an affair. Cook denies the allegations.

July 26, 1998: The allegations of infidelity against Cook spread.

July 27, 1998: Cook's alleged mistress Gaynor Regan says she had an affair with Cook.

August 1, 1998: Cook admits to the affair, but refuses to withdraw from contention for the leadership.

August 13, 1998: In a major triumph for her presidency, President Ann Richards signs into law the No Child Left Behind Act, saying, "This is a great step in improving America's education system and educating all our kids."

August 14, 1998: President Ann Richards has a 58% approval rating.

September 7, 1998: IMA fails in the House with 63 moderate House Democrats voting with the Republicans to defeat the bill, for fear that they would lose their seats in the upcoming midterm elections. The Senate version of IMA also failed with 51 Senators voting against the bill. 5 Senators voted with the GOP to defeat the bill. President Richards said, after hearing of the bill failing to get votes, that "it's a cryin' shame. This bill would've gotten our infrastructure ready for the 21st century." The President's approval rating was now at 50%.

September 18, 1998: Little Red, Disney's adaptation of "Little Red Riding Hood," is released to cinemas. Set in modern day suburban America, the film features Amanda Bynes as the voice of the title character, Betty White as the voice of her grandmother, and James Gandolfini as the voice of the street mugger Joe "The Wolf" Benson. The film receives mixed reviews, with many finding the songs to be jarring, the dialogue to be cheesy, and the pacing too fast.

September 19, 1998: Ramona Jewel Steed, age 19 from Kentucky, is crowned Miss America 1999.

October 2, 1998: The results of the Labour leadership election are announced. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott won, though Donald Dewar came close and Employment Secretary David Blunkett came third. Cook only got 10 votes from the MPs.

October 3, 1998: John Prescott takes office as Prime Minister of the UK, succeeding Tony Blair. Prescott was the surprise choice, only succeeding when Blair was unexpectedly forced to resign, then Brown and Cook were disqualified. However Labour still enjoys a sizable majority and poll lead, and Prescott looks set to continue with Blair's 'New Labour' program, albeit with a more leftist tinge.

October 6, 1998: Blair formally resigns as Prime Minister, being succeeded by the new Labour Leader John Prescott. Prescott's first Cabinet includes Gordon Brown remaining as Chancellor, Donald Dewar as Foreign Secretary, and Robin Cook demoted to Health.

October 6, 1998: The fatal beating of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man, garners national attention.

October 9, 1998: The 1998-99 NHL season begins with a massive realignment of its teams. The Prince of Wales Conference and the Clarence Campbell Conference become the Wales and Campbell Conferences, respectively. In the Wales Conference the Adams and patrick Divisions become the Atlantic and Metropolitan Divisions, respectively. In the Campbell Conference, the Norris and Smythe Divisions become the Central and Pacific Divisions, respectively.

WALES CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
  • Boston Bruins
  • Buffalo Sabres
  • Hartford Whalers
  • Montreal Canadiens
  • Ottawa Senators
  • Quebec Nordiques
Metropolitan Division
  • New York Islanders
  • Carolina Cyclones
  • Florida Panthers
  • New Jersey Devils
  • New York Rangers
  • Philadelphia Flyers
  • Pittsburgh Penguins
  • Washington Capitals

CAMPBELL CONFERENCE
Central Division
  • Chicago Blackhawks
  • Colorado Avalanche
  • Detroit Red Wings
  • Minnesota North Stars
  • St. Louis Blues
  • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • Toronto Maple Leafs
Pacific Division
  • Calgary Flames
  • Edmonton Oilers
  • Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
  • Los Angeles Kings
  • San Jose Sharks
  • Vancouver Canucks
  • Winnipeg Jets

October 17-23, 1998: The Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Kansas City Royals 4 games to 2 to win the 1998 World Series.

October 18, 1998: The Cleveland Crew defeat the New York Skyliners 2-0 to win the 1998 MLS Cup.

November 3, 1998: The midterm elections of 1998 saw gains for the Republican Party. They gained 25 seats in the house, reducing the Democratic majority there from 278 to 253. In the Senate however, the Republicans gained 5 seats, giving them a narrow 51 seat majority, their first Senate majority in 12 years. The soon to be Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott said in his speech that night that "the American people have spoken. They have spoken and they have rejected big government liberalism. We will do our best to do what the voters voted for us to do." President Richards, the next morning, congratulated Trent Lott on being the next Senate Majority Leader and said that she looks forward to working with him and all those who were just elected to the House and the Senate.

Senate results
Trent Lott - Republican: 51 (+5)
Tom Daschle - Democratic: 49 (-5)

100 seats
51 for majority

House results
Tom Foley - Democratic: 253 (-25) 49.5%
Newt Gingrich - Republican: 181 (+25) 46.3%
Independents: 1

435 seats
218 for majority

November 3, 1998: Democrat Keith Arnold is elected Governor of Florida over Republican Mel Martinez.

November 3, 1998: Democrat Jane Harman is elected Governor of California over Republican Eduardo Rivera.

November 3, 1998: Democrat Roy Barnes is elected Governor of Georgia over Republican Mike Bowers.

November 3, 1998: Democrat Roland Burris is elected Governor of Illinois over Republican George Ryan.

November 3, 1998: Democrat Ben Cayetano is re-elected Governor of Hawaii over Republican Linda Lingle.

November 3, 1998: Republican Mark Schweiker is elected Governor of Pennsylvania over Democratic incumbent Catherine Baker Knoll.

November 3, 1998: Democrat Sylvia Larsen is elected Governor of New Hampshire over Republican Gordon Humphrey. She is the first female Governor of New Hampshire.

November 3, 1998: Democrat Brian Donnelly is elected Governor of Massachusetts over Republican Jane Swift.

November 3, 1998: Democrat Dina Titus is elected Governor of Nevada over Republican Kenny Guinn.

November 3, 1998: Democrat Don Siegelman is elected Governor of Alabama over Republican Winton Blount, Jr.

November 3, 1998: Democrat Ed Garvey is elected Governor of Wisconsin over Republican incumbent Tommy Thompson.

November 3, 1998: Democrat Paul Johnson is elected Governor of Arizona over Republican Jane Hull.

November 3, 1998: In a shocking upset, Reform candidate Jesse Ventura is elected Governor of Minnesota over Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Skip Humphrey.

November 3, 1998: Democrat Joseph Riley, Jr., is re-elected Governor of South Carolina over Republican David Beasley.

November 3, 1998: U.S. Senator Al D'Amato (R-NY) narrowly retains his U.S. Senate seat over Democrat Chuck Schumer.

November 3, 1998: Republican John Kasich is elected as a U.S. Senator from Ohio over Democrat Mary Ellen Withrow.

November 3, 1998: Republican Sue Wagner is elected as a U.S. Senator from Nevada over Democratic incumbent Harry Reid.

November 3, 1998: Republican Lauch Faircloth is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina over Democrat D.G. Martin.

November 3, 1998: Republican Jim Bunning is elected as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky over Democrat Steve Henry.

November 3, 1998: Republican Tom Petri is elected as a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin over Democratic incumbent Russ Feingold.

November 3, 1998: Democrat Blanche Lincoln is elected as a U.S. Senator from Arkansas over Republican Jay Dickey.

November 3, 1998: Republican Bob Inglis is narrowly elected as a U.S. Senator from South Carolina over Democratic incumbent Fritz Hollings. Many attribute Hollings' loss to his connection with unpopular President Ann Richards.

November 3, 1998: Republican Dirk Kempthorne is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Idaho over Democrat Bill Mauk.

November 3, 1998:
U.S. Senator Daniel Moynihan (D-NY) announces that he will not be seeking re-election in 2000.

November 6, 1998: The Australian republic referendum held with 96.4% of the electorate turnout. The results are 40.03% in favor of a republic and 59.97% against. Both propositions failed, with none of the states recording an overall "Yes" vote. Australia remains a constitutional monarchy. Some republicans claim the vote is rigged.

November 20, 1998: Nickelodeon Movies releases The Rugrats Movie to cinemas. Telling the story of how Timmy Pickles grew to love his newborn brother Dil, the film is praised comparatively to The Ren & Stimpy Movie two years earlier. Rapper Tupac Shakur cameos as the voice of the Reptar Wagon.

November 20, 1998: Dragon's Teeth, the 18th James Bond movie, is released to cinemas. Sean Bean reprises his role as 007, this time facing a mysterious Japanese conglomerate that wishes to steal NATO's new class of fighter jets and sell them for profit. The movie is well received, with critics praising the performance of Ken Watanabe as ruthless corporate agent Mr. Sato, with some even naming him one of the bests Bond villains.

December 12, 1998: U.S. Senator Harris Wofford (D-PA) announces that he will not be running for re-election in 2000. In his statement, he says that he has "served Pennsylvanians dutifully over the past seven years," and that "with the passage of Americare, I can rest assured that I have delivered on the promise that I made to working class Pennsylvanians when I first ran for the Senate."

December 28, 1998: Northern Ireland Minister Mo Mowlam is named Time magazine's "Man of the Year" for 1998 for bringing about the Good Friday Agreement.

January 1, 1999: The Michigan State Spartans defeat the Georgia Bulldogs 37-13 to win the 1998-99 NCAA Bowl Coalition National Championship.

January 4, 1999: Ed, Edd, n' Eddy debuts on Cartoon Network. Created by Danny Antonucci, the TV show follows three friends in their eternal quest to scam their neighbors out of money for jawbreakers.

January 10, 1999: The HBO drama The Sopranos debuts. Following mob boss Tony Soprano (played by James Gandolfini) as he deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life, the show goes on to become one of the most popular TV dramas of the new millennium.

January 10, 1999: MLS announces the Tampa Bay Mutiny is moving to Orlando at the start of the 2000 season and changing its name to the Orlando Orbit.

January 19, 1999: President Richards gives the State of the Union. Her approval rating is at 49% after midterm losses, and her political fortunes are in danger, many Americans viewing her policies as too liberal. However, the President emphasizes America's peace and prosperity, and defends her policies, declaring, "In two years we have created a kinder, gentler nation. We have made the social safety net fairer and stronger. We have reformed our healthcare system to deliver more for more people. We have started on the road to a balanced budget. We have made our education system better for all Americans. And if you let me do my job and if Washington can put aside the petty partisanship and bickering to focus on the good of all Americans, then I'm sure we can do much more. Our work is not yet done. We need to balance the budget, we need to use our prosperity to deliver for the American people."

January 21, 1999: A poll is taken for the Republican primary. It shows Dole running mate Jack Kemp as the frontrunner, with Dole's wife and former cabinet secretary Elizabeth Dole close behind. The result was 34% Kemp, 28% Dole, 10% McCain, 6% Lamar Alexander, 5% Bob Smith, 5% Steve Forbes, 2% Gary Bauer, 1% Alan Keyes and 0% Orrin Hatch.

January 31, 1999: The Los Angeles Raiders defeat the Minnesota Vikings 26-6 to win Super Bowl XXXIII.

February 2, 1999: In an interview, President Richards rules out intervention in Kosovo: "I don't believe that conflict is our business, and I don't believe that America should jump into every sectarian war across the world. We are going to work out a diplomatic solution to this conflict, not jump straight into a quagmire."

February 3, 1999: President Richards comes under fire for her Kosovo comments. Senator John McCain, a Republican, says she is "revealing her hand" and "showing weakness, abandoning America's responsibility to lead and protect human rights."

February 28, 1999: Negotiations over the future of Kosovo collapse.

March 1, 1999: Veteran character actor Jim Varney is diagnosed with lung cancer.

March 5, 1999: UK PM Prescott calls an election to gain his own mandate and reassert Labour's dominance after recent turmoil and shocks. Labour starts out with a large lead in the polls.

March 6, 1999: PM Prescott punches a protester in the face after having a pie thrown at him.

March 7, 1999: Reports of violence in Kosovo rise. The Yugoslav government of Slobodan Milosevic is accused of human rights violations and war crimes. The President again rules out wading into Kosovo, saying, "I don't believe an intractable, sectarian conflict like this is America's business."

March 9, 1999: Prescott seeks to continue the Blairite 'third way', but with a slight shift to the left.

March 14, 1999: Conservative leader Ken Clarke attacks Labour on its "sleaze" and says the Blair, Brown, and Cook flame-outs show a "distorted culture" in the party.

March 15, 1999: Prescott fires back, attacking Clarke as "incompetent" and "a fool" and saying, "He is such a hypocrite. If he thinks Labour has sleaze, he should look at his own party's record in government."

March 25, 1999: Polls show a surge in support for the Eurosceptic Referendum Party and a decline in Tory support. Labour's poll lead extend to double digits, as voters support the party and government, though not necessarily Prescott himself.

March 26, 1999: Nickelodeon Movies releases Doug's 1st Movie to cinemas. While mildly successful at the box office and despite its title, no sequels are ever produced.

March 31, 1999: The Matrix premieres to rave reviews. Will Smith stars as Thomas "Neo" Anderson, a hacker who's revealed to possibly be the the savior of humanity known as "The One." Gary Oldman stars as the enigmatic "Morpheus," who has searched for the One all his like in hopes that he could end the war with the machines. Critics enjoyed the banter between Smith's Neo and Hugo Weaving's villainous Agent Smith. Especially praised is the plot element of the machines using the brains of humans locked in the Matrix to enhance the computing power of the simulation, which the studios had attempted to change to an idiotic plot about the machines using body heat as power because of worries that audiences wouldn't understand it.

March 31, 1999: The Walt Disney Company announces it has bought the film rights to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone and all subsequent books in the franchise.

April 1, 1999: Nunavut, an Inuit homeland, is officially created from the eastern half of Canada's Northwest Territories.

April 6, 1999: Arizona Senator John McCain announces a run for the presidency.

April 9, 1999: Mobile Suit Gundam: Awakening, is released into theaters. The film is a direct adaptation of Yoshiyuki Tomino's original version of the Mobile Suit Gundam Series following series protagonist Amuro Ray as a Federation pilot who is sent to retrieve the Gundam from Side 7. The film is a much more mature take of Gundam with notable differences from the original series include the death of several characters, a much more gritty and darker atmosphere to the story, enhanced realism (White Base and Gundam being black and grey respectively), and greater detail given to the UC lore and background. The film is a hit success in Japan and actually manages a decent gross of $79 Million dollars in America, being one of the most popular anime movies released into the United States. The film turns into a trilogy with the release of its two sequels Confrontation, and Escalation, in 2000 and 2001 respectively, receiving equal amounts of critical and financial success. Many Gundam fans label the release of Awakening as the start of the "Millennial Century" in the franchise's history.

April 11, 1999: The UK election is held. Labour wins in a landslide:

John Prescott - Labour: 416 40.6%
Ken Clarke - Conservative: 171 (-44) 27.3%
Charles Kennedy - LibDem: 43 (+7) 15.1%
Iain Duncan Smith - Referendum: 0 10.0%

Labour wins a historic landslide as the Tories rupture and voters back New Labour, despite its scandals, rewarding it for the good economy and things going smoothly. Clarke promptly resigns and the Tories are set to go through another round of infighting.

April 27, 1999: Prince Andrew is promoted to Commander and an officer of the Diplomatic Directorate of the Naval Staff.

May 3, 1999: Former Congressman and Dole running mate Jack Kemp announces a run for the presidency.

May 3, 1999: Serbs mount an offensive in Kosovo. The conflict continues unresolved.

May 22, 1999: Manchester United defeats Swansea City 2-1 to win the 1999 FA Cup.

May 26, 1999: Satomi Hisakawa, age 21 from Japan, is crowned Miss Universe 1999.

May 27, 1999: The 1999 Canadian federal election is held. Paul Martin and the Liberals narrowly retain their majority in the House of Commons, as Stockwell Day's Reform Alliance surges in the polls.

Liberal (Paul Martin) - 168 seats (+7) 47.8% PV
Reform Alliance (Stockwell Day) - 94 seats (+34) 32.3% PV
Bloc Québécois (Gilles Duceppe) - 27 seats (-17) 10.5% PV
New Democratic (Lorne Nystrom) - 10 seats (-9) 7.1% PV
Progressive Conservative (Hugh Segal) - 2 seats (-13) 1.8% PV

June 1, 1999: Former Cabinet secretary Elizabeth Dole, the wife of 1996 Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole, announces a run for the presidency.

June 2, 1999: Thabo Mbeki is elected to succeed Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa.

June 1, 1999: Larry & Steve debuts on Cartoon Network. Created by Seth MacFarlane, the show maintains high ratings throughout the summer.

June 7, 1999: Owner Daniel Snyder announces the Washington Redskins will change their name to the Washington Sentinels for the 1999-00 NFL season.

June 8-21, 1999: The Toronto Maple Leafs defeat the Hartford Whalers 4 games to 3 to win the 1999 Stanley Cup.

June 11, 1999: Spider-Man, directed by James Cameron, is released into theaters. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Reese Witherspoon as Mary Jane Watson, and Nicolas Cage as Norman Osborn/The Green Goblin.

June 12, 1999: Pristina Incident. 9 U.S. soldiers were captured in Slatina Airport by Russian VDV. Later, these American soldiers have been convicted in Russia and were escorted to some Russian prisons. This caused a diplomatic row.

June 16, 1999: Tarzan, the 37th Disney animated feature film, is released to cinemas. The film is praised for its use of innovative animation techniques (mainly "Deep Canvas") and the soundtrack by Genesis frontman Phil Collins.

June 16-25, 1999: The Houston Rockets defeat the Indiana Pacers 4 games to 1 to win the 1999 NBA Finals.

June 17, 1999: Allegations emerge that the Serbs attacked a refugee convoy and killed 50 people. The allegations are denied.

June 18, 1999: Ghostbusters III: To Hell & Back is released to cinemas. The film's plot focuses an aging Ghostbusters team recruiting the help of their children to fight a paranormal gang in Hell's version of New York City. While successful at the summer box office, the film received mixed reviews. Some praised the film as mind-numbing cinematic fun, while others criticized it as just outright bizarre.

June 19, 1999: The International Olympic Committee selects Zaragoza, Spain, to host the 2006 Winter Olympics.

June 20, 1999: The White House again rules out intervention in the Kosovo conflict. President Richards declared, "I don't believe intervention is the solution. I don't want to add American bodies to Kosovar and Serb bodies."

June 22, 1999: Senator Hillary Rodham marries George Schaeffer, a German professor at the University of Chicago. The million-dollar wedding is hounded by press. As the newlyweds enter their limo, Rodham shoves a cameraman to the ground after he got too close to her.

June 25, 1999: Nicole Brown Simpson, who was found not guilty of murdering her ex-husband O.J. Simpson in 1994, is found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at her home in Miami Beach, Florida.

June 28, 1999: Donald Trump says he's starting a private army to aid and protect Kosovars in Yugoslavia.

June 29, 1999: The White House states that Donald Trump would be violating the Logan Act if he started a private army.

July 1, 1999: ABC airs a Special Report on the alleged Y2K Crisis, sparking national concern.

July 9, 1999: Who Blacklisted Roger Rabbit? is released to cinemas. Set 10 years after the events of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, the film focuses on Roger Rabbit being accused of Soviet espionage and Eddie Valiant trying to clear his name. Another major plotline is trying to stop rogue studio chief Mac Kelso (played by Willem Dafoe) from establishing the Communist States of America. The film receives mixed reviews, with many calling the climax bizarre. Due to a scene where Eddie Valiant hides in a fridge to survive a nuclear explosion, the term "nuking the fridge" is introduced into the American lexicon to refer to the moment a cinematic franchise has run out of ideas.

July 12, 1999: Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell announces he is running for Harris Wofford's U.S. Senate seat in Pennsylvania in 2000.

July 15, 1999: Trailer Park Boys, a Canadian independent film directed by Mike Clattenburg, is released. The mockumentary-style film tells the story of small-time hoodlums Julian (played by John Paul Tremblay) and Ricky (played by Robb Wells), who try to turn their lives around after a psychic predicts Julian's death.

July 31, 1999: Warner Bros. Animation releases The Iron Giant to cinemas. Directed by Brad Bird, the film tells the story of a young boy who discovers an extraterrestrial robot in 1957 small-town America.

August 12, 1999: U.S. Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN) dies in a car accident on his way to a campaign fundraiser in Kokomo, Indiana, when an SUV slams into the side of the vehicle he is in.

August 16, 1999: Who Wants to be a Millionaire?, a British import hosted by daytime talk show personality Regis Philbin, debuts on ABC. The show quickly becomes a national sensation, and the phrase "Is that your final answer?" becomes part of the American lexicon.

August 19, 1999: A memorial service is held for the late Senator Richard Lugar. President Ann Richards is in attendance, as well as Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, and Indiana Governor Stephen Goldsmith.

August 20, 1999: Jim Varney begins a series of chemotherapy treatments to cure his lung cancer. The actor had quit his long-standing smoking habit after his diagnosis.

August 29, 1999: Governor Stephen Goldsmith (R-IN) appoints Republican Congressman Dan Burton to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Richard Lugar.

September 6, 1999: The Intertidal Zone debuts on MTV. Created by Stephen Hillenburg, the dark humor-heavy cartoon focuses on the zany adventures of Rob the Sponge and Paul the Starfish.

September 18, 1999: Ashley Bertolini, age 23 from New Jersey, is crowned Miss America 2000.

September 22, 1999: The West Wing premieres on NBC. Created by Aaron Sorkin, the TV drama details the day-to-day operations of the White House under President Ralph Jennings, played by Sidney Poitier. Poitier's line "They call me Mister President!" goes on to become one of the most iconic TV quotes of the decade.

September 25, 1999: Freaks and Geeks debuts on NBC. Created by Paul Feig and produced by Judd Apatow, the show focuses on teenagers Lindsay and Sam Weir as they attend high school in Chippewa, Michigan, in the early 1980s.

October 12, 1999: Spain is selected to host the 2004 Euro Football Championship.

October 17, 1999: The D.C. Express defeat the Cleveland Crew 1-0 to win the 1999 MLS Cup.

October 19, 1999: Donald J. Trump, controversial businessman and New York gubernatorial candidate, announces he is running for the Reform nomination. He attacks the leadership of President Richards, saying she is "weak" and "stupid" and promises to restrict immigration, end free trade agreements, retreat from overseas, and increase government spending, while also passing a "yuuge" tax cut. Trump vowed to "make America great again" and "not be a stupid person, I'll be the best President this country's ever had."

October 23-27, 1999: The Orlando Coasters sweep the Pittsburgh Pirates 4 games to 0 to win the 1999 World Series.

October 24, 1999: Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura announces a run for the Reform nomination. Ventura attacks fellow candidate Donald Trump, saying "I'll beat that loser to the ground."

October 25, 1999: A chartered Learjet flight carrying professional golfer Payne Stewart from Orlando to Dallas makes an emergency landing in Mobile, Alabama, after the cabin begins to depressurize.

October 27, 1999: A new poll is released for the general election. It shows Donald Trump at 11%, Jack Kemp at 37% and President Richards at 40%.

November 1, 1999: Donald Trump attacks Jesse Ventura, saying Ventura is "thick" and said "he's not a President, he can't do it." Ventura fired back, saying Donald Trump was a "spoiled little dummy."

November 1, 1999: Infiniti sells its 100,000th G25.

November 3, 1999: President Richards says in an interview, "I think the Reform Party's gone crazy."

November 4, 1999: Speculation mounts of a primary challenge to President Richards. Her recent budget is criticized by liberals for being too much of a compromise with Republicans. Liberals express frustration with her presidency.

November 4, 1999: Democrat Paul E. Patton is re-elected Governor of Kentucky over Republican Peppy Martin.

November 4, 1999: Democrat Melinda Schwegmann is re-elected Governor of Louisiana over Republican Tom Greene.

November 4, 1999: Republican Eddie Briggs is elected Governor of Mississippi over Democrat Ronnie Musgrove.

November 4, 1999: Greed premieres on FOX. Hosted by Chuck Woolery, the game show is FOX's answer to ABC's success with Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. In the coming years, the two high-energy game shows compete for primetime ratings.

November 5, 1999: President Richards has an approval rating of 47%.

November 6, 1999: Jesse Jackson announces a run for the Democratic nomination, saying "We need to be a principled party and govern based on who we are, not on who the Republicans are."

November 15, 1999: Billionaire Bill Gates, inspired by a visit to the wreck of the Titanic and a visit to the Titanic experience, expresses interest in creating a full-scale working replica of the Titanic.

November 24, 1999: An 8.6 magnitude earthquake strikes near Seattle, Washington. Dozens die, thousands are injured. Property damage totals near 1 billion dollars.

December 27, 1999: Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 1999.

January 1, 2000: The Oklahoma Sooners defeat the Penn State Nittany Lions 26-12 to win the 1999-00 NCAA Bowl Coalition National Championship.

January 3, 2000: Freaks and Geeks is renewed by NBC for a second season.

January 24, 2000:

Iowa caucus-Democratic
President Ann Richards-62.13%
Jesse Jackson-37.48%

Iowa caucus-Republican
Jack Kemp-31.99%
Elizabeth Dole-25.09%
Steve Forbes-21.57%
Alan Keyes-7.22%
John McCain-6.81%

Jack Kemp won a strong victory in Iowa, beating back a challenge from Elizabeth Dole. Kemp enjoys a lead in New Hampshire, though McCain and Dole are possible threats there. He enters primary season now with momentum, establishment and conservative support and relatively weak opponents. Yet he faces opposition still from both the base and moderates. Iowa was a victory for Jack Kemp, and a blow to his opponents. For the Democrats President Richards won easily, but Jackson did surprisingly well. Speculation is that his insurgent liberal campaign could actually win coming states, such as Delaware and Connecticut. But even vulnerable incumbents have a virtual lock on their party's nomination. 2000 is seems to be no exception. But Richards looks like a weak incumbent, and Kemp a strong challenger. Though the Reform Party wildcard could muddy the waters further too. Up next, New Hampshire!

February 1, 2000:

New Hampshire primary-Democratic
President Ann Richards-52.11%
Jesse Jackson-43.21%

New Hampshire primary-Republican
John McCain-31.99%
Elizabeth Dole-26.56%
Jack Kemp-24.27%
Steve Forbes-8.73%

New Hampshire was not kind to the frontrunners. Richards won a victory, but it was an underwhelming one. Jackson claimed momentum and looks set to win in coming states. Kemp got walloped in New Hampshire, and flopped. He got third place, with maverick John McCain getting the win. McCain's outsider campaign has a burst of momentum. Dole got second place and claimed momentum too, and looks to win the South carolina primary, which is next to her home-state of North Carolina. Suddenly, the Republican race that looked like it was wrapping up is up in the air again. And the Democrats are set to have a bloody battle ahead too.

January 30, 2000: The New York Giants defeat the New York Jets 20-13 to win Super Bowl XXXIV.

February 4, 2000: Jim Varney is released from the hospital having successfully treated his lung cancer.

February 8, 2000: The Delaware primary is held. Jesse Jackson gets 52% of the vote, beating President Richards and gaining momentum. On the Republican side Jack Kemp wins easily, but the focus is on South Carolina.

February 14, 2000: Donald Trump narrowly beats Jesse Ventura in the California primary. He wins Connecticut and Delaware easily.

February 19, 2000:

Libby Dole wins the Republican primary in South Carolina, while Kemp and McCain tie for second.

South Carolina primary-Republican
Dole-32.78%
McCain-31.29%
Kemp-31.29%

February 20, 2000: Donald Trump narrowly wins the Florida primary against Jesse Ventura.

February 22, 2000: Arizona Senator John McCain wins comfortable victories in the Arizona and Michigan primaries.

February 24, 2000: Ventura wins Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa.

February 24, 2000: Former President Ronald Reagan dies from complications of Alzheimer's at the age of 89.

February 25, 2000: Presidential candidate Reverend Jesse Jackson is caught on tape calling President Ann Richards a "b**ch" and says "she is lying out of her ass". Richards in an off-the-cuff comment says jokingly "I'd say the same of him."

February 26, 2000: Jesse Jackson refuses to apologize for his comments about the President, saying they were taken out of context. He attacks her integrity, saying "She is dishonest, she is lying so much, it's Nixonian." Richards attacks Jackson for comparing her to Nixon, and says "I think the Reverend needs to move from preschool taunts very fast," and vows to "whip his ass".

February 27, 2000: Former Congressman Jack Kemp wins Puerto Rico in a landslide.

February 28, 2000: Presidential candidate John McCain makes a speech attacking leaders of the religious right such as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell.

February 29, 2000: Jack Kemp wins Virginia, with McCain in second. McCain makes a comment saying Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell are "forces of evil." Libby Dole condemns his comments as "un-Christian."

Virginia primary-Republican
Jack Kemp-37.55%
John McCain-33.89%
Elizabeth Dole-25.30%

Meanwhile McCain wins washington state.

Washington state primary-Republican
John McCain-42.97%
Elizabeth Dole-34.21%
Jack Kemp-19.11%

On the Democratic side Jesse Jackson won Washington state.

Washington state primary-Democratic
Jesse Jackson-49.99%
Ann Richards-49.47%

Kemp won North Dakota easily.

March 1, 2000: President Richards agrees to debate Jesse Jackson after his recent victories, saying, "I'll rip the floor out from under him." Jackson says, "Four long years will come to an end, I'll show America the emperor, well empress, has no clothes."

March 4, 2000: The Democratic debate is held. The debate is dominated by Jesse Jackson's controversial accusation that President Richards fired him because "She doesn't care about black people. She wants the black people back in the cotton fields, and I wasn't gonna let that happen." Richards says after the debate that Jackson's accusations are "bulls***."

March 5, 2000: A man is arrested at a Jackson, Mississippi, rally having bought in a gun. He says. "I was gonna put down that n***a!" Democratic Party leaders worry the primary is being racialized, and fear Jackson and Richards are inflaming racial tensions. Speaker of the House Dick Gephardt says, "This is ridiculous, plain and simple. And I call on both President Richards and Reverend Jackson to end this divisive rhetoric because it is playing with fire, and there are real consequences, both political and outside politics." That advice is ignored.

March 6, 2000: President Ann Richards says, "Jesse Jackson said I want to put blacks back in the cotton field. Me! well, let me tell you, he wants to put women back in the kitchen. He's all for sexist policies. He used to be 'pro-life,' and he can't stand the idea of a woman being a success in the Oval Office." Jackson fires back, saying, "That's garbage. She's baiting you away from her deplorable record, her betrayal of the African-American people."

March 7, 2000: Super Tuesday is held. On the Democratic side, President Richards wins Connecticut, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Reverend Jesse Jackson wins Georgia and Hawaii.

On the Republican side, Jack Kemp wins California, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and Washington. John McCain won Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Elizabeth Dole wins only Georgia.

Kemp and Richards come out as the winners on Super Tuesday. Dole drops out but McCain continues his campaign. Jackson says he's mulling his options, and one of his campaign aides says, "Ann Richards rigged it against us."

March 7, 2000: The March 7 results are divided almost evenly between Trump and Ventura. Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, and Ohio go Ventura. Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington go Trump.

March 9, 2000: Jesse Jackson gets 60% of the vote in the South Carolina caucus. Defying calls to drop out, he calls on ann Richards to "bring it on."

March 10, 2000: Kemp wins Washington and Wyoming, but McCain gets an upset win in Colorado. McCain spurs calls to drop out, saying 'I'm in to win."

Ann Richards annihilates Jackson with landslides in Colorado and Utah. In her victory speech, she says " I brought it on, reverend."

March 10, 2000: Ventura wins Colorado and Wyoming. In a protest vote, Utah goes to Pat Buchanan.

March 11, 2000: President Ann Richards wins Arizona and Michigan. Jesse Jackson wins a surprise 0.2% victory in the Minnesota caucus, but that doesn't put a dent in her huge delegate lead and seemingly unstoppable momentum. Richards says "If you can't handle the heat reverend, get out of the kitchen."

March 12, 2000: Ann Richards wins Nevada.

March 14, 2000: Jack Kemp has a clean sweep, winning Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. With a huge delegate lead, Kemp looks certain to win and McCain is "re-evaluating his options."

Ann Richards wins Tennessee, Florida, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas. Jackson only wins Mississippi, by just 5%. Faced with the near-certainty of a Richards nomination, Jackson is "mulling it over."

March 14, 2000: Ventura sweeps Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The results of the Reform Party primary in Oklahoma are uncertain, Ventura wins by 1 vote. Trump sweeps Texas.

March 15, 2000: John McCain suspends his campaign. The Arizona maverick came far, but an inability to appeal to the party base, a conflict with the religious right and a failure to build on his initial momentum did him in. Kemp is the presumptive nominee, his safe, conservative campaign triumphed and he is bringing 'compassionate conservatism' to the general electorate.

March 18, 2000: Jesse Jackson makes a shock announcement. "Given the contest was rigged against me, and the voices of millions of my supporters were suppressed, I cannot win the nomination. I cannot endorse Ann Richards. She and Jack Kemp are the same. If she were a man, she'd be Jack Kemp. And so I want to give a voice to the millions of Americans who long for an alternative, and I will run for President as an Independent."

March 19, 2000: Bill Gates starts funding for the creation of the Titanic II.

March 20, 2000: A new Gallup poll is released for the general election It shows Jack Kemp at 34%, President Richards at 28%, the Reform Party nominee at 12% and Jesse Jackson at 12%.

March 21, 2000: Ron Goldman, a 31-year-old restaurateur from Los Angeles, California, becomes the first million-dollar winner on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.

March 24, 2000: Saying the third time's the charm, Ross Perot announces he will be a candidate for President again on the Reform Party ticket. The party selects its nominee on August 13. Other potential candidates include '96 VP nominee Jerry Brown, businessman Donald Trump, actor Clint Eastwood, and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura.

March 26, 2000: At the 72nd Academy Awards, The Iron Giant becomes the first film to win Best Animated Feature. The win secures Warner Bros.' place as a strong competitor to Disney in the feature animation industry.

March 30, 2000: Republican Senators accuse Russia of supporting of Iraq in Iraqi Missile Crisis. Russian President Alexander Lebed responded that the accusations are meaningless because of lack of evidence of weapons delivery.

April 3, 2000: The Supreme Court rules that Microsoft has violated antitrust laws and must be broken up into at least eight new companies.

April 4, 2000: Ventura crushes Trump in Wisconsin, while Trump crushes Ventura in Pennsylvania.

April 12, 2000: The BBC premieres Systems 12, a 16-episode animated miniseries set in the 25th century. The protagonist is a space trader called Bruce McCaskill (voiced by Billy Connelly). After rescuing the orphaned Star-Raker "Annie," Bruce finds himself a reluctant warrior against the invading Iridani (analogy for the Nazis) who have expressed genocidal intent towards the alien inhabitants of the Twelve Systems and the nomadic Star-Rakers. The show is a critical hit, with high praise for its uncompromising view of prejudice and warfare. The fresh interest in British animation would provoke a mini-renaissance in British animation.

April 13, 2000: President Richards orders that Elian Gonzalez is to stay in the United States, despite breaking international law.

April 15, 2000: Millvina Dean and Mary Wilburn condemn the building of the Titanic II saying it's "disrespectful to the people that lost their lives that night."

April 21, 2000: American spy planes capture photographs of twelve ICBMs in Iraq capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

May 9, 2000: In Los Angeles, California, FOX News anchor Bill O'Reilly is fatally hit and killed by drunk driver Carlos Gonzalez.

May 11, 2000: Microsoft officially announce the first new video game console released by the revived Atari at E3. The new console, named the Atari Panther after a canned 32-bit console, will be released in November 2000.

May 11, 2000: Carlos Gonzalez is sentenced to 25 years in prison for the manslaughter of Bill O'Reilly.

May 12, 2000: Katerina Iordanou, age 23 from Greece, is crowned Miss Universe 2000.

May 17, 2000: Russian Armed Forces stormed the town of Vedeno in Chechnya. Some international officials hastened to accuse Russia of using chemical weapons.

May 20, 2000: Manchester United defeats West Ham United 3-0 to win the 2000 FA Cup.

May 27, 2000: The new series Cadfael: The Crusade Years is launched on ITV, telling the story of an adventuring knight who would later become a monk. It becomes famous for its gentle humor and using medieval parable to discuss the current Middle Eastern questions, however the former Cadfael was quite unhappy about the show, calling it "disrespectful of Ellis Peter's work." The spinoff would last 4 seasons.

May 30-June 10, 2000: The Washington Capitals defeat the San Jose Sharks 4 games to 2 to win the 2000 Stanley Cup.

May 31, 2000: Survivor, a reality TV show based on the idea of island castaways, debuts on CBS. After it gets poor reviews and record-low ratings, the show is cancelled after only three episodes.

June 2, 2000: Spy Jam, starring the Looney Tunes and Jackie Chan, is released to cinemas. The film gets mixed reviews, with many criticizing the overly cheesy dialogue and Asian stereotypes.

June 5, 2000: Prince Edward's Ardent Productions is sold to Royal Heritage Productions for a hefty fee, which Edward uses to pay the friends who originally invested in Ardent, but that the media had speculated had lost everything.

June 7-14, 2000: The New Jersey Nets sweep the Golden State Warriors 4 games to 0 to win the 2000 NBA Finals.

June 9, 2000: Disney releases Kingdom of the Sun into theaters. A take on Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper, the film features David Spade as the voice of Emperor Manco and Owen Wilson as the voice of the peasant Pacha.

June 9, 2000: Double V Vega, directed by Quentin Tarantino, is released to cinemas. Starring Michael Madsen and John Travolta as Vic and Vincent Vega, respectively, the plot focuses on a cash heist the two brothers must pull off at a Las Vegas casino owned by Sean "Papa" Reynolds (played by Tupac Shakur).

June 10, 2000: The 2000 Euro Football Championship opens in Belgium and the Netherlands.

June 16, 2000: Terry Bradshaw airs his last episode as host of Family Feud.

July 2, 2000: Poland defeats Wales 1-0 to win the 2000 Euro Football Championship.

July 7, 2000: England is announced as the host of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

July 13, 2000: The cinematic adaptation of the long-running X-Men comics makes its debut today. The continuing popularity of comic book movies allows the filmmakers to advertise their comic book origins more blatantly than they would have otherwise. The production was allowed to put a realistic spin on the classic blue and yellow uniforms. The movie features Patrick Stewart's Professor Xavier, Johnny Depp's Wolverine, Sarah Michelle Gellar's Rogue, Selma Blaire's Jean Grey, Edward Norton's Cyclops, and Angela Bassett's Storm facing off against Terence Stamp's Magneto and Jeri Ryan's Mystique.

July 25, 2000: Jack Kemp selects Governor John Engler of Michigan as his running mate. Kemp promoted Engler as a "problem-solver, a common-sense conservative who gets things done." Engler said he was "honored" to be selected as Kemp's running mate. The Kemp/Engler ticket is virtually tied in the polls with President Ann Richards, while Jesse Jackson and the Reform Party are set to make strong showings in this election.

July 25, 2000: After a one-hour delay due to runway maintenance at Charles de Gaulle Airport, Air France Flight 4590 takes off and lands at John F. Kennedy International Airport without incident.

July 27, 2000: After months of persuasion by black Congresspersons and Senators, Jesse Jackson drops out of the presidential race. However, he does not endorse President Richards.

July 28-August 13, 2000: The 2000 Summer Olympics are held in Berlin, Germany. The Games are heralded as the pinnacle of German reunification after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

August 8, 2000: No candidate wins the Reform nomination on the first ballot. Donald Trump comes closest, losing by just 10 votes, while Ventura was just behind and minor candidates got a few delegates.

August 9, 2000: Fights break out between Trump supporters and Ventura supporters after the candidates call each other "a Citizen Kane conman" and a "tin foil hat wacko," respectively. After another unsuccessful ballot, Clint Eastwood and Jerry Brown also throw jabs at one another.

August 12, 2000: Nearly 150 are seriously injured after the fights. After 26 ballots, dark horse candidate Angus King is nominated. He selects Lowell Weicker as his his running mate.

August 30, 2000: A website known as alternatehistory.com is launched on the Internet.

September 1, 2000: Presidential Polling
Richards (D) - 45%
Kemp (R) - 43%
King (RF) - 8%

September 3, 2000: Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo dies of a heroin overdose in San Bernardino, California, at the age of 32.

September 4, 2000: Seinfeld actor Michael Richards airs his first episode as host of Family Feud.

September 11, 2000: Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is killed in Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan by an RPG. The White House declines to state who killed Osama, due to privacy concerns. In 2005, it is revealed that Pakistani operatives working for the CIA had captured Bin Laden a week earlier, and brutally tortured him to death, by cutting parts of his limbs off hourly.

September 16, 2000: Michelle Cranford, age 24 from Georgia, is crowned Miss America 2001.

September 19, 2000: The HBO drama Mulholland Drive debuts. The show follows amnesiac Diane Selwyn (played by Naomi Watts) and perky Hollywood hopeful Camilla Rhodes (played by Laura Harring) as they search for clues and answers across Los Angeles in a twisting adventure beyond dreams and reality.

September 22, 2000: President Richards announces that she will propose legislation that will allow more transparency between the FBI, CIA, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Defense. "This act makes is easier to identify dangerous criminals who are a threat and harder for criminals to engage in those threats." Critics deem it unnecessary and likely to increase bureaucracy.

September 29, 2000: United Airlines Flight 56, which disappeared in 1996, is discovered some 3,500 feet underwater, 300 miles east of Newfoundland.

October 1, 2000: The reality TV show Jackass debuts on MTV. Featuring such people as Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, and Steve-O, the show features its cast members performing various dangerous, crude, self-injuring stunts and pranks.

October 3, 2000: In the first presidential debate, President Richards says that Jack Kemp is partially responsible for the Savings and Loan Crisis of the late 80s and allowed the richer to get richer while the poor got poorer.

October 5, 2000: Former Beatle George Harrison checks himself into a Los Angeles-area hospital for lung cancer treatment.

October 13, 2000: While harbored in Port Said, Egypt, the USS Ticonderoga is seriously damaged from an underwater mine. The explosion kills 23 people and injures 42. The attack is soon determined as terrorism. President Richards declares the event as "a cowardly attack on our military."

October 13, 2000: After months of negotiation, Blockbuster agrees to purchase Netflix from founder Reed Hastings. Blockbuster C.E.O. John Antioco decided to make a gamble when he purchased the struggling digital distributer. If the gamble pays dividends, it might be enough to keep the physical rental business afloat in the approaching digital age.

October 14, 2000: The attack on the USS Ticonderoga is linked to the radical Islamic Palestinian and Egyptian terrorist groups, Hamas, and al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya.

October 15, 2000: After a massive manhunt for the Port Said terrorists, Egyptian authorities learn that the terrorists fled to Iran for asylum.

October 15, 2000: The Chicago Fire defeat the San Francisco Earthquakes 1-0 to win the 2000 MLS Cup.

October 16, 2000: In the aftermath of the Port Said attacks, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein dies of a heart attack. In the White House Situation Room, President Richards mulls a strategic bombing of Iran in response. Her advisors are split on what to do. The White House says that the President will attend the last presidential debate.

October 17, 2000: In the final presidential debate, Jack Kemp, calls the President "weak on defense." Richards responds, "Didn't you support the Strategic Defense Initiative? Didn't you support the funding to give arms to anti-Contras in Central America? Didn't you oppose the INF treaty? You call me weak, I call you dangerous."

October 18, 2000: Presidential Polling:
Richards (D) - 50%
Kemp (R) - 45%
King (RF) - 4%

October 18, 2000: Nickelodeon declares Ann Richards to be the winner of Kids Pick the President 2000.

October 19, 2000: In a televised address, President Richards announces massive sanctions against Iran and says military options are not off the table.

October 20, 2000: Iranian President Mohammad Khatami is shot dead. It is alleged by many that his conservative opponents had ordered his assassination after he was considering extraditing the Port Said terrorists.

October 21, 2000: The White House announces that the President is done campaigning. President Richards asks for assistance from former President Bush and Robert McNamara. Richards convinces her Secretary of State Joe Biden to stay on for another two years. In Iraq, Qusay Hussein manages to squash any opposition from his brother, Uday.

Throughout the evening and night, Richards, Bush, Biden, McNamara, and other advisors devise a strategy. The final plan is: As of 12 a.m. October 23, Iran will have 72 hours to release the terrorists to Turkey. If the terrorists are not released, a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will begin. If the terrorists are not released after 48 hours of the blockade, the naval blockade will begin to shell the cities of Bandar Abbas and Minab. If after 24 hours, the terrorists aren't released, full out airstrikes will begin and the President will ask for a declaration of war. Key targets include Bushehr, Behaban, Ahvaz, Dezful, Khorramabad, Hamedan, Kermanshah, Qom, and Tehran.

October 21-27, 2000: The New York Yankees defeat the San Diego Padres 4 games to 2 to win the 2000 World Series.

October 22, 2000: President Richards delivers her "Said Crisis" speech at 8:00 p.m. EST. She says, "One week ago, our military was attacked by cowardly terrorists who killed and injured our fellow servicemen and women, in response, the Government of Iran choose to ignore justice and granted these terrorists safety. In that past week, Iran had the chance to reverse that decision, but refused to do so. All possible diplomatic action was undertaken by the United States, once again Iran did nothing. As such, I am giving the Government of Iran the chance to release the terrorists to the neutral country of Turkey within 72 hours of midnight tonight. If Iran refuses, a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will begin on the 26th. If Iran refuses again, on the 28th, the cities of Minab and Bander Abbas will be shelled. Once more, if Iran refuses, on the 29th, the full power of the U.S. Air Force will be used. In total, the Government of Iran has six days to release the terrorists to Turkey or face the prospect of war. I would like to remind you that America is not fighting the Islamic religion, we are fighting those who distort and pervert it by engaging in senseless, horrific acts of violence. Please keep peace in your hearts and minds and pray for a safe end to this crisis. Good night and God bless you."

October 23, 2000: President Richards orders the U.S. Armed Forces to be ready for war within the next 24 hours. The DEFCON level is raised to 3.

October 24, 2000: A large group of Navy vessels converge for the possible blockade off the coast of Muscat, Oman. Squadrons of the Air Force converge on air bases across Saudi Arabia.

October 25, 2000: There is not yet any response from the Iranian government, as the hours go by it's looking like the blockade will start soon.

October 26, 2000: The naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is underway. 12 hours in, an Iranian destroyer fires upon the USS Vincennes, the same ship that had taken down Iran Air Flight 655 in 1988. The USS Vincennes fires back, as do other cruisers and destroyers.

October 27, 2000: Presidential Polling
Richards (D) - 52%
Kemp (R) - 45%
King (RF) - 2%

The Battle of Hormuz is now over. President Richards, however, continues to wait to see what Iran does.

October 28, 2000: More missiles are fired between the U.S. Navy and the Iranian Navy. President Richards and her advisors determine that there is no possible way to prevent war. In a primetime address, President Richards announces to the nation that Iran and the U.S. are effectively at war, she asks for a declaration of war from Congress.

October 29, 2000: The U.S. Navy captures several Persian Gulf Islands. Missile launchers are quickly assembled. Iran's chief naval base in Bandar Abbas is crippled by air strikes.

October 31, 2000: The U.S. Congress authorizes the use of military force against Iran almost unanimously. President Richards releases an open letter to the American public, in it President Richards says under no circumstances will she reinstate the draft, and she will not let the Iran conflict divide the country.

November 1, 2000: Prime Ministers John Prescott of the United Kingdom and John Howard of Australia announce they will join the United States in the fight against Iran.

November 2, 2000: Massive airstrikes begin over Iran in Ahvaz, Dezful, and Khorramabad. The air strikes employing "shock and awe" tactics are televised live on television.

November 3, 2000: The White House says the invasion of Iran will not begin until January.

November 4, 2000: President Richards with her military advisors determine that the U.S. should continue to focus on airstrikes and "island hopping."

November 5, 2000: Iran says it will fight the "Great Satan" until death.

November 6, 2000: The 2000 presidential campaign reaches its final week. Neither President Richards or Jack Kemp have campaigned since October 20. Richards is a shoo-in to win.
 
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November 7, 2000: President Richards is re-elected. Democrats gain back the Senate winning six seats giving them a 52 seat majority and see an increase of 11 seats in the House.

genusmap.php


President Ann Richards (D-TX) / Vice President Bill Bradley (D-NJ) - 377 EVS (52.4% PV)

Fmr. Congressman Jack Kemp (R-NY) / Governor John Engler (R-MI) - 166 EVS (43.5% PV)

Governor Angus King (RF-ME) / Fmr. Governor Lowell P. Weicker (RF-CT) - 0 EVS (3% PV)

2000 wasn't a Republican year. The American population didn't want to switch horses in the midst of war. This coupled with her popularity assured her victory. Republicans knew they wouldn't have won, but now they could look to 2004, when Richards would be out of office. 2000 also marked the end of the Reform Party. Reformists had no clear cut positions leading to conflict between the various factions, and the fights at the convention didn't help either. Going into 2001, President Richards was set on winning the war in Iran before the end of her second term.

November 7, 2000:
Senate results
Tom Daschle - Democratic: 55 (+6)
Trent Lott - Republican: 45 (-6)


100 seats
51 for majority

House results
Tom Foley - Democratic: 264 (+11) 50.7%
Newt Gingrich - Republican: 170 (-11) 45.1%
Independents: 1

435 seats
218 for majority

November 7, 2000:
Republican Mike Leavitt is re-elected Governor of Utah over Democrat Bill Orton.

November 7, 2000: Democrat and 1984 VP nominee Geraldine Ferraro is elected as a U.S. Senator from New York over Republican Pete King.

November 7, 2000: Democrat Christine Gregoire is elected as a U.S. Senator from Washington over Republican incumbent Slade Gorton.

November 7, 2000: Democrat Ed Rendell is elected as a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania over Republican Curt Weldon.

November 7, 2000: Democrat Allen Boyd is elected as a U.S. Senator from Florida over Republican Sandra Mortham.

November 7, 2000: Democrat Sam Coppersmith is narrowly elected as a U.S. Senator from Arizona over Republican incumbent Jon Kyl by a margin of 1,206 votes.

November 7, 2000: Democrat Mel Carnahan is elected as a U.S. Senator from Missouri over Republican incumbent John Ashcroft.

November 7, 2000: Democrat Pat Williams is elected as a U.S. Senator from Montana over Republican incumbent Conrad Burns.

November 7, 2000: Democrat Joe Hogsett is narrowly elected as a U.S. Senator from Indiana over Republican incumbent Dan Burton.

November 7, 2000: Democrat Ruth Ann Minner is elected as a U.S. Senator from Delaware over Republican Raymond Clatworthy to finish the term of her predecessor, current Secretary of State Joe Biden.

November 7, 2000: Democrat Tom Carper is elected as a U.S. Senator from Delaware over Republican incumbent William Roth.

November 10, 2000: President Richards and her military advisors start to devise invasion plans. Estimated size of invasion forces reaches 100,000 U.S. personnel. The U.K. says it can provide 35,000 in the invasion. The total war may require upwards of 300,000 U.S. soldiers due to paramilitary groups within Iran. The Invasion is codenamed "Operation Salacia" after the wife of Neptune in homage to D-Day. Richards worries that 300,000 soldiers is too many, so she decides to go to the U.N. to form an international coalition. In her post-presidency, Richards admitted that she regretted not going to the U.N. earlier.

November 11, 2000: On Veterans' Day, U.S. forces capture Kish Island, a luxury resort island. Kish Island becomes a major air station and communications center and is colloquially referred to as "Arab Aruba."

November 12, 2000: Another round of massive bombings commence close to Tehran, Qom, and Hamedan crippling military infrastructure.

November 16, 2000: Secretary of State Joe Biden goes to the U.N. Council and gives evidence of Iran's sponsorship of terrorist groups and human rights abuses. Biden goes on to say that Iran refused to cooperate with the U.S. and that diplomatic action is no longer possible.

The UN Security Council narrowly votes not to support military action. Nevertheless, Spain, Italy, and Azerbaijan, decide to join the coalition.

Coalition Forces as of November 2000:
U.S.
U.K.
Australia
Spain
Italy
Azerbaijan
Saudi Arabia (only providing military aid)
Turkey (only providing military aid)
Pakistan (only providing military aid)


November 17, 2000: Planned U.S. forces are cut back to 150,000 due to Spain and Italy joining the Coalition forces.

November 20, 2000: President Richards leaves the White House to spend Thanksgiving with her family at Camp David. It's the first time in a month that she's left the White House.

November 20, 2000: Soul Diamond, the 19th James Bond movie, is released to cinemas. In this installment, 007 hunts down ruthless Congolese warlord Jean-Pierre Botende (Forest Whitaker), who's using a vast diamond extraction operation to fund his militia. Whitaker's performance receives praise, but the movie simplistic plot leads to mediocre reviews. It underperforms considerably in the box office, almost not turning a profit. This leads to a long hiatus in production of further Bond movies.

December 1, 2000: President Richards, back at the White House begins to finalize invasion plans with staff. The naval invasion target is moved from Western Khuzestan to Eastern Khuzestan because the area is too marshy. The "blue groups" (naval invasion forces) will then head northwest towards Abhaz. The rest is the same.

December 4-15, 2000: Iran arrests thousands from the reformist opposition. Most will be killed. Despite this, an underground resistance forms. Underground resistance members will indirectly help the Coalition forces by keeping the Iranian army busy.

December 11, 2000: During his gap year traveling in Chile, the press is told, that William was injured by a falling log, but sustained no injuries. This is a cover for an attempted kidnapping that amounted to nothing as the Prince's Guards took care of the potential incoming problem. William was caught on a door frame was he was bungled inside.

December 20, 2000: The invasion plans are drawn up and finished right before President Richards leaves for Camp David for Christmas. The invasion will begin on the evening of President Richards' second inauguration at 6:00 p.m. EST or 2:30 a.m. local time. President Richards gives the invasion a special touch by recommending invasion units play the following song:


December 25, 2000: Christmas is bittersweet for America. In a month, soldiers will be shipped off to Saudi Arabia to invade Iran and won't be back for a while.

December 25, 2000: Russia adopts a new national anthem, using the same melody of the national anthem of the Soviet Union.

December 25, 2000: U.S. President Ann Richards is named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2000.

December 28, 2000: The NYPD arrest 3 Iranian men for a bomb plot targeting Times Square on New Year's Eve. The FBI says, "The system worked," causing controversy.

December 30, 2000: Lyrics are adopted for Russia's new national anthem.

January 1, 2001: President Richards delivers remarks on the New Year from Camp David.

January 1, 2001: The Florida Gators defeat the Air Force Falcons 24-13 to win the 2000-01 NCAA Bowl Coalition National Championship.

January 2, 2001: Gaming company Sega announces, in the wake of disappointing sales of its new console, that they will merge with Microsoft successor company Atari, in order for both companies to compete with Nintendo and Sony.

January 9, 2001: U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC) announces that he will be retiring from the Senate at the end of his term, leaving an open contest to succeed him in 2002.

January 16, 2001: President Richards awards Commander of the Tuskegee Airmen, Benjamin O. Davis Jr., the Medal of Honor and a fourth star, elevating him to the rank of General.

January 17, 2001: EDSA II begins as protests erupt against Philippine President Joseph Estrada amidst corruption charges.

January 20, 2001: President Richards is sworn in for a second time as President. Her inaugural address is only about 1,000 words long, the shortest since FDR in 1945. Richards only attends one inaugural ball after she complains of feeling "sick." In reality she's fine. It's a ploy for her to oversee the invasion of Iran. At 6:00 PM EST, the invasion of Iran commences. Coalition forces storm the beach of Hendijan, cross the Turkish border at Esendere, and touch down around Shiraz, Esfahan, and Qom.

January 20, 2001: EDSA II ends with Joseph Estrada being deposed in favor of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

January 21, 2001: Shortly after 7 a.m., the Department of Defense says the invasion of Iran is under way. Coalition forces capture Hendijan and Mahshahr. Street fighting begins in Esfahan, Qom, and Shiraz.

January 22, 2001: Urmia, Tabriz, Ahvaz, and Shiraz are captured. Naval invasion forces (NIFS) begin move in to Dezful and Khoramabad. Ground invasion forces (GIFS) move in to Iranian Kurdistan. AIFS move in to Yasuj and Kashan. Fighting is intense, as Coalition deaths are at about 100.

January 28, 2001: The Arizona Cardinals defeat the Houston Oilers 28-16 to win Super Bowl XXXV.

January 29, 2001: Shiraz, Yasuj, Kashan, Dezful, Khoramabad, Esfahan, and Sanandaj, have fallen. GIFS and NIFS begin to converge near Kermanshah and Hamedan. The Iranian Army has suffered losses upwards of 500.

February 5, 2001: Kermanshah and Hamedan fall. Convergent NIFS and GIFs move east towards Tehran. AIFS strangled the limits of Tehran. Tehran is predicted to be captured by the 16th.

February 5, 2001: Super Mario Storybook is released as one of the last new titles for the Nintendo 64. Playing as the iconic title character, the game has players racing to defeat Bowser in order to save Princess Peach and the seven Star Spirits. Receiving near universal praise, the game becomes the first installment in Nintendo's Mario Storybook series.

February 8, 2001: Port Disney opens across from Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The theme park is divided into six "ports of call": Portofino Harbor, Big City Waterfront, Primeval Bay, Sunrise Boardwalk, Glacier Lake, and Discovery Landing.

February 9, 2001: President Richards considers making General John N. Abrams, who is in charge of operations in Iran, a Five-Star General. The last person to hold that rank was Omar Bradley, who died in 1981.

February 10, 2001: Coalition forces begin attacking Tehran. Iranian students join in by throwing bricks and rocks at Iranian soldiers, some students even stab the Iranian soldiers with knives and glass shards. Other students storm government buildings and the old American embassy, clearing the latter of Anti-American propaganda. As expected, several dozens are killed in street fighting.

February 13, 2001: Coalition forces take over the government buildings and take several Iranian government personal in to custody. Street fighting dies down.

February 15, 2001: Tehran is effectively captured, President Richards appears in a Primetime Speech calling the invasion a success and says that most of Iranian government will be put on trial for human rights abuses. Supreme Leader Khamenei is unaccounted for. (He is in Mashhad, which was unable to be bombed by American planes due to its remoteness.)

February 16, 2001: U.S. Senator Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS) announces that she will not being seeking re-election to another term in 2002.

February 18, 2001: Dale Earnhardt, Sr., narrowly survives a collision with Ken Schrader on the final lap of the Daytona 500, only suffering two broken legs.

February 19, 2001: President Richards asks General Colin Powell to oversee the transitional government of Iran. He accepts and will be sworn in in 2002.

February 23, 2001: A new strategy focusing on capturing Eastern Iran is in the works after the successful invasion. President Richards chooses not to oversee the planning.

March 1, 2001:
Insurgents set off three bombs in Tehran. Over 200 people are killed, including 64 U.S. soldiers, and hundreds injured.

March 2, 2001: A Gallup poll shows President Richards with a 75% approval rating.

March 2, 2001: Apple releases the Macthree, a new three-in-one computer, and the Camena, a digital MP3 player. Both receive huge sales and earn critical acclaim for their sleek art deco design.

March 3, 2001: MLS announces the creation of the Seattle Sounders (in the Federal Conference) and the Houston Dynamo (in the National Conference), to begin play in the 2002 season.

March 8, 2001: Dale Earnhardt, Sr., is transferred from the hospital to a rehab center.

March 30, 2001: The Fairly OddParents, created by Butch Hartman, premieres on Nickelodeon. Based on the Oh Yeah! cartoon of the same name, the show follows 10-year-boy Timmy Turner and his fairy godparents Cosmo and Wanda as they try to deal with the consequences of Timmy's wishes in his hometown of Dimmsdale, California. The show quickly becomes one of Nickelodeon's highest rated programs.

April 2, 2001: Dale Earnhardt, Sr., returns home after nearly a month in rehab.

April 20, 2001: Warner Bros. Feature Animation releases Bigfoot to cinemas. The film tells the story of how the titular legendary creature (voiced by Mike Myers) has to prove his existence to a court of law and society at large with the help of hotshot lawyer Dan Goldman (voiced by Phil Hartman). The film receives mixed to positive reviews, and helps generate a renewed interest in legendary creatures among children and teenagers.

April 21, 2001: With most of Iran under Coalition control, the last Iranian generals surrender. The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, has not yet been accounted for.

April 22, 2001: Trailer Park Boys, a TV show based on the 1999 independent film of the same name, premieres on the Canadian network Showcase. Picking up where the film left off, the film follows Ricky and Julian on their misadventures in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

April 25, 2001: President Richards attends a major conference on Iran in Cagliari, Italy, between Spain, the U.K., Australia, Italy, and the U.S.

April 26, 2001: An Iranian-American kills 20 in a mass shooting on a McDonald's in Washington, D.C., before killing himself. The shooter is found to have acted out of opposition to the U.S. invasion of Iran.

April 27, 2001: Iranian insurgents continue attacks on U.S. government forces. In Tehran, a market is bombed, with 23 killed. Elsewhere, six U.S. reporters have been taken hostage.

April 28, 2001: A video is released in which remnants of the Revolutionary Guard hold 6 US hostages, and threaten to execute them unless the US "ends its imperialist war against the great nation of Iran and against the Islamic faith."

April 29, 2001: President Richards vows not to compromise with terrorists, and says she will "do everything in my power" to rescue the hostages.

May 1, 2001: President Richards returns to Washington.

May 1, 2001: The U.S. economy grows by just 1.5%. Unemployment rises from 4.3% to 4.7%. Fears of a recession rise.

May 4, 2001: On board the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk, President Richards give a speech on the Iran War, in which she says, "Our mission is not yet accomplished, no our mission will not be accomplished until the bells of Liberty silence the cries of those under oppressive regimes across the globe!"

May 4, 2001: The six hostages are all shot and killed. The insurgents send a message to President Richards, saying "more imperialist blood will flow, unless the United States of America withdraws from Iran and from its unjust imperialist war against Islam."

May 7, 2001: Commander John N. Abrams is confirmed as Military Governor of Iran.

May 8, 2001: Businessman Donald Trump is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He keeps it a secret from the public.

May 8, 2001: U.S. Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY) announces that he will not be seeking re-election in 2002.

May 9, 2001: President Richards and advisors determine that Iranian insurgents need to be crushed, The ex-Supreme Leader needs to found, and that the civilian interim government needs to take over as soon as possible.

May 10, 2001: Los Angeles suffers a widespread blackout. Thankfully, there is no major looting or violence. However, there are suspicions over terrorism, but these suspicions are false.

May 11, 2001: President Richards proposes the Department of Civil Defense, a cabinet department that is responsible for preventing terrorism, investigating terrorism, and informing the public on terrorism. Richards is privately considering John Kerry for Secretary of the Department.

May 11, 2001: The ailing Donald Trump purchases the long-abandoned Bennett College in Millbrook, New York. He sets up a company dedicated to renovating and reopening it as a functioning university, along with an ambitious plan to turn the small town of Millbrook into a true university town. Another part of the Trump University Company's mission is to seek out qualified professors to improve the quality of the reopened university's staff. While the project has been criticized as the characteristically egotistical Trump trying to out do Carnegie, it is predicted that the titanic project will be a major boon to Millbrook's economy.

May 11, 2001: Bluma Kleid, age 25 from Israel, is crowned Miss Universe 2001.

May 12, 2001: Wigan Athletic defeats Sunderland 3-1 to win the 2001 FA Cup.

May 14, 2001: Coalition forces capture nearly 30 Islamic insurgents outside Kerman and Iran.

May 15, 2001: The U.S. Congress begins hearings on the creation of the Department of Civil Defense.

May 17, 2001: President Richards calls for greater science and technology funding in education. She also says she wants to see a U.S. base on the Moon by 2021.

May 18, 2001: DreamWorks releases the animated film Shrek into theatres. The film stars Chris Farley as the titular Shrek, an ogre tasked with "rescuing" Princess Fiona for the devious Lord Farquaad. The film quickly gains massive approval from critics and moviegoers alike for its unique blend of comedy, action, and cerebral introspection. Much praise is heaped upon the film for simply not being a low-effort "kid's movie." The biting satire regarding Disney in general and Michael Eisner in particular is not lost on critics, either.

May 24, 2001: Buffy the Vampire Slayer ends after five seasons, having developed a cult following during its run. There were also rumors that UPN was going to have the show continue on their network but they ultimately were disproved when UPN announced that they were not interested in having Buffy move to the network.

May 26-June 7, 2001: The Brooklyn Islanders defeat the Vancouver Canucks 4 games to 2 to win the 2001 Stanley Cup.

June 1, 2001: A new poll shows support for the Iran War has declined from 78% of the US public to just 66%. On the same day, Mostafa Mooen, an Iranian moderate and minister in the interim government, was found dead in his home, with his throat slit. The insurgent group Iranian Freedom Militia has claimed responsibility.

June 6-19, 2001: The Atlanta Hawks defeat the Phoenix Suns 4 games to 3 to win the 2001 NBA Finals.

June 11, 2001: Fear Factor, a game show featuring contestants performing dangerous or grotesque stunts, premieres on NBC. Hosted by Joe Rogan, the show sees record-high ratings for NBC during the 2001 summer season and quickly gets renewed for a second season.

June 14, 2001: The Reform Alliance votes in favor of merging with the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.

June 15, 2001: The Progressive Conservative Party of Canada votes 83% in favor of merging with the Reform Alliance.

June 15, 2001: Spider-Man 2 is released to cinemas. Once again starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, the sequel concerns the titular character's struggle over whether to remain a superhero or not, all while battling the nefarious Vulture, portrayed by J.K. Simmons. The film receives greatly positive reviews, with particular praise heaped towards the movie's improved special effects, which win an Oscar the following year, and the chilling performance by Simmons, who is nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2002. The film is also a major commercial success, grossing $884 million at the worldwide box office.

June 18, 2001: The United Alternative is officially registered with Elections Canada.

June 21, 2001: Canadian MP Scott Brison announces his candidacy for the United Alternative leadership.

June 29, 2001: Prince Edward is sworn in as Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.

July 2, 2001: A report from inside the military suggests Iran War General Tommy Franks has expressed frustration with the course of the war, and that Franks complained Richards was trying to rush the war and not using enough troops.

July 3, 2001: Former Reform Alliance leader Stockwell Day announces his candidacy for the United Alternative leadership. He is largely seen as the frontrunner by political analysts.

July 5, 2001: An Iranian-American with reported links to insurgent groups in Iran sets off a bomb in Times Square, killing 22 people. The bomber is later killed in a shootout with police.

July 7, 2001: It is revealed that the Times Square bomber had traveled to Iran from April to June, before returning to Iran, undetected by intelligence agencies.

July 8, 2001: House Minority Leader Bob Livingston criticizes President Richards, saying she has been "grossly negligent" in her conduct of the Iran War, and her "failure of leadership has endangered our troops in Iran and our citizens at home." Richards rejects Livingston's attacks as "unpatriotic" and an "assault on the war effort," and noted "just a few months ago, Congressman Livingston was up on his platform yapping about how great I was doin'. Sounds like he's a hypocrite."

July 9, 2001: Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott joins in Livingston's attacks on Richards, and says her latest comments show she is trying to "politicize" the war effort. The White House replies the Republicans are trying to politicize the war with their attacks on Richards.

July 9, 2001: Canadian MP Brian Pallister announces his candidacy for the United Alternative leadership.

July 13, 2001: The International Olympic Committee selects Toronto, Canada, to host the 2008 Summer Olympics.

July 15, 2001: Filmmaker Michael Moore makes controversial comments in which he declares himself opposed to President Richards's Iran War. "Ann Richards dragged us into an illegal war, she ignored the UN and the international community, she dragged us into war to win an election. And it worked, people fell for it! She rushed in, and she was told she needed more troops, that it wouldn't work, but she rushed in anyway, and we're paying the price in our blood, sweat and tears, all because she wanted to win an election!"

July 17, 2001: Congress passes legislation creating the Department of Civil Defense. President Richards appoints Senator John Kerry as its first Secretary.

July 19, 2001: Governor Brian Donnelly (D-MA) appoints District Attorney Martha Coakley to John Kerry's vacant U.S. Senate seat.

July 20, 2001: Prince Andrew retires from active service in the Royal Navy. He takes up a role working for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment, which involves many foreign trips. However, unlike with his active service naval career, he can now take Sarah along, which helps keep the couple together.

July 21, 2001: Vice President Bill Bradley attends the G8 Summit in Genoa, Italy, in place of Richards. Bradley's Motorcade is attacked by anti-globalization protestors, and when he steps out of the car, a rock is thrown at his head causing him to bleed. The injury is minor, but the action is serious.

July 22, 2001: Sony unveils the Walkman Digital, their new MP3 player. The sleek device's blue-and-silver color scheme deliberately evokes the image of the original models from the late 70's. The new music player captures a considerable share of the market from Apple.

July 23, 2001: Vice President Bradley leaves Genoa with accomplishing nothing substantial and boards Air Force Two back to Washington. Soon into the flight, the plane runs in to severe weather. Over the town of Corbel, France, the engines stall and Air Force Two plummets to the ground.

July 24, 2001: The pilot and co-pilot of Air Force Two are both awarded the Medal of Honor for making a successful deadstick landing and saving Vice President Bradley's life.

July 24, 2001: Canadian MP Peter MacKay announces his candidacy for the United Alternative leadership.

July 27, 2001: Former Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement announces his candidacy for the United Alternative leadership.

July 27, 2001: Jurassic Park: Extinction is released to cinemas. The third film in the Jurassic Park trilogy focuses on how Henry Wu managed to send dinosaur embryos to North Korea, who sends special agents to let dinosaurs loose during the (fictitious) 2001 World Expo in Tokyo. Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Laura Dern reprise their roles as Dr. Alan Grant, Dr. Ian Malcolm, and Dr. Ellie Sattler, respectively.

August 1, 2001: Sonic Adventure 2 is released on the Atari Panther. The game's massive success serves to justify the Sega-Atari merger to any who questioned the decision.

August 3, 2001: President Richards, after much consideration allows the generals in Iran to make their own plans. In a phone call to Tommy Franks, she says, "Tommy, I feel well like... shit, I feel personally responsible for all those young men dying for nothing. I just can't see a way I can get us out, but uh... I think you and the other generals could have something, so I'm letting you guys take over." Without Richards planning the war, she has time to deal with science, space, and technology legislation.

August 6, 2001: Stanford University Provost and former Bush staffer Condoleezza Rice announces her candidacy for Governor of California.

August 6, 2001: Hewlett-Packard acquires the Microsoft successor company Phoenix Computers. The most prominent companies in the computer industry are Hewlett-Packard, NeXT, Apple, Commodore, and Atari.

August 11, 2001: The "new management" of the Iran War announces a 35,000-soldier troop surge. As of August, there are 278,560 Coalition forces in Iran, including 175,000 U.S. soldiers.

August 14, 2001: The NHL announces plans for a team in Seattle, Washington, to begin play in the 2004-05 NHL season.

August 17, 2001: Donald Trump organizes the Upwards Project, a charity that donates computers to underserved schools and libraries, and teaches children technological skills.

August 17, 2001: Universal Studios releases the family fantasy film Wish-Givers to cinemas. The film takes place in a world where shooting stars in the night sky are actually artificial satellites that record and catalogue people's wishes. The main plot focuses on Agent Haley Comet (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) being assigned to the case of an eight-year-old boy who had wished for his family to love each other again. While both a critical and commercial success, no sequels, prequels, or spin-offs are made.

August 22, 2001: President Richards announces her support for stem cell research, angering religious conservatives.

August 27, 2001: President Richards declares Mount Taylor a national monument. The Mountain is a very sacred Navajo site, Richards also declares Mount Taylor to be renamed Mount Tsoodził, the Navajo name. Native Americans applaud the action. Richards says, "It is our duty not to erase the past. There were Americans here before there was an America, and we must honor them."

August 31, 2001: The Iranian Freedom Militia set off bombs at King's Cross and Waterloo tube stations in London, killing 127 and injuring 210.

August 31, 2001: Journey to the Center of the Earth, Disney's adaptation of the Jules Verne novel of the same name, is released to cinemas. The film features Christoph Waltz as the voice of Otto Lindenbrock, Michael J. Fox as the voice of his nephew Axel, and Sean Connery as the voice of Hans.

September 1, 2001: Prince William enrolls at Cambridge University to read for a degree course in Art History, leading to a spike in applications from female students hoping to meet him. William will meet drama student Emily Nicholson while at University.

September 3, 2001: Civil unrest unfolds in Azerbaijan against the Aliyev government.

September 7, 2001: Nearly $7 million in Confederate gold is discovered in Cherokee County, North Carolina. Ownership is soon brought into question. The U.S. Government says it's theirs, but several banks also claim it.

September 9-10, 2001: George Carlin performs two lives shows at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, which is recorded for release as the album I Kinda Like It When A Lotta People Die in December.

September 11, 2001: A fire breaks out on the 100th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center. The evacuation is disorganized and unsafe. One woman dies after she falls down two flights of the concrete stairwell after being accidentally pushed.

September 11, 2001: Former Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone checks himself into rehab.

September 12, 2001: The Saturn Sky, a rebadged version of the Opel Speedster, goes on sale in America.

September 14, 2001: When asked about Gold-gate at press briefing, President Richards says, "That matter is being handled by the Treasury Department, but uh... I think the Confederate gold belongs to the U.S. Government. Despite all the flags you see in the South, the Confederacy lost and the U.S. is entitled to it."

September 15, 2001: Ella Brown, age 24 from Arkansas, is crowned Miss America 2002.

September 20, 2001: The CIA determines that ex-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is living on a boat in the Caspian Sea.

September 24, 2001: U.S. forces begin to plan the capture of Ali Khamenei. President Richards is not invited to any of the meetings.

September 26, 2001:
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court William Rehnquist dies.

Supreme Court as of 2001
John Paul Stevens - Ford (Liberal)
Sandra Day O'Connor - Reagan (Moderate)
Antonin Scalia - Reagan (Conservative)
Anthony Kennedy - Reagan (Moderate)
David Souter - Bush (Liberal)
Clarence Thomas - Bush (Conservative)
Roger Miner - Bush (Moderate)
Jose A. Cabranes - Richards (Liberal)

Liberal - 3 Moderate - 3 Conservative - 2

September 26, 2001: Peter MacKay narrowly defeats Stockwell Day to become the first leader of the United Alternative.

September 27, 2001: Sarah Tilton, a sophomore at Texas A&M University, becomes the second million-dollar winner on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.

September 28, 2001: Congress signs the Science and Technology Funding Act, increasing government grants to universities and high schools in the field of technology and science.

September 28, 2001: President Richards goes on a tour of Kennedy Space Center. She determines that NASA needs new management. Her choice for administrator is a surprise one, Donald Rumsfeld.

September 28, 2001: Peter MacKay names Brian Pallister the deputy leader of the United Alternative.

October 1, 2001: President Richards nominates Harvard Professor Laurence Tribe to replace William Rehnquist as Chief Justice.

October 3, 2001: The deadliest school shooting in American history happens at Yankton High School in Yankton, South Dakota. There are 30 confirmed dead. The perpetrators are 2 seniors and 1 junior. After their parents released a statement saying that all three were into violent video games, there is a call amongst older people to ban them.

October 3, 2001: In the coverage of the Yankton School Tragedy, NBC anchor Tom Brokaw reveals he went to the very same high school. He looks visibly sickened and excuses himself. The moment is seared in to the memories of millions. President Richards calls it a "horrendous, senseless act of violence. My heart goes out to all the families and friends who were affected."

October 4, 2001: The White House says that the tragedy in Yankton underscores the need to tackle mental illness. Pictures of President Richards hunting spread like wildfire on the internet.

October 5, 2001: Russian military intervention in Azerbaijan begins.

October 5, 2001: Police in Yankton, South Dakota, release important information relating to the Yankton Tragedy. Two of three perpetrators died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, one is in critical condition. All three were on anti-depressants, one was also on anti-psychotics. There names were Gregory McConnell, Gary Zimmer, and Michael Langdon.

October 10, 2001: President Richards informs Donald Rumsfeld of her decision to appoint him as NASA administrator. He initially believes it's a joke, but he eventually accepts.

October 11, 2001: U.S. forces capture Ali Khamenei, some 10 miles off the coast of Chalus, Iran.

October 20-26, 2001: The Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Texas Rangers 4 games to 1 to win the 2001 World Series.

October 21, 2001: The Dallas Barons defeat the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 to win the 2001 MLS Cup.

October 23, 2001: The hottest rock band in the U.S., Tabitha's Secret (OTL Matchbox Twenty), releases their forth album called Take This. The band has parted ways with their post-grunge sound and has gone into a 70s arena rock-style sound. Singer Rob Thomas said, "We wanted to do something special for this album, wanting to do music that we grew up listening to." The album's first single "Suffer Me" has been popular on rock stations around the country.

‎October 25, 2001: React OS Version 1, along with its source code, is released to the public. It quickly becomes popular with PC Gamers due to easy hacks to permit installation of DirectX software, reducing the cost of playing games originally developed for Windows. Businesses are slower to take up, preferring the recently released Windows 2000. There are some who do make the plunge, given that the baby-MS that ended up with the Windows assets are still having morale problems, leading to the delay of what would have been Windows XP.

October 30, 2001: The Senate approves the nomination of Laurence Tribe as Chief Justice by 62 to 38. Many Republicans were concerned about his qualifications.

November 2, 2001: After over six months, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard kills the six U.S. reporters they took hostage. President Richards vows to the American people that this crime will not go unpunished. The President's approval ratings fell from 50% at the end of June to 45% one day after the killing of the hostages. Support for the war had also fallen.

November 2, 2001: Pixar and Disney release Monster Mysteries to cinemas. The film focuses on Mike Wazowski (voiced by Billy Crystal) and James P. Sullivan (voiced by John Goodman), two detectives with the Monstropolis Police Department who are tasked with retrieving a prized diamond from a bandit named Neville Boggs (voiced by Michael Caine). Critics and fans alike praise the seemingly surreal blend of slapstick comedy and throwbacks to the noir films of the 1930s and 1940s.

November 6, 2001: Democrat Mark Green is elected Mayor of New York City over Republican billionaire Michael Bloomberg.

November 6, 2001: The George Bush Presidential Library is dedicated on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. In attendance are President Ann Richards, Former President George Bush, his son MLB Commissioner George W. Bush, and Texas Governor Chet Edwards.

November 6, 2001: The TV drama thriller 24 premieres on FOX. Following the adventures of counterterrorist agent Jack Bauer (played by Vin Diesel), the show gets mixed to negative reviews, with many finding the protagonist to be too unlikable due to the show's frequent depiction of him torturing suspects. With consistently low ratings, the show is cancelled by the spring of 2002.

November 7, 2001: South Park airs the episode "Gary Zimmer Has Farty Pants," in which the boys argue with the school board about the role of violence in video games and Cartman becomes the Bugs Bunny to Gary Zimmer's Elmer Fudd during the aftermath of the massacre.

November 10, 2001: The 2001 Australian federal election is held. After a closely fought campaign, the unpopular Howard government falls. Kim Beazley is sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Australia.

Kim Beazley (Labor) - 79 seats +12 (51.8% PV)
John Howard (Liberal/National) - 69 seats -11 (48.2% PV)

150 seats in the House of Representatives
76 seats needed for a majority

November 13, 2001: Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard resigns as leader of the Liberal/National coalition following its defeat in the 2001 Australian federal election.

November 16, 2001: The film version of Harry Potter & the Philosopher's Stone, directed by Chris Columbus, is released to cinemas. The film stars 11-year-old newcomer Daniel Radcliffe as the title character, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, and Sean Connery as Albus Dumbledore.

November 19, 2001: President Richards visits Yankton with South Dakota Congressmen Tim Johnson, Tom Daschle, and John Thune.

November 19, 2001: Peter Costello is elected the new leader of the Liberal/National coalition following John Howard's resignation six days earlier.

November 23, 2001: Universal Studios releases the live-action Curious George film to cinemas. Featuring David Duchovny as the Man in the Yellow Hat and Frank Welker as the voice of the title character, the film is both a critical and commercial failure, with many citing the obnoxious acting, predictability of the plot, and especially the uncanny valley look of the CGI George.

November 28, 2001: The Nintendo Dolphin is released in the United States. This is Nintendo's first disk-based system.

December 2, 2001: As Gary Zimmer, the only surviving perpetrator of the Yankton Massacre, recovers, a trial date is set for February 1, 2002. There are calls to ban assault weapons among Democrats and immoral media such as violent video games and movies among Republicans.

December 5, 2001: President Richards addresses the nation on the political aftermath of the Yankton High School Massacre. "As a responsible gun owner, I cannot see the need to own an assault rifle. An assault weapon is a weapon of war, not one of self-defense or hunting. However, I believe that banning assault weapons is a distraction from the cause of these tragic disasters, mental illness. Six years ago, 317 people were killed by a mentally ill man without a single shot fired because he used explosives. We must end the stigma of mental illness. If you need help please reach out to someone and if you know someone who needs help, please get them help."

December 6, 2001: The Department of Health and Human Services announces a new campaign to raise awareness of mental illness.

December 8, 2001: Lord of the Rings: The fellowship of the Ring is released to cinemas. Directed by Peter Jackson, it's the first part of the trilogy adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic. Among others, it stars Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, Ian McKellen as the wizard Gandalf, Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Russell Crowe as the ranger Aragorn, Orlando Bloom as Legolas the elf, John Rhys-Davies as Gimly the dwarf, Uma Thurman as Arwen, Billy Connolly as Tom Bombadil, and David Bowie as Elrond. The movie is nominated for over 13 Oscars, winning 4.

December 11, 2001: George Carlin releases the comedy album I Kinda Like It When A Lotta People Die, recorded from his live shows at the MGM Grand Las Vegas three months earlier.

December 14, 2001: President Richards asks NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin for his resignation effective January 1.

December 20, 2001: President Richards leaves Washington for her new 550-acre ranch in Garfield, Texas.

December 31, 2001: Commander John N. Abrams is named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2001.

January 1, 2002: Euro notes and coins are introduced in France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Finland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Austria, Ireland and the Netherlands. Greece continued domestic use of the Drachma despite having applied to use the Euro in 1999. It had been planned for Greece to be included and the Euro's value was initially pegged to an index that included the Drachma but in the months preceding the introduction of the Euro, Greece's economic forecast is deemed too risky. Determining that adopting the Euro could prove too inhibiting for the Greek economy, the EU Commission ultimately decides to keep Greece in the ERM-II structure.

January 1, 2002: Unemployment rises to 5.5% and oil prices rise as the Middle East grows increasingly unstable due to the US/Iran war. Many believe the United States has entered recession, with the recession starting in May.

January 1, 2002: The Rutgers Scarlet Knights defeat the Kansas Jayhawks 19-10 to win the 2001-02 NCAA Bowl Coalition National Championship.

January 2, 2002: Civil war breaks out in Turkmenistan following a coup against dictator Saparmurat Niyazov. Secretary of State Joe Biden states that the situation is being closely monitored. Behind the scenes, the U.S. government worries that the Iranian terrorists could sneak across the border.

January 3, 2002: Coup leader Boris Shikhmuradov is declared the new President of Turkmenistan, seizing Ashgabat quickly. Ex-President Niyazov's whereabouts are unknown.

January 5, 2002: President Shikhmuradov sends out diplomatic feelers to the United States and China in an attempt to gain credibility for his government. Supporters of the the previous president are either fighting government forces, or fleeing into Afghanistan or Uzbekistan.

January 6, 2002: Uzbekistan begins saber-rattling, threatening to invade border regions near Turkmenistan.

January 10, 2002: While the new Turkmen government continues to see success taking hold of the country, it finds itself fighting a two-pronged war against pro-Niyazov rebels and the New Revolutionary Guard beginning to flood the Iranian border regions.

January 11, 2002: U.N. refugee camps in Baluchistan report they are at capacity, with over 500,000 Iranians still fleeing from the warzone. Many will end up in Sweden, Canada, Denmark, Brazil, and New Zealand.

January 14, 2002: The Florida Panthers announce they will be moving to Cleveland at the start of the 2004-05 NHL season.

January 11, 2002: General Motors rolls out the Cadillac Cien sports car, built to celebrate Cadillac's 100th anniversary. Expecting to sell less than 1,000 cars, GM is surprised when they ends up selling 3,240 Ciens in the 2002 calendar year.

January 17, 2002: Donald Rumsfeld is confirmed as the new administrator of NASA. With his intelligence and managerial style, NASA flourishes.

January 19, 2002: Turkmen President Shikhmuradov avoids an assassination attempt while inspecting the government front in Mary (about 400 km/250mi east of the capital). He receives news from U.S. forces in Iran that they are willing to meet with him. These negotiations are kept secret.

January 22, 2002: Turkmen Ex-President Saparmurat Niyazov's body found on the outskirts of Mary. Rebels begin to lose morale. More are seen fleeing into Afghanistan.

January 23, 2002: The Turkmen government declares it will protect minorities (particularly the Uzbek communities in the north), changing a decade-long policy in order to appease its northern neighbor.

January 27, 2002: The Houston Oilers defeat the San Francisco 49ers 30-27 to win Super Bowl XXXVI.

January 27, 2002: At the Super Bowl halftime show, Tabitha's Secret frontman Rob Thomas causes a uproar while performing their song "Stop" by screaming "God bless the fucking Houston Oilers!!!"

January 29, 2002: President Richards delivers the State of the Union, she calls for greater attention to mental illness, a careful conclusion to military operations in Iran, and a renewed space program with the U.S. establish a base on the moon by 2020.

February 1, 2002: The unemployment rate roses to 6.2%, and the deficit also rises. Economic confidence falls.

February 3, 2002: A new poll shows President Richards with just a 47% approval rating.

February 5, 2002: Polls show an increasing number of Americans believe the country is on the wrong track, with only 40% of Americans thinking the country is on the right track in the latest poll.

February 8, 2002: A North Carolina judge rules that $7 million in Confederate gold belongs to the federal government.

February 8-24, 2002: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Östersund, Sweden. Russia leads in the medal count, followed closely by the United States and Sweden.

February 11, 2002: The film Color of Love premieres. The critically acclaimed romantic drama is about a scruffy car mechanic Steven (Russell Crowe), who's in a faltering marriage with his mentally unstable wife Betty (Diane Lane), falling in love and having an affair with a black woman, Alvera (Gabrielle Union), in 1963 Virginia. In the ending, Steven and Alvera decide to run away with each other to Canada via plane. Alvera, however, is proposed to by a friend and accepts. Steven doesn't know this and gets on the plane. When Alvera doesn't get on the plane, he believes he was deserted by her and continues on. The film then switches to modern day. We learn that Steven has died of liver cancer, an elderly Betty at his funeral tells us what happened to her and Alvera. Alvera is in a complacent marriage with three adult children and young grandchildren. Betty, humiliated, fled to San Francisco. We also learn that Betty was unstable because she was "hospitalized for homosexual tendencies." Betty was taken in by a group of kind and caring gay women. Betty accepted who she was and began a relationship with her current partner. A few years ago, Alvera got in touch with Betty and told her everything. Betty kisses the coffin and says she forgave him. Fade to black.

February 12, 2002: Prince Edward takes part in his first State Opening of the Australian Parliament. At the reception afterwards, he meets Melanie Howard, the daughter of ex-PM John Howard.

February 12, 2002: Disney announces plans for a Brazil pavilion at EPCOT Center's World Showcase.

February 28, 2002: The Assault Weapon Act of 2002 is narrowly defeated in Congress. It called for mandatory background checks on the buying of assault weapons and prohibited anyone with a history of mental illness from purchasing one.

March 2, 2002: Atari releases their new handheld gaming console, known as the Atari Dash, to much critical praise. The system is compared favorably to Nintendo's Game Boy Advance.

March 9, 2002: Absurdist film Punxsutawney Phil 2.0, produced by Disney, hits the big screens. Featuring Punxsutawney Phil (Jeremy Irons) getting a voice in a supernatural event then sometime afterwards getting elected to Congress from PA-3, it ends with him getting re-elected as POTUS in the year 2036, defeating former weatherman and PA-3 congressman Phil Bonnors, aided by voter disenfranchisement caused by a time loop. Columbia Pictures unsuccessfully sues for copyright infringement. The film gets $764 million at the box office, after having cost $120 million to make.

March 11, 2002: The first half of Disney's Pop Century Resort opens at Walt Disney World. The "Classic Years" half features sections dedicated to decades ranging from the 1950s to the 1990s.

March 11, 2002: MLB announces that two expansion teams are coming to Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C., to begin play in the 2005 season.

March 16, 2002: Simultaneous airliner hijackings occurred over Turkey. The flights; originating from Bina International Airport in Azerbaijan, consisting of a Lufthansa, and two Turkish Airlines jets, are hijacked in mid air. This is the first time that multiple jets had been hijacked at the same time since the 1970s. The planes go off the radar near Istanbul.

March 16, 2002: Disney Studios Paris opens on a plot of land adjacent to Disneyland Paris. Much like its counterpart in Orlando, the theme park also contains real working film studios and a branch of Walt Disney Feature Animation.

March 17, 2002: A day later after the Bina International Airport Hijackings, a fourth aircraft coming from Istanbul is forced to land in Italy after being hijacked. This British Airways flight lands outside of Milan. After this hijacking, the hijackers in Istanbul finally make their demands. They identify as Iranian civilians who are doing this to negotiate the leave of the US from Iran, the releasing of terrorists from US backed jails, and to claim asylum in Russia without persecution from the US. The caveat they made is that they have a direct communication line to the plane in Milan, and if anything happens in Istanbul, the collaborators in Milan would kill everybody on the plane, and vice-versa.

March 17, 2002: President Richards responds to these hijackings as the most dangerous and organized attack by Iranian terrorists since the JFK Airport Attack. She comments "If the flights of two influential and secure nations could be hijacked to easily [referring to the Lufthansa and British Airways flights] then Iranian Terrorists could very easily attack the US from the inside by hijacking flights inside of the US. Before this event is over, I have asked for an investigation by the Department of Civil Defense into if our security systems are enough to stop this from happening."

March 17, 2002: The reopened Bennett College officially starts its first semester after renovations finish. Not only is the historic Halcyon Hall completely restored, but includes a state-of-the-art science facility, fully-stocked library, and incredibly luxurious dorms. Donald Trump, in his usual grandiose manner, has spared no expense in making the new and improved Bennett College a world-class education institution. The neighboring shopping center and hotel he built nearby also brings a lot of tourist traffic to the until recently sleepy town of Millbrook. The reopened College`s first semester opens with a ceremony with a recorded speech from the now bedridden Trump.

March 20, 2002: In a collaborative effort from Italian and Turkish special forces, simultaneous raids on the hijacked flights occur, 4 days after the hijackings started. Most of the hostages are evacuated without injuries, and all the hostage-takers were neutralized across the two sites, but the raids didn't go 100% perfectly and a hostage-taker wearing a suicide-vest detonated after a bullet struck the vest, killing him, two Turkish special forces, and 21 hostages, mostly Azerbaijani and German citizens. Later investigations found the pilot and co-pilot of each flight dead, indicating that the hijackers flew the planes themselves.

March 21, 2002: President Richards responds to the fact the hijackers flew themselves,pressing more urgency in protecting US domestic and international flights. The first thing suggested by the Department of Civil Defense is that cockpit security become improved by 100%. Complaining about how the doors are unlocked, the security offered by air-crew is not enough, and general practices seems to allow complacency in security inside of planes.

March 26, 2002: With the passage of the National Marriage Equality Act in Parliament, Canada legalizes same-sex marriage nationwide.

April 1, 2002: Representatives of Disney officially start negotiations with the Australian government to build a Disney theme park in Australia. A considerable part of the negotiation process is discussing where the theme park and resort would be located.

April 5, 2002: The negotiations for Disneyland Sydney officially finish. The full project includes the theme park, a beachfront resort hotel near the Pacific, and a retail district for the tourists. Australian engineers begin touring the Disney parks as part of the initial preparations to begin construction of the park. It's projected that construction will begin April 2003.

April 8, 2002: President Richards announces that military operations in Iran will end at the end of the year. By Christmas nearly half of U.S. servicemen and women will be home.

April 9, 2002: The series Corto Maltese airs on Canal+. Based on the graphic novel series by Hugo Pratt, it adapts the stories of "Under the Sign of the Capricorn," "Ballad of the Salt Sea," "Celtic Tales," "The Ethiopian," "The Golden House in Samarkand," and "Corto Maltese in Siberia," each split into three parts of thirty minutes each. It eventually earns a cult following in Europe, but it was a massive hit in Argentina where reruns are still aired to this day.

April 11, 2002: Leo Nicholson, an aircraft engineer from Redmond, Washington, becomes the second million-dollar winner on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.

April 13, 2002: A military coup overthrows Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

April 15, 2002: The Resident Evil film is released into theaters. Most critics applaud the George Romero-penned script as well as the performance from the actors. The film features Channing Tatum as Chris Redfield, Amanda Righetti as Jill Valentine, Simon Baker as Albert Wesker, Ellen Page as Rebecca Chambers, and Chris Pratt as Barry Burton. The actors who played the characters in the original game have cameos in the film.

April 19, 2002: The military government of Iran is transferred to a civilian one led by former General Colin Powell.

April 24, 2002: G4, a television channel dedicated to video games, commences broadcast in the United States.

April 26, 2002: British Conservative Party Leader Ken Clarke is assassinated by a man with Marxist-leaning views.

April 29, 2002: Steve Burns airs his last episode of Blue's Clues, in which his character leaves for college and joins the hopscotch team. The episode also acts as the transition to new host Ed (played by Ed Helms), known for his green checkered shirt.

May 4, 2002: West Ham United defeats Sunderland 2-0 to win the 2002 FA Cup.

May 24, 2002: Constant Payne debuts on Nickelodeon. Borrowing heavily from Japanese anime, the show focuses on a father-and-daughter team of adventurers in a dieselpunk science-fiction universe.

May 29, 2002: Gabriella Mingo, age 21 from Venezuela, is crowned Miss Universe 2002.

May 31, 2002: The Sum of All Fears, the fourth Jack Ryan movie, and a reboot of the series, is released to cinemas. The movie features Ben Affleck as the titular character, trying to stop a conspiracy of neo-Nazis to start a nuclear war. The movie is a massive success, and receives 3 Oscars nominations: Best Picture, Ben Affleck for Best Actor, and Best Original Song. The success establishes Ben Affleck as a major action star, and many claim Jack Ryan will be the "American James Bond."

June 4-15, 2002: The Washington Capitals defeat the Edmonton Oilers 4 games to 2 to win the 2002 Stanley Cup.

June 5-12, 2002: The Seattle SuperSonics sweep the Atlanta Hawks 4 games to 0 to win the 2002 NBA Finals.

June 7, 2002: Indiana Jones & the Lost City of Gold is released to cinemas. Starring Harrison Ford as the title character and NSYNC member Justin Timberlake as his son "Mutt" Williams, the fourth film in the series has the two men go to Hawaii in search of Waiwai, an ancient golden city supposed built on the orders of King Kamehameha I. Michelle Yeoh and Scarlett Johansson appear as WAC officers who guide Indy and Mutt to Waiwai.

June 11, 2002: Two terrorists, claiming to work for Al-Qaeda attempt to blow up the Air Force One and the Air Force Two.

June 14, 2002: After recovering from the shock of this close call, President Richards addresses the nation, calling the terrorists "cowards."

June 15, 2002: Following the double assassination attempt, US stocks tumble throughout the day, closing with a loss of 520 points in the Dow Jones and 180 points in Nasdaq.

June 15, 2002: President Richards walks back on her comments made in April about the end of military operations at the end of the year. This, of course, draws much ire.

June 17, 2002: The White House asks Amtrak to build a new presidential railcar.

June 20, 2002: Interim Iranian Governor Colin Powell says trials of former Iranian government officials will begin in October.

June 21, 2002: Lilo & Stitch, the 39th Disney animated feature film, is released to cinemas. The films tells the story of Stitch, a former member of an intergalactic gang who found refuge in Hawaii on Earth after he betrayed his friend Jumba. Many praise the film's unique use of watercolors in the artistic depiction of Hawaii. However, the climax featuring Stitch flying a commercial airliner through the streets of Honolulu sparked controversy after some thought it resembled the Bina International Airport hijackings in March.

June 21, 2002: The Bourne Identity is released. Starring Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, the movie attracts a lot of attention and is well received. It suffers considerably, however, due to being caught in the momentum of the Jack Ryan series. Many call it an attempt to profit from the spy buzz of the series. As his good friend Ben Affleck establishes himself in the spy genre, Damon decides to seek other projects instead of doing a sequel.

June 25, 2002: American operatives storm an Iranian base, killing 20 Iranian soldiers in the process.

June 27, 2002: President Richards issues a statement saying, "We will keep fighting, and we will destroy this regime."

June 29, 2002: North Korean patrol boats enter disputed waters and fire upon South Korean vessels. 17 North Koreans are killed as are 8 South Koreans. One South Korean boat is sunk.

June 30, 2002: South Korea demands an apology from North, who instead blame South for failing to recognize their version of the sea border.

June 30, 2002: Preparations begin for a Fourth of July celebration at the White House.

June 30, 2002: Portugal defeats Mexico 2-1 to win the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

July 1, 2002: An RA-85816 Tu-154M plane manages to avoid a collision with a DHX 611 Boeing 757 cargo plane.

July 2, 2002: North Korea cuts off communication with the South. The continuation of the Sunshine Policy becomes a major topic of debate in the Presidential campaign.

July 4, 2002: Vice President Bill Bradley is assassinated during a Fourth of July celebration at the White House. Lawrence Franklin had initially targeted President Ann Richards herself, but Vice President Bradley had jumped in front of the President and took the bullet for her.

July 6, 2002: Vice President Bill Bradley's assassin is caught attempting to commit suicide in his home in a suburb of Chicago. Lawrence Franklin reveals in police custody that he had been attempting to shoot that "liberal bitch Richards" when Bradley had jumped in front of the bullet. He then spends the next few hours rambling about a conspiracy involving the administration attempting to "strangle the freedom of the American people." Much is made about how an obvious paranoid nutjob was able to obtain a gun from a store without a rigorous background check. It's also revealed that he got into the event due to his connections with U.S. Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC).

July 10, 2002: South Park airs the episode "Free Hat," in which the boys' campaign to bring U.S. troops home from the Iran War is mistaken by the townspeople to be a campaign to free Hat McCullough, a convicted serial killer whom they believe to be innocent, from prison.

July 11, 2002: The state funeral of Bill Bradley takes place. President Richards tearfully thanks Bill Bradley for his years of service as a Senator and Vice President.

July 11, 2002: The NRA denounces the actions of Franklin, claiming him to be a lone gunman, and that the assassination was not based on ideology.

July 19, 2002: Shortlist for Vice President:

Chris Dodd (Senator-CT)
Evan Bayh (Senator-IN)
Gary Locke (Governor-WA)

July 20, 2002: A journal is found in which Lawrence Franklin writes that he was planning to kill President Richards, due to her support of gun control laws. He claims that Jesse Helms knew of the conspiracy.

July 21, 2002: A news editorial rebuts the NRA by stating that ideology wasn't the issue. The main issue was that a dangerously mentally ill man was allowed to purchase a firearm without a background check.

July 25, 2002: The NRA's lobbyists block every attempt made by the House to pass gun control laws.

July 26, 2002: In a televised address, President Richards says she supports nearly universal background checks. She calls on those who oppose all gun control to look in to their hearts and minds and ask themselves "why? why do you oppose common sense legislation that will reduce deaths?" Richards says she still believes mental illness is huge factor in gun violence, but believes that a gun in the wrong hands can be easily prevented, but mental illness cannot.

July 26, 2002: WW3.com is released to cinemas. A sequel to 1998's Enemy of the State, the film has Will Smith reprise his role as Robert Dean, who now has to stop the government from implementing an online form of yellow journalism to justify war with an ultranationalist Russia.

August 1, 2002: After almost a month of silence, Jesse Helms releases a statement, claiming he had no knowledge of the attack beforehand.

August 6, 2002: Members in favor of universal background checks lead a massive defection from the NRA. The new organization is called the American Firearms Association or AFA. The organization's president, Wayne LaPierre, has stated that the defection was caused by the NRA's refusal to change it's policy following an attempted presidential and successful vice Presidential assassination.

August 9, 2002: President Ann Richards announces her choice to replace Bill Bradley: Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut.

August 12, 2002: Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) proposes the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, which would prohibit certain semi-automatic firearms defined as assault weapons.

August 13, 2002: Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) vows to "fight unconstitutional bills" at "whatever the cost."

August 20, 2002: Phone tapes are released, recording a call between Senator Helms and Lawrence Franklin. During the call, Helms is recorded saying, "Kill that fucker, but make sure I'm not pulled into this."

August 21, 2002: After a five-year break, Blind Melon releases their fourth album, titled For My Friends. Critics not the darker tone and feel of the album, especially with the lyrics alluding to Shannon Hoon's drug addiction and subsequent recovery.

August 22, 2002: Gary Zimmer, age 19, is executed by lethal injection at Florence ADX in Colorado.

August 30, 2002: The Oldsmobile 442, a rebadged Holden Monaro coupe, goes on sale.

September 1, 2002: It is found that Senator Helms funneled money towards Bill Bradley's assassin, and it begins to spread that this may have been a contracted kill.

September 4, 2002: Photos are leaked of Senator Helms and vice presidential assassin Lawrence Franklin embracing and chatting amicably. While the information about Helms funding Franklin is proven to be false, he still has considerable personal connections to the assassin. Testimony of one of Helms and Franklin's discussion imply that a comment that Helms made idly may have influenced the unstable man to assassinate Bradley. The overly-eager Democratic Senate staffer who falsified the information about Helms directly paying off Franklin resigns in disgrace amid a scandal. It's later revealed that he did it as an intentional attack against Helms because of a personal grudge against the man.

September 5, 2002: Jesse Helms holds a press conference during which he says that this "liberal smear campaign against my good name is despicable," but does admit that he had met with Mr. Franklin on several occasions but "didn't know the son-of-a-bitch was crazy." He also refuses to resign from the Senate.

September 6, 2002: Democrats begin proceedings to expel Senator Jesse Helms.

September 18, 2002: The Senate Ethics Committee recommends that Senator Jesse Helms (R-NC) be expelled for conspiracy to assassinate the President. The vote subsequently fails in the Senate, 56-42 with 2 senators absent, far short of the 67 votes needed to pass. While the vote itself fails, Senator Helms' reputation is permanently damaged as a result.

September 20, 2002: Chris Dodd is confirmed as Vice President by the Senate 49-1.

September 20, 2002: The TV show Firefly premieres on The WB. The show is a space western drama created by writer and director Joss Whedon under his Mutant Enemy Productions label. The show starred Jerry Doyle as Jayne Cobb, Jewel Staite as Kaylee Frye, Alan Tudyk as Hoban "Wash" Washburne, Gina Torres as Zoe Washburne, Ron Glass as Derrial Book, Summer Glau as River Tam, Sean Maher as Simon Tam, Nathan Fillion as Malcolm Reynolds, and Morena Baccarin as Inara Serra. Andreas Katsulas would play a recurring Alliance Captain who kept running into Serenity, Claudia Christian was repeatedly seen on monitors as Prime Minister Antonia Solia, and Derek Jacobi had a recurring role as an tragic underworld Leader trapped in his position.

The series starts with the action packed episode "The Train Job" which established the show's western feel and the cast of "rough diamond" characters. The WB audience lapped up Firefly and its quirky, very human characters; a huge letter/email postbag would soon arrive regarding the show and many would write how the female characters, especially River, where very influential on their lives. Many have credited the show with saving the WB Network from closure.

September 21, 2002: Donald Trump passes away from pancreatic cancer. He is laid to rest in an elaborate mausoleum after a characteristically elaborate funeral.

September 21, 2002: Zoe Schultz, age 17 from Pennsylvania, is crowned Miss America 2003.

September 24, 2002: Richards has a conversation with Interim Iranian Governor Colin Powell about the possibility of instituting a constitutional monarchy under the long deposed Qajar dynasty by referendum. Richards believes a ceremonial figurehead in Iran could please Shia conservatives and would boost national morale, as well as provide stability during a crisis in the elected government.

September 26, 2002: The day before the roll-call vote on the proposed Federal Assault Weapons Ban, Senator Feinstein withdraws the proposition. On the same day, however, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) proposes the Firearms Operation Safety Act, which would set guidelines on background checks in firearms purchases.

September 27, 2002: The American Firearms Association officially endorse the Firearms Operation Safety Act, as they have a strongly pro-background check agenda. The much-weakened NRA can only quietly voice opposition to the bill.

September 27, 2002: Ernest Joins the Circus is released to cinemas. Jim Varney reprises his role as Ernest P. Worrell, who has now joined the circus that came through his town and and caused mayhem both on and off the stage. The film is barely a financial success, and receives mixed to negative reviews from critics.

October 1, 2002: Bennett College is officially renamed Trump University after the school's deceased patron.

October 4, 2002: The trials of former Iranian government officials for crimes against humanity begins. The trials are televised live by CNN, millions watch.

October 5, 2002: President Richards meets with Mohammad Hassan Mirza II, the Qajar Claimant to the Throne of Iran. The two bond over living in Texas. Yes, Mirza, lives in Texas! Mirza says he would accept the throne if given to him. Pictures are soon leaked and when his identity is discovered, the media goes in to a frenzy.

October 5, 2002: Mobile Suit Gundam: Galactica premieres. The series takes place in the Interstellar Era universe and deviates from typical Gundam norm by taking place in an interstellar setting, hence the series name Galactica. The show follows 17-year-old Kira Yamato, a newtype among the Orion Frontier who is a member of the Orion Alliance, a resistance movement that wages war against the Centauri Empire. The show follows Kira as he fights against the Centauri, primarily against its ace pilot the "Crimson Knight" Charles Torino. The plot features Kira's battles in the Freedom Gundam as well as the emergence of Newtypes within the Interstellar Era. The show reaches a high amount of popularity that two sequels are announced at the end of the season with the fanbase soon growing large enough to rival the UC fans of Gundam. (Star Wars/Code Geass/Gundam)

October 8, 2002: The visibly saddened Donald Trump, Jr., officially announces the creation of a new cancer charity in memory of his recently-deceased father.

October 11, 2002: General Powell officially announces that a constitutional monarchy referendum will be held on December 1.

October 12, 2002: Anti-monarchy demonstrations break out in Tehran, Qom, and other cities throughout Iran.

October 14, 2002: Chris Dodd is confirmed by the Senate 52-48 as Vice President.

October 15, 2002: Much of the anti-monarchy sentiment is eased after the announcement that the Pahlavi family won't have anything to do with the country regardless of the referendum's outcome.

October 19-27, 2002: The Atlanta Braves defeat the Anaheim Angels 4 games to 3 to win the 2002 World Series.

October 20, 2002: The Los Angeles Galaxy defeat the Dallas Barons 3-1 to win the 2002 MLS Cup.

October 21, 2002: The 2002 Canadian federal election is held. The new United Alternative is swept into power due to its bombastic nationwide campaign tour that addressed growing fears over healthcare funding and the rising tax rates supported by the Martin ministry. Also notable is the electoral debut of the Green Party of Canada, who managed to eek out 3 seats in the House of Commons and 8.5% of the popular vote.

United Alternative (Peter MacKay) - 172 seats (+76) 34.9% PV
Liberal (Paul Martin) - 81 seats (-87) 27.4% PV
Bloc Québécois (Gilles Duceppe) - 35 seats (+8) 13.1% PV
New Democratic (Lorne Nystrom) - 10 seats (0) 12.0% PV
Green (Joan Russow) - 3 seats (+3) 8.5% PV

At the age of 37, Peter MacKay is the youngest Prime Minister in Canadian history.

October 21, 2002: The Firearm Operations Safety Act is passed through the House 230-208.

October 23, 2002: Tens of thousands of Iranian nationals and left-wing activists in London stage a protest outside the American embassy, among which included George Galloway and Jeremy Corbyn.

October 25, 2002: A man accidentally kills himself via grenade in Tehran. The brother of one of the critically injured protesters in Isfahan, it was believed he planned on assassinating Powell or someone else in the interim government.

October 29, 2002: Disney officially purchases Lucasfilm from DreamWorks. They agree to the deal in exchange for a considerable percentage of the profits of the sale of Star Wars and Indiana Jones merchandise. Soon afterwards, a plan is drawn up to revamp Tomorrowland in the various Disney parks with a much more Star Wars-inspired theme. There's even rumors of Disney making Star Wars and Indiana Jones animated television programs.

October 29, 2002: The Firearms Safety Operations Act passes the Senate, 50-49 (one abstain). Later that day, President Richards signs it into law in the Oval Office.

October 30, 2002: It is announced Iranian parliamentary elections for the Majlis will be held in 2004 as well as presidential elections, but this is just a general timetable and no solid date has been decided. In the meantime a new constitution will be passed.

November 2, 2002: Chris Dodd is confirmed by the House 239-199. He is sworn in as Vice President by the Chief Justice.

November 5, 2002: Democrats sweep the Senate and House elections. Democrats gain a 59-seat Senate Majority, and a 269-seat House Majority. President Richards has a strong mandate going into her last two years of the Presidency.

Senate results
Tom Daschle - Democratic: 59 (+4)
Bill Frist - Republican: 41 (-4)

100 seats
51 for majority

House results
Tom Foley - Democratic: 269 (+5) 51.3%
Bob Livingston - Republican: 165 (-5) 44.4%
Independents: 1

435 seats
218 for majority

November 5, 2002: Democrat Jane Harman is re-elected Governor of California over Republican Condoleezza Rice and Green Peter Camejo.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Keith Arnold is re-elected Governor of Florida over Republican Charlie Crist.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Roy Barnes is re-elected Governor of Georgia over Republican Sonny Perdue.

November 5, 2002: Republican Mike Ditka is elected Governor of Illinois over Democratic incumbent Roland Burris.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Mazie Hirono is elected Governor of Hawaii over Republican John Carroll.

November 5, 2002: Republican Mark Schweiker is re-elected Governor of Pennsylvania over Democrat Dwight Evans.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Brian Donnelly is re-elected Governor of Massachusetts over Republican Kerry Healey.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Martin Chavez is elected Governor of New Mexico over Republican Walter Bradley.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Dina Titus is re-elected Governor of Nevada over Republican Bruce Westcott.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Don Siegelman is re-elected Governor of Alabama over Republican Bob Riley.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Ed Garvey is re-elected Governor of Wisconsin over Republican Scott McCallum and Libertarian Ed Thompson.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Paul Johnson is re-elected Governor of Arizona over Republican Carol Springer and Independent Richard Mahoney.

November 5, 2002: Republican Tim Pawlenty is elected Governor of Minnesota over Democrat Roger Moe and Independent Tim Penny.

November 5, 2002: Republican Mark Sanford is elected Governor of South Carolina over Democrat Nick Theodore.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Richard Cordray is elected Governor of Ohio over Republican Rob Portman.

November 5, 2002: Republican Bob Schaffer is elected Governor of Colorado over Democrat Mark Udall.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Roy Cooper is elected as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina over Republican Pat McCrory.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Linda Lopez is elected as a U.S. Senator from New Mexico over Republican incumbent Pete Domenici. She's the first female Senator from New Mexico and the first Latina senator.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Leslie Byrne is elected as a U.S. Senator from Virginia over Republican incumbent John Warner. She's the first female Senator from Virginia.

November 5, 2002: Democrat John Kitzhaber is elected as a U.S. Senator from Oregon over Republican incumbent Gordon Smith.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Ron Kirk is narrowly elected as a U.S. Senator from Texas over Republican Bill Ratliff. He is the first African-American Senator from Texas.

November 5, 2002: Republican Peggy Wilson is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Louisiana over Democrat Raymond Brown.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Sylvia Larsen is elected as a U.S. Senator from New Hampshire over Republican incumbent Bob Smith. She is the first female U.S. Senator from New Hampshire.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Andrew Romanoff is elected as a U.S. Senator from Colorado over Republican incumbent Wayne Allard.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Martha Coakley is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts over Republican Charlie Baker.

November 5, 2002: Democrat Paul Wellstone is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Minnesota over Republican Norm Coleman.

November 5, 2002: Republican Barbara Cubin is elected as a U.S. Senator from Wyoming over Democrat Joyce Corcoran. She is the first female Senator from Wyoming.

November 5, 2002: Republican Todd Tiahrt is elected U.S. Senator from Kansas over Democrat Kathleen Sebelius.

November 5, 2002: Republican Mark Sanford is elected as a U.S. Senator from South Carolina over Democrat Liz Patterson.

November 5, 2002 & 2003: After the narrow 2002 elections (Republican candidates had won an overall majority of votes in both Senate and HoR races, but Democrats maintained a majority in both after the same 1991 districting was kept in force by a panel of judges), Texas Democrats work hard through the 2003 session to force through new redistricting plans to further combat Republican advances. Republicans fiercely oppose, and two special sessions are called by Governor Edwards to ensure the legislation is passed.

November 8, 2002: A car bomb is detonated in Shiraz, killing two policemen, and wounding more than a dozen civilians.

November 12, 2002: Donkey Kong Racing is released for the Nintendo Dolphin. Developed as a sequel to Diddy Kong Racing by Rareware, the game features the entire Kong family racing each other on elephants, birds, and other jungle animals. Critics especially praised this aspect of the game, saying it differentiated it from many other racing games on the market.

November 16, 2002: Mobile Suit Gundam: Galactica appears on Toonami. The show's regular circulation on Cartoon Network's program helps to develop a large Gundam fanbase in the United States.

December 1, 2002: By a vote of 56% for to 44% against, the Iranian people vote to reinstate the Qajar monarchy. In his coronation speech in Tehran, Mohammad Hassan Mirza II promises not to repeat the mistakes of past Iranian monarchs.

December 3, 2002: The new constitution of Iran is ratified in Tehran. The interim government is dissolved, and Powell flies back to Washington. However, there is still no timetable as to the withdrawal of U.S. troops.

December 6, 2002: Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers is released to cinemas. This continuation of J.R.R. Tolkien's epic receives critical acclaim and is nominated for six Oscars, winning two.

December 11, 2002: South Park airs the episode "Red Sleigh Down," in which Cartman tries to help Santa Claus bring the magic of Christmas to the war-torn country of Iran.

December 13, 2002: Star Trek: Nemesis, the tenth movie of the franchise, and the fourth feature film that featured the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation, is released to critical acclaim. Most critics say it is the last film to feature the Next Generation cast together on the big screen, and better than Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

December 22, 2002: Donald Trump is posthumously named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2002, for creating the Upwards Project and restoring Bennett College in his final days.

December 31, 2002: The Clash frontman Joe Strummer has life-saving heart transplant surgery after suffering a heart defect.

January 1, 2003: The economy remains sluggish. The unemployment rate has ticked up to 6.4%. Wall Street braces for an oil glut from newly democratic Iran.

January 3, 2003: President Richards announce that a quarter of U.S. troops in Iran will be home by June 1, and another quarter by November 1. The rest will be out by July 2004.

January 6, 2003: Prince Edward’s engagement to Melanie Howard was announced by Government House and The Palace. Much is said about her ‘common’ origins, but ordinary Australians are pleased to be getting "their Prince."

January 8, 2003: The Dave Chappelle Show, a black humor show that frequently satirizes racism, premieres on Comedy Central. The character Clayton Bigsby helps bring the show to the national spotlight.

January 12, 2003: Former Beatle George Harrison announces that he is officially cancer-free.

January 14, 2003: The USC Trojans defeat the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 41-7 to win the newly re-branded 2002-03 NCAA Football Championship.

January 19, 2003: The New Muppet Show premieres on the Disney Channel. The show is billed as "The Muppets for a new millennium."

January 26, 2003: The New Orleans Saints defeat the Indianapolis Colts 20-19 to win Super Bowl XXXVII.

January 26, 2003: Craig Ferguson Live! debuts on ABC immediately following the network's coverage of Super Bowl XXXVII. Ferguson's first guests on the show are Who Wants to be a Millionaire? host Regis Philbin and U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN).

February 2, 2003: Ohio Senator John Kasich announces he is running for President in the 2004 Republican primaries. "We need change in this country. We have been failed by Ann Richards and by Washington, D.C. They have left us with debt, division, and recession. We need a new, more conservative direction in this country. We need a President who will work across the aisle, work for the best in us, and bring America together. I believe I have what it takes to lead the country in a new direction, and I believe I can be a conservative President for this great nation. And so, I am putting my hat in the ring. I'm running for President."

February 3, 2003: NASA Administrator Donald Rumsfeld unveils preliminary sketches of a new Space Shuttle that is capable of leaving Earth's orbit.

February 10, 2003: After years of careful management of their relationship, Clarence House announces the engagement of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles, generating a huge amount of coverage in the media. U.K. polls overall support the marriage.

February 10, 2003: The video game Command and Conquer: Generals is released. The story tells about a global conflict between the United States, Russia, and the so-called "Middle Eastern Union."

February 11, 2003: President Richards makes history when she voices herself on an episode of the animated comedy King of the Hill. In it, Hank accidentally moons the President and freaks out about going to jail. "You can't sell propane if you're a convicted felon, Peggy!"

February 27, 2003: Former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khomeini is sentenced to life in prison for crimes again humanity.

February 27, 2003: Democrat Merrick Alpert defeats Republican Tom Foley in the special election to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Vice President Chris Dodd.

March 3, 2003: U.S. Senator John Breaux (D-LA) announces that he will be retiring from the Senate after his current term and will not be seeking re-election in 2004.

March 4, 2003: The Iranian reformists win a majority of seats in the Council of Representatives and the Senate. Ebrahim Yazdi is elected Prime Minister.

March 7, 2003: President Richards proposes tax cuts for the middle class and small businesses.

March 9, 2003: Arizona Senator John McCain announces he is running for President. "We need new leadership in Washington. We need a maverick to bring change to DC and to America, and to restore our prosperity. That's why I'm running for President. Together, we can lead America in a new direction."

March 10, 2003: House Speaker Dick Gephardt launches his presidential run. "We have made much progress since Ann Richards took office on January 20, 1997. I stood with her, and fought for a progressive direction for this country. Let's defend and build on her great legacy. We need to build on the progress we have made, and make more progress. With my experience, I am the one who can do that. So I am running to be the next President of the United States."

March 11, 2003: Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone enters the race for President, surprisingly being the third entrant in 3 days. Wellstone declares "We have made progress since 1996. But we need to do more. We need to fix Washington, D.C., get money out of politics, safeguard our entitlements for future generations, make our tax system fairer, and we need to fix our trade policies to create jobs here at home, not in Mexico and China. We need peace at home and abroad. I will deliver a more progressive direction for this country. That is why I am running for President. Please, come join me on this journey."

March 11, 2003: U.S. Senator Al D'Amato (R-NY) announces that he will not be seeking re-election in 2004.

March 12, 2003: The World Health Organization issues a global alert for H1N1.

March 18, 2003: Disney announces plans for the Big Apple Crimestoppers dark ride at the Disney-MGM Studios.

March 20, 2003: Disney Interactive and Origins Systems, Inc., launch Harry Potter Online, an MMORPG based on the book series by J.K. Rowling and movies by Walt Disney Pictures. Players start out by creating a character and having the Sorting Hat assign them a house, then going around Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and Diagon Alley to complete quests and increase their experience levels. The game goes on to become the second most successful MMORPG of all time, behind only World of Warcraft.

March 21, 2003: Senator Al Gore (D-TN) announces that he is running for President: "My progressive record, and my support for President Richards, is beyond question. I want to expand on the current policies which have brought transparency, peace, and prosperity."

March 22, 2003: Prince's Charities is founded; it is a group of nonprofit organizations who have a connection to Prince Charles including the Prince's Trust, and The Prince's Foundation for the Arts. The Prince of Wales personally cuts the ribbon on the new offices.

March 23, 2003: At the 75th Academy Awards, The Color of Love wins Best Picture.

March 27, 2003: President Richards leaves for London on her European tour.

March 28, 2003: President Richards, on her way from Heathrow to Buckingham Palace, is greeted by anti-American protesters. A rumor spreads that Richards gave the finger to protesters, even though it would be impossible to tell due to the blacked-out windows on her limo.

March 31, 2003: President Richards visits France.

April 1, 2003: Austin-based Rooster Teeth Productions debuts its web series Red vs. Blue, filmed in the popular Atari Panther release of the previous year's Halo: Combat Evolved. Despite contemporary controversy surrounding Halo and other first-person shooter games in light of recent mass shootings, it becomes a cult classic.

April 2, 2003: Ohio Senator John Kasich hits the campaign trail in New Hampshire. He declares "The establishment has failed us." Kasich promises to balance the budget, saying "Unlike many others on both sides of the aisle, I have consistently advocated fiscal responsibility. With new conservative policies, we can balance the budget and fix our economy."

April 2, 2003: Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) has announced his candidacy for the Presidency: "President Richards has infringed on the Constitutional right to bear arms, all the while doubling the deficit. She has failed the American people, and it's time they had someone with a bit of appreciation for the voters."

April 3, 2003: John McCain makes a speech in Santa Barbara, California, pledging to lead fight for campaign finance reform, fiscal responsibility, and to stop the "unwise" Iran withdrawal plan.

April 4, 2003: Prime Minister Yazdi survives an assassination attempt, when a group of six attempted to ambush his motorcade. All but one of them were gunned down, while the P.M. and his wife left unscathed.

April 5, 2003: An insurgent group calling itself the "Second Revolutionary Guard" claimed responsibility for the attack.

April 8, 2003: Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles have a civil marriage at Windsor Guildhall, followed by a televised Anglican blessing by the Archbishop of Canterbury at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. The Queen and Prince Phillip only attend the blessing to avoid conflict with the Queen’s role as head of the Church of England. Camilla will now be known as Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall.

April 9, 2003: South Park airs the episode "Wizard Orgies," in which Kyle discovers numerous subliminal messages hidden throughout the newly released Harry Potter Online.

April 10, 2003: A terrorist bombing is conducted against the Iranian embassy in Lima, causing several injuries. The Second Revolutionary Guard claims responsibility.

April 11, 2003: President Richards visits Bergen-Belsen concentration camp with Chancellor Edmund Stoiber and a few survivors. One woman was a friend of Anne Frank. Richards says, "For the good of mankind, we must never forget the millions of Jews who lost their lives. We must teach the next generations about the tragedies that occurred during the Holocaust." President Richards later calls her visit to Bergen-Belsen the most humbling experience of her life.

April 11, 2003: German police arrest thirteen individuals in Cologne, suspecting them of connections to the bombing in Peru.

April 12, 2003: U.S. special forces conduct a raid against a "religious school" outside Shiraz, confiscating arms, explosive devices, as well as prohibited reading material.

April 12, 2003: The Hungarian people vote 50.8% against joining the European Union.

April 13, 2003: President Richards releases a statement, promising to continue the withdrawal as planned.

April 15, 2003: Anthrax and Ricin are sent by mail to the five major US television networks: ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, and NBC. The White House says the Department of Civil Defense (DCD) is investigating the incidents.

April 15, 2003: John McCain (R-AZ) proposes an alternative Iran withdrawal timetable, which included returning home those who have been on tour since the beginning of the invasion by June of 2003, while deploying 1,500-2,000 Marine and Army Reservists to supplement remaining forces.

April 17, 2003: President Richards visits Poland.

April 18, 2003: The Department of Civil Defense releases information on the Anthrax/Ricin attacks. It is not believed to be an act by a terrorist organization. Not yet known to the public is that the incident was most likely likely perpetrated by someone working for the government.

April 20, 2003: Dick Cheney suffers a fatal heart attack at the age of 62. It is the fourth heart attack that he had suffered since the first one in 1978. The former Secretary of Defense is to be buried in a cemetery in his hometown of Caspar, Wyoming.

April 20, 2003: President Richards returns to Washington after a nearly month-long visit to Europe.

April 20, 2003: Construction begins on Disneyland Sydney in Australia. It's estimated that construction will take approximately four years to complete.

April 23, 2003: Presidential candidate Jim Inhofe (R-OK) calls for the privatization of the U.S. Postal Service, following the Anthrax/Ricin attacks. Critics call it a "fourth rail issue."

April 24, 2003: X-Men 2 is released to theatres to great acclaim. The film features the X-Men and the Brotherhood of Mutants reluctantly teaming up to stop the evil fundamentalist Purifiers secretly lead by the mad televangelist Reverend Stryker. Praise is showered upon the performance of Gary Busey as the intolerant Reverend Stryker, as he gives the character a dark charisma that made him stand out. The highlight of the film is an insane rant that the X-Men trick Stryker to make on air, thus destroying his carefully crafted public image and exposing his link to the Purifier terrorist group. Efforts are made to contrast the hateful Reverend Stryker with Nightcrawler's loving adoptive parents.

April 25, 2003: Four die of injuries sustained from the Anthrax/Ricin attacks.

April 26, 2003: Senator Joe Lieberman (D-CT) announces his candidacy for the Presidency: "I am a firm supporter of President Richards, but I am also a sensible Democrat. I will bring Republicans and Independents into our fold, and make America united."

April 27, 2003: Several strange messages appear during television breaks on the Fox network. The messages read: Gur Fvzcfbaf Ner Onpx Frcgrzore 23eq ,TSs kpb2h iposAeBc etme 3demnraSerr, and Wkh Vlpsvrqv Duh Edfn Vhswhpehu 23ug. Fox says it is completely unrelated to the Anthrax/Ricin attacks and that nothing is wrong.

April 28, 2003: Governor Howard Dean (D-VT) announces his candidacy for the Presidency: "I like President Richards' policies, I really do. But we can always do better. We need to see that all Americans can have adequate healthcare, see that all American troops are withdrawn from the now democratic and self sufficient Iran, and keep assault weapons out of the hands of potential criminals."

May 3, 2003: President Richards proposes several updates to the Amtrak system. She calls for a complete overhaul and inspection of all rail bridges built more than 50 years ago, high-speed rail in the Northeast capable of reaching 200 mph by 2018, as well as greater funding.

May 5, 2003: Massachusetts Senator John Kerry announces a run for the presidency. "With a record of foreign policy experience, and as a dedicated progressive who can reach across the aisle to all Americans, I have what it takes to lead our country and make America stronger and greater still."

May 7, 2003: Governor Donald DiFrancesco (R) of New Jersey announces a multi-year initiative to revitalize Atlantic City.

May 9, 2003: The Discovery Channel starts airing its first animated show called The 60s Shark, following a 10-year-old girl name Kat and her pet shark Kenny in the late 1960s. TV critics note the mix of kids' and adult humor in the show.

May 10-11, 2003: The Lithuanian people vote 86.3% in favor of joining the European Union.

May 16, 2003: Nosebleed is released to cinemas. Directed by Brett Ratner, the film stars Jackie Chan as a window washer who has to foil a terrorist plot at the World Trade Center.

May 16, 2003: Lindsay McKay, age 20 from Scotland, is crowned Miss Universe 2003.

May 17, 2003: Liverpool defeats Swansea City 1-0 to win the 2003 FA Cup.
 
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May 23, 2003: The Amtrak Modernization Act is introduced by Representative Rob Andrews (D-NJ) in the U.S. House.

May 26, 2003:
The Ryan Seacrest Show debuts on FOX. A modern take on the classic variety shows of the 50s and 60s, the show quickly becomes a FOX staple for years to come.

May 27, 2003:
Safety upgrades to the World Trade Center are unveiled. Safety measures include enhanced evacuation procedures, fluorescent paint in the stairwells, and a new concrete reinforced sprinkler system.

May 27-June 9, 2003:
The Colorado Avalanche defeat the Hartford Whalers 4 games to 3 to win the 2003 Stanley Cup.

May 28, 2003:
The second half of Disney's Pop Century Resort opens at Walt Disney World. The "Legendary Years" half features sections dedicated to decades ranging from the 1900s to the 1940s.

May 30, 2003:
The AMA passes the U.S. House of Representatives by 290 to 143 votes.

May 30, 2003:
Pixar and Disney release Finding Nemo to cinemas. The film focuses on Marlin the clownfish (voiced by Albert Brooks) having to search for his lost son Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould) with the help of Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), a blue tang with short-term memory loss. Released to universal acclaim, the film makes over $900 million at the box office, making it the second highest grossing film of 2003, behind only The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King.

June 3, 2003:
Interplay releases Fallout 3, the third installment in their successful post-apocalyptic RPG franchise. The game features the story of a prisoner who explores the post-apocalyptic American West and has the choice to either save or harm those he comes across in his travels. While the game is massively successful it's not enough to save Interplay from bankruptcy. The rights to the Fallout franchise are eventually sold to Atari.

June 4-13, 2003:
The Indiana Pacers defeat the Sacramento Kings 4 games to 1 to win the 2003 NBA Finals.

June 7-8, 2003:
The Polish people vote 52.5% against joining the European Union.

June 8, 2003:
Senator Lincoln Chafee (R) of Rhode Island announces his candidacy for President of the United States.

June 8, 2003:
Russia announces the formation of the Eurasian Defense Organization, a NATO-like organization.

June 8, 2003:
A Confederacy of Dunces, based on the John Kennedy Toole book of the same name, is released into theaters, with Chris Farley playing Ignatius J. Riley.

June 13, 2003:
The AMA passes the U.S. Senate by 65 to 35 votes.

June 13, 2003:
Michael Richards airs his last episode as host of Family Feud.

June 17, 2003:
NASA Director Donald Rumsfeld announces that the current Space Shuttle will be phased out by 2010. He also re-clarifies his statements on the New Space Shuttle, stating it will not be capable of leaving Earth's orbit. A separate spacecraft program will see humans back on the moon. He also gives an update on the soon to be launched Mars rovers, Liberty and Justice.

June 19, 2003:
Prince Edward marries Melanie Howard at a service at St. Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne, Australia. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, are in attendance. Prince Edward becomes Duke of Victoria, and made a Knight of the Order of Australia. Melanie Howard becomes Melanie, Duchess of Victoria.

June 19, 2003:
Former Governor Gary Johnson (R-NM) announces he will be running in the 2004 election.

June 26, 2003:
The Supreme Court rules that anti-sodomy laws are unconstitutional.

July 2, 2003:
The International Olympic Committee selects Salzburg, Austria, to host the 2010 Winter Olympics.

July 4, 2003:
The first episode of Star Wars: The Animated Series premieres on the Disney Channel. It stars the vocal talents of Tara Strong as Princess Leia, Troy Baker as Luke Skywalker, and David Kaye as Han Solo. The show takes place shortly after the second Death Star was destroyed and the main heroes attempt to defend the new republic from the remnants of the Empire. The series becomes well-known for incorporating elements of Expanded Universe material in its episodes. The main antagonist of the series is Grand Admiral Thrawn, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch.

July 4, 2003:
President Richards is absent from all July 4th celebrations.

July 5, 2003:
Hard Rock International announces plans for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, scheduled to be completed in 2007.

July 20, 2003:
Gawker founder Nick Denton is killed in a crash with a drunk driver. Gawker Media is left scrambling for someone to replace him as the company's publisher.

July 20, 2003:
Dale Earnhardt, Sr., announces he is retiring from professional auto racing.

July 25, 2003:
The Iranian government officially begin plans for changing the national flag, as most think that the image of the current flag too poisoned by the Pahlavi regime and the Ayatollahs.

July 29, 2003:
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee announces a run for the presidency.

August 1-3, 2003: More than 200,000 people over three days file past the Queen Mother’s coffin lying in state in Westminster Hall at the Palace of Westminster. Members of all branches of the armed forces stand guard at the four corners of the catafalque.

August 1, 2003: Disney announces plans for the Expedition: Everest roller coaster at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

August 1, 2003: The animated TV show My Life as a Teenage Robot premieres on Nickelodeon. The show focuses on Jenny (XJ-9), a robot with the personality of a teenage girl, who was created by her mother Dr. Nora Wakeman in the Ohio suburbs in the year 2051. The show is praised for its unique retro 1950s style, with some comparing it to The Jetsons.

August 2, 2003: Former Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore jumps into the presidential race.

August 3, 2003: The night before the funeral of the Queen Mother, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Duke of Victoria stand the Vigil of the Princes, taking the four corners of the catafalque as had been done for King George V. Excepting Edward, all are in full military uniform. The Princes stand for 40 minutes before being relieved by the Yeoman of the Guard.

August 4, 2003: Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother’s funeral takes place. A huge mostly silent crowd watch the procession from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey. Several members of the Royal Family followed the procession. A one point caught on camera, a protester started to unfurl a banner only for Prince Phillip to glare at him, and he put it way, and was pushed to the back of the crowd. The Queen Mother is interred next to her husband King George VI in the George VI Memorial Chapel.

August 5, 2003: The U.K. tabloid The Daily Mail is critical of the fashions worn by Melanie, Duchess of Victoria during the Queen Mother’s funeral, wondering if she is "right" for an English prince. The paper is flooded with a storm of protest from Australians. At one point, the Mail Online website is taken down for 20 minutes, replaced with the Australian flag and a loop of Advance Australia Fair. Edward and Melanie are said to be "highly amused."

August 5, 2003: Stanley Gold succeeds Michael Eisner as C.E.O. of the Walt Disney Company.

August 7, 2003: Pope John Paul II dies at the age of 83.

August 13, 2003: Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini of Milan is elected the new Pope. He takes the name Leo XIV.

August 14, 2003: New York Governor George Pataki announces he is running for the 2004 Republican nomination for President of the United States.

August 15, 2003: The long-awaited film Freddy vs. Jason finally makes its cinematic debut. The film is centered around the conflict between Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees for the souls of the children of Springwood. The film ends with both Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees in Hell, where they meet Pinhead. Pinhead's line, "Gentlemen, what seems to be the problem?" is the last line of the film.

August 16, 2003: After years of delays and negotiations, the Titanic II is completed.

August 22, 2003: Former Massachusetts Governor William Weld announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination.

August 22, 2003: MLB star Barry Bonds passes a drug test after rumors of him doing steroids gain traction in the media.

August 29, 2003: The Brave Dinosaur, the 40th Disney animated feature film, is released to cinemas. Featuring John Lithgow as the voice of Kron and Neil Patrick Harris as the voice of his son Arlo, the film is praised by paleontologists for its accurate portrayal of the Cretaceous period immediately before the asteroid hit.

September 1, 2003: A chartered business jet ferrying Metallica from Los Angeles to Honolulu crashes just 25 seconds after takeoff at Van Nuys Airport. James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich are both killed, while Kirk Hammett is left paraplegic. The NTSB report, released one year later, determines that the pilots failed to set the flaps and slats to the takeoff position, causing the plane to stall shortly after lifting off from the runway.

September 1, 2003: A poll by The Australian shows Prince Edward’s approval rating among Australians at 63%. His easy going manner seems to gel with Australians. PM Kim Beazley is known to disapprove of Edward in private.

September 1, 2003: Comedian Wayne Brady airs his first episode as host of Family Feud.

September 2, 2003: Mario Kickoff Football is released for the Nintendo Dolphin in the United States. Developed by Retro Studios using its new motion capture technology, the game features characters from both Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. franchise and real-life NFL players hitting the gridiron for 128-bit American football action. While the game is praised for its innovative graphics, it also receives criticism for its bizarre concept of mixing the real-life NFL and the fantasy Mushroom Kingdom.

September 4, 2003: Despite having made and launched Fallout 3 in June, Interplay is forced to file for bankruptcy.

September 5, 2003: A Democratic presidential debate is hosted by NBC at the WOOD television station in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A public opinion poll released later showed that 48% of viewers believed Al Gore "was the most proficient on most or all issues."

September 7, 2003: In a routine press conference, Vice President Dodd says, "I'm not sure whether or not we will be able to achieve the withdrawal plan... if current circumstances persist." His approval rating sunk two points after that gaffe.

September 7, 2003: The Texas Legislature passes an act enabling the formation of a new high-speed rail company in Texas, the last attempt having failed in 1991. The Texas Express Railway Company (TEXPRESS) is formed soon after, proposing a route between Dallas and Houston.

September 8, 2003: Senator Biden defends V.P. Dodd's statement, saying, "Hey, you know, we all want this war to end, but, we got to be realistic. I mean, I was told during a hearing that the Iranian P.M., he survived some 32 assassination attempts since he was sworn into office. There was the bombing in Peru. I mean, what can we do?"

September 8, 2003: U.S. Senator Lauch Faircloth (R-NC) announces that he will not be running for a second term in 2004.

September 9, 2003: Governor Dean denounces both Dodd and Biden, saying "They want to prolong the war as much as possible! I, I won't! If President Richards sticks to the withdrawal plan, I'll make sure we won't go back there!"

September 9, 2003: Atari acquires Interplay's Star Trek gaming licence. Atari also officially buys out all the IP for everything Black Isle Studios has ever made, including Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Torn, and Lionheart.

September 10, 2003: The first Republican presidential debate is scheduled at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for September 26.

September 11, 2003: John McCain meets with the Iranian ambassador Zahra Rahnavard, telling her, "We will never abandon the Iranian people."

September 12, 2003: Team America: World Police is released to cinemas. Directed by South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the satirical puppet movie tells the story of an elite fighting force sent by President Ann Richards to track down the fugitive Ayatollah.

September 14, 2003: The Estonian people vote 55.4% in favor of joining the European Union.

September 20, 2003: Rachael Conti, age 23 from Rhode Island, is crowned Miss America 2004.

September 20, 2003: The Latvian people vote 78.8% in favor of joining the European Union.

September 21, 2003: Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL) announces he will run for the Republican nomination.

September 22, 2003: Two and a Half Men debuts on CBS. The show follows hedonistic jingle writer Charlie Harper (played by Charlie Sheen), his uptight brother Alan (played by David Schwimmer), and Alan's son Jack (played by Angus T. Jones) as they try to deal with each other's lives in Malibu, California.

September 23, 2003: Season 10 of The Simpsons premieres. Since it has been 5 years since the last episode, all the characters have aged five years. The episode explains what's happened. Lisa is in middle school and Bart's in high school, and the Flanders moved and were replaced by Apu and his family. The new season surprises everyone since the only advertising was a whisper campaign. The advertising plan goes down in history as one the greatest since the second episode was watched in record numbers.

September 25, 2003: Six Flags purchases Warner Bros. Movie World in Oxenford, Queensland, Australia, and rebrands it as Six Flags Down Under. It becomes the first Six Flags park in the Southern Hemisphere.

September 26, 2003: The Nightmare of Edgar Allan Poe is released to cinemas. Directed by William Malone and starring Michael Jackson as the titular author, the film is both a critical and commercial failure. Many critics attribute the film's failure to its marketing, which falsely made it out to be a light-hearted family film when it was actually a dark and creepy drama.

September 27, 2003: An low-ranking official from Halliburton claims that thousands of documents were falsified to make it look like they had more money they actually did. The anonymous employee, L, also claims that Dick Cheney knew about the falsification. Questions also are raised about Halliburton's role in the Iran War after sources find that Iranian PM Ebrahim Yazdi received thousands of dollars from them.

September 29, 2003: The Department of Justice says it will investigate the growing Halliburton Scandal.

October 2, 2003: At a press conference, a shoe is thrown at Halliburton CEO David J. Lesar. He does not suffer any major injury.

October 3, 2003: The reality show Trump first airs. The show documents the lives of the Trump children, but Trump's widow Marla Maples and Ivana Trump make appearances as well.

October 3, 2003: Mobile Suit Gundam Galactica: Stardust Crusade premieres. The show is the second season of the Galactica trilogy and returns to the Orion Alliance after the events of the first season as they start to push back the Centauri across the galaxy. The season finale leaves many in shock, as not only is the Freedom Gundam destroyed, but Kira is revealed to be the son of the Centauri Emperor. The finale is also well remembered for Charles Torino defecting to the side of the Orion Alliance after being betrayed by the Imperial family.

October 7, 2003: The Department of Justice files fraud charges against Halliburton.

October 9, 2003: MGM Mirage announces plans for the MGM Grand Atlantic City, scheduled to be completed in 2008.

October 9, 2003: Christine Fields, a saleswoman from Tampa, Florida, becomes the third million-dollar winner on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.

October 9, 2003: Cadillac introduces a Cien convertible to be sold alongside the coupe for the 2004 model year.

October 10, 2003:
An audit of Halliburton begins. Dick Cheney's widow Lynne Cheney calls the investigation "a vast left-wing conspiracy."

October 10, 2003: Kill Bill, directed by Quentin Tarantino, is released to cinemas. Just under three hours, the film features Beatrix "The Bride" Kiddo (played by Uma Thurman), a former assassin seeking revenge on both the mercenaries who massacred her wedding party and Bill himself (played by Kiefer Sutherland), who called the wedding off shortly after.

October 12, 2003: Paramount officially announces that an official Star Trek theme park will begin construction within the month. The company has already purchased land near San Francisco to construct the park. The site was chosen due to the fact that Starfleet Headquarters being located in San Francisco. A location near the Iowa town of Riverside is earmarked for a potential future park.

October 14, 2003: Russia is selected to host the 2008 Euro Football Championship.

October 15, 2003: Presidential candidate John Kasich (R-OH) calls the Halliburton Scandal "disgusting."

October 18-24, 2003: For the first time in 95 years, the Chicago Cubs defeat the Texas Rangers 4 games to 2 to win the 2003 World Series.

October 19, 2003: The Miami Fusion defeat the Houston Dynamo 1-0 to win the 2003 MLS Cup.

October 20, 2003: Ground is officially broken for the construction of the Star Trek theme park. The official name of the park is to remain a secret until the park is finished.

October 22, 2003: A suicide bomber kills 30 at a flea market in Shiraz, Iran.

October 23, 2003: Chrysler introduces the ME Four-Twelve to compete with the Cien.

October 25, 2003: Atari negotiates new contracts with all the staff of Wizards of the Coast and Paramount. The company also hires on a lot of new staff. Black Isle Studios are to be Atari's RPG arm. Star Trek: Secret of Vulcan Fury and Torn are to be resurrected and brought up to date. Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel will be given more polish, and a possible PC port, but first out of the door will be a sequel to an old favorite.

October 29, 2003: The Department of Justice issues warrants for the arrest of dozens of Halliburton employees.

November 1, 2003: A Halliburton employee turns over a considerable amount of evidence that he and a few other employees rescued from the attempted purge of the company's records in exchange for amnesty. Halliburton's attempted cover-up of any crimes committed in itself serves to put the company in hot water.

November 4, 2003: Republican Ron Lewis is elected Governor of Kentucky over Democrat Gilbert Fountain.

November 4, 2003: Democrat Gene Taylor is elected Governor of Mississippi over Republican incumbent Eddie Briggs.

November 4, 2003: The Fast and the Furious is released for the Atari Panther and the Nintendo Dolphin. Based on the hit 2001 movie of the same name, the game is unique in the sense that during the in-game daytime, the story focuses on average everyday life events, with the Grand Theft Auto-style action and street races coming at night.

November 15, 2003: Democrat Mitch Landrieu is elected Governor of Louisiana over Republican Jay Blossman.

November 20, 2003: Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing is released for Microsoft Windows. The game tells the story of a smuggling ring that uses tractor-trailer races as a front for their activities. The main character is Lucas DeWitt, a trucker who joins the ring to get money to treat his daughter's leukemia. The objective of the game is to deliver your cargo to its destination ahead of the other players while avoiding the police. The game receives high marks from reviewers for its gameplay, though some criticize the cliche story and characters.

December 17, 2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is released to cinemas. This conclusion to J.R.R. Tolkien's epic is regarded by most as the greatest movie of the year, winning all 11 Oscars for which it was nominated.

December 19, 2003: Baldur's Gate III: The Black Hound is released for the 2003 Christmas season.

December 22, 2003: Halliburton C.E.O. David J. Lesar is named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2003.

December 31, 2003: On Dick Clark's Rockin' New Year's Eve, the three remaining Beatles reunite for a surprise appearance and play the whole Sergeant Pepper album, "Get Back," and "Let It Be." The performance starts after Justin Timberlake of NSYNC shouts, "Ladies and gentlemen, the Beatles!!!"

January 1, 2004: President Richards' approval rating is at 56%. Unemployment ticks down to 6%. The stock market is a bit iffy due to the continuing postwar turmoil in Iran and the Halliburton scandal.

January 5, 2004: Alan Keyes announces his candidacy for President.

January 8, 2004: The Apprentice premieres on NBC. Hosted by Oprah Winfrey, the game show judges the business skills of contestants by having them compete in various team tasks. The show becomes known for Winfrey's catchphrase "I'm sorry, but you're fired!"

January 8, 2004: In a surprising move, U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) announces that he will not be seeking re-election to a third term in the Senate. He had been widely expected to be re-elected by an overwhelming margin in November and his retirement puts his seat into play for Republicans.

January 11, 2004: Newt Gingrich announces his candidacy for President.

January 11, 2004: Governor Donald DiFrancesco (R) of New Jersey announces a plans for a major renovation of Atlantic City International Airport. Also announced was a "South Jersey Coast" line for NJ Transit, running between Bay Head and Cape May. When complete, the renovations will make the airport, and Atlantic City as a whole, a main transportation hub for South Jersey.

January 11, 2004: Drake & Josh premieres on Nickelodeon. The show follows bickering teenagers Drake (played by Drake Bell) and Josh (played by Josh Peck) as they become stepbrothers and try to deal with their new relationship after Drake's mother (played by Nancy Sullivan) marries Josh's dad (played by Chris Farley).

January 13, 2004: The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defeat the Army Black Knights 36-3 to win the 2003-04 NCAA Football Championship.

January 14, 2004: A non-binding Democratic primary is held in Washington, DC. The results are as follows: Dean, 47%; Gore, 29%; Wellstone, 18%; Gephardt, 6%

January 15, 2004: Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) announces that he is running for President of the United States.

January 16, 2004: King Fahd of Saudi Arabia is assassinated by a radical Islamist opposing the Royal Family in Riyadh.

January 19, 2004:
Republican Iowa (caucus): Huckabee, 36% (12 delegates); Kasich, 24% (8 delegates); Bush, 23% (8 delegates); McCain, 14% (4 delegates)

January 19, 2004: Democratic Iowa (caucus): Gephardt, 35% (16 delegates); Dean, 30% (14 delegates); Biden, 27% (12 delegates); Gore, 8% (3 delegates)

January 20, 2004: Gephardt claims momentum from Iowa win. Dean vows to go onto win New Hampshire, where he currently holds the lead (though post-Iowa polls are yet to come in).

January 20, 2004: Jim Inhofe drops out of the race after a poor showing in Iowa. He endorses Mike Huckabee.

January 23, 2004: Disney announces plans for the Enchanted Snow Palace ride in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom.

January 25, 2004: The Los Angeles Raiders defeat the Green Bay Packers 14-9 to win Super Bowl XXXVIII.

January 27, 2004: Republican New Hampshire (primary): Kasich, 29% (8 delegates); Bush, 26% (7 delegates); Weld, 20% (6 delegates); McCain, 14% (4 delegates); Huckabee, 11% (4 delegates)

January 27, 2004: Democratic New Hampshire (primary): Dean, 42% (9 delegates); Gore, 33% (7 delegates); Gephardt, 12% (3 delegates); Biden, 8% (3 delegates); Lieberman, 4%; Wellstone, 1%

January 28, 2004: John Kerry announces that he is dropping out of the race, after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary. He endorses Al Gore.

January 28, 2004: John McCain announces that he is suspending his campaign. He endorses John Kasich.

February 3, 2004: Mini Tuesday for the Democrats:

Arizona (primary): Gore, 43% (24 delegates); Gephardt, 20% (11 delegates); Biden, 19% (10 delegates); Bayh, 18% (10 delegates)
Delaware (primary): Biden, 65% (14 delegates); Dodds, 16%; Gore, 9%; Lieberman, 8%
Missouri (primary): Gephardt, 56% (41 delegates); Gore, 38% (28 delegates); Bayh, 5% (5 delegates); Biden, 1%
New Mexico (caucus): Dean, 37% (10 delegates); Dodds, 28% (7 delegates); Gore, 21% (6 delegates); Gephardt, 9% (2 delegates); Biden, 5% (1 delegate)
North Dakota (caucus): Dean, 42% (9 delegates); Wellstone, 22% (3 delegates); Gore, 17% (2 delegates); Dodds, 15%; Biden, 4%; Gephardt, 1%
Oklahoma (primary): Gore, 47% (19 delegates); Biden, 27% (11 delegates); Gephardt, 20% (8 delegates); Bayh, 16% (2 delegates)
South Carolina (primary): Biden, 46% (21 delegates); Gore, 32% (14 delegates); Gephardt, 22% (10 delegates)

February 3, 2004: Mini Tuesday for the Republicans:

Missouri (primary): Huckabee, 40% (23 delegates); Kasich, 38% (22 delegates); Bush, 20%; Weld, 2%
North Dakota (caucus): Kasich, 45% (12 delegates); Bush, 29% (7 delegates); Weld, 26% (7 delegates)
Oklahoma (primary): Huckabee, 58% (24 delegates); Kasich, 22% (9 delegates); Bush, 20% (8 delegates)
South Carolina (convention): Huckabee, 100% (46 delegates)

February 4, 2004: Joe Lieberman drops out and endorses Chris Dodd.

February 4, 2004: Cheap Seats without Ron Parker premieres on ESPN Classic. The show focuses on fictionalized versions of Randy and Jason Sklar, who portray ESPN tape librarians who spend their days watching old, campy sports broadcasts and lampooning them.

February 7, 2004:

Democratic Michigan (caucus): Dean, 44% (51 delegates); Wellstone, 36% (41 delegates); Dodds, 13% (15 delegates); Gore, 5% (8 delegates)
Democratic Washington (caucus): Dodds, 52% (40 delegates); Dean, 30% (23 delegates); Gephardt, 16% (13 delegates); Biden, 1%; Gore, 1%

February 14, 2004:

Democratic Washington, DC (caucus): Wellstone, 54% (9 delegates); Dean, 32% (5 delegates); Gore, 10% (2 delegates); Dodds, 2%
Democratic Nevada (caucus): Dodds, 40% (8 delegates); Biden, 30% (6 delegates); Dean, 28% (6 delegates); Bayh, 2%

February 17, 2004:

Democratic Wisconsin (primary): Dean, 44% (29 delegates); Bayh, 25% (17 delegates); Gore, 20% (13 delegates); Gephardt, 11% (7 delegates)

February 23, 2004: The U.S. Senate opens a special inquiry into the Halliburton scandal.

February 24, 2004:

Hawaii (caucus): Dean, 43% (7 delegates); Gore, 28% (6 delegates); Wellstone, 20% (4 delegates); Dodd, 19% (2 delegates); Gephardt, 1% (1 delegate)
Idaho (caucus): Gephardt, 46% (8 delegates); Dodd, 30 percent (5 delegates); Dean, 16% (3 delegates); Byes, 8% (2 delegates)
Utah (primary): Biden, 39% (3 delegates); Gore, 25% (2 delegates); Byes, 24% (2 delegates); Dodd, 12% (1 delegate)

February 29, 2004: Leap-Year polling:

Kasich: 34%
Bush: 33%
Huckabee: 20%
Weld: 13%

The poll shocked pundits nationwide, as Bush was supposed to be the frontrunner, but Kasich is catching up to him.

Democratic Polling:

Dodd: 27%
Gore: 20%
Dean: 14%
Wellstone: 10%
Gephardt: 9%
Biden: 7%

Vice President Dodd is the presumed frontrunner of the Democratic race.

February 29, 2004: At the 76th Academy Awards, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King wins Best Picture.

March 2, 2004: Former Georgia Governor Zell Miller endorses Al Gore for president. Miller, who is with mainstream Democrats on economic issues and the Confederate flag, but at odds with them on issues like the Defense of Marriage Act and Roe v. Wade, may have hurt Gore out of the South.

March 2, 2004: Super Tuesday (Republicans)

California (primary): Kasich, 45% (76 delegates); Huckabee, 39% (66 delegates); Weld, 15% (26 delegates); Pataki, 1% (2 delegates)
Connecticut: Kasich, 58% (17 delegates); Weld, 23% (7 delegates); Bush, 19% (6 delegates)
Georgia (primary): Huckabee, 67% (44 delegates); Kasich, 20% (13 delegates); Bush, 13% (9 delegates)
Maryland (primary): Kasich, 47% (17 delegates); Weld, 29% (10 delegates); Huckabee, 24% (9 delegates)
Massachusetts (primary): Kasich, 54% (22 delegates); Weld, 28% (12 delegates); Pataki, 18% (7 delegates)
Minnesota (caucus): Kasich, 46% (17 delegates); Weld, 30% (11 delegates); Pataki, 24% (8 delegates)
New York: Pataki, 66% (57 delegates); Kasich, 32% (28 delegates); Weld, 2% (2 delegate)
Ohio (primary): Kasich, 37% (30 delegates); Weld, 29% (23 delegates); Huckabee, 26% (21 delegates); Bush, 6% (7 delegates)
Rhode Island (primary): Kasich, 60% (11 delegates); Weld, 25% (4 delegate); Bush, 15% (3 delegate)
Vermont (primary): Weld, 55% (8 delegates); Kasich, 27% (4 delegates); Pataki, 18% (3 delegates)

March 3, 2004: Vermont Representative Bernard Sanders, an independent, endorses Paul Wellstone.

March 4, 2004: After poor results on Super Tuesday, Jeb Bush drops out of the primaries and endorses Kasich.

March 6, 2004: Republican Polling:

Kasich: 44%
Huckabee: 33%
Weld: 20%

March 8, 2004: Alexander Philip Theo Mountbatten-Windsor is born to Duke and Duchess of Victoria in Canberra. He will be entitled Prince Alexander.

March 9, 2004:

Florida (primary): Huckabee, 59% (64 delegates); Kasich, 28% (30 delegates); Weld, 13% (14 delegates)
Louisiana (primary): Huckabee, 62% (25 delegates); Kasich, 30% (12 delegates); Weld, 8% (3 delegates)
Mississippi (primary): Huckabee, 60% (21 delegates); Kasich, 38% (13 delegates); Weld, 2% (1 delegate)
Texas (primary): Huckabee, 56% (76 delegates); Kasich, 32% (43 delegates); Weld, 12% (16 delegates)

March 10, 2004: While at a hearing for the Senate Inquiry in to the Halliburton Scandal, the regional manager for the New York branch rants about the "New World Order." The man is soon found unfit to stand trial.

March 10, 2004: Dean threatens not to endorse Biden if he wins the nomination, saying "It's awful, his Iran War will kill us. We have to stop it!"

March 11, 2004: Dean clarifies his position on supporting the Democratic nominee, saying "Now, I'm a Democrat, and I'll support the Democrats and our nominee." Some pundits see the statement as leaving leeway to avoid a Biden endorsement.

March 12, 2004: Paul Wellstone suspends his campaign and endorses Howard Dean, after poor polling and running out of money.

March 12, 2004: Patricia Schroeder announces that she will be running for the U.S. Senate in Colorado. She faces Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper in the Democratic primary.

March 14, 2004: Former presidential candidate Joe Lieberman calls on "mainstream Democrats" to consolidate behind one candidate to stop Dean. "If we want to win this election, we need to unite to stop Dean or we'll hand our party to the crazies."

March 14, 2004: Democratic primary polling:

Dean - 36%
Biden - 22%
Gore - 15%
Dodd - 11%
Gephardt - 5%

March 15, 2004: House Speaker Dick Gephardt suspends his campaign. "We put it all on the field, but this was not my year. And so, I am suspending my campaign. I am endorsing a true leader, a great man and our next president, Joe Biden! And I implore all of you to make that same choice."

March 16, 2004: Howard Dean beats Joe Biden in Illinois, winning 39% of the vote to Biden's 32%, with 10% going to Gore and 10% to Vice-President Dodd. Both Dodd and Gore get 16 delegates from Illinois, Biden gets 54 delegates and Dean gets 68 delegates. Calls begin for Dodd and Gore to drop out too and endorse Biden, to stop Dean.

March 16, 2004: Illinois (primary):

Kasich, 45% (27 delegates)
Huckabee, 36% (22 delegates)
Weld, 19% (11 delegates)

March 16, 2004: Ohio Senator John Kasich wins the Illinois primary, with 52% of the vote, annihilating Mike Huckabee. Kasich declares on primary night "Tonight, the light overcame the darkness. Tonight, conservatism won a historic victory."

March 18, 2004: Former State Senator Barack H. Obama from Illinois's 13th district endorses Joe Biden.

March 19, 2004: Vice President Dodd has announced he too will be suspending his campaign. "I see no path forward to victory, and I believe it is important we nominate the best candidate, the best President. I should not make it harder for us to do that. Therefore, I am suspending my campaign, and I am proud to endorse Joe Biden."

March 20, 2004: Howard Dean wins landslide victories in the Wyoming and Alaska caucuses, inching towards the nomination.

March 21, 2004: Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson endorses William Weld for president. Some people suspect that this is because Johnson is eyeing the vice presidency.

March 22, 2004: Tennessee Senator Al Gore rebukes calls to drop out of the race after poor primary showings and poor polling. Gore claims he is the most electable Democrat, and warns "if we nominate Dean or Secretary Biden, we might as well be electing John Kasich ourselves." He points to polls showing him doing better in the general election to prove this. Reasons for these showings go from Gore's claims that he is the most centrist candidate, can separate himself from Ann Richards without shifting to the left and can win the South. However Biden and Dean claim this is because Gore has not gotten as much scrutiny as them and he would be unable to win or unite the Democrats.

March 23, 2004: President Richards, during a trip to Armenia, is shot. She is quickly rushed to the hospital.

March 23, 2004: Four-time presidential candidate Jesse Jackson endorses Howard Dean, saying "Joe Biden has dedicated his life to screwing the African-American people and the American people. Only Governor Dean can free us from the disaster that is the last eight years!"

March 24, 2004: Vice President Dodd issues a statement saying, "I am fully prepared to handle the presidency if the worst happens." Richards' and Dodd's approval ratings skyrocket to 87% and 79% nationally. In the polls, Dodd is given a 10-point boost. The shooter found to be Hovhannes Zadian, a man soon found to be mentally unstable.

March 24, 2004: A new poll shows President Richards with a 47% approval rating. Another election poll showed, alarmingly for the Democrats, that nearly 30% of Dean voters would not vote for Biden if he was the nominee.

March 25, 2004: A Democratic primary national poll is released. It shows Al Gore at 13%, Joe Biden at 39% and Howard Dean at 40%.

March 25, 2004: UK Prime Minister John Prescott calls the 2004 UK election. Prescott is running even or slightly behind with the Conservative opposition, which led by Michael Howard. Continued sleaze scandals, factional squabbling between Prescott supporters and those of Gordon Brown, which culminated in a failed 2003 leadership challenge to Prescott by Brown, and the latter's expulsion to the backbencher, and the unpopularity of the Iran War in Britain have drained New Labour and Prescott of its support. But the Conservatives have also struggled to make up the ground they lost since the election of Tony Blair, and their brand too remains tarred. The third-party Liberal Democrats, who opposed the Iran War, are polling at 25% under the popular leader Charles Kennedy.

March 27, 2004: At a rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Howard Dean shout to the crowd "They're trying to rig this against us! Biden and Ann Richards (crowd boos and hisses), they're trying to take away our great victory! The hawks, the establishment, they're trying to rig it against us! Will we accept it?! (Crowd yells 'NO!') NO! NO! NO!"

March 28, 2004: General Motors begins production of a hybrid version of the Hummer H2, in an attempt to address criticism of the H2's poor fuel economy.

March 31, 2004: South Park airs the episode "The Return of Lemmiwinks," in which the South Park Elementary pet gerbil helps the boys unravel the mystery of their town's ancient Easter rituals.

April 9, 2004: In honor of the 25th anniversary of Gundam, Sunrise releases Mobile Suit Gundam: Gihren's Glory. The series takes place in an alternate timeline where M'Quve successfully implements the United Maintenance Plan two years before the beginning of the One-Year War, giving Zeon a huge advantage over the federation in the war and helping them to win the conflict. The plot follows Valeria Caine a member of Zeon's elite task force the Dusk Wraiths, as the Dusk Wraiths do their part in helping Zeon to conquer Earth and secure independence for the Spacenoids. Though Tomino was personally displeased that Zeon is once again portrayed as the heroes, the show becomes the hit anime of the year in Japan and sparks a revival in the Universal Century series. Gihren's Glory is also notable for being the first Gundam series to have a main female protagonist (Valeria).

April 10, 2004: Presidential candidate Howard Dean (D-VT) makes a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live, in which he plays a backwoods hunter alongside Jimmy Fallon. The skit becomes infamous for Dean's bizarre "Rebel Yell," which caused Fallon to crack up on camera.

April 10, 2004: The Titanic II departs on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, on the Titanic's original route to New York City, where it is greeted a week later by President Ann Richards.

April 12, 2004: Richards's treatment succeeds, and she leaves Yerevan. The assassination failed.

April 13, 2004: President Richards returns to Washington after her attempted assassination. Outside the White House, hundreds carry signs and banners reading "Welcome Home!"

April 13, 2004: Joe Biden wins the Colorado caucus. Al Gore gets just 4%.

April 14, 2004: "I am suspending my campaign" Al Gore announced "No, it's true. I'm afraid, our path to victory has been foreclosed. And so, we shall suspend our campaign, and so we shall endorse Joe Biden, who is by far and away the best remaining candidate. But we shall not suspend the yearning and the fighting, with all our hearts, for a better America, a more perfect union."

April 14, 2004: Thabo Mbeki is re-elected President of South Africa.

April 15, 2004: Joe Biden surges in the polls, taking the lead in North Carolina, which is on April 17, and breaking out from a tie in Pennsylvania to a widening lead. A strong, folksy Biden campaign, Gore's withdrawal and the media firestorm over Dean's 'Rebel Yell' cause Biden's surge.

April 15, 2004: On live TV, Oprah Winfrey names Rupert Boneham, a mentor for troubled teens from Indianapolis, Indiana, as the first winner of The Apprentice.

April 16, 2004: In a televised address, Richards assures the American public she's okay. She thanks the Armenian people for their hospitality in such a time of crisis.

April 16, 2004: Just 11 days from the Pennsylvania primary, a poll is by CNN/USA poll in Pennsylvania puts Dean at 40% and Biden at 54%. Another poll, from Reuters, shows Biden leading in the North Carolina primary, which is the next day. The poll shows Biden getting the support of 53% of North Carolina primary voters to just 39% for Dean. A new Democratic primary national poll, released by the Washington Post, shows Dean at 42% and Biden at 53%. The same day, over 20 superdelegates endorse Joe Biden.

April 17, 2004: Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle says in an interview that "we as a party need to unite, because otherwise we will be squandering all the progress of the last 8 years, and set this country back. If Howard Dean loses North Carolina today, and then if he loses Pennsylvania, he should get out of the race." In the middle of North Carolina's voting, Dean swiftly speaks to the press to attack Daschle's comments "Tom Daschle-what a scumbag! He's corrupt, he's corrupt, and he wants to kill our movement! You know, he has no grasp of history, he's that thick. Just four years ago, Jesse Jackson, a good friend of mine, he was very nasty to Ann Richards. And Ann won the general in a landslide. So it's time that Daschle stop making up lies, time all those establishment crooks stop the hatchet job and me and the movement we're leading!"

April 18, 2004: All the North Carolina results have come in. Biden gets 56.5% of the vote to 41.5% for Dean, and Biden gets 53 delegates to 32 for Dean.

April 19, 2004: Joe Biden says at a rally in Philadelphia, "Howard Dean, he's a wacko bird! Got a screw loose or somethin'!"

April 20, 2004: A Pew Research poll in Pennsylvania shows Dean at 39%, to 55% for Biden. Another poll, by CBS, shows a closer race, with Dean at 43% to 50% for Biden.

April 21, 2004: A worker at the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, makes their local gorilla, Harambe, a presidential candidate. So far, Harambe is only on the ballot in Texas.

April 21, 2004: Tom Daschle weighs in on Dean's candidacy yet again, saying, "Joe's right, this guy has a screw loose. He has a terrible temperament, I wouldn't be comfortable with him as our nominee or our president."

April 22, 2004: Howard Dean holds a massive rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There, he launches a vicious tirade against Joe Biden, saying "Joe Biden, he's a bit senile. He's crazy! He is deep in the Washington game, tied to the failure of Ann Richards, to the failed establishment of our party. He has spent his life enriching himself, and screwing the rest of us. He lacks the good judgement and temperament to lead this nation. He supported the policies that are screwing the African-American people. He supported, he championed, the Iran war, that has destabilized the Middle East and wasted so much American blood, sweat and tears. Terrible, terrible! And he lobs all sorts of insults and attacks at me, he and his cronies, and then they're incensed when I fight back. We need to fight back! We need to win on April 27! We need to curbstomp Joe Biden and the establishment!"

April 23, 2004: 36 superdelegates endorse Joe Biden, with one saying "Howard Dean is an unelectable extremist who clearly lacks the temperament and stability to be our President." Media coverage on the issue of Dean's temperament, after the 'Rebel yell' and Dean's attacks on Daschle and Biden, continue to dog his campaign.

April 24, 2004: Dean and Biden hold a final debate ahead of the Pennsylvania primary. Dean mounts a vigorous performance, and attacks the record of the Richards administration, hoping Biden will struggle to escape her negatives. However, Biden just laughed off the attacks, saying "Oh Howard, I know you're desperate. But trust me, the Biden administration will be great. Even you'll love it!" The media portrays Biden as the winner of the debate, claiming Dean came off as too angry, bitter and desperate.

April 25, 2004: Governor Dean holds a rally with Reverend Jesse Jackson in Philadelphia, both of them launching fierce attacks on the record of Ann Richards. However, it is Biden's rally later in the day that grabs the headlines. The former Secretary of State has a surprise guest. President Ann Richards. Richards says "I'm sick and tired of Governor Dean attacking my record. Y'know, he's just a poor little angry baby, he's a loser." Richards defends her record, saying that she has passed "superb, just wonderful" improvements to healthcare, education, infrastructure, and claims to have "been a defender of the little guy and the little gal, home and abroad." At the end, as the crowd cheers, she laughs "they love me, Gov'nor Dean!"

April 26, 2004: The last day before the Pennsylvania primary sees Dean and Biden barnstorm the state, with Dean imploring voters to "vote your conscience. Vote for the candidate who will tell the truth." Ann Richards and Biden campaign together, with Biden promising "strong but humble leadership, a progressive leader who can reach across the aisle. Throughout my career, I have fought for my principles, but my guiding principle is the same as my great friend Ann's over here. Leave no one behind. To fight for the little guy and the little gal. That's what we're gonna do!' Three final polls are released, all showing Biden in the lead. A CNN/USA poll puts Dean at 42% to 54% for Biden. The Rasmussen poll shows 49% Biden, 44% Dean. The PPP poll shows Dean at 40%, Biden at 54%.

April 27, 2004: The primary voters of Pennsylvania kill the Howard Dean candidacy. As soon as the results started coming in, it was obvious Biden would win. He romped home, getting 57.7% of the vote to 38.8% for Dean, 73 delegates to Dean's 48. Tim Russet said when he saw those numbers "Lights out, Dean." He was right. Howard Dean got onto the stage. The crowd was in a bleak and sombre mood. "We have lost Pennsylvania." Dean began " And so, it is clear Joe Biden will be the Democratic nominee. This is not the best outcome, it is not what we yearned for, but it is the reality. And so it is with a heavy heart that I end this journey. But we may have lost the battle, but we have not lost the war. Young people, progressives, we showed the strength of our convictions. We showed we do have power, we matter and our voice will be heard. You know, I just went and said what I believed. I just said the truth. And so this campaign may die. But I hope and believe our legacy will live on and grow. Thank you, thank you..." Joe Biden is now the presumptive Democratic nominee.

April 29, 2004:

2004 UK election results
John Prescott - Labour: 322 -94 31.9%
Michael Howard - Conservative: 221 +50 32.2%
Charles Kennedy - LibDem: 71 +28 25.5%

646 seats
324 for majority

April 29, 2004: The Indian and Pakistani governments agree on a referendum on Kashmir. The Kashmiri people will have 3 choices:
  • Join with Pakistan
  • Join with India
  • Independence
The referendum will take place on May 1, 2009.

April 29, 2004: After years of increasing agitation between Russia and the U.S., President Richards meets Russian President Alexander Lebed in Inverness, Scotland. The two discuss combating terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and military alliances.

May 1, 2004: Pope Leo XIV announces in a homily that the time has come for the Pope to humbly apologize for the abuse of women and children during the ages. A day of repentance by the "Holy Father" will be held on August 14.

May 2, 2004: Despite losing its parliamentary majority, the Prescott government will survive with confidence and supply from an array of minor parties and nationalists.

May 3, 2004: Former Chancellor Gordon Brown says John Prescott has "lost his mandate to govern."

May 4, 2004: Indiana (primary):

Kasich, 51% (14 delegates)
Huckabee, 34% (9 delegates)
Weld, 15% (4 delegates)

May 5, 2004: The new head of Gawker Media Mark Hubbard begins a massive restructuring of the company. The company is renamed Nick Denton Media, more commonly known by the acronym NDM, and the gossip site Gawker is shuttered. Hubbard implements a much more stringent standard of journalistic integrity and an ironclad ethics policy for its journalists. Quite a few writers leave but are quickly replaced by writers more willing to abide by the ethics policy in exchange for employment. The new policies result in NDM gaining a sterling reputation for transparency and honesty. The ensuing massive boost ad revenue caused by the ensuing massive boost in reader confidence validates Hubbard's decisions as head of ND Media.

May 6, 2004: Into the Storm, directed by Peter Berg, is released into theaters. The plot tells about an American Navy SEALs squad that is thrown into the rear of the Russian Army to kill the general who is planning an invasion to Iran. The film stars Mark Wahlberg, Don Cheadle, Andrew Divoff, and others.

May 7, 2004: Paul LePage, the mayor of Waterville, Maine, is brought into the national spotlight after he publicly challenged Joe Biden to a duel. Biden politely declined the offer.

May 10, 2004: Actor-turned-politician Fernando Poe, Jr., wins over Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in the Philippine general elections by over 10% with running mate Loren Legarda, winning by 20%.

May 11, 2004: West Virginia (primary):

Huckabee, 41% (11 delegates)
Kasich, 38% (10 delegates)
Weld, 21% (5 delegates)

May 11, 2004: The Roast of Chris Farley airs on Comedy Central. Among the roasters are Jeff Ross, Adam Sandler, professional golfer Payne Stewart, Cameron Diaz, and Today anchor Matt Lauer.

May 12, 2004: The abandoned Danvers State Hospital is purchased by the Trump University company to be reused as the next campus in the planned Trump University system. The original hospital architecture is to be preserved but modernized as part of its new role as part of a modern university. The University is to be called Trump University Danvers. The original Trump University in Millbrook is to be renamed Trump University Millbrook to conform with the new naming convention.

May 13, 2004: The final episode of Frasier airs on NBC. The episode ends with Frasier reciting a shortened version of Alfred Lord Tennyson's "Ulysses" during his last broadcast at KACL before moving to Chicago.

May 15, 2004: South Africa is announced as the host of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

May 16, 2004: James Rolfe publishes his first video game review, for Castlevania II: Simon's Quest on the NES.

May 17, 2004: The former Disney Institute in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, reopens as Disney's Five Boroughs Resort & Spa. Themed to 1920s and 1930s New York City, the resort features 1,320 rooms spread across five sections each themed to a different New York borough.

May 18, 2004:

Arkansas (primary): Huckabee, 74% (24 delegates); 21% (7 delegate); Weld, 5% (1 delegate)
Kentucky (primary): Kasich, 42% (18 delegates); Huckabee, 30% (13 delegates); Weld, 28% (12 delegates)
Oregon (primary): Kasich, 55% (15 delegates); Weld, 29% (8 delegates); Huckabee, 16% (5 delegates)

May 20, 2004: After poor polling, poor primary showings and poor fundraising, Bill Weld ends his presidential campaign and endorses John Kasich.

May 21, 2004: Coke Retro, a variety of Coca-Cola using cane sugar instead of corn syrup, hits supermarket shelves.

May 21, 2004: Jessica Vega, age 18 from the Philippines, is crowned Miss Universe 2004.

May 22, 2004: Aston Villa defeats Queens Park Rangers 3-1 in extra time to win the 2004 FA Cup.

May 25, 2004: Idaho (primary): Huckabee, 51% (12 delegates); Kasich, 49% (12 delegates)

May 25-June 5, 2004: The Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Calgary Flames 4 games to 2 to win the 2004 Stanley Cup.

May 31, 2004: At its convention in Atlanta, Georgia, the Libertarian Party nominates Congressman Ron Paul of Texas for President and film producer Aaron Russo of New York for Vice President.

June 1, 2004:

Alabama (primary): Huckabee, 58% (26 delegates); Kasich, 42% (19 delegates)
New Mexico (primary): Kasich, 54% (11 delegates); Huckabee, 46% (10 delegates)
South Dakota (primary): Kasich, 62% (16 delegates); Huckabee, 38% (9 delegates)

June 1, 2004: Unemployment jumps from 5.8% to 6.1%.

June 2, 2004: Huckabee drops out, saying, "We ran a great campaign. We won many contests, but it is clear that Mr. Kasich is our nominee. Therefore, I am suspending my campaign, and pledge to support him in the coming months."

June 3, 2004: A Washington Post poll is released. It shows that 91% of Republicans will vote for Kasich, but only 80% of Democrats will vote Biden. It puts Kasich at 48%, Biden at 40% and Ralph Nader, the Green Party nominee, at 6%.

June 4, 2004: All the polls show John Kasich in the lead, often near double digits. Biden faces tough political headwinds, leading a deeply divided party, with a President who has lukewarm popularity, a middling economy, voter desire for change and a surging third-party for Ralph Nader and the Greens. A new PPP poll puts Biden at 41% to 49% for Senator Kasich. But Biden vows "We're gonna win it, folks!"

June 6, 2004: Joe Biden addresses the NAACP, and says of Kasich and the GOP, "They're gonna put y'all back in chains!" The comments soon cause an escalating controversy, and the Kasich campaign condemns Biden's "disgusting, negative, and patronizing remarks."

June 6-15, 2004: The New Jersey Nets defeat the New Orleans Pelicans 4 games to 1 to win the 2004 NBA Finals.

June 7, 2004: Joe Biden delivers a heartfelt apology to the NAACP and the African-American community, saying, "My word choice was inexcusable, and frankly immature. I care deeply about the people of this nation, and these words came from my heart, when they should have come from my head."

June 10, 2004: A new Gallup poll shows President Richards with a 45% approval rating.

June 11, 2004: Warner Bros. Animation releases The Invincibles to cinemas. Written and directed by Brad Bird, the film focuses on a family of superheroes, including Mr. Invincible (voiced by Ben Affleck), Elastigirl (voiced by Jennifer Aniston), and Zoom (voiced by Frankie Muniz), and their fight to defeat Lord Lucifer (voiced by Patrick Stewart).

June 12, 2004: The anime series FSS Hanako officially debuts in Japan. The series focuses on the male protagonist's efforts to keep the fact that his best friend Hanako Yamada is secretly a starship full of tiny aliens tasked with observing Earth a secret. Hilarity ensues as a result of the increasingly ludicrous methods he uses to keep her secret, and her as a result, safe.

June 12, 2004: The 2004 Euro Football Championship opens in Spain.

June 15, 2004: Howard Dean finally gives a reluctant endorsement of Joe Biden. "I know we had a nasty primary, but I believe Joe Biden is the best viable choice, and he will get us closer to the America we so want and need than John Kasich, and I have no confidence that John Kasich or any other candidate will be able to offer an alternative positive vision for this country."

June 17, 2004: A CBS poll shows 18% of Dean voters won't vote for Biden.

June 18, 2004: A set of new state polls show John Kasich leading in Wisconsin, Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and just 1 point behind Biden in Oregon.

June 18, 2004: The New Adventures of Indiana Jones premieres on the Disney Channel. The show features the swashbuckling adventures of the older Indiana Jones (voiced by David Kaye) and his son Mutt Williams (voiced by Dante Basco), aided by the grown-up Wan "Short Round" Li (voiced by Daniel Dae Kim) . They seek to recover priceless relics from the evil (and clearly Nazi-inspired) Knights of the Iron Helm lead by Doctor Ernst Belzig (voiced by Maurice LaMarche) who is clearly based off of Arnold Toht to the point of having the original script name for the character. The show is a much more family-friendly version where death isn't even mentioned, necessitating the main villain's name change. The show is seen as a somewhat more mature version of DuckTales. There's even a non-canon crossover with Star Wars: The Animated Series where Han Solo and Indiana Jones are disturbed by the uncanny resemblance to each other.

June 18, 2004: The NFL announces the San Diego Chargers are moving to Las Vegas at the start of the 2005-06 NFL season.

June 18, 2004: Spider-Man 3, the third film in James Cameron's Spider-Man series, is released to cinemas. The final movie of the trilogy, the plot concerns Spider-Man's (Leonardo DiCaprio) battle with his dangerous alter-ego Venom (Jesse Eisenberg), all while struggling to keep his identity as Spider-Man secret. The film receives mixed reviews for the convoluted nature of the plot and for the controversial decision to make Venom Spider-Man's alter ego. Still, the film is a box office success, grossing $803 million at the worldwide box office and receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects.

June 19, 2004: Guy Delisle publishes Pyongyang, describing his experience working at SEK Studios in North Korea during the production of the Corto Maltese series. The graphic novel becomes a hit worldwide, winning several awards.

June 20, 2004: The Iranian parliamentary elections are held and the reformists secure a 79% majority in the Iranian Majlis. One of the first measures proposed is a bill changing the national flag, as the current tricolor is seen as being too tainted by both the Pahlavi regime and the Ayatollahs. The presidential election is set to coincide with the American presidential election on November 2.

June 20, 2004: Joe Biden releases a new general election ad called "Leader" which shows Biden's record as Secretary of State, with videos of him with US soldiers in Iran, compared to John Kasich, who says "Foreign policy. That's not my A subject."

June 20, 2004: The anime series Oakwood makes its premiere on Japanese television. The series is a supernatural mystery series in which a government agent is sent to the small town of Oakwood to investigate the mysterious murder of a local woman. It's heavily inspired by David Lynch's Twin Peaks which still enjoyed massive popularity in Japan. The makers showed their love of the surreal mystery series by filling the series with references to Twin Peaks and casting as much of the original cast as they possibly could. The main protagonist of the series is named Agent David Silva after David Lynch and the late Frank Silva who played Killer Bob.

June 20, 2004: Chevrolet introduces the sixth-generation Corvette, the first mid-engined Corvette. The C6 is an immediate sales success, selling nearly 40,000 units in its first model year.

June 21, 2004: The band Chronic Future is thrusted into the national spotlight with the release of their album Lines in My Face, featuring the anti-Iran War song "Time and Time Again."

June 23, 2004: John Kasich fires back on attacks on his foreign policy credentials, saying "My foreign policy is simple. We are going to lead in the world, we will continue to be the world superpower, at this point we want to leave Iran by mid-2006. And unlike the current President, we are going to respect our military and those on the ground, and let people who know what they are doing do what they know is best, rather than try arrogant micro-management from the Oval Office, as we have seen with this President."

June 26, 2004: Green Party nominee Ralph Nader so far manages to get on the ballot in 35 states, and action by his supporters means that number is likely to increase. Polls with Nader in the race show him getting around 5% of the vote, and many Democrats fear Dean supporters may vote Nader and hand the election to Kasich.

June 29, 2004: CNN is hijacked by some hacker. The hack lasts for 2 minutes, with some voice saying this:

"The FitnessGram Pacer Test is a multistage aerobic capacity test that progressively gets more difficult as it continues. The 20 meter pacer test will begin in 30 seconds. Line up at the start. The running speed starts slowly but gets faster each minute after you hear this signal bodeboop. A sing lap should be completed every time you hear this sound. ding Remember to run in a straight line and run as long as possible. The second time you fail to complete a lap before the sound, your test is over. The test will begin on the word start. On your mark. Get ready!… Start. ding"

The hack ends after the "ding!"

June 30, 2004: Fernando Poe, Jr., becomes the 16th President of the Philippines.

July 4, 2004: The Netherlands defeat Germany 1-0 to win the 2004 Euro Football Championship.

July 12, 2004: Jack Ryan: Supremacy is released to widespread critical acclaim. The movie is the first of the franchise with an original script, not being based in any of the previous Tom Clancy novels. Ben Affleck reprises the titular role, this time facing of against corrupt U.S. General Lucius Portman (played by Laurence Fishburne) as he attempts to sell state secrets to China. The movie repeats its predecessor's feat in being nominated for 3 Oscars, this time winning all three: Ben Affleck for Best Actor, Laurence Fishburne for Best Supporting Actor, and Best Original Screenplay. The critical and financial success of the movie solidifies Jack Ryan as the "American spy franchise."

July 24, 2004: The Texas Express Railway Company is fully funded, about 48% of the company being funded by Japanese investors. TEXPRESS had previously announced it would not seek any federal funding, but some federal funding is ultimately proposed to construct the stations at both ends of the line.

July 26-29, 2004: The 2004 Democratic National Convention is held in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The convention officially nominated Joe Biden for President and Paul Wellstone for Vice-President. The first day saw party disunity wide out in the open, with Dean delegates booing pro-Biden speeches, while outside protesters chanted "Biden for jail!" " No more war!" and "Hear our voices!" On the second day Wellstone urged progressives to rally behind Biden, and declared "if we do not support our democratically-elected nominee, Joe Biden, we will condemn ourselves and our country to a government that serves the interests of the rich and powerful, rather than one that serves you, as we have seen in this President." Harold Ford Jr of Tennessee gave the keynote speech, where he boasted that "we have made immense progress in this country. 50 years ago I would not have been able to vote. Now I can stand on the national stage, as an American. We must keep the train of progress moving forward. We must continue to give more and more Americans the right and opportunity to prosper. We must expand the safety net, to protect Americans. I am proud of Ann Richards. She has expanded healthcare coverage in this country, she has made our streets safer, she has made our education system better, and so, so much more. We must not stop! No, we must continue the train of progress!" On the final day Joe Biden accepted the nomination. Several Dean delegates booed his speech, and Biden told them "Folks, don't boo. Don't. If you want change, make that change. Go to the polls and vote for the ticket that will actually make the change you seek, that will make our country better. And I promise you, this is that ticket!"

August 1, 2004: The Duke and Duchess of York move into the refurbished Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.

August 2, 2004: A new poll shows Biden/Wellstone getting a big convention bounce, jumping to a narrow lead with 45% to 43% for Kasich.

August 6, 2004: Pixar and Disney release Sweating Bullets to cinemas. Set on a Kansas dairy farm, the film features a young bull named Bullets (voiced by Shia LaBeouf) who has to save his herd from a fugitive cattle rustler named Slim (voiced by Danny Trejo). U.S. President Ann Richards notably cameos as the voice of a female cow named Betty. While highly successful at the box office, the film receives mixed reviews, with some praising the beauty of the animation and the backgrounds, and others criticizing the lack of depth in regards to character development.

August 7, 2004: Infamous German filmmaker Uwe Boll is run over by a drunk driver while crossing the road. He is brought to the hospital but is quickly declared dead on arrival.

August 10, 2004: NYU student Stefani Germanotta forms the rock band The Kids Next Door with a few of her classmates.

August 10, 2004: Kasich holds his rally in Tampa, Florida. Media speculation had made it seem the choice would likely be McCain, though the location of the rally produced hints it might be someone else. "My running mate is a dedicated public servant. Truly, he's awesome, folks. He is Connie Mack III, from right here in Florida!" Connie Mack III, the former Florida Senator, takes the stage, "Thank you, thank you..." "Let's go win this thing!" With the top of the GOP ticket from Ohio and the bottom of it from Florida, two key states are now likely to vote Republican. Joe Biden's challenge just got even harder.

August 10, 2004: Congresswoman Schroeder defeats John Hickenlooper in the Democratic Senate primary in Colorado. Meanwhile, Congressman Tom Tancredo wins the Republican Senate primary.

August 13-29, 2004: The 2004 Summer Olympics are held in Cape Town, South Africa. The United States leads decisively in the medal count, followed by Russia and China.

August 13, 2004: Japanese game developer Konami officially files for bankruptcy.

August 13, 2004: A film adaptation of the House of the Dead arcade game shocks audiences by being an amazing film. The film is praised for enough drama and intrigue interspersed with enough fast-paced action scenes to properly replicate the feeling of the games. Praise is especially heaped upon the absolutely brilliant performance of Gary Oldman as Doctor Curien. The film is notable for including character development that was only included in the third game despite being an adaptation of the first. This has the effect of making Doctor Curien a much more sympathetic villain than he was in the original games. The film has a shocking amount of heart for an otherwise mindless action movie and sets a good precedent for video game film adaptations. Audiences and critics alike are shocked and amazed that Verruckt Films were able to pull a coherent, let alone mesmerizing, narrative out of an arcade clad with a pathetic excuse of a plot and terrible voice acting.

August 13, 2004: John Kasich holds a rally in West Virginia. There, he rails against the EPA and environmental regulations, saying "They are killing your coal jobs! If I win, we are going to let coal prosper." Kasich also promises to "care for and cherish the environment" but says "I rebuke the argument we need to put our environment before our economy. I rebuke the argument we need to kill our coal industry. The environment is not hurt by our growth as a society but strengthened by it. I assure you, we are going to make West Virginia prosper, we will protect our coal jobs. And we are going to create a society where our economy and our environment prospers."

August 15, 2004: At a campaign rally in Denver, Colorado, John Kasich attacks Joe Biden on gun control. "Ann Richards wants to take away your guns. It's atrocious, her gun control, and in the Senate I stood against her for law-abiding gun-owners. She is just wrong. Guns don't kill people. People kill people. Now, I know we should stop crime. I have spent my career fighting to make our streets safe. But taking guns from law-abiding gun owners does not reduce crime, that is a fact. If you want to tackle crime, you need to stop the people committing the crime, not the gun that fires the bullet. There is a reason, my friends, that the right to bear arms is the 2nd Amendment in our Constitution. It is a part of our culture, and a valuable one. It's a way of life, and that's what Ann Richards doesn't understand. When I'm President, we are going to do everything to preserve and protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners and our 2nd Amendment. Guns are not bad, but unfortunately., Ann Richards and Joe Biden think so. And if Biden wins, he is going to take away our guns and attack law abiding gun owners. That's not on. I will defend our 2nd Amendment, period."

August 16, 2004
: The American Firearms Association makes a statement decrying John Kasich's statements in Denver. "We, the members of the American Firearms Association, respectfully disagree with Mister Kasich's position on gun control. The firmer emphasis on background checks in purchasing firearms hasn't taken away anyone's guns. In fact, it's made it more difficult for irresponsible, criminal or outright insane people to obtain guns. No "law-abiding gun-owner" has anything to fear from mandatory background checks. And this literalist view of the Constitution fails to put it into the context of which it was written. The Second Amendment that Kasich loves so much was written when it was necessary to have a civilian militia to beef up the Army. And even if the Army still needed such a militia there's always the National Guard."

August 17, 2004: On The Ryan Seacrest Show, Ryan Seacrest and audience member Gary Brolsma do a "window washer" dance to the song "Dragostea Din Tei," which gains Brolsma national fame. "Dragostea Din Tei," more commonly known as "Numa Numa" in the Anglosphere, would become of the biggest summer hits of 2004.

August 19, 2004: Ralph Nader says if he's not included in the debates, he'll be furious.

August 25, 2004: Joe Biden's son, Beau Biden, is diagnosed with cancer.

August 25, 2004: Representatives of Israel, Palestine and the United States meet at Camp David to negotiate a proper territorial division. The Palestinians were motivated to come to the negotiation table after the loss of their largest foreign backer.

August 25, 2004: A poll is released featuring Kasich (41%), Biden (35%), Nader (7%), and Paul (17%). Polls surprisingly show Paul winning the states of Maine and New Hampshire, with Nader winning Vermont and Florida.

August 25, 2004: A movie called CSA: The Confederate States of America is released. A satirical mockumentary about an alternate history in which the South won the American Civil War appears in theaters nationwide.

August 27, 2004: A Gallup poll has been released. It has Biden at 43%, Kasich at 43%, and Nader at 7%.

August 30-September 2, 2004: The Republican National Convention is held in Houston, Texas. There, John Kasich is officially nominated for President, and Connie Mack III is nominated for Vice-President. The Republican Party is fully united, unlike the Democrats, and they pass a mainstream conservative platform. The platform promises to cut income taxes to 30%, balance the budget with cuts to 'wasteful spending', end Ann Richards's gun control, "bring stability to Iran", and reform welfare. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin gives the keynote speech, saying "Joe Biden believes that government can spend our money better than we can. But most Americans don't share this view. That's why John Kerry has to preach the politics of division, of envy and resentment. That's why they talk so much about two Americas. But class warfare is not an economic policy. And the politics of division will not make America stronger, and it will not lead to prosperity.'" Kasich's acceptance speech sees him vow to "heal the divisions in our nation. I promise, my friends, we are going to unite America. America does not prosper because of micro-managing, because of one single leader. It prospers when the great mass of our society works harmoniously together to produce prosperity. America is not great because of one individual. America is great because of all individuals. And as your President, we are going to give the power back to you, to let you make your own decisions, and we are going to work together. John Kasich is all about the politics of unity, of coming together behind a common agenda, America." The convention is widely perceived as a success, with Kasich shedding the image that he is too conservative and his promise to unite the nation, and his declaration that "America is not great because of one individual. America is great because of all individuals" being appealing after 8 years of an administration focused around Ann Richards and the celebrity-type nature of her leadership. Republicans leave united and motivated to win, and unlike the Democrats there are no major divisions in the party and a strong case to swing voters.

September 1, 2004: Kojima Productions, a new game developer founded by Hideo Kojima, officially purchases the rights to the Metal Gear and Silent Hill franchises from the defunct Konami.

September 5, 2004: Filmmaker Michael Moore endorses Green Party nominee Ralph Nader, saying that "there is no difference between Joe Biden and John Kasich" and "we need to send a message to the politicians." Polls show Nader mustering around 5% support, which could be fatal to Biden's hopes of winning the presidency.

September 5, 2004: ABC News anchor Peter Jennings enters treatment for cancer.

September 6, 2004: A new poll by Reuters is released. It shows 48% Kasich, 41% Biden, and 6% Nader.

September 7, 2004: Representatives of Israel and Palestine sign what the media have already begun calling the New Camp David Accords. Israel officially recognizes Palestine's independence in exchange for Palestine recognizing Israel's claim on the rest of the former mandate of Palestine. The Americans agree to foot the bill for a special rail line linking the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip with the West Bank as well as financially compensating Israeli settlers of the Gaza Strip. The city of Jerusalem is to be a free international city protected by UN peacekeepers from neutral countries. The Israeli capital is to move back to Tel Aviv, as the international community has never recognized the status of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Palestinian administrative capital of Ramallah is to simply become the official national capital.

September 10, 2004: New polls show John Kasich getting a big convention bounce. A recent poll shows 50% Kasich, 39% Biden, and 5% Nader.

September 11, 2004: The Kasich campaign releases new ads to key swing states, a key one is "Leader," contrasting Kasich's reach across the aisle talk, his convention speech and promise of a "forward-looking conservative agenda" with Ann Richards saying "Screw the Republicans!" and Joe Biden saying "They're gonna put y'all back in chains!"

September 11, 2004: New York Jets owner Woody Johnson announces plans to construct a new home stadium in Lower Manhattan, to be completed in 2011.

September 12, 2004: President Ann Richards holds a campaign rally with Joe Biden in Des Moines, Iowa.

September 13, 2004: A poll by CBS News shows Kasich retaining a solid lead after the conventions. It puts Kasich at 49%, Biden at 39%, and Nader at 7%.

September 14, 2004: Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine files a lawsuit against Napster over the free sharing of Megadeth's music. The court ultimately rules in Napster's favor.

September 14, 2004: A new jobs report shows unemployment rising to 5.8%.

September 15, 2004: A new Gallup poll gives Ann Richards a 45% approval rating.

September 16, 2004: Joe Biden says, “You cannot go to a 7-Eleven or a Dunkin’ Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I’m not joking.”

September 18, 2004: Jeanette Bone, age 19 from Tennessee, is crowned Miss America 2005.

September 22, 2004: Joe Biden attacks John Kasich on opposing Ann Richards' healthcare reform, saying, "If he had his way, millions of Americans would be lacking in healthcare coverage and in affordable healthcare. It's true."

September 23, 2004: Kasich replies to Biden, "I stand by my vote. Healthcare premiums have been soaring since Ann Richards took office, we see right here in the great state of Wisconsin premiums have skyrocketed. We need healthcare reform. But this is a multi-layered issue. We need to expand coverage, increase quality and lower costs. Any politician that promises a magic fix to this problem is kidding themselves and they're kidding you."

September 25, 2004: Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma declares the tightening of some laws. In particular, he introduces partial censorship of the media. As a result, the rating of freedom in Ukraine lowered to "partly free country."

September 25, 2004: Plymouth debuts the second-generation Prowler.

September 29, 2004: Construction begins on the Meadowlands Xanadu shopping mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The project includes space for 357 shops, 21 restaurants, a cinema, a miniature golf course, an aquarium, a bowling alley, an indoor ski slope, and the 287-foot Pepsi Globe ferris wheel.

September 30, 2004: The first presidential debate is held in Miami, Florida, between Senator Kasich and Secretary Biden. Ralph Nader is not allowed to participate, which leads to him protesting against "corporate media." The debate is primarily on domestic policy, though there was a question on Iran. Biden promised to "re-assess the situation" and said "currently, we are planning to be out by 2006." Kasich also promised to be out by 2006, and criticized the "micro-managing" of the war by Biden and Richards. The most memorable exchange was on the budget. Kasich promised to balance the budget, at which point Biden started laughing and then said "Malarkey." Kasich replied, "Secretary Biden, I don't think you and President Richards leaving our children a mountain of debt is a laughing matter." Kasich was declared the winner of the debate by pundits.

September 30, 2004: Ford begins production of a hybrid version of the F-150 in response to revised CAFE standards.

October 1, 2004: A post-debate poll shows 26% of voters though the debate was a tie, 29% thought Biden won, and 38% thought Kasich won.

October 1, 2004: DreamWorks Animation releases Sharkslayer, an underwater parody of the 1972 film The Godfather, to cinemas. Featuring the voice talents of Will Smith as whale-washer Oscar, James Gandolfini as the voice of Don Lino, and Steve Buscemi as the voice of his vegetarian son Lenny, the film is panned by critics, who cite the unfamiliarity of the source material with the film's target audience, and underperforms at the box office, making just over $80 million compared to its $75 million budget.

October 2, 2004: Ralph Nader accuses Joe Biden and the Democrats of excluding him from the debates, and says "the unfair rules, a system rigged in favor of two identical, corrupt parties has stifled our voice."

October 3, 2004: A post-debate poll by FOX News shows the new state of the race. It puts Kasich at 48%, Biden at 42%, and Nader at 5%.

October 5, 2004: The vice presidential debate is held between Paul Wellstone and Connie Mack III. Wellstone is widely viewed as the winner.

October 8, 2004: The second presidential debate is held between Joe Biden and John Kasich. This debate is in a town-hall type format, with more of a foreign-policy purpose. Biden is clearly more at ease in this environment than Kasich, who is seen of lacking depth to his answers. Biden wins the debate after answering a heated question "Secretary Biden, you are a leading figure in the Iran War , which has resulted in thousands of American deaths. How can you ensure those deaths are not in vain?" Biden replied "We can ensure the sacrifices of our brave troops are not in vain if we do not cut and run, but rather if we do our bit to ensure there is security and democracy in Iran. And furthermore, we need to ensure that we operate with respect for the locals and local institutions, and as time goes on , hopefully, we will be able to devolve responsibility to the people on the ground, to the Iranians. I think we are on that path at the moment, we are seeing violence there fall. And my opponent agrees with me on this-the only serious and responsible solution is to begin a process where the Iranians can have responsibility for their security, without running away. I am proud of my record as Secretary of State, and I will not let the sacrifices of our brave troops be in vain. We are going to win in Iran and we are going to make their memory live on."

October 8, 2004: The Cleveland Monsters (in the Wales Conference) and the Seattle Totems (in the Campbell Conference) make their debut in the NHL.

October 8, 2004: President Ann Richards appears on The Daily Show with Stephen Colbert. She talks about her thoughts on her final months in the White House, calling it "a bittersweet feeling. You look back on what you've done, making a difference for so many Americans, and it's the kind of thing that makes me think 'This is why I went into politics'. You may not have gotten everything you wanted done, but being President is a very sobering experience."

October 9, 2004: The 2004 Australian federal election is held. Kim Beazley's Labor government retains its majority in the House of Representatives.

Kim Beazley (Labor) - 83 seats +3 (52.3% PV)
Peter Costello (Liberal/National) - 66 seats -3 (47.7% PV)

150 seats in the House of Representatives
76 seats needed for majority

October 10, 2004: With the state Supreme Court's ruling in Miller vs. Department of Health, Vermont becomes the first U.S. state to legalize same-sex marriage.

October 12, 2004: The Star Trek Experience officially opens in Sausalito, California. The Bay-Area theme park boasts four lands themed after locations in the Star Trek universe.
  • The Federation - An area based around a replica of the Star Fleet Academy. Guests are shown what it's like to be a Starfleet Cadet. Attractions include a motion simulator built to resemble a Starfleet shuttle a dueling rollercoaster designed to simulate a dogfight between a Starfleet vessel and a Romulan warbird. Guests can purchase replica phasers, tricorders, and uniforms from the Starfleet Requisitions store.
  • Qu'nos - A themed land based around the Klingon homeworld of Qu'nos. Highlights include a Klingon-themed live stunt show and a rollercoaster with Bird of Prey-shaped cars. Guests can buy replica bat'leths and baldricks as well as Klingon wigs. There are even restaurants serving toned-down versions of Klingon cuisine. The "gagh", for instance, is simply extra-spicy spaghetti.
  • Vulcan - A themed land based on the Vulcan homeworld of the same name. The area is built around a replica of the temple complex at Mount Seleya. The main attraction is a surreal ride meant to simulate a Vulcan mind meld. A guest can purchase Vulcan ears as well as stuffed Sehlat dolls.
  • Borg Space - An area based around Star Trek's infamous Borg. The area is built around a large Borg cube, with the land's architecture suitably "Borgified" to match. The highlight is a Haunted Mansion-esque dark ride where the riders must escape the Borg cube.
October 12, 2004: Biden's running mate Paul Wellstone says "We are going to fight for universal healthcare to cover all Americans, we need to fundamentally reform the healthcare system."

October 13, 2004: The Biden campaign says in a press release "We intend to expand healthcare coverage but we do not intend to fundamentally reform the healthcare system or push for a radical universal healthcare program. Paul Wellstone just had a slip of the tongue."

October 13, 2004: The final debate is held. It is largely uneventful, except for Biden saying Kasich's promise to balance the budget was "malarkey" because he was cutting taxes at the same time. Kasich reached out to Hispanic voters, saying "I am a believer in immigration reform. Our immigration system is broken, it needs to be fixed. We need to work together, and recognize and celebrate our common diversity, to produce fair and equitable outcomes for all. I will be your President." Biden was shaking his head when Kasich said that, and later challenged Kasich on that issue, saying he was "the friend to all Americans, and my opponent just doesn't get it, folks." Pundits criticized the head-shaking as rude. The debate is not expected to affect the race.

October 15, 2004: A new poll puts has Biden and Kasich tied at 44%, and Nader at 7%.

October 16, 2004: Two polls are released. The first shows 48% Kasich, 45% Biden and 4% Nader. The second shows 48% Kasich, 40% Biden, and 6% Nader.

October 17, 2004: In their inaugural season, the Las Vegas Scorpions defeat the Dallas Barons in an upset 2-0 victory to win the 2004 MLS Cup. Many attribute their upset victory to their draft of former Manchester United superstar David Beckham.

October 17, 2004: John Kasich campaigns in New Jersey. A rally in California is scheduled for the next day.

October 18, 2004: The Tremors video game is released for the Atari Jaguar and the Nintendo Dolphin. Based on the 1990 film of the same name, the game receives overwhelmingly negative reviews, with many criticizing the choppy gameplay mechanics and abnormally long loading time.

October 21, 2004: On Nickelodeon's U-Pick Live, John Kasich is declared the winner of Kids Pick the President 2004.

October 23-28, 2004: The Chicago White Sox defeat the Houston Astros 4 games to 1 to win the 2004 World Series.

October 25, 2004: John Kasich campaigns in Maine, and urges voters to "vote against the failures of the last 8 years. Vote for change, a new direction for this country."

October 26, 2004: High school senior Sam Collins suffers a stress-induced heart attack during his third-period chemistry class in Chatham, New Jersey. He is rushed to the hospital, where he is pronounced dead less than one week after his 18th birthday. The incident sparks a national debate on the amount of work students are expected to complete in schools.

October 27, 2004: Joe Biden campaigns in Iowa and calls on voters to "don't listen to them. Things are getting better, we are growing and we are rising. Vote for progress!"

October 28, 2004: A Gallup poll has Kasich at 48%, Biden at 43%, and Nader at 5%.

November 1, 2004: Betting markets put John Kasich as the overwhelming favorite in the election, giving him triple Biden's chance of winning. Biden insists he will win, telling voters in Pennsylvania "Folks, the pundits are wrong. Harry Truman defied 'em all, he defied the polls. I see the energy, I see the crowds, you lot are great. I can tell-we're gonna win."

November 2, 2004: The 2004 U.S. election resulted in a landslide win for Senator John Kasich of Ohio. Kasich declared "Tonight, we won a victory for all Americans. we are setting a new direction for this country. And no matter who you are, no matter who you voted for, you are all invited to come join us on this journey. This, my friends, this is a turning point, a point where we turn to the light and to conservatism once more! THANK YOU!" It was a resounding mandate, coupled with gains in Congress for Republicans, though Democrats kept both houses. Kasich's center-right message and bipartisan appeal struck just the right chord with voters, who saw in him the chance to move on from the failures of Ann Richards and the partisanship, without the risk of extremism. Joe Biden was also unlucky. He was running for a third term for the Democrats when parties are rarely given third terms, the exception being 1988. The Democrats were deeply divided over the Iran War, and a divisive primary fight which left many left-wingers concluding it had been rigged did Biden no favors. This led to a strong performance for Green Party nominee Ralph Nader, and with Biden unable to provide a clear contrast against Kasich, he proved unable to unite the Democratic vote against the Republicans. A poor economy and stagnant wages also hurt, and repeated gaffes by Biden did him in too. And the pick of Connie Mack III was in hindsight a masterstroke on Kasich's part, locking up Florida while him being a popular Senator from Ohio locked up Ohio. It made Biden's path to victory very narrow, and ultimately the obstacles were too hard. A distinguished political career in Joe Biden comes to an end, though Joe professed, "You know, I'll be fine!" America has a new direction, and a new President. On January 20, 2005, John Kasich will take the Oath of Office.

genusmap.php


Sen. John Kasich (R-OH) / Sen. Connie Mack III (R-FL) - 371 EVS (51.13% PV)

Sec. of State Joe Biden (D-DE) / Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-MN) - 167 EVS (42.93% PV)

Activist Ralph Nader (G-CT) / Activist Peter Camejo (G-CA) - 0 EVS (5.01% PV)

November 2, 2004:

Senate results
Tom Daschle - Democratic: 55 (-4)
Bill Frist - Republican: 45 (+4)

100 seats
51 for majority

Republicans gain 6 seats (Tom Daschle survives), while Democrats gain Colorado and Illinois.

House results

Dick Gephardt - Democratic: 224 (-45) 48.8%
Bob Livingston - Republican: 209 (+44) 47.4%
Independents: 2 (+1)

435 seats
218 for majority

November 2, 2004: Democrat Maria Cantwell is elected Governor of Washington over Republican Pam Roach.

November 2, 2004: Republican Mitt Romney is elected Governor of Utah over Democrat Scott Matheson, Jr.

November 2, 2004: Republican Jim Bunning is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky over Democrat Steve Beshear.

November 2, 2004: Democrat Rod Blagojevich is elected as a U.S. Senator from Illinois over Republican Andrew McKenna.

November 2, 2004: Republican George Pataki is elected as a U.S. Senator from New York over Democrat Carolyn Maloney to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Al D'Amato.

November 2, 2004: Republican Mary Taylor is elected to President-Elect Kasich's U.S. Senate seat from Ohio over Democrat Ted Strickland. She is the first female U.S. Senator from Ohio.

November 2, 2004: Democrat Patricia Schroeder is elected as a U.S. Senator from Colorado over Republican Tom Tancredo. She is the first female U.S. Senator from Colorado.

November 2, 2004: Republican Sue Wagner is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Nevada over Democrat Bob Miller.

November 2, 2004: Republican Ann Coulter is elected as a U.S. Senator from Connecticut over Democratic incumbent Merrick Alpert.

November 2, 2004: Republican Joe Scarborough is elected as a U.S. Senator from Florida over Democratic incumbent Bob Graham.

November 2, 2004: Republican Greg Walden is elected as a U.S. Senator from Oregon in an upset over Democratic incumbent Ron Wyden.

November 2, 2004: Republican Tom Petri is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin over Democrat John Norquist.

November 2, 2004: Republican Ed Schafer is elected as a U.S. Senator from North Dakota in an upset over Democrat Earl Pomeroy, winning by just over 47 votes in one of the closest elections in the history of the Senate. His victory is reaffirmed in a recount that is conducted because of the close result of the election.

November 2, 2004: Republican Elizabeth Dole, wife of former Senate Majority Leader and 1996 Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole, is narrowly elected U.S. Senator from North Carolina over Democrat Jim Hunt. She is the first female Senator from North Carolina.

November 2, 2004: No candidate receives a majority of the vote in the Louisiana U.S. Senate election, so the top two candidates, Republican John McCrery and Democrat Kathleen Blanco, proceed to a runoff election to be held on December 4.

November 2, 2004: Republican Asa Hutchinson is elected as a U.S. Senator from Arkansas over Democratic incumbent Blanche Lincoln.

November 2, 2004: Former Sublime lead singer Bradley Nowell is elected as a independent Congressman from California. Sublime subsequently breaks up in 2005.

November 3, 2004: The Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas, begins selling novelty "Harambe 2004" posters and buttons as well as "Vote for Harambe" posters emulating the titular character's shirt in the recently-released film Napoleon Dynamite. The phrase "voting for Harambe" is introduced into the American political lexicon as the act of abstaining from voting (or voting for a joke candidate) because of dissatisfaction with the mainstream candidates.

November 5, 2004: Disney releases The Snow Queen into theaters. Bringing the classic fairytale of the same name to the big screen, the film features a notable performance by Chris Farley as the voice of Olaf the Snow-Monster.

November 14, 2004: Harvard sophomore Mark Zuckerberg is hit and killed by a drunk driver after attending a New England Patriots game in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

November 15, 2004: A group of terrorists infiltrate the Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca and hold thousands of pilgrims hostage, they proclaim an Islamic Republic with Mecca as its capital and the group also claims responsibility for the assassination of the Saudi Arabian King earlier in the year.

November 19, 2004: President Richards meets with President-Elect Kasich for the first transition meeting.

November 23, 2004: Based on the popular Warcraft strategy game series, Blizzard releases its hit MMORPG World of Warcraft to widespread critical acclaim and unprecedented success.

December 1, 2004: Tom Brokaw airs his last episode of NBC Nightly News, covering some of the cabinet picks of President-Elect Kasich.

December 2, 2004: John McCain (R-AZ) resigns from the U.S. Senate in order to prepare for his role as Secretary of State in the incoming Kasich administration.

December 2, 2004: Brian Williams airs his first episode of NBC Nightly News, interviewing 2004 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.

December 4, 2004: Republican John McCrery is elected as a U.S. Senator from Louisiana over Democrat Kathleen Blanco.

December 8, 2004: Governor Paul Johnson (D-AZ) appoints Arizona Attorney General Janet Napolitano to John McCain's vacant U.S. Senate seat.

December 12, 2004: For His Eyes Only, the 20th James Bond movie, is released to cinemas. It is widely advertised as Sean Bean's last Bond movie. After MI-6 is attacked by a group of elite mercenaries, M is killed (Dame Judi Dench makes her last appearance in the franchise) and Bond is forced to go on the run. The betrayal appears connected to a former Iranian colonel in the Revolutionary Guard known only as Samir (Ben Kingsley) that went rogue after the fall of his government. In order to capture Samir, Bond is forced to break out former villain Mr. Sato (Ken Watanabe) from prison, as he had ties to the colonel in the past. The movie receives widespread critical acclaim, with six Oscar nominations and two wins (Ken Watanabe takes Best Supporting Actor and Kurt Cobain gets Best Original Song). The partnership between Bond and Sato, and the commentary on the Iran War are the focus of much of the praise.

December 18, 2004: A week before Christmas, Cuban President Fidel Castro suffers a fatal heart attack at the age of 78.

December 19, 2004: U.S. President-elect John Kasich is named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2004.

December 20, 2004: A month from leaving office, President Richards gives a televised tour of her ranch, Tierra Maravillosa, in Garfield, Texas. She talks about several things, including where she was where President Kennedy was shot (The Dallas Trade Mart) to her first time at the White House (meeting Harry Truman) and similarities between her ranch and LBJ's ranch. She also goes on to say that she's confident in future President Kasich, even if they disagree on some things.

December 21, 2004: Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma signs an agreement with Russian President Alexander Lebed formally ceding Crimea to Russia.

December 23, 2004: A bomb explodes in a Moscow train station, killing 53.

December 25, 2004: Fidel Castro's state funeral is interrupted by demonstrators calling for the Communist Party of Cuba to give up power and allow democratic elections. The demonstrations are brutally crushed by the military, resulting in roughly 180 deaths.

December 27, 2004: Resentment over the brutal crushing of the protests leads to a revolution being organized against the Communist Party. Ironically, Raúl Castro is now in the position that Fulgencio Batista was in during the 1950s. Castro has the unenviable position of fending off a revolution without a major foreign backer, as China post-Xiaoping has no intention to back the Communist regime. The Chinese government views the relationship with America as being too profitable to provoke their ire.

January 1, 2005: Raúl Castro declares martial law throughout Cuba in response to growing political unrest in such cities as Havana, Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba, and Camagüey.

January 2, 2005: MeV (pronounced like "TV"), a website where users can upload and share videos, launches on the Internet. It was founded by former Netflix C.E.O. Reed Hastings and former PayPal employee Steve Chen.

January 4, 2005: NASA rover Tenacity lands successfully on the Martian surface.
 
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January 11, 2005: The NFL announces plans for an expansion team in St. Louis, Missouri, to begin play at the start of the 2005-06 NFL season.

January 11, 2005: The Notre Dame Fighting Irish defeat the Tulane Green Wave 38-16 to win the 2004-05 NCAA Football Championship.

January 18, 2005: President Richards delivers her farewell address on national television. She applauds the work that has been accomplished, and thanks the American public for electing her. Richards also says, "We must abstain from partisan politics, we must unite together, to usher in a new era of understanding."

January 20, 2005: In a televised address, Raúl Castro demands that the people of Cuba stand up to the "bourgeois reactionaries" and their "Yankee puppet-masters." Many observers note a twitch in his right lower eyelid as he delivers his speech.

January 20, 2005: John Richard Kasich is inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States. In his inaugural address he says, "We must work for the common American, no matter their race or religion. Wherever there is darkness, we must the ignite a beacon of hope. We must accept our neighbors for who they are and learn to love them, for love is more powerful than hate. In this great time of upheaval and distress around the world, we must spread the message of love far and wide."

In a now famous picture, outgoing President Richards puts her hands together to form a heart over her head as she boards Marine One. The gesture quickly picks up popularity, especially at refugee camps during the Eritrean Civil War in 2006.

January 25, 2005: NASA rover Perseverance lands successfully on the Martian surface.

January 30, 2005: The Carolina Panthers defeat the Indianapolis Colts 31-28 to win Super Bowl XXXIX.

February 1, 2005: Senator Jon Corzine (D-NJ) introduces Sam's Law, aiming to limit the amount of daily homework assigned to students in public schools.

February 2, 2005: A minor earthquake rocks Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.

February 8, 2005: A Cuban Army regiment sent to stop a demonstration in Santiago bucks its orders and sides with the protestors.

February 9, 2005: President Kasich calls on Raúl Castro to step down and allow the people of Cuba to elect a new government.

February 10, 2005: An irate Castro delivers a televised rebuttal to Kasich's statement where he angrily accuses the CIA of supporting the pro-democracy activists.

February 11, 2005: Former President George H.W. Bush visits former President Ann Richards at her ranch in Garfield, Texas. When asked if the two are friends, she replies, "George is one of the few people who know what it's like to be President. We may have said some unpleasant things about each other, but we both know it's just politics. Yes, I'd say we're friends, even though George isn't a real Texan." (Richards and Bush become really great friends through the years and poke fun at each other constantly.)

February 15, 2005: The United Nations passes a resolution that recognizes the right of pro-democracy protesters in Cuba to protest without government interference.

February 15, 2005: Tupac Shakur appears on an episode of Star Wars: The Animated Series as the voice of a Jedi Master named Mace Windu.

February 16, 2005: President Kasich applauds the U.N.'s actions on Cuba. Kasich raises the question of eventually ending the trade embargo to expose Cuba to U.S. influences with Secretary of State John McCain.

February 16, 2005: The NBA announces plans for an expansion team in St. Louis, Missouri, to begin play in the 2006-07 season.

February 18, 2005: Arbuckle, the biopic of silent film star Fatty Arbuckle, is released to cinemas. Starring Chris Farley as the title character, the film details his rise to fame and his sudden downfall following accusations of rape against him.

February 20, 2005: Vice President Connie Mack goes on the Hispanic-language TV channel Univision. There, he talks about immigration. He says "immigration reform will be a high-priority of this administration" and tells viewers "we have to treat people humanely, we have to have it work for everyone."

February 22, 2005: President Kasich says that he will give a press conference on immigration reform on February 28.

February 24, 2005: Vice President Connie Mack iterates that the U.S. will not get involved in the internal affairs of Cuba, but that the U.S. fully supports freedom of assembly and freedom of speech in Cuba.

February 28, 2005: In a press conference, President Kasich says that there should be a way for nonviolent illegal immigrants living in the country for more than four years to become citizens under certain qualifications, as well as for those who immigrated illegally and live with family members who are citizens.

March 1, 2005: To compete with the C6 Corvette, Ford introduces the GT. The new model sells 20,000 units in its first year.

March 2, 2005: Paramount officially starts construction on a scaled-down version of the successful Star Trek Experience park near the small town of Riverside, Iowa.

March 4, 2005: Nintendo announces plans for the Nintendo Universe theme park in Kyoto, Japan. The park is scheduled to open in 2009.

March 4, 2005: Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis publishes her memoir, simply entitled Jackie. When asked why after so many years she finally decided to write a book, she replies, "It was time to tell my story."

March 7, 2005: President Kasich announces a visit to Mexico for April 4 to April 7 to discuss trade agreements and immigration.

March 9, 2005: Raúl Castro flees Havana as police and military forces are either defeated by armed revolutionaries or turn against the communist regime.

March 9, 2005: Kasich applauds the Cuban revolutionaries, saying "the time for national liberation [in Cuba] has begun."

March 9, 2005: In a Gallup poll, 52% of Americans support a path to citizenship for nonviolent illegal immigrants.

March 10, 2005: The Cuban revolutionaries in Havana form a provisional government. Kasich, as well as the military junta in Venezuela, Israel, and the United Kingdom recognize it.

March 10, 2005: Local entrepreneur Andrew Mimms purchases land near the city of Detroit for the construction of his dream theme park. The park is to be named and modeled after the historic Electric Park.

March 11, 2005: Russia recognizes the Cuban revolutionary government.

March 11, 2005: The White House releases a preliminary report on immigration reform. It details support of refining the immigration process, a path to citizenship for nonviolent illegal immigrants, making it illegal for undocumented workers to be paid less than minimum wage, relinquishing border security to states, and many other measures.

March 11, 2005: Planet Hollywood announces plans for a restaurant/hotel/casino complex in Atlantic City, New Jersey, scheduled to be completed in 2010.

March 12, 2005: The Kids Next Door gain national fame when they perform on The Ryan Seacrest Show to promote their self-titled debut album.

March 12, 2005: S.B.P. agents in Kaliningrad arrest a man who was spotted carrying a gun to a rally held by President Lebed. His motives or affiliations are unknown at the time.

March 13, 2005: Boris Kolokoltsev, the man who tried to assassinate Alexander Lebed, commits suicide in prison, having hung himself with a bedsheet.

March 13, 2005: Canada recognizes the Cuban provisional government.

March 15, 2005: Australia recognizes the Cuban provisional government.

March 15, 2005: Inspired by the example of the Cuban revolution, pro-democracy demonstrators take to the streets of Caracas, Venezuela.

March 16, 2005: The official report on the attempted assassination of President Lebed is released by the FSB. It shows that the gunman, Boris Kolokoltsev, was not "political," but rather he resented Lebed for "abandoning" the Cuban government. In his diary, he says "he calls for stability. Every time, he calls for stability. Stability, law, order. One day, then, he calls for ending stability. In another country, sure, but same difference."

He was also unemployed at the time, having been lost his most recent job at a shoe factory three months earlier, when it was closed down. One of his friends noted that he drank "more than before," and that he begun to snap out at people. A government psychologist concluded that the lack of stability in his life motivated him to kill the President, because as he wrote, the President was promoting a policy which, in his mind, fought stability.

March 16, 2005: The Dixie Chicks kick off a tour for their upcoming albums with a concert in Dallas honoring President Richards' term in office, saying "We're so proud to share the best State ever with the best President in the whole wide world. Ann Richards will always be President in our hearts."

March 16, 2005: After his request is rejected by several countries, Raúl Castro is granted asylum by North Korea.

March 17, 2005: Revolutionary forces take control of the rest of Cuba. Communist officials who have not fled with Castro to North Korea are promptly arrested.

March 18, 2005: Senators Orrin Hatch, Richard Lugar, and Chuck Grassley voice their support for President Kasich's immigration reform.

March 30, 2005: The 60s Shark gets tangled in controversy after an episode shows a scene where Kenny beats up Lyndon B. Johnson after he is drafted to serve in Vietnam. When asked about the episode, Former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson says it "disgracefully mocked my late husband."

April 1, 2005: Actor and Saturday Night Live alumnus Adam Sandler is killed in a car crash in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 38. Due to the date, many assume the news to be a cruel April Fools' prank. In a statement later that afternoon, Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels dedicates the remainder of the show's 2004-05 season to Sandler's memory.

April 1, 2005: Secretary of State John McCain announces 25,000 U.S. troops will stay in Iran until 2007.

April 3, 2005: Construction begins on the TEXPRESS railroad north of College Station, though not all of the land along the route is fully purchased.

April 3, 2005: The Portland Pioneers (in AL West) and the Washington Grays (in NL East) make their debut as the 31st and 32nd teams, respectively, in Major League Baseball.

April 4, 2005: President Kasich visits Mexico to discuss trade and immigration with Mexican President Vicente Fox.

April 7, 2005: Construction officially begins on the New Electric Park. It's hoped to be finished construction in time for the 100th anniversary of the first park's opening, but contingencies are made for additional construction time needed.

April 8, 2005: The funeral for Adam Sandler is held in Los Angeles, California. In attendance are his family, Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels, fellow cast members Chris Farley, Norm MacDonald, Dan Aykroyd, and Chris Rock. Notably absent was David Spade, who later commented that he "could not be in a room where Adam was in a box."

April 15, 2005: Anti-government protests erupt in the Zimbabwean cities of Harare and Bulawayo. The military and police forces begin a brutal crackdown on the demonstrators, killing dozens and injuring hundreds more.

April 18, 2005: The Stewart Report debuts on Comedy Central. Much like The Daily Show with Stephen Colbert, the show takes a satirical look at the current events of the day. Host Jon Stewart's first guest is former presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-TX).

April 18, 2005: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) announces he is running for Governor of New York in 2006.

April 18, 2005: Sir Ernest the Brave is released to cinemas. Jim Varney reprises his role as Ernest P. Worrell, who becomes a medieval knight tasked with saving the Kingdom of Averia's Princess Hyacinth (played by Anne Hathaway) from the clutches of the evil Prince Bard (played by Ewan MacGregor). The film is both a critical and commercial failure which that accredit with killing the franchise.

April 23, 2005: University of California quarterback Aaron Rodgers is drafted by the Houston Oilers.

April 26, 2005: The Silent Hill film makes its debut on the silver screen. The film stars Sean Bean as Harry Mason, a father attempting to find his daughter in the abandoned town of Silent Hill. The film is applauded for accurately translating the film's atmosphere into the film.

May 1, 2005: McDonald's begins selling orange-flavored milkshakes in the test markets of Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, and New York.

May 5, 2005: In Russo v. Meriden Board of Education, the Supreme Court of the United States rules 5-4 that public schools cannot censor their students' opinions under the First Amendment.

May 5, 2005: Walt Disney Parks & Resorts kicks off its "Happiest Homecoming on Earth" campaign celebrating the 50th anniversary of Disneyland opening in 1955.

May 5, 2005: As part of the "Happiest Homecoming on Earth," the Brazil pavilion opens at the World Showcase in EPCOT Center. It features a Brazilian steakhouse, daily Carnival celebrations, and the Little King Mine Trek ride.

May 5, 2005: As part of the "Happiest Homecoming on Earth" celebration, Big Apple Crimestoppers opens in the New York Street area of Disney-MGM Studios. The dual-track dark ride has guests act as either cops or robbers in a car chase through the streets of 1920s Manhattan while racking up points shooting at each other.

May 5, 2005: As part of the "Happiest Homecoming on Earth" celebration, Expedition: Everest opens in the Asia section of Disney's Animal Kingdom. Considered to be the spiritual successor to Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds, the roller coaster puts guests in the middle of a Himalayan expedition to the summit of Mount Everest. However, things go wrong when the train goes backwards and encounters the Yeti.

May 5, 2005: As part of the "Happiest Homecoming on Earth" celebration, The Enchanted Snow Palace opens in Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom. Based on the 2004 Disney hit The Snow Queen, guests board sleighs and journey through the title character's frosty kingdom.

May 5, 2005: President Roh Moo-hyun of South Korea criticizes the Japanese government for controversial subject matter approved in history books relating to the colonization of Korea. The South Korean Ministry of Trade cancels plans to attend trade summits in Japan for the remainder of the year.

May 9, 2005: Cuban President Taciano Ybarra welcomes Secretary of State John McCain with open arms. They quickly start negotiating an end to the American blockade of Cuba.

May 9, 2005: Music producer and TV presenter Simon Cowell is hit and killed by a bus in London's East End.

May 10, 2005: Iranian President Khatami publicly acknowledges the history of nuclear development by the previous regime and invites inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency, France, and the U.S. to investigate the program’s facilities and results, with the aim of eventually dismantling the weapons programs.

May 12, 2005: The Americans and Cubans officially sign the agreement ending the blockade of Cuba with the American government agreeing to pay token reparations and officially apologize for the Bay of Pigs invasion. The opening of Cuba sparks a flood of international investment in Cuba.

May 12, 2005: Waves of new hydraulic fracturing wells producing natural gas come online in the Barnett Shale in North Texas over the following months, lowering gas prices, employing thousands, and bevying economic fortunes. The Eagleford Shale in South Texas begins to experience a similar boom in the coming year.

May 15, 2005: The series finale of The X-Files, entitled "Our Struggle," airs on FOX. The episode focuses on Fox Mulder and Dana Scully meeting with right-wing TV pundit named Tad O'Malley (guest appearance by Jim Varney), who claims to have proof that the X-Files are cover for a vast government conspiracy.

May 18, 2005: At E3 2005, Nintendo announces plans for its next-generation Revolution console, scheduled for release in November 2006.

May 18, 2005: The series finale of Red vs. Blue takes place. With Halo: Combat Evolved being a singleton due to flagging sales and never seeing a sequel release, Rooster Teeth elects to end the series after three seasons, having the main characters escape from the distant future only to wind up in Blood Gulch again. Running out of material and working with an aging game engine are cited. Nonetheless, the series ends only after helping along a boom in the "machinima" video craze, and the company goes on to break into live-action sketch comedy, creating many phenomenally popular MeV videos in the years to come.

May 19, 2005: At E3 2005, Atari announces the Atari Cougar, its next-generation console scheduled for release in November 2006.

May 20, 2005: Whodunit, a murder mystery game show hosted by John Walsh, premieres on NBC.

May 21, 2005: Reading defeats Manchester City 2-1 to win the 2005 FA Cup.

May 23, 2005: A mine collapse near Pikeville, Kentucky, strands 17 men 650 feet underground.

May 24, 2005: Amanda Papp, a legal secretary from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, becomes the fourth million-dollar winner on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.

May 27, 2005: Pirates of the Caribbean: The First Moon is released to cinemas. Based on the attraction at Disney theme parks around the world, the film stars Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, an eccentric pirate who helps blacksmith Will Turner (played by Christian Bale) save the love of his life Elizabeth Swann (played by Jessica Alba), the daughter of Royal Governor Weatherby Swann (played by Liam Neeson). The film is both a critical and commercial success, becoming one of the highest grossing films of 2005.

May 27, 2005: DreamWorks Animation releases The Big Break to cinemas. A parody of the 1963 film The Great Escape, the film focuses on the attempt of Ed the Elephant (voiced by Tony Shalhoub), Larry the Lion (voiced by J.K. Simmons), Zeke the Zebra (voiced by Chris Rock), and Olli the Orangutan (voiced by Gwen Stefani) to escape captivity at the Central Park Zoo and flee to Zanzibar.

May 31, 2005: Tanja Lindström, age 27 from Sweden, is crowned Miss Universe 2005.

May 31-June 11, 2005: The San Jose Sharks defeat the Washington Capitals 4 games to 2 to win the 2005 Stanley Cup.

June 6, 2005: A Chicago-to-London American Airlines flight is diverted to Philadelphia after passenger Kevin Black attempts to stab a flight attendant with a box cutter.

June 9-19, 2005: The Pittsburgh Ironmen defeat the Sacramento Kings 4 games to 1 to win the 2005 NBA Finals.

June 11, 2005: Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, is assassinated in Harare, Zimbabwe.

June 13, 2005: The NFL announces that the expansion team in St. Louis will be named the St. Louis Archers.

June 15, 2005: The Hilton Group begins the construction of another hotel in Cuba to replace the one that was nationalized during the Cuban Revolution of 1959.

June 15, 2005: Circuit City announces its acquisition of video game retailer GameStop.

June 15, 2005: Filmmaker Michael Moore releases the documentary Swimming for Yankton, in which he tries to find out why the Yankton Massacre happened the way it did and why the United States has a substantially higher violent crime rate than other developed countries. The title of the documentary references to the story that Gregory McConnell, Gary Zimmer, and Michael Langdon went for a swim in McConnell's backyard swimming pool mere hours before the attack.

June 16, 2005: Cuban President Ybarra officially signs a bill revoking the Castro-era ban on gambling due to the massive amounts of tourist dollars that said revocation would accrue for Cuba. He does, however, implement stringent standards for who gets a license to operate a casino in Cuba. This is to prevent disreputable groups like organized crime getting control over gambling in Cuba and to prevent gambling from being dominated by foreign-owned casinos.

June 18, 2005: Cuban President Ybarra announces the formation of a "truth and reconciliation" commission to investigate human rights abuses committed under the communist regime.

June 18, 2005: The horror film Blackened Heart is released to high box office revenue. The film features Dr. Hector Blackwood returning to kill once again by possessing people via his preserved heart. The "good" Doctor was a serial killer who dabbled in necromancy and enchanted his heart in a ritual in the case of him being killed. He was eventually killed ironically by his last attempted victim. His heart was preserved and put on display in the local Museum of the Strange. The film was created by a creative team staffed by horror fans. The characters and locations are all references to other horror movies. The Museum of the Strange, in particular, is a treasure trove of film references. Jason Voorhees's hockey mask and machete, Freddy Krueger's hat and glove, Michael Myers' mask, and even artifacts from more obscure slashers like Matt Cordell's uniform and badge. The film's self-aware humor is a particular point in the film's favor.

June 21, 2005: With the Supreme Judicial Court's ruling in Dermott v. Worcester, Massachusetts legalizes same-sex marriage.

June 26, 2005: The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2005 passes the House 255-180. Despite opposition from conservatives and some left-wingers, it passed easily and now goes to the Senate.

June 28, 2005: The Hall of Presidents reopens at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World with an audio-animatronic figure of U.S. President John Kasich.

July 3, 2005: After a six-month absence to focus on his recovery from cancer, Peter Jennings returns to ABC News.

July 6, 2005: The International Olympic Committee selects Moscow, Russia, to host the 2012 Summer Olympics.

July 8, 2005: Iron Man 2, directed by Sam Raimi, is released to cinemas. The film focuses on a falling-out conflict between Tony Stark and Justin Hammer. Starring Nathan Fillion, Kirsten Dunst, Samuel L. Jackson, Timothy Dalton, and J.K. Simmons as Henry Peter Gyrich.

July 18, 2005: Six Flags purchases the struggling Cypress Gardens park in Winter Haven, Florida. The park will be re-branded as Six Flags Cypress Gardens for the 2006 summer season.

July 18, 2005: Hovhannes Zadian is extradited to the United States for trial.

July 21, 2005: New Jersey teenager Brian Martinez is arrested after scaling the South Tower of the World Trade Center disguised as a window washer.

July 24, 2005: NASCAR driver Tony Stewart is killed in a fiery crash during the 472nd lap of the Pennsylvania 500 at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

July 27, 2005: The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2005 passes the Senate 68 to 32.

July 29, 2005: President Kasich signs the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2005, with dozens of Latino leaders and activists surrounding him, at the White House.

August 1, 2005: Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor announces her intention to retire upon the appointment of a successor.

August 5, 2005: Idiocracy is released to cinemas. Directed by Beavis & Butthead and King of the Hill creator Mike Judge, the film focuses on U.S. Army Corporal Joe Bauer (played by Luke Wilson), who takes part in a top-secret cryogenic sleep experiment that inadvertently sends him 500 years into the future. He wakes up to find a world that has been comically dumbed down by a constant bombardment of advertising and reality television. A modest box office success, the film receives generally positive reviews from critics, with many the cautionary satire of "capitalism run wild."

August 12, 2005: Escape from Cluster Prime, a TV movie acting as the Season 2 finale of My Life as a Teenage Robot, airs on Nickelodeon. The movie focuses on how XJ9, tired of her hometown, decides to go to Cluster Prime, a far-off galaxy ruled by rock star villain Smytus, voiced by Tabitha's Secret frontman Rob Thomas.

August 15, 2005: President Kasich authorizes the construction of the National Museum of African-American History and Culture.

August 19, 2005: President John Kasich nominates Brooklyn Law School professor Andrew Napolitano for Sandra Day O'Connor's seat on the Supreme Court.

August 29, 2005: Hurricane Katrina makes landfall near Mobile, Alabama. Winds, rain, and storm surge lead to significant damage across the Gulf Coast, but there are no reported deaths.

August 30, 2005: Six Flags announces plans for a Hurricane Harbor water park adjacent to its New Orleans amusement park. The water park is scheduled to open in 2007.

August 30, 2005: Owner Stan Kroenke announces plans for a new home stadium for the Los Angeles Rams, scheduled to be completed in time for the 2009-10 NFL season.

September 2, 2005: A series of bomb attacks occur in Tehran, Iran. Over 200 are killed and a thousand are injured.

September 2, 2005: Jeff Gorman, an IT specialist from Tacoma, Washington, wins Season 1 of Whodunit.

September 3, 2005: Amtrak announces that the portion of its Sunset Limited line between Mobile, Alabama, and Orlando, Florida, will officially resume service on Columbus Day.

September 3, 2005: The Second Revolutionary Guard claims responsibility for the Tehran bombings.

September 4, 2005: President Kasich authorizes airstrikes against suspected S.R.G. camps in Iran. He vows to "rid the world of the terrorist parasite."

September 8, 2005: Trump University Danvers officially opens its doors for the college's first semester. The college is applauded for its restoration of the historic former asylum's distinctive architecture.

September 17, 2005: A reboot of the series The Wild Wild West premieres on CBS. The series stars Jim West (Nathan Fillion) and Artemus Gordon (Tim Curry) as they fight against threats to the United States. The series also features Peter Dinklage as the nefarious Doctor Loveless, who is the arch-nemesis of the duo. The series is praised for its unique blend of western, spy thriller, and steampunk elements.

September 17, 2005: Jasmine Estelle Vega, age 21 from Nevada, is crowned Miss America 2006.

September 18, 2005: After six months of protests, the Venezuelan junta finally agrees to step aside and allow elections.

September 19, 2005: Elections in Venezuela are scheduled for May 16, 2006.

September 20, 2005: With the Court of Appeals' ruling in Matthews v. Nassau County Board of Health, New York legalizes same-sex marriage.

September 21, 2005: U.S. Senator Madeleine Kunin (D-VT) announces that she will not be seeking re-election to a third term in the Senate in 2006.

September 22, 2005: Representative Robert Cramer (D-AL) says he will introduce an amendment in the House of Representatives to prohibit same-sex marriage on the federal level.

September 29, 2005: Andrew Napolitano is confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice by the Senate 53-46, with one abstention.

October 6, 2005: A remake of the Jem and the Holograms series premieres on television. The show centers around Jerrica Benton's (Tara Strong) efforts to regain her father's company from the greedy Erica Raymond (Grey DeIsle). She accomplishes this by using the hologram technology left to her by her father to create the alter-ego of Jem to secretly become a famous musician. She is assisted by her friends and an AI her father created named Synergy (Kath Soucie) who's grown beyond the limits of her programming in the years she had been operating. A considerable bit of the humor is derived from Synergy's eccentric personality and lust for (digital) life. The series lampshades the 80's-vintage nature of the holographic disguises by having Synergy sheepishly admit to liking 80's clothes. Unlike the original series the holograms are solid, which isn't very well-explained in the series proper. Nor how a middling-successful music executive could create an AI as sophisticated as Synergy. A few throwaway lines of dialogue and an Autobot logo put in as an Easter Egg end up creating a fan theory where the holograms and Synergy were developed from Cybertronian technology. While that idea isn't pursued in the series proper a crossover between the Jem and Transformers comics at IDW effectively canonizes the theory in at least the comics continuity.

October 7, 2005: A Few Good Ghosts, the newest Disney animated feature, is released to cinemas. Based on "Romeo and Juliet," the film follows a group of mountain spirits as they help Elgin Harper and Rose McGee, two young lovers whose families are embroiled in a feud in late 1940s Appalachia. Critics and fans alike applaud the bluegrass score and soundtrack, featuring original songs by Dolly Parton.

October 7, 2005: Mobile Suit Gundam Galactica: Victory premieres. The series is the final part of the Galactica Trilogy and follows the conclusion of the war between the Orion Alliance and the Centauri Empire with Kira Yamato in the new Victory Gundam.

October 10, 2005: Amtrak officially resumes service on the portion of its Sunset Limited line between Mobile, Alabama, and Orlando, Florida.

October 16, 2005: The Kansas City Wizards defeat the Houston Dynamo 3-0 to win the 2005 MLS Cup.

October 22-27, 2005: The St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Anaheim Angels 4 games to 3 to win the 2005 World Series.

November 8, 2005: Democrat Richard Codey is elected Governor of New Jersey over Republican Steve Lonegan.

November 8, 2005: Democrat Mark Green is re-elected Mayor of New York City over Republican Tom Ognibene.

November 12, 2005: U.S. Senator Joel Hyatt (D-OH) announces that he will not seek re-election for a third term in 2006.

November 18, 2005: After a very public four-month-long trial, Halliburton CEO David Lesar is sentenced to 30 years in prison for fraud and obstruction of justice, along with dozens of others involved in the conspiracy.

November 24, 2005: A bomb explodes at Columbus Circle in New York City during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. Later that night, President Kasich delivers a primetime address to the nation, declaring, "We will find those responsible for this heinous act on what was supposed to be a joyous and festive occasion. We will find them, and we will bring them to justice."

November 30, 2005: With the state Supreme Court's ruling in Bryan v. Whelan, Connecticut legalizes same-sex marriage.

December 1, 2005: The Burning Horse Nation, a Native American separatist group, claims responsibility for the Columbus Circle bombing.

December 2, 2005: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is released to cinemas. Directed by Guillermo Del Toro, it's the first part in the adaptation of one of J.R.R. Tolkien's classics. The movie centers on Bilbo Baggins (Eddie Redmayne) going on a adventure with Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and 13 dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield (Simon Westaway) in search of the Lonely Mountain. The movie receives praise and launches the career of Eddie Redmayne. It is nominated for five Oscars and wins three.

December 4, 2005: After Alexander Lebed's two terms as President of Russia, new elections are held. Pro-Lebed candidate Sergey Glazyev is elected President with 61% of the vote. Sergey Shoigu comes in second, with Ivan Melnikov in third.

December 18, 2005: Texas Governor Chet Edwards announces he will not seek election to a second full term. Edwards had served two years as Governor prior to being elected to the office in 2002.

December 19, 2005: Cuban President Taciano Ybarra is named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2005.

January 3, 2006: Prince William is admitted to Sandhurst for training to be an Army officer under the name Steve Wales.

January 6, 2006: ABC Sports and ESPN renew their contract for Monday Night Football and Sunday Night Football.

January 10, 2006: The Penn State Nittany Lions defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes 13-3 to win the 2005-06 NCAA Football Championship.

January 15, 2006: The last Garfield strip is published. The panels (except one) gives an explanation as to why Garfield is ending, the last panel shows Jon, Odie, and Garfield opening a door with Jon saying, "Well, this is our new home!"

January 16, 2006: A car bomb explodes at the African Union summit in Khartoum, Sudan, killing 67. A Darfur liberation group claims responsibility.

January 29, 2006: The Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 9-6 to win Super Bowl XL.

February 8, 2006: The Kids Next Door win Album of the Year for their self-titled debut album, Song of the Year for "Underneath the Stars," and Best New Artist at the 2006 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California.

February 9, 2006: Sergey Glazyev is inaugurated as President of Russia. He declares a policy of new economic reforms and a "new post-Soviet integration wave."

February 10-26, 2006: The 2006 Winter Olympics are held in Zaragoza, Spain. The United States and Russia are neck and neck in the medal count, with China trailing behind in second.

February 10, 2006: Protests over the election of Sergey Glazyev, which had been building up since December, break out violently the day after his inauguration in most Russian major cities.

February 10, 2006: Dossier, a website dedicated to the idea of "social networking," is founded and launched on the Internet by tech entrepreneur Sean Parker.

February 24, 2006: Red Fall, a movie set in a alternate timeline where Douglas MacArthur wins the Presidency in 1948 and gets involved in the Chinese Civil War in 1949, is released to cinemas. An action comedy about a 1st Marine Division squad trying to capture the communist capital of Beijing, it is one of the posthumous roles of Adam Sandler's career.

February 27, 2006: The Kasich administration announces it will no longer supply foreign aid for the support of abortion services or education.

March 1, 2006: Governor Mazie Hirono (D) of Hawaii signs an executive order legalizing same-sex marriage in her state.

March 5, 2006: At the 78th Academy Awards, Arbuckle wins Best Picture.

March 8, 2006: Continental Airlines Flight 57, en route from Boston to Miami, crashes off the coast of South Carolina, killing all 178 people onboard.

March 9, 2006: The Second Revolutionary Guard takes credit for the downing of Continental 57.

March 10, 2006: Zimbabwe dictator Robert Mugabe dies in his sleep at the age of 82. The already heavily impoverished nation collapses into anarchy as figures in the government fight to fill the space left by Mugabe's death.

March 10, 2006: A bomb goes off in a Detroit mosque during Friday services, killing 22 people. President Kasich condemns the bombing, saying "99% of Muslims are peace-loving people and shouldn't be punished for the actions of a few radicals."

March 13, 2006: Iranian special forces raid a Second Revolutionary Guard camp near Qom, killing 8 people.

March 15, 2006: U.N. Peacekeepers are sent into Zimbabwe in order to restore stability to the war-torn country.

March 23, 2006: Michael Howard resigns as leader of the Conservative Party in order to spend more time with his family. Deputy leader Malcolm Rifkind becomes the new leader of the Conservative Party.

March 24, 2006: The teen sitcom Better Days premieres on the Disney Channel. Starring Alyson Stoner as teenage movie star Chloe Stewart, the show deals with her efforts to balance both her school life and her Hollywood life.

March 29, 2006: Gemini Man, directed by Jonathan Mostow and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, is released to cinemas. The story tells about futuristic special forces officer who hunt for the terrorist (Colin Farrell) who is a younger clone of the protagonist (Bruce Willis).

April 7, 2006: Alex Jones dies of a heart attack while live on the air in Austin, Texas.

April 18, 2006: Ethnic clashes in Iran’s Khuzestan province break out between the majority Persians and the province’s minority Arabs. 12 are pronounced dead and an additional 8 injured.

April 18, 2006: A clone of The Enchanted Snow Palace from the Magic Kingdom opens as part of the Glacier Lake area of Port Disney in Anaheim, California.

May 13, 2006: Sunderland defeats Fulham 2-1 to win the 2006 FA Cup.

May 16, 2006: Prince's Charities Canada is founded; it is a group of nonprofit organizations who have a connection to Prince Charles. There is a similar organisation along the same lines in the U.K. managing Prince Charles' charity interests. The Prince of Wales personally cuts the ribbon on the new offices. The proceeds from sales of Prince Charles' Duchy Originals products in Canada are donated to the charities associated with The Prince's Charities Canada.

May 18, 2006: The NHL announces plans for expansion teams in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Dallas, Texas, to begin play in the 2007-08 NHL season.

May 19, 2006: Paulina Ferreiro, age 18 from Brazil, is crowned Miss Universe 2006.

May 23, 2006: Veteran character actor Jim Varney appears on Late Night with Conan O'Brien and says, "Yes, the rumors are true. We're retiring Ernest. I know, I know, but it's for the best. The folks at Disney and I believe he's had his time in the sun and we're looking at different options to broaden our horizons in the future."

May 26, 2006: The New Electric Park is officially opened on the 100th anniversary of the original park's opening. The park is a massive upgrade of the first Electric Park, and is seen as a "budget Disneyland." The park is 27 hectares in size and has Roaring 20s theme as a tribute to the theme park that had burned down 85 years ago. The park's opening brought a truly massive amount of visitors to the park. The massive amount of tourist dollars the park, the hotels, and the neighboring shopping center bring to the city in a single day spark quite a bit of gentrification in the area around the park. The positive effects the park bring to the city are similar to how Disneyland improved Anaheim decades earlier. Ford's investment in the initial funding of the park is vindicated.

May 26, 2006: Warner Bros. Feature Animation releases Tune Search to cinemas. The film is about the Looney Tunes organizing a talent competition by Simon Cowell (who completed his voice work shortly before his untimely death) with the winner becoming the newest members of the Looney Tunes. The winner of the competition is a new character named Gary Gator (voiced by Tom Kenny).

May 30, 2006: Starbucks opens its first franchise in Havana, Cuba.

June 2, 2006: Regis Philbin airs his last episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. He will be succeeded by Today weatherman Al Roker when the new season debuts in September.

June 5-17, 2006: The Cleveland Monsters defeat the Detroit Red Wings 4 games to 2 to win the 2006 Stanley Cup.

June 8-20, 2006: The Sacramento Kings defeat the Indiana Pacers 4 games to 2 to win the 2006 NBA Finals.

June 9, 2006: She Went to War is released to cinemas. A film adaptation of the autobiography by Gulf War veteran Rhonda Cornum, Natalie Portman plays the title character, who is one of only three survivors of a helicopter crash near Baghdad.

June 9, 2006: Pixar and Disney release The Open Road to cinemas. The film is about Thunder Jackson (voiced by Owen Wilson), a prototype electric racecar struggling to live in a gas-guzzling world. Much of the film is spent in a desert village called Radiator Springs, where he meets and befriends a neglected monster truck named The Beast (voiced by Jim Varney) and a retired racecar nicknamed "Doc" (voiced by Paul Newman).

June 12, 2006: The second Star Trek Experience Park opens in Riverside, Iowa. The park is a massive tourist attraction for the small town and is set to become one of Iowa's most popular attractions.

June 12, 2006: Hewlett-Packard officially releases their HP3 digital music player. Most of the Microsoft successors officially follow suit.

June 15, 2006: With the wild success of New Electric Park in Detroit, another ambitious entrepreneur officially purchases land to rebuild the long-closed Manhattan Beach theme park near Denver.

June 20, 2006: Construction begins on the new Manhattan Beach theme park near Denver.

June 23, 2006: The Ghost Rider film is released into theatres. It stars Johnny Depp as Johnny Blaze, a daredevil stuntman who sold his soul to Mephisto (Peter Fonda) to save his father's life. At night he becomes Mephisto's Ghost Rider and hunts down the wicked to send their souls to hell. He also has to see that the incredibly powerful Contract of San Venganza does not fall into the wrong hands.

June 23, 2006: Treasure Island, the 43rd Disney animated feature film, is released to cinemas. Featuring Tobey Maguire as the voice of Jim Hawkins and Christopher Lloyd as the voice of Long John Silver, the film is a musical adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel.

July 2, 2006: Roberto Madrazo of the Institutional Revolutionary Party is elected President of Mexico.

July 7, 2006: With the state Supreme Court's ruling in Blackwood v. Thurman, Washington legalizes same-sex marriage.

July 8, 2006: Trey Parker and Matt Stone announce they are writing the screenplay for a live-action version of Team America: World Police.

July 9, 2006: The Netherlands defeats Portugal 3-0 to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

July 30, 2006: Warner Brothers release the latest Batman movie to theatres. Batman: Caped Crusader is likened to an updated adaptation of the old 60s Adam West show with its much lighter tone than the last film. However, it is unlike the 60s television show in that it takes itself seriously enough that the dramatic moments don't feel out of place or obligatory. Alec Baldwin's casting as Batman is applauded but the one that steals the show is the Joker. Robin Williams' Joker is seen by many as one of the greatest adaptations of the character to the silver screen. The actor's madcap energy improves every scene the character appears in. Williams's Joker was so well loved that audiences cheered when it was revealed that he survived the film's climactic ending. Most of the surviving members of the 60s Batman series have cameos in the film. Adam West played eccentric mayor Hamilton Hill.

August 1, 2006: Bob Barr announces he is running for President of the United States as a Libertarian.

August 1, 2006: Film critic Roger Ebert announces that he has been successfully treated for thyroid and salivary gland cancers, and plans on publishing a review of Batman: Caped Crusader the following week.

August 2, 2006: Taylor Swift, a high school junior from Reading, Pennsylvania, becomes an Internet sensation when a MeV video of her stand-up comedy routine about her upcoming senior year goes viral.

August 5, 2006: A provisional government is formed in Zimbabwe under UN Peacekeeper protection. The provisional government's goal is to stabilize the country in time for the elections planned for August 12, 2008.

August 5, 2006: Jason Carter (D-GA) announces he is running for President of the United States.

August 6, 2006: The last episode of Blue's Clues airs on Nickelodeon.

August 8, 2006: Former Bush staffer and California gubernatorial candidate Condoleezza Rice is chosen to succeed Paul Tagliabue as Commissioner of the National Football League.

August 8, 2006: Dead Rising is released for the Atari Panther and the Nintendo Dolphin. Created by Keiji Inafune, the video game is a zombie-slaying game heavily influenced by George Romero's 1978 film Dawn of the Dead. The game centers on Frank West, a photojournalist who ends up trapped in a zombie-infested shopping mall in the fictional town of Willamette, Colorado.

August 9, 2006: Roger Ebert publishes his review of Batman: Caped Crusader, giving the film two thumbs up. He calls the films "a rip-roaring good time that's sure to keep the entire family on the edge of their seats," and praises Robin Williams' performance as the Joker as "perhaps the most chilling Hollywood villain of our generation."

August 9, 2006: Figment's Imagination, a children's educational TV show based on the Journey Into Imagination ride at EPCOT Center, debuts on Playhouse Disney. The show's title character is a purple dragon (voiced by Tom Kenny) who teaches young children about basic concepts like numbers, colors, and letters.

August 10, 2006: The countries participating in the stabilization of Zimbabwe agree to a massive economic aid package to bail out the country's ailing economy. Similarly, large companies located in said countries also invest considerable amounts of money into the Zimbabwean economy. The value of the Zimbabwean Dollar soon reaches a record high which is remarkable for a currency that had been nearly worthless for years.

August 10, 2006: NYC Mayor Mark Green announces plans for a performing arts center at the World Trade Center complex, scheduled to be completed in 2010.

August 12, 2006: Zimbabwean President Joseph Tangwerai signs an executive order officially aborting the "fast track land reform" that had been stripping the land from the minority white farmers in the country. Much of this land is either returned or compensated for with money provided by the foreign financial aid.

August 15, 2006: Zimbabwean President Joseph Tangwerai promises that his administration will be fair and equitable to all Zimbabwean citizens regardless of race. A small yet considerable number of "Rhodies" are moved by this speech enough to move back to Zimbabwe.

August 16, 2006: New Electric Park owner Andrew Mimms officially purchases the American rights to the name "Luna Park."

August 23, 2006: The Trump University Company begins work on its most ambitious project to date. The company purchases the land surrounding the ghost town Rhyolite, Nevada, for use in constructing the third Trump University. The company had decided that they were interested in constructing a college town from the ground up. The company officially makes it a priority to restore as many of the town's original buildings as possible.

August 28, 2006: Hurricane Kayla makes landfall as a Category 4 hurricane near Exmore, Virginia, at about 2:00 AM.

August 29-September 2, 2006: Hurricane Kayla floods and devastates parts of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Delaware, Philadelphia, and southern New Jersey. Kayla dissipates as it heads out the Atlantic Ocean.

August 29, 2006: Governor Myrth York (D) of Rhode Island signs the Gender and Sexual Rights Act, legalizing same-sex marriage in her state.

September 1, 2006: Condoleezza Rice assumes the office of Commissioner of the National Football League. She is the first woman and the first African-American to hold the position.

September 1, 2006: Annie Lorenz, an interior designer from Stockton, California, wins Season 2 of Whodunit.

September 1, 2006: Tropical Storm Betty forms off the western coast of Africa.

September 4, 2006: Australian television personality and conservationist Steve Irwin survives a near fatal stingray attack while filming the documentary Ocean's Deadliest.

September 4, 2006: Tropical Storm Betty is officially designated a hurricane.

September 5, 2006: Al Roker airs his first episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. While one contestant makes it to the million-dollar question, he decides to walk away.

September 5, 2006: Courtney Love, lead singer of Hole and ex-wife of Kurt Cobain, dies of an overdose on OxyContin.

September 6, 2006: Kurt Cobain releases a statement on Courtney Love's death, saying that while their relationship may have deteriorated in recent years, he was still saddened by her death.

September 6, 2006: Notorious anti-video game lawyer Jack Thompson is disbarred by the Supreme Court of Florida for inappropriate conduct, primarily making false statements to tribunals and humiliating litigants.

September 7, 2006: Hurricane Betty makes landfall in eastern Texas. Eight people are confirmed dead, with countless injured. Construction of the TEXPRESS high-speed rail line is put on hiatus.

September 7, 2006: The first instance of an "Advice Animal" meme appears on a mushroomkingdom.com thread titled "Guide to Kissing."

September 10, 2006: Jacksonville Jaguars rookie quarterback and 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Austin Petersen sets a rookie record for passing yards and touchdowns in a game against the St. Louis Archers.

September 11, 2006: Disgraced oil company Halliburton officially folds after months of plummeting profits following the end of the trial. Nobody was willing to associate with them due to the bad reputation the trial gave them.

September 15, 2006: ExxonMobil is dissolved under the same precedent that dissolved Microsoft. The company is ordered to split up into successor companies like how the company's predecessor Standard Oil was forced to dissolve over a hundred years ago. The positive results of the Microsoft break-up, the creation of a new colorful and prosperous market, is used as evidence to support breaking up ExxonMobil.

September 15, 2006: Construction officially begins on Trump University Rhyolite. The university is based on the town's famous Cook Building, which is used as part of the main university building. The university and shopping center are the first structures being built in the new town, along with the town's new roads. Also being constructed concurrently is the Donald J. Trump Highway leading to the town.

September 16, 2006: Colleen Schrader, age 19 from Minnesota, is crowned Miss America 2007.

September 19, 2006: Legendary video game producer and Mega-Man creator Keiji Inafune dies in his sleep at the age of 41 after months of declining health. This prompts the Capcom board of directors to greenlight the much-anticipated Mega-Man Legends 3 after years of refusing funding.

October 1, 2006: McDonald's officially adds orange-flavored milkshakes to its menu nationwide.

October 4, 2006: South Park airs the episode "Make Love, Not Warcraft," bringing machinima-style animation to TV audiences across the country. Soon, it is seen as a high watermark of World of Warcraft's popularity before its eventual decline.

October 5, 2006: Climate change protests outside the White House turns into riots and about two dozen people are arrested. One of those arrested is Massachusetts doctor and prominent Green Party activist Jill Stein.

October 7, 2006: Jim Varney hosts Saturday Night Live and gives his final public performance as Ernest P. Worrell during the "Weekend Update" with Seth Meyers.

October 11, 2006: South Park airs the episode "Mystery of the Urinal Deuce," in which Stan and Kyle "discover" the true cause of Jill Stein's arrest while Mr. Mackey tries to find out who defecated in the boys' room urinal at South Park Elementary.

October 13, 2006: The Meadowlands Xanadu officially opens in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Widely hailed as the Northeast's answer to the Mall of America, the complex quickly becomes one of New Jersey's top tourist attractions, rivaling Six Flags Great Adventure and the Atlantic City boardwalk.

October 15, 2006: The Houston Dynamo defeat the New England Revolution 4-0 to win the 2006 MLS Cup.

October 21-29, 2006: The Seattle Mariners defeat the Montreal Expos 4 games to 3 to win the 2006 World Series.

October 25, 2006: South Park airs the episode "Hell on Earth 2006," in which Satan hosts a My Super Sweet 16-style Halloween party in Las Vegas for all of Hell. Meanwhile, the boys summon Lars Ulrich through a Bloody Mary-type ritual.

October 26, 2006: Green Party activist Jill Stein, arrested two weeks earlier for inciting riots in front of the White House, is sentenced to a year in federal prison.

October 30, 2006: The Smithsonian Institution announces plans for the National Museum of the American Woman, dedicated to chronicling over 200 years of women's contributions to American history and culture. The museum scheduled to open in 2013.

October 31, 2006: The St. Louis Stallions (in the Western Conference) make their debut in the NBA.

November 1, 2006: South Park airs the episode "Go God Go," in which Cartman buries himself in the snow in an attempt to freeze himself until the release date for the Nintendo Revolution.

November 6, 2006: An Iranian Air Force C-130 crashes into a ten-story building in Tehran, killing 128. Iranian government officials blame the act on Islamist dissidents.

November 7, 2006: In a result that bucked historical trends regarding midterms, Republicans won control of the House of Representatives for the first time since the Eisenhower administration. Gains over the Richards landslide in 2000 tied the Senate, giving the GOP effective control using the tiebreaker of Vice President Connie Mack, but subsequently Senators Douglas Wilder (D-VA) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) switched parties to give them a comfortable 52-48 seat majority.

Many theories are created from this historic result. Kasich's high approval ratings are a factor, plus the liberation of Cuba and the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act allowed for increased margins among Latinos (46-54 according to exit polling) - ultimately proving crucial in the two key GOP wins in California (Matt Fong defeating Dianne Feinstein) and Arizona (Jon Kyl winning back his seat from Sam Coppersmith).

Observers expect a flurry of new legislation to come out of Capitol Hill to President Kasich's desk after the new year.

Senate results
Don Nickles - Republican: *50 (+6)
Tom Daschle - Democratic: 50 (-6)

100 seats
51 for majority

*52 R48 D after Douglas Wilder and Ben Nelson switch from Democrats to Republicans following the election.

House results
Bob Livingston - Republican: 218 (+9) 48.6%
Dick Gephardt - Democratic: 215 (-9) 47.5%
Independents: 2

435 seats
218 for majority

November 7, 2006: California voters approve Proposition 1F, permitting the creation of a high-speed rail project in California.

November 7, 2006: Voters in Minnesota vote narrowly in favor of changing the state flag to the St. Paul Pioneer Press' "North Star" design.

November 7, 2006: A ballot initiative to legalize same-sex marriage in California succeeds with 53% of voters supporting the measure.

November 7, 2006: Republican Tom DeLay is elected Governor of Texas over Democrat Bob Gammage and Independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn.

November 7, 2006: Democrat Caroline Kennedy is elected Governor of New York over Republican Rudy Giuliani.

November 7, 2006: Republican Tom McClintock is elected Governor of California over Democrat Steve Westly.

November 7, 2006: Republican Jennifer Carroll is elected Governor of Florida over Democrat Scott Maddox.

November 7, 2006: Republican Linda Schrenko is elected Governor of Georgia over Democrat Mark Taylor.

November 7, 2006: Republican Mike Ditka is narrowly re-elected Governor of Illinois over Democrat Edwin Eisendrath by a margin of 369 votes.

November 7, 2006: Republican Duke Aiona is elected Governor of Hawaii over Democratic incumbent Mazie Hirono. He is the first Republican Governor of Hawaii in 42 years.

November 7, 2006: In an upset victory, Republican Jim Greenwood is narrowly elected Governor of Pennsylvania over Democrat Jim Eisenhower.

November 7, 2006: Democrat Deval Patrick is elected Governor of Massachusetts over Republican Scott Brown and Independent Christy Mihos.

November 7, 2006: Republican Susana Martinez is elected Governor of New Mexico over Democratic incumbent Martin Chavez.

November 7, 2006: Republican Lorraine Hunt is elected Governor of Nevada over Democrat James Gibson and Libertarian Melody Tamayo.

November 7, 2006: Republican Roy Moore is elected Governor of Alabama over Democrat Nathan Mathis.

November 7, 2006: Republican J.B. Van Hollen is elected Governor of Wisconsin over Democrat Jim Doyle.

November 7, 2006: Republican Carol Springer is elected Governor of Arizona over Democrat Alfredo Gutierrez and Libertarian Barry Hess.

November 7, 2006: Democrat Steve Kelley is elected Governor of Minnesota over Republican incumbent Tim Pawlenty and Independent Peter Hutchinson.

November 7, 2006: Republican Mark Sanford is re-elected Governor of South Carolina over Democrat Frank Willis.

November 7, 2006: Democrat Richard Cordray is re-elected Governor of Ohio over Republican Jennette Bradley.

November 7, 2006: Republican Bob Schaffer is re-elected Governor of Colorado over Democrat John Hickenlooper.

November 7, 2006: Democrat Geraldine Ferraro is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from New York over Republican Vito Fossella.

November 7, 2006: Democrat Jon Corzine is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey over Republican Doug Forrester.

November 7, 2006: Republican Jeb Bush is elected as a U.S. Senator from Florida over Democratic incumbent Allen Boyd.

November 7, 2006: Republican Paul Ryan is elected as a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin over Democratic incumbent Herb Kohl.

November 7, 2006: Democrat Mel Carnahan is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Missouri over Republican Jo Ann Emerson.

November 7, 2006: Democratic incumbent Janet Napolitano is elected U.S. Senator from Arizona over Republican Jim Kolbe to finish the term of her predecessor, current Secretary of State John McCain.

November 7, 2006: Republican Deborah Pryce is elected as a U.S. Senator from Ohio over Democrat Marc Dann.

November 7, 2006: Democrat Peter Welch is elected U.S. Senator from Vermont over Republican Phil Scott.

November 7, 2006: Republican Bill Haslam is elected as a U.S. Senator from Tennessee over Democrat Phil Bredesen.

November 10, 2006: After several attempts in Congress to pass a federal ban on same-sex marriage and the referendum results in California, President Kasich says, "Though I personally do not believe in same-sex marriage, I believe that any attempt to ban it at the federal level is a direct violation of the constitution." Former President Gerald Ford (whom Kasich has been compared to on multiple occasions) quickly comes to Kasich's defense saying, "Conservatism is preserving the Constitution as it is, not adapting it for the use of imposing issues clearly meant for individual states to decide."

November 15, 2006: The Atari Cougar is released in time for the 2006 holiday season.

November 19, 2006: The Nintendo Revolution is released in the United States. Initial sales are neck and neck with the Atari Cougar.

November 21, 2006: McDonald's opens its first franchise in Havana, Cuba.

November 22, 2006: Jack Ryan: Webmaster is released to cinemas. The movie is the third in the Affleck Jack Ryan reboot, and features the titular character investigating British financial tycoon Rex Salt (Christopher Plummer) who's attempting to cause a major stock market crash in order to profit from the crisis. The movie receives positive reviews, and is nominated for 2 Oscars, winning both: Christopher Plummer for Best Supporting Actor and Kurt Cobain for Best Original Song). The fact that Cobain had won an Oscar for Best Original Song two years earlier for the Bond movie For His Eyes Only leads to him developing a fame as a "go-to guy" for Oscar-seeking studios.

December 5, 2006: Scientists at the Gemini Observatory in Hilo, Hawaii, discover a previously unknown planet from images originally taken on September 7, 2004. The International Astronomical union assigns the entity the temporary name 2006 UB-313.

December 7, 2006: Margaret Louise Elizabeth Mountbatten-Windsor is born to Duke and Duchess of Victoria in Melbourne. She will be entitled Princess Margaret.

December 8, 2006: The Hobbit: There and Back Again is released to cinemas. This conclusion to the two-part adaptation of the book has Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Dwarfs facing Smaug (Sean Connery) and the famous Battle of the Five Armies. It's noted for the heavy use of practical effects and tons of extras. The movie receives critical acclaim and makes over $1,000,000,000 in the box office. It is nominated for eleven Oscars, winning all but one of those nominations.

December 13, 2006: "You" are named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2006, representing individual content creators on the Internet.

December 18, 2006: MLS announces the creation of the Philadelphia Union (in the Federal Conference) and the Atlanta Ambush (in the National Conference), to begin play in the 2008 season.

December 19, 2006: Spectre, the 21st James Bond movie, is released to cinemas. 007 (Dominic West) discovers a mysterious criminal organization known only as "Spectre," controlled by the dark "Number One" (Anthony Hopkins). The organization always seems to be one step ahead of MI-6, which leads Bond to distrust the new M (Michael Gambon). The movie is a box office success and is well received, being mostly remembered for starting the new "Spectre" trilogy in the movies.

December 22, 2006: Night at the Museum, directed by Chris Columbus, is released to cinemas. The film focuses on how deadbeat dad Larry Daley (played by Jim Carrey) gets a job as a security guard at the Museum of Natural History in New York City, where he discovers the exhibits come to life at night. While a success at the holiday box office, no sequels are ever produced.

January 1, 2007: As per the November 7 referendum results, same-sex marriage becomes legal in California.

January 3, 2007: Dick Gephardt resigns as leader of the House Democrats. Steny Hoyer is elected Minority Leader to replace him, beating Nancy Pelosi.

January 9, 2007: The Vanderbilt Commodores defeat the Texas A&M Aggies 23-20 to win the 2006-07 NCAA Football Championship.

January 11, 2007: Disney announces plans for the Hogwarts Village, based on the wildly popular Harry Potter series of books and films, at the Disney-MGM Studios. The area is scheduled to open in 2010.

January 12, 2007: Governor Ted Kulongoski (D) of Oregon signs an executive order legalizing same-sex marriage in his state.

January 27, 2007: American conservationist Jeff Corwin is killed in an attack by a grizzly bear during filming for a new TV show Jeff Corwin Roams America.

January 28, 2007: The Miami Dolphins defeat the New Orleans Saints 27-24 to win Super Bowl XLI.

January 29, 2007: Charles Kennedy resigns as leader of the Liberal Democratic Party in order to seek treatment for alcoholism.

January 30, 2007: Governor Caroline Kennedy (D) of New York announces a multiyear plan to renovate LaGuardia Airport in New York City. Scheduled to be completed in 2013, the plan was devised in response to an overwhelming amount of customer complaints over the years. Many news articles on the project quote U.S. Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), who likened the airport to "a third-world country."

February 2, 2007: The CEOs of Southwest Airlines and Northwest Airlines announce the two companies are negotiating a merger.

February 6, 2007: With the state Supreme Court's ruling in Esposito v. Asbury Park, New Jersey legalizes same-sex marriage.

February 6, 2007: The independent documentary Barbecue: A Texas Love Story premieres on PBS. Directed by Chris Elley, the film becomes famous its narration by former U.S. President Ann Richards, who was seen holding a BBQ rib up in front of her her face in a promotional photo for the film.

February 8, 2007: Canadian rock band Nickelback are killed in a tour bus crash, killing all expect bassist Mike Kroger.

February 20, 2007: NBC-Universal announces its acquisition of Marvel Entertainment.

February 25, 2007: At the 79th Academy Awards, She Went to War wins Best Picture, Kathryn Bigelow wins Best Director, and Natalie Portman wins Best Actress.

February 27, 2007: Barack Obama is elected Mayor of Chicago over five-term incumbent Richard M. Daley.

March 2, 2007: Andrew Mimms purchases land located near Cleveland for the purpose of building a new Luna Park. The site was chosen because Frederick Ingersoll built his first park near Cleveland.

March 4, 2007: On his first interview since the stingray incident, Steve Irwin says he is planning for a sitcom-style show about a fictionalization version of himself called The Steve Irwin Show.

March 8, 2007: Iran War veteran Edward Snowden announces he is running for Congress in Maryland's 3rd congressional district as an Independent.

March 12, 2007: Construction begins on the new Luna Park near Cleveland.

March 13, 2007: A stage adaptation of the 2004 Disney animated film The Snow Queen debuts on Broadway.

March 18, 2007: Atari releases the Dash+, the successor to the original Dash. The system earns widespread praise for its advanced graphical capabilities and innovative touchscreen controls.

March 23, 2007: A court rules Hovhannes Zadian guilty of assassination attempt. His charge is the death penalty.

March 28, 2007: U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announces he will not be running for re-election in 2008.

March 28, 2007: South Park airs the episode "The Snuke," in which First Lady Karen Kasich discovers that a bomb has been planted in her vagina while she was at South Park Elementary for a school assembly, while Cartman suspects a new Muslim kid at school might be responsible for the bomb planted.

March 29, 2007: U.S. President John Kasich chastises South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone for their supposed "perverted slander of my own wife" in the show's episode "The Snuke."

April 3, 2007: Hurricane Harbor opens for the 2007 summer season adjacent to its sister park Six Flags New Orleans.

April 4, 2007: The CEOs of Southwest Airlines and Northwest Airlines announce they are merging to form a new airline known as Western Airlines.

April 5, 2007: Vince Cable is elected the new leader of the Liberal Democratic Party.

April 5, 2007: Construction begins on a new home stadium for the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The project is tentatively called New Meadowlands Stadium.

April 18, 2007: Italy is selected to host the 2012 Euro Football Championship.

April 25, 2007: The Nutshack premiers on MyX in the Philippines. The TV show becomes a major hit. It begins to air on U.S. television in 2010. It was banned in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei in 2009, 2012, and 2016 respectively for being "un-Islamic."

April 27, 2007: Former Vice President Dodd claims that he will try "to do it one more time" and runs for President.

April 29, 2007: Hovhannes Zadian is executed.

May 1, 2007: Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) announces he is running for President of the United States.

May 2, 2007: U.S. Senator Al Gore (D-TN) announces that he will not be seeking re-election in 2008.

May 4, 2007: Congressman Bernie Sanders (G-VT) announces he is running for President of the United States.

May 4, 2007: Warner Bros. Animation releases Ratatouille to cinemas. The company's third animated feature directed by Brad Bird, the film tells the story of Remy (voiced by John C. Reilly), a rat who accidentally finds a knack for gourmet French cooking and must avoid detection by the health inspector Pierre Gerard (voiced by Brad Bird).

May 5, 2007: Alan Keyes announces he is running for President of the United States as part of the Constitution Party.

May 9, 2007: Former Governor Tom Vilsack (D-IA) announces he is running for President of the United States.

May 10, 2007: Former Senator Mike Gravel (D-AK) announces he is running for President of the United States as part of the Libertarian Party.

May 11, 2007: The Concorde formally ends its 31-year service with British Airways Flight 133 from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport to London's Heathrow Airport.

May 13, 2007: Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) announces he is running for President of the United States.

May 14, 2007: Is this the end of the two-party system? Out of 535 Congressman, 6 of them belong to third parties.

May 16, 2007: The Scottish National Party and the Scottish Green Party form a minority government following the Scottish parliamentary elections.

May 18, 2007: Ripley's Believe It or Not!, directed by Tim Burton, is released to cinemas. The film stars Jim Carrey as Robert Ripley and tells the story of his rise to fame.

May 19, 2007: Wigan Athletic defeats Stoke City 2-1 in extra time to win the 2007 FA Cup.

May 21, 2007: The series finale of Freaks and Geeks airs on NBC. The final episode consists entirely of the graduation ceremony for William McKinley High School's Class of 1984 and a montage of memorable clips from past seasons.

May 25, 2007: The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino opens in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in time for the 2007 summer season. The grand opening ceremony features a performance by The Kids Next Door.

May 28, 2007: Olivia Ngobeni, age 22 from South Africa, is crowned Miss Universe 2007.

May 28-June 8, 2007: The Hartford Whalers defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 4 games to 2 to win the 2007 Stanley Cup.

June 1, 2007: Superman: Man of Steel, the reboot of the Superman film series, is released into theaters. The film centers around Superman (David Boreanaz) and his attempts at juggling his life as Superman and his life as Clark Kent. The movie has Superman be forced to cooperate with Lex Luthor (Johnny Depp) to keep the evil Brainiac (Jim Carrey) from destroying the world. Audiences are shocked by the uncharacteristically cold dry humor of the performance that Carrey brought to the character. Nicolas Cage returned to the franchise as the eccentric editor of The Daily Planet Perry White.

June 3, 2007: Former House Speaker Dick Gephardt announces he is running for President. Gephardt is widely regarded as the party establishment candidate.

June 7-21, 2007: The Detroit Pistons defeat the Utah Jazz 4 games to 3 to win the 2007 NBA Finals.

June 8, 2007: Terry McCracken, a baker from Santa Ana, California, becomes the fifth million-dollar winner on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.

June 15, 2007: Bob Barker airs his last episode of The Price is Right.

June 22, 2007: Pixar and Disney release American Dog to cinemas. Written and directed by Chris Sanders, the film tells the story of Omega (voiced by Matt Damon), the canine star of a superhero TV show who believes his superpowers are real and embarks on a journey across the American Southwest to save his co-star from a threat he believes is just as real. Additional characters include Calico (voiced by Phil Hartman), a male cat with an eyepatch who works as a junkyard mechanic, Rhino (voiced by Arnold Schwarzenegger), an oversized radioactive rabbit, and the villainous dogcatcher Sirius (voiced by Vin Diesel).

June 27, 2007: The new and improved Manhattan Beach officially opens its doors for the first time. Unlike the first park, it's a theme park themed after late 19th Century New York City as a play on the theme park's name. The new theme park's iconic landmark is a replica of the Statue of Liberty as it stood when originally constructed.

June 27, 2007: American restaurants like McDonald's and KFC build their first franchises in the country since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. The companies publicly make deals with the owners of local Iranian knockoffs of the restaurants that they will incorporate the local Iranian dishes into their official regional menus in exchange for the local restaurants becoming official franchises. The American companies even graciously agreed to fund the remodeling of the local Iranian restaurants to match the global standard of the restaurants.

June 29, 2007: The International Olympic Committee selects Minneapolis, Minnesota, to host the 2014 Winter Olympics.

June 30, 2007: Starbucks officially purchases the local Iranian coffee company Raees Coffee. They agree to have Raees serve as the local subsidiary to Starbucks in Iran in exchange for Raees Coffee changing its logo to be more distinctive from the famous Starbucks logo. The massive influx of money provided by the Starbucks purchase allows the company to begin plans for massive expansion throughout the country. It's hoped to have Raees Coffee be as ubiquitous for Iran as Starbucks is for America.

July 1, 2007: Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) announces he is running for President of the United States.

July 3, 2007: Doug Walker publishes his first film review under the name "Nostalgia Critic," for Batman: Caped Crusader.

July 5, 2007: Governor Mark Warner (D-VA) announces he is running for President of the United States.

July 8, 2007: Retired NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Sr., endorses incumbent President John Kasich (R-OH) for re-election.

July 12, 2007: A major fire breaks out in Poundbury, the "new town" in Dorset set up with support from the Prince of Wales. The fire started in Brownsword Hall, but quickly spread to other buildings due to high prevailing winds. It takes a major effort from Dorset Fire Brigade to douse the fire, with helicopter water droppers being used to stem the blaze. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visit the ruins afterwards, with the Prince visibly upset at the damage.

July 12, 2007: Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) announces he is running for President of the United States.

July 12, 2007: Green Party activist Jill Stein is found dead in her cell at the Federal Correction Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. A later autopsy shows the cause of death to be blunt force trauma.

July 15, 2007: The Theory of Relativity premieres on CBS. It follows the lives of stereotypical nerds Leonard Hofstadter (Jim Parsons) and Sheldon Cooper (Johnny Galecki), who live together in an apartment across the hall from their beautiful new neighbor Katie (Amanda Walsh) in Boston, where the main characters work at MIT.

July 15, 2007: U.S. Senator Max Cleland (D-GA) announces that he will not be running for re-election in 2008.

July 17, 2007: A leaked security video dated five days earlier shows a Federal Corrections Officer beating Jill Stein with a nightstick in her cell.

July 18, 2007: Congressman Bernie Sanders (G-VT) calls for an investigation into the death of Jill Stein.

July 19, 2007: Protests are held in Indianapolis and Green Party hotbeds in San Francisco and Seattle in response to the fatal beating of Jill Stein in prison.

July 19, 2007: President Kasich issues a press statement, asserting that a thorough inquiry into Stein's death will be conducted, but that his administration "makes no presumptions" as to the cause.

July 19, 2007: The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 14,000 for the first time in history.

July 20, 2007: Paramount releases South Park: Imaginationland to cinemas. The second feature-length film based on South Park, the film has the boys facing off against terrorists who are planning to take over people's imaginations. The film receives positive reviews, and leads the box office rankings until the release of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory three weeks later.

July 21, 2007: Governor Mike Ditka (R-IL) endorses Duncan Hunter (R-CA) for President of the United States.

July 22, 2007: Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) announces he is running for President of the United States.

July 23, 2007: On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Dana Carvey announces he has been selected to succeed Bob Barker as host of The Price is Right.

July 24, 2007: Cult Indie game developer Benjamin "Yahtzee" Croshaw releases his first commercial hit, which is also the first game published by his studio Fully Ramblomatic. The game, Mogworld, is a satire of the growing trend of fantasy MMORPGs started by World of Warcraft three years ago. The controls are incredibly polished to comment on the terrible controls and interfaces of WoW and its numerous imitators. The game is centered around a character resurrected by a sarcastic necromancer voiced by Crowshaw to defeat an unknowable evil. The character's class, gender, and gear are all fully customizable, but players have to pick from a list of pre-programmed names for the voice acting to mention them by name. The hero/heroine is declared by the people to be the "Savior of All", but is quickly dubbed "Captain Heropants" by the ever-sarcastic necromancer and mentor Jim.

July 25, 2007: Federal inquiries into the prison guard who killed Jill Stein reveal shocking answers. The guard, a man by the name of George Moseley, is revealed to be a staunch supporter of the Republican Party. It's later revealed through interviews with Moseley that he thought that the success of the Green Party was threatening to "turn the government into a goddamn joke." It's unlikely that his political views really inspired the killing, as he was a mentally unstable man with a concealed history of explosive anger. Nobody but fringe tabloids seriously blames the Republican Party for Stein's death, as it literally was just a lone nutjob.
 
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July 27, 2007: DreamWorks Animation releases Rockumentary to cinemas. The film focuses on how four penguins grew up to become an international Beatles-like musical group known as The Emperors. The band's hit single from the film "Cold as Ice" stays on the Billboard Hot 100 for several weeks after the film's opening.

July 28, 2007: Former Governor and 2004 runner-up Howard Dean (D-VT) announces he is running for President. "Let's change America, folks!" he declares as he enters the race.

August 1, 2007: A Democratic primary poll is released.

Nationwide Democratic primary poll
Dean - 25%
Gephardt - 20%
Warner - 12%
Daschle - 11%
Richardson - 9%
Arnold - 6%
Bayh - 4%
Vilsack - 2%
Carter - 1%

A Republican primary poll is also released.
Nationwide Republican Party primary poll
President Kasich - 82%
Duncan Hunter - 11%

August 1, 2007: As construction nears completion on the TEXPRESS high-speed rail project, the first sets of 700-series Shinkansen arrive in Houston from Japan and begin training and testing.

August 2, 2007: PlusMarks, a social media and news aggregation website, is launched by Philadelphia entrepreneurs Zach Randolph and Nolan Austin. The website becomes known for its specialized "submarks," and the ability for users to "plus" or "minus" uploaded content.

August 6, 2007: Ophthalmologist Rand Paul, son of 2004 Libertarian presidential nominee Ron Paul, announces his candidacy for Mitch McConnell's U.S. Senate seat as a Republican.

August 10, 2007: Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, directed by Terry Gilliam, is released to cinemas. The film stars Robin Williams as Willy Wonka, Freddie Highmore as Charlie Bucket, Josh Hutcherson as Mike Teevee, and Richard Attenborough as Grandpa Joe.

August 31, 2007: The investigation into the fire that swept through Poundbury blames arson. The report is critical of the materials used for insulation in the town. Prince Charles personally foots the bill for re-insulating every home in the town.

September 1, 2007: The Governor-General Prince Edward is not invited to the opening of Disneyland Sydney by Prime Minister Beazley. The press make fun of the unhappy relationship between the two men.

September 1, 2007: Disneyland Sydney officially opens on the outskirts of Australia's largest city. Present at the ceremony are Disney C.E.O. Stanley Gold, Australian Prime Minister Kim Beazley, and Walt Disney's surviving family.

September 2, 2007: The first Democratic presidential debate is held. Most pundits pin Dick Gephardt as the winner of the debate, while Howard Dean is seen as the runner-up.

September 3, 2007: Tom Vilsack suspends his presidential campaign after a poor performance in the previous day's debate.

September 3, 2007: Who Wants to be a Millionaire? starts its 2007-08 season by announcing all episodes will be filmed inside the Who Wants to be a Millionaire?: Play It! attraction at Disney-MGM Studios in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. In addition to $1,000,000, the grand prize this season also includes an all-expenses-paid one-week vacation at Walt Disney World.

September 7, 2007: Joel Goodwin, a lifeguard from North Hempstead, New York, wins Season 3 of Whodunit.

September 10, 2007: Singer Bruce Springsteen endorses Howard Dean (D-VT) for President of the United States.

September 11, 2007: Weight-loss reality show The Biggest Loser is cancelled shortly before its fourth season could start airing amid accusations of abusive treatment on the part of the showrunners. Several past contestants will go on to win lawsuits for trauma suffered during the show and quite a few members of the crew face criminal charges for the behind-the-scenes abuse.

September 13, 2007: Bill Richardson addresses a crowd in Denver, Colorado, drawing attention to ongoing drought conditions throughout the southern United States. Richardson says the federal government "needs a better emergency action plan."

September 14, 2007: Australian Prime Ministers Kim Beazley is sent to be incensed by comments from Governor-General Prince Edward regarding the government's poor handling of migrants from Indonesia. The Prince was caught "on-mic" making the comments at a private function. Polls suggest the majority of the public agree with the Prince.

September 15, 2007: Madison Sue Miles, age 18 from Georgia, is crowned Miss America 2008.

September 16, 2007: California proposes a high-speed rail route between Los Angeles and San Francisco to be built with public funding. Legislation is introduced to authorize initial funding.

September 18, 2007: Keith Arnold (D-FL) suspends his presidential campaign after a lack of momentum in the polls. He then announces his endorsement of Dick Gephardt.

September 19, 2007: The documentary I'm Luggin' It is released to cinemas. The film is an account of Nashville resident Chester Malcolm's experiment in which he eats nothing but McDonald's food for a 30-day period. His resulting near-fatal medical problems spark controversy and scattered boycotts of the chain.

September 25, 2007: The TV show Reaper premieres on The WB. The pilot introduces us to Sam Oliver (played by Bret Harrison), a down-on-his-luck retail employee who learns on his 21st birthday that his father sold his soul to the Devil (played by Ray Wise) in order to save his dying wife. In exchange, Sam must work for the Devil by sending escaped demons back to Hell. Sam is frequently helped on his adventures by his friends Bert "Sock" Wysocki (played by Tyler Labine), Ben Gonzalez (played by Rick Gonzalez), his younger brother Keith (played by Kyle Switzer), and his girlfriend Andi Pendergast (played by Nikki Reed). The show, while moderate in the ratings, quickly gains a cult following.

September 29, 2007: The Halifax Schooners (in the Wales Conference) and the Texas Colonels (in the Campbell Conference) make their debut in the NHL.

October 1, 2007: MLB Commissioner George W. Bush announces his candidacy for U.S. Senator from Texas, seeking to unseat incumbent Democrat Ron Kirk.

October 6, 2007: Mobile Suit Gundam 00 premieres. The series takes places during a Second Cold War in the 23rd Century. The protagonist of 00, Kenji Saruwatari, is an 18-year-old pilot who volunteers to become a pilot for the Gundam Series of the new Mobile Suit Corps of the JSSDF (Japanese Strategic Self Defense Force). The main conflict of the show is a new Cold War that takes place on Earth and space between the Western Coalition and the Shanghai Pact (China/Russia). The series is most notable for its use of espionage, technological developments parallel to IRL advances, and references to ongoing political conflicts.

October 12, 2007: Once in a Blue Moon, the 44th Disney animated feature film, is released to cinemas. The first fully computer-animated film in the Disney Classics canon, its tells the story of a young space alien Zork (voiced by Will Smith) on the planet Loko trying to win over his longtime crush Almeda (voiced by Jennifer Lopez). The film receives mixed to negative reviews, with many criticizing the cheesy dialogue and weak storyline, though the soundtrack with original songs by Bruce Springsteen is highly praised, becoming one of the bestselling albums of 2007.

October 12, 2007: Dana Carvey airs his first episode of The Price is Right.

October 20, 2007:
Democratic primary polls:
Gephardt: 24%
Dean: 24%
Daschle: 13%
Warner: 11%
Bayh: 6%
Carter: 5%
Richardson: 3%

Republican primary polls:
Kasich: 86%
Hunter: 6%

October 21, 2007: The Kansas City Wizards defeat the D.C. Express 3-0 to win the 2007 MLS Cup.

October 24-31, 2007: The Anaheim Angels defeat the New York Mets 4 games to 3 to win the 2007 World Series.

October 30, 2007: Brazil is announced as the host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

November 2, 2007: Amendment 65 is officially passed in the Georgia legislature, meaning that all of Georgia's electoral votes will be divided proportionally.

November 6, 2007: In the off-year gubernatorial elections, each incumbent was reelected with no change in party affiliation. Kentucky was held by Republican Ron Lewis while Mississippi and Louisiana were held by Democrats Gene Taylor and Mitch Landrieu, respectively.

November 6, 2007: Mario & Mickey at the Olympic Games is released for the Nintendo Revolution. Released to coincide with the hype for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Toronto, the video game features characters from both Nintendo and Disney competing in Olympic events. An IGN review describes the plot as "The Mushroom Kingdom meets the Magic Kingdom for two weeks of international sport."

November 11, 2007: Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) suspends her presidential campaign, citing poor poll numbers.

November 20, 2007: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is released for the Atari Cougar. The video game is about a fictional conflict between Russia and NATO in Eastern Europe. The protagonists are British SAS operatives. The game received mostly positive reviews, but in some countries, the reviews were negative.

November 20, 2007: The series finale of Larry & Steve airs on Cartoon Network. Critics are taken aback by how surprisingly dark the episode was for a children's TV show, as it ended with a visibly saddened Larry putting down his longtime friend and companion Steve after he was diagnosed with rabies.

November 21, 2007: The first official Western Airlines flight takes off from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Minnesota and lands at Dallas Love Field in Texas.

November 24, 2007: The 2007 Australian federal election is held. Due to the Beazley government's supposedly poor handling of migrants from Indonesia and the Australian economy entering a recession, the Liberal/National coalition spikes in the polls. Peter Costello is sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Australia.

Peter Costello (Liberal/National) - 87 seats +21 (53.6% PV)
Kim Beazley (Labor) - 62 seats -21 (46.4% PV)

150 seats in the House of Representatives
76 seats needed for majority

November 24, 2007: Former Minnesota Governor and wrestler Jesse Ventura announces his plans to run for the Reform Party's presidential nomination in 2008.

December 3, 2007: Super Smash Bros. Chaos is released for the Nintendo Revolution. Newcomers include Bowser, Jr., King K. Rool, Rare's Banjo-Kazooie, and Kojima's Solid Snake.

December 8, 2007: Donald Trump, Jr., announces that he is running for the nomination of the Reform Party. He is immediately criticized because he is too young.

December 12, 2007: Iowa caucus polls show Dean and Gephardt neck and neck at 25%.

December 13, 2007: New national polls show Dean with a big lead.

Gallup poll
Howard Dean - 31%
Dick Gephardt - 20%
Tom Daschle - 14%
Mark Warner - 13%
Bill Richardson - 10%
Evan Bayh - 4%
Jason Carter - 1%

December 13, 2007: Circuit City announces its acquisition of video game rental service GameFly.

December 14, 2007: Jason Carter (D-GA) suspends his presidential campaign.

December 15, 2007: Pat Buchanan announces his candidacy for the Reform Party's presidential nomination.

December 18, 2007: The Pontiac G8, a rebadged Holden Commodore, is introduced for the American market. The G8 is sold in sedan, station wagon, and ST ute variants.

December 19, 2007: Academy Award-winning director Kathryn Bigelow is named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2007, for raising awareness of the strife of female combat veterans following the release of She Went to War the previous year.

December 20, 2007: Dick Gephardt warns voters, "Howard Dean is a loon. He will lose the election if he is nominated." Dean fires back, "You saw how well those establishment types did! Biden was killed in 2004, and Gephardt lost the House. Time to try something new! Promise real change!"

December 20, 2007: President Kasich leads Duncan Hunter 80% to 10%. He gets a 56% approval rating.

December 22, 2007: California Governor Tom McClintock vetoes the California high-speed rail bill, citing objections to the cost, likelihood of cost overrun, and his preference of a partly privatized system.

December 24, 2007: In a blaze of publicity, Prince Edward takes his children to Disneyland Sydney alongside Diana, Princess of Wales, Earl Khan, Prince Harry, Prince William, Prince Andrew, Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie.

January 1, 2008: Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain survives after nearly dying from a drug overdose following a relapse into the habit. He was rushed to the hospital after being discovered by a friend he was visiting.

January 1, 2008: A Jesse Ventura grassroots campaign gets very popular online.

January 2, 2008: Congressman and former Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell (I-CA) endorses Jesse Ventura for President of the United States, giving the professional wrestler and former Minnesota governor's campaign a boost of popularity on the Internet.

January 3, 2008: Dick Gephardt wins the Iowa caucuses, narrowly beating Howard Dean with a superior ground-game.

Iowa caucuses - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 26.1%
Howard Dean - 25.5%
Mark Warner - 18.0%
Bill Richardson - 12.2%
Tom Daschle - 10.6%
Evan Bayh - 5.2%

President Kasich won easily.

Iowa caucuses - Republican
John Kasich - 77.0%
Duncan Hunter - 18.1%

January 3, 2008: The Celebrity Apprentice premieres on NBC. A spinoff of the popular game show hosted by Oprah Winfrey, the show groups up celebrities to perform various business tasks. The show's first season features actor Jim Varney, Blind Melon frontman Shannon Hoon, supermodel Melania Novak, celebrity chef Ina Garten, professional wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, St. Louis Archers running back Maurice Clarett, Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci, magician Penn Jillette, comedian Amy Schumer, restaurateur Ron Goldman, author Suzanne Collins, NBC News anchor Lester Holt, actress Lucy Liu, and professional soccer player Mia Hamm.

January 7, 2008: Disney-MGM Studios officially changes its name to Disney Studios Florida.

January 8, 2008: Howard Dean's insurgent campaign wins a landslide victory in New Hampshire, despite the Iowa loss. Gephardt's second-place finish makes him the establishment contender.

New Hampshire primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 33% (9 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 22% (7 delegates)
Bill Richardson - 14% (3 delegates)
Mark Warner - 14% (3 delegates)
Tom Daschle - 10%
Evan Bayh - 5%

President Kasich wins easily with 77% of the vote.

January 8, 2008: While campaigning in New Hampshire, Howard Dean laughs at the thought of Jesse Ventura being President of the United States, saying, "This guy was a third rate actor, a wrestler, and one-term disaster as a governor. How are we gonna trust him as President of this nation!!?!!"

January 8, 2008: The Georgia Bulldogs defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks 48-24 to win the 2007-08 NCAA Football Championship.

January 9, 2008: Evan Bayh, Mark Warner, and Tom Daschle end their campaigns.

January 9, 2008: With the state Supreme Court's ruling in Castellano v. Jupiter, Florida legalizes same-sex marriage.

January 10, 2008: Bill Richardson ends his campaign for the presidency.

January 10, 2008: Disney's Lava Lagoon Water Park opens as part of the Disneyland Resort Sydney.

January 11, 2008: A CNN national poll for the Democratic primary shows former House Speaker at 52% to 45% for former Vermont Governor Howard Dean.

January 13, 2008: Lee Raymond, C.E.O. and Chairman of ExxonMobil until its breakup, announces a bid for the U.S. Senate, seeking to unseat Texas Democrat Ron Kirk. Running as a Republican, his primary challenger is U.S. Representative Mac Thornberry.

January 15, 2008: Dick Gephardt wins the Michigan primary.

Michigan primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 53% (71 delegates)
Howard Dean - 45% (57 delegates)

January 16, 2008: 2004 Democratic nominee Joe Biden endorses Dick Gephardt.

January 17, 2008: Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean clash in a debate before the Nevada caucuses, with Gephardt warning Dean is "unelectable" and saying he '"lacks good temperament." Dean fired back, saying Gephardt was "a failure" and declaring Gephardt "cannot bring change." The two also clashed after Gephardt said Dean's proposal for single-payer healthcare was "unfeasible."

January 19, 2008: Howard Dean wins a big victory in the Nevada caucuses.

Nevada caucuses - Democratic
Howard Dean - 54% (15 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 42% (10 delegates)

January 20, 2008: A new national poll is released showing Dean in the lead.

Democratic primary national poll
Howard Dean - 48%
Dick Gephardt - 43%

January 21, 2008: Dick Gephardt holds a lead in the South Carolina primary, where most of the primary electorate is black voters. Recent polls show Dean closing in on his lead.

January 22, 2008: Howard Dean speaks in a black church in South Carolina. He vows to "advance the dream of Martin Luther King, to make the content of your character, and not the color of your skin, determine your destiny."

January 22, 2008: Australian actor Heath Ledger is rushed to hospital after he suffers cardiac arrest as a result of prescription drug intoxication. Thanks to the efforts of his friend, who was able to give Ledger CPR until paramedics arrived, the actor was safely treated and is expected to make a full recovery soon.

January 23, 2008: Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt debate before the South Carolina primary. Dean is seen as the winner, but it is not memorable.

January 26, 2008: The South Carolina primary is held. Dick Gephardt wins, but his margin is less than expected, and Dean claims momentum.

South Carolina primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 55% (25 delegates)
Howard Dean - 45% (20 delegates)

January 27, 2008: The Houston Oilers defeat the Detroit Lions 20-10 to win Super Bowl XLII.

January 29, 2008: Howard Dean wins the Florida primary by a narrow margin. "This time," he declares, "they're not going to rig it against us. Change is coming! Yeah!"

Florida primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 50% (97 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 47% (88 delegates)

February 1, 2008: Governor Caroline Kennedy (D-NY) and Senator Hillary Rodham-Schaeffer (D-IL) endorse Howard Dean. A new national poll shows Dean with a 10-point lead over Dick Gephardt.

February 3, 2008: Prince Charles makes a speech questioning the government's "confused" approach to the insulation industry in the U.K. with the myriad of agencies, paperwork, and uneven grant processes. He cites an example of one single mother in Birmingham who was in a category G house (the worst kind) who was refused loft and cavity wall insulation as she didn’t meet some made up target while a rich couple three miles down the road in a category C house got both loft and walls done for free.

The media seizes on the story- the right abuse the Prince for intervening in government business, and the free market, while the left praise Prince Charles as standing up for the "common family." PM Prescott orders an enquiry.

February 5, 2008: Super Tuesday is held, with a huge load of contests held on one day. Howard Dean enters Super Tuesday with momentum and his insurgent, anti-establishment campaign is set to win.

Alabama primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt- 58% (30 delegates)
Howard Dean- 40% (22 delegates)

Alaska caucuses - Democratic
Howard Dean - 70% (9 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 30% (4 delegates)

American Samoa caucus - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 62% )2 delegates)
Howard Dean - 37% (1 delegate)

Arizona primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 47% (29 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 45% (27 delegates)

Arkansas primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 60% (22 delegates)
Howard Dean - 36% (13 delegates)

California primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 50% (200 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 44% (170 delegates)

Colorado caucuses - Democratic
Howard Dean - 64% (35 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 35% (20 delegates)

Connecticut primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 56% (28 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 42% (20 delegates)

Delaware primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 55% (9 delegates)
Howard Dean - 40% (6 delegates)

Georgia primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 54% (47 delegates)
Howard Dean - 43% (40 delegates)

Idaho caucuses - Democratic
Howard Dean - 70% (9 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 27% (3 delegates)

Illinois primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 54% (86 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 44% (67 delegates)

Kansas conventions - Democratic
Howard Dean - 56% (12 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 44% (9 delegates)

Massachusetts primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 54% (53 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 43% (40 delegates)

Minnesota caucuses - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 51% (37 delegates)
Howard Dean - 47% (35 delegates)

Missouri primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 58% (44 delegates)
Howard Dean - 39% (28 delegates)

New Jersey primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 54% (59 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 44% (48 delegates)

New Mexico caucuses - Democratic
Howard Dean - 50% (14 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 47% (12 delegates)

New York primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 52% (128 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 45% 104 delegates

North Dakota caucuses - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 51% (7 delegates)
Howard Dean - 47% (6 delegates)

Oklahoma primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 50% (22 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 38% (16 delegates)

Tennessee primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 52% (39 delegates)
Howard Dean - 42% (29 delegates)

Utah primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 52% (13 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 44% (10 delegates)

Delegate count after Super Tuesday
Dean - 1,075
Gephardt - 989

Dean won on Super Tuesday and is solidly the frontrunner. However, Gephardt's strong Southern showings have kept him in contention. Still, the outcome is likely to be a victory for Howard Dean.

February 8, 2008: Former Nickelback bassist Mike Kroeger releases a self-titled solo album where he sings and plays all instruments. The songs, written while he was recovering in the hospital, largely deal with themes of mortality and bereavement. The album becomes a critical and commercial success.

February 8, 2008: Nirvana announces a reunion tour and a possible new album.

February 9, 2008: Louisiana, Nebraska, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington vote in the Democratic primaries.

Louisiana primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 50% (31 delegates)
Howard Dean - 43% (25 delegates)

Nebraska caucuses - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 55% (9 delegates)
Howard Dean - 45% (7 delegates)

U.S. Virgin Islands convention - Democratic
Howard Dean - 88% (3 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 10%

Washington caucuses - Democratic
Howard Dean - 65% (51 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 34% (27 delegates)

February 10, 2008: Howard Dean wins the Maine caucuses.

Maine caucuses - Democratic
Howard Dean - 63% (15 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 36% (9 delegates)

February 12, 2008: Howard Dean wins the Democrats Abroad primary.

Democrats Abroad primary
Howard Dean - 60% (4 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 38% (3 delegates)

Gephardt wins D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

District of Columbia primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 66% (10 delegates)
Howard Dean - 33% (5 delegates)

Maryland primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 51% (37 delegates)
Howard Dean - 46% (33 delegates)

Virginia primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 56% (47 delegates)
Howard Dean - 43% (36 delegates)

February 12, 2008: John Kasich signs the Governmental Assistance Reform Act into law, modifying most governmental assistance programs for the poor (such as welfare, Medicaid, food stamps, etc.) into block grants given directly to the states. Passing such a law has been a priority for Republicans since the Reagan Administration, and possessing both Congress and the White House allowed them to finally see it succeed.

February 12, 2008: At a rally in Tampa, Florida, Duncan Hunter (R-CA) cries, "We're not going down without a fight! We're gonna stand up to President Kasich and take this all the way to the convention!"

February 13, 2008: Democratic frontrunner Howard Dean says John Kasich is waging a "war on the poor."

February 19, 2008: Howard Dean wins landslide victories in Hawaii and Wisconsin.

Hawaii caucuses - Democratic
Howard Dean - 68% (14 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 32% (6 delegates)

Wisconsin primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 60% (44 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 39% (30 delegates)

Delegate count after February contests
Howard Dean - 1,312
Dick Gephardt - 1,198

Howard Dean has widened his delegate lead to a lead of over 100 delegates. The March 4 primaries in Ohio and Texas (Rhode Island and Vermont too, but they have fewer delegates) will be make or break for Gephardt's candidacy.

February 20, 2008: Howard Dean declares after his latest victories that Dick Gephardt has "no way to win." Dean declares "Millions of Americans are coming together, under a common vision for a better future, to beat failed establishment politics and fight for real change in this country." Dean also attacks the media for their 'bias' against him and declares "People can see through it. We are going to win this election."

February 20, 2008: NJ Transit's South Jersey Coast line begins operations. The line runs from Cape May in the south, continues through Atlantic City and the Barrier Islands, goes northwest to Toms River, then ends in Bay Head, the southern terminus of the North Jersey Coast line.

February 21, 2008: Minnesota Senator and Joe Biden running mate Paul Wellstone endorses Howard Dean, saying "Howard Dean is the candidate who will stand up for the little guy and bring the change we need to America."

February 22, 2008: Dozens of superdelegates endorse Howard Dean. Dean receives endorsements from Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski and Washington Senator Patty Murray. Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed endorses Dean too, despite Reed being seen as more of an establishment figure. Speculation has risen Reed wants to be Dean's VP or get a cabinet position. His endorsement is likely to boost Dean in Rhode Island.

February 23, 2008: A poll by Quinnipiac shows Howard Dean with a huge lead nationally, beating Gephardt 56-41. New polls show Dean with big leads in Ohio and Rhode Island (Vermont of course, being Dean's home state is in his corner) and a close race in Texas.

February 24, 2008: The Gephardt campaign is rocked by resignations of top campaign staff.

February 25, 2008: Tennessee Senator Al Gore says that Howard Dean should be nominated if he gets the most votes and delegates. Tom Daschle says his criticism of Dean in 2004 was "over the top" and that Dean would be "acceptable" as the nominee, though he says he hopes Gephardt wins.

February 26, 2008: Howard Dean promises Ohio voters he will "renegotiate" NAFTA, and attacks Dick Gephardt over failing to stop it, erroneously claiming "he did nothing to stop the NAFTA disaster."

February 27, 2008: Former President Ann Richards endorses Dick Gephardt, and says "no good Texan should vote for Howard Dean." Meanwhile, a report by the New York Times is released saying that the Gephardt team's new strategy for victory is to have superdelegates hand them the nomination if Dean doesn't get a majority of delegates from the pledged delegates.

February 27, 2008: Congressman Duncan Hunter suspends his campaign and endorses President John Kasich.

February 28, 2008: Howard Dean attacks Dick Gephardt, saying he has "failed ordinary Americans" and "he is trying to rig this against us, just as he ad Washington always have."

March 1, 2008: The Dean campaign releases a new ad called 'Change we can believe in'. It starts with footage of unemployment lines, the Iran War and a middle-class family struggling to pay their bills. It says "Washington has failed America. We need change." It then touts Dean's promises: End unnecessary foreign wars, balance the budget with a fair tax system, protect our entitlements, reform healthcare and end wage stagnation and income inequality. It then asks voters a simple question "Do you want to change America?" It ends with "Dean. Change we can believe in." A Dean rally in Cleveland, Ohio, nets over 40,000 people.

March 2, 2008: Dick Gephardt urges voters not to "fall for false hopes". Dean replies back "Better than what he's promising. No hope!"

March 2, 2008: The Woman with the Iron Heart, the 22nd James Bond movie, is released to cinemas.The second "Spectre" movie consists of 007 (Dominic West) hunting down coldblooded Rosa Klebb (Helen Mirren), the second-in-command of the organization. The conflict revolves around Klebb's plan to release a deadly bioweapon in Europe in order for her organization to sell the cure to the highest bidder. "Number One" (Anthony Hopkins) makes a cameo with his first name revealed as Stavros. The movie has a darker tone than its predecessor, with Klebb having a brutal death and 007 being pushed to the limit. It's well received and another box office success.

March 3, 2008: A national poll by Gallup shows Dean with a big lead, 56% Dean to 38% Gephardt. The closest contest is Texas, where Gephardt hopes the endorsement of Ann Richards can get him a win. Polls show most Democrats believe Dean will be the nominee. Dean mounts a final attack on Gephardt, saying his populism is "phony, just like the rest of him." He declares that if he does not win, "we will have a Republican majority reverse decades of progress and implement a reactionary vision for our country."

March 4, 2008: The March 4 contests are held. All but one is a win for Howard Dean.

Ohio primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 57% (83 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 41% (58 delegates)

Rhode Island primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 62% (13 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 36% (8 delegates)

Texas primary - Democratic
Dick Gephardt - 52% (66 delegates)
Howard Dean - 46% (60 delegates)

Texas caucus - Democratic
Howard Dean - 52% (35 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 48% (32 delegates)

Vermont primary - Democratic
Howard Dean - 74% (11 delegates)
Dick Gephardt - 24% (4 delegates)

Delegate count after March 4
Howard Dean - 1,514
Dick Gephardt - 1,316

In one night, Howard Dean widens his delegate lead to nearly 200 delegates. With a dominant showing, it looks as if it is lights out for Dick Gephardt.

March 5, 2008: Former House Speaker Dick Gephardt suspends his campaign and endorses Howard Dean. "Howard Dean is our nominee" Gephardt says "I'm sorry, but he won and we lost. His vision of change has won out. And so I support him, and I urge all of my supporters to support him, because he is the best candidate. Dean vs Kasich is no contest. And we are going to unite our party. I congratulate Governor Dean on his victory, and I pledge to do all I can to help him win this election."

March 16, 2008: A new general election poll shows Howard Dean putting in a strong showing, getting 44% to 47% for President Kasich. Another poll shows the race near even with Dean at 46% for President Kasich to 45% for Dean.

March 17, 2008: A new jobs report shows a sharp downturn in job numbers.

March 17, 2008: Amendment 65 to the Georgia Constitution is proposed, which would allocate Georgia's electoral votes proportionally.

March 20, 2008: Polls show swing voters are wary of Howard Dean, with the words "radical" and "extremist" often coming up, but there is distrust of President Kasich and the GOP Congress, with Dean's warnings that Kasich will destroy entitlements and the social safety net sinking in, and reduced confidence in the economy. A Gallup poll shows Kasich with a 52% approval rating.

March 23, 2008: Oprah Winfrey names Melania Novak as the first winner of The Celebrity Apprentice.

March 26, 2008: A new poll shows 93% of Republicans will vote for Kasich and 92% of Democrats will vote for Dean, dispelling fears Dean will divide the Democratic Party.

March 29, 2008: In what becomes popularly (yet misnamed) "the day we nearly nuked Nebraska," a jet carrying nuclear weapons crashed outside of Imperial, Nebraska, killing the pilot, Lieutenant Todd McPherson. CNN's headline was mistakenly shown as "Plane with nuclear bombs drops in Nebraska," leading to a half hour of mass panic before CNN makes an official apology on the website. Several CNN staffers are fired over the incident.

March 31, 2008: In the early hours of the morning, Former U.S. President Gerald Ford passes away in his sleep at the age of 94.

March 31, 2008: The MGM Grand Atlantic City opens with all of its 3,000+ rooms booked in advance. The resort features three distinct towers, each aimed at a different type of customer, including an all-suites tower for high rollers.

April 1, 2008: John Kasich says "the economy is doing great, folks." However with the economy faltering and consumer confidence falling, Dean uses it to portray Kasich as out of touch.

April 2, 2008: Disneyland Sydney's first on-site resort is officially opened. The Chinese-themed Shangri-La Resort is the first of many on-site resorts planned for eventual construction by Disney.

April 5, 2008: Fundraising numbers surprise pundits as Dean, using the Internet, bursts past Kasich's number and is outspending him in key states.

April 5, 2008: Horror enthusiast Robert P. King officially purchases land near Houston, Texas, for use in a very special theme park.

April 6, 2008: A CNN poll shows President Kasich at 48% to Howard Dean's 44%.

April 7, 2008: The state funeral for Gerald Ford is held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. In attendance are President Kasich, Vice President Mack, Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Ann Richards, and the entirety of Michigan's congressional delegation.

April 12, 2008: Spring Break Musical debuts on the Disney Channel. Following the adventures of six teenagers on spring break vacation in Miami, the TV movie becomes a hit with kids and preteens due to its catchy musical numbers.

April 24, 2008: Mega-Man Legends 3 is released for the Atari Cougar and the Nintendo Revolution. Released in memory of the late Keiji Inafune, the game is both a critical and commercial success, being nominated for many publications' "Game of the Year" awards.

April 25-29, 2008: The first annual Dia Nueva Music Festival is held by Gloria and Emilio Estefan on the outskirts of Havana, Cuba. Considered by some to be the "Cuban Woodstock," the festival brings together some of the hottest artist in rock, pop, techno, and Latin for "four days of peace, love, and fun in the Caribbean sun!"

April 25, 2008: On the opening day of the Dia Nueva Music Festival, Cuban President Taciano Ybarra gives a speech thanking all the artists and fans who helped bring the event together: "This music festival is a true testament to how open and free Cuba has become in three short years. It is my hope that what we do here will never be forgotten, and that what we do here will be serve as a shining symbol of the Cuban spirit the world over."

April 25, 2008: At her senior prom in Fulton, Texas, high school senior Jessica Strobel kills her newborn baby in a bathroom stall.

April 27, 2008: A remake of the 1928 silent film The Man Who Laughs starring Brent Spiner is released to theatres. The film is about a scarred man named Gwynplaine who falls in love with his childhood friend but refuses to marry her due to him feeling that his disfigurement makes him unworthy of her love. The conflict arises when the Queen attempts to tear them apart by attempting to force Gwynplaine to marry a duchess in order to inherit his father's lands. The film has a swashbuckling adventurous tone that sets it apart from the film it remakes, which was heavily steeped in the German Expressionist tradition.

April 29, 2008: Grand Theft Auto IV is released for the Atari Cougar. The game follows Niko Bellic, a jaded veteran of the Yugoslav Wars who comes to Liberty City (a fictionalized version of NYC) in search of a better life. At the same time, he has to evade pressure from loan sharks and mob bosses.

May 2, 2008: The long-awaited live action Transformers film is released into theaters. The Joss Whedon-directed film features the return of Peter Cullen and Frank Welker as the voices of Optimus Prime and Megatron respectively. The film is effectively a direct adaptation of the beginning of the original Transformers series, with the Autobots and Decepticons landing on Earth millions of years ago and then waking up and resuming their conflict on Earth. The effects of the movie are praised, as they effectively translated and modernized the classic G1 Transformers designs into live-action. There are some liberties taken with the story. Namely, that Megatron doesn't transform into a weapon for another Transformer to wield.

May 2, 2008: The Flash is released into theaters. The film is centered around the transformation of Barry Allen (Neil Patrick Harris) into the Flash. Michael Campbell reprises the role of Captain Cold, which he had last played on the Flash TV series in the 1990s. The Flash also encounters a mysterious man with powers similar to his who cryptically states that they are "destined" to become enemies. The man is revealed to be Eobard Thawne (Jared Leto).

May 3, 2008: The worst kept secret in royal circles is announced: the Duke and Duchess of York are to remarry.

May 3, 2008: Construction begins on Robert P. King's top-secret theme park near Houston, Texas.

May 7, 2008: In the early hours of the morning, 17-year-old Jay Todd Allen sets fire to Northview High School in Dothan, Alabama, causing over $20,000,000 in damage. The largest high school arson to date, it takes firefighters just over five hours to put out the blaze.

May 9, 2008: Deadpool, the directorial debut of Tim Miller, is released to cinemas. The first major superhero film to be rated R, the film tells the story of how mercenary Wade Wilson becomes a witty superhero with accelerated healing powers. Ryan Reynolds stars as the title character, Justin Long stars as Weasel, and Jude Law stars as Ajax/Francis.

May 10, 2008: Jenna Bush, daughter of MLB Commission George W. Bush and granddaughter of former U.S. President George H.W. Bush, weds Chicago Cubs second baseman Alfonso Soriano at her father's ranch in Crawford, Texas. The two had met while Soriano was with the Texas Rangers in 2004.

May 16, 2008: John Kasich warns that Howard Dean is "far to the left of most Americans" and says his platform is "extreme." Pundits call for Kasich to take on Dean more forcefully.

May 16, 2008: Kohar Petrosyan, age 18 from Armenia, is crowned Miss Universe 2008.

May 17, 2008: Howard Dean notes his role in balancing the budget in his state of Vermont, all while keeping government "active in helping the lives of the people" at a rally. This is thought to be in reaction to his image as a radical, and in order to attract moderates to his campaign.

May 17, 2008: Fulham defeats Liverpool 3-1 to win the 2008 FA Cup.

May 19, 2008: The live-action version of Team America: World Police, directed by Joe Carnahan, is released. The film stars Ryan Reynolds, Will Arnett, and Sara Paxton as the protagonists. Kevin Sorbo appears as a Russian mafia boss. Also noteworthy are Trey Parker's cameo as a Russian mafia henchman and Matt Stone's cameo as a helicopter pilot.

May 20, 2008: Construction of the entire Dallas-to-Houston rail line is complete. TEXPRESS begins testing the Shinkansen trains on full-line runs.

May 21, 2008: At a press conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, casino mogul Steve Wynn endorses Jesse Ventura for President of the United States.

May 24-June 6, 2008: The New Jersey Devils defeat the Vancouver Canucks 4 games to 3 to win the 2008 Stanley Cup.

May 30, 2008: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Secret Treasure is released to cinemas. The plot focuses on Captain Jack Sparrow racing to pay a debt he owes to Davy Jones (played by Sean Connery) in order to avoid being trapped in his locker. The film also includes a notable cameo by Jimmy Buffett as a nameless pirate who reminds Sparrow that he's the "son of a son of a sailor."

June 1, 2008: Presumptive Democratic nominee Howard Dean mocks President Kasich's performance at a campaign rally, saying, "He looked like he was high. I'm serious. He has that state of mind, he really displays those symptoms. You want that in a President? I don't think so."

June 1, 2008: Jesse Ventura chooses Congressman Bradley Nowell of California as his running mate at the 2008 Reform Party Convention in New York, New York.

June 2, 2008: Howard Dean faces a media firestorm after suggesting Kasich was high, with Speaker of the House John Boehner calling Dean's comments "disrespectful." Dean refuses to apologize, saying, "Why not? You wouldn't be talking about this with me as President."

June 2, 2008: President Kasich laughs off Howard Dean's suggestion he was high, saying, "Silly old Howard. The only thing that's high is my standing in the polls!"

June 2, 2008: The series finale of Constant Payne airs on Nickelodeon.

June 3, 2008: Parachute Pavilion, an all-season activity center including a souvenir shop, restaurant, bar, and exhibition space, is officially opened in Coney Island. The pavilion is centered around the historic Parachute Jump tower, famously referred to as the "Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn." The tower was the last remnant of the defunct Steeplechase park still standing. The construction of the pavilion and the $2,000,000 renovation of the Parachute Jump was funded by Andrew Mimms. The total cost of the project was only a small portion of the money he had earned since the New Electric Park was opened.

June 3, 2008: Presidential candidate Jesse Ventura (I-MN) says he will disband the Electoral College if elected.

June 4, 2008: Howard Dean issues a semi-apology for saying President Kasich was high on drugs, saying, "I don't think the President is getting high. And I think in hindsight we should not be talking about this and my choice of words was wrong." Kasich dismisses Dean as "loopy." A Gallup poll shows Kasich leading 47-42.

June 5, 2008: MTV 2 starts airing a controversial show called Unusual Ways to Die.

June 5, 2008: Jim Varney stars in the superhero parody film Average Joe, directed by Kevin Smith. The film depicts how Joseph "Joe" Wilson's life is changed when he gets superpowers. Average Joe gets his superhero name after responding to a reporter's query on his identity with "I'm just an average Joe." Wilson's family farm and his brief wealthy childhood can be seen as a combination of Superman and Batman's backstories. The film works because where other parody films come from a place of mean-spirited humor, Average Joe comes from a place of genuine love for superhero comics. The people making the film, being life-long fans of superhero comics, absolutely riddle the film with Easter eggs and references.

June 5-19, 2008: The Philadelphia 76ers defeat the Phoenix Suns 4 games to 3 to win the 2008 NBA Finals.

June 7, 2008: The 2008 Euro Football Championship opens in Russia.

June 10, 2008: To compete with the Pontiac G8 ST, Ford begins importing the Falcon ute from Australia under the revived Ranchero name.

June 11, 2008: The animated series Off the Script makes its television debut. The series centers on the adventures of a sci-fi action film's cast and crew after they are abducted by the desperate A.I. of an alien spacecraft who thought they were suitable replacements for its deceased crew. The series shows the characters as they adjust to their roles on the ship with the cast becoming the heroes they played in film and the crew growing increasingly proficient in fixing the kind of tech they used to fake for Hollywood. The series launches Jon Bailey into stardom as he plays William "Bill" Stewart, the arrogant action hero who learns how to properly fill the Captain's chair in real life. The series playfully pokes fun at the traditional science fiction tropes and contains references to everything from Star Trek and Star Wars to Doctor Who and The X-Files.

June 12, 2008: Wawa, Inc., announces it has acquired the naming rights to the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

June 17, 2008: The Trump University Company officially purchases the area around the unfinished and unused Hartsville Nuclear Power Plant in Hartsville, Tennessee, for use in a new University and shopping center.

June 19, 2008: Meet the Press moderator Tim Russert has a near-fatal heart attack. A few weeks later, he returns to NBC, saying he is fine and ready to go.

June 21, 2008: The New Match Game, hosted by Drew Carey, premieres on CBS. An update of the classic game show from the 1970s, the new celebrity panel features Adam Carolla, Wayne Brady, Jim Varney, Sofia Vergara, Lisa Kudrow, and and Julia Louis-Dreyfuss.

June 26, 2008: The Duke and Duchess of York remarry in Crathie Kirk near Balmoral. The couple chose to marry in Scotland as the Church of England does not permit remarriage after divorce.

June 27, 2008: Pixar and Disney release Wall-E to cinemas. Telling the story of a lone robot doing his part to clean up a post-apocalyptic Earth, the film is notable for being told largely through visual storytelling, with the first line of dialogue not being spoken until over half an hour into its running time.

June 29, 2008: England defeats Portugal 2-0 to win the 2008 Euro Football Championship.

June 30, 2008: In Austin, Texas, Jessica Strobel is sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing her newborn son in a bathroom stall at her senior prom on April 25.

July 3, 2008: Starlight, a blogging website designed for pop culture fandoms, is launched on the Internet.

July 7, 2008: The International Astronomical Union rules that 2006 UB-313 is the tenth planet in the solar system.

July 25, 2008: The Pied Piper, the 45th Disney animated feature film, is released to cinemas. An adaptation of the classic fairytale of the same name, the film marks a return to traditional animation for Disney after Once in a Blue Moon. Featuring Eric Idle as the voice of the Pied Piper, the film is praised for blending Monty Python's more family-friendly humor with the Disney style of storytelling. While it barely makes it money back at the box office, the film becomes a cult hit in the following years.

July 31, 2008: The Steve Irwin Show premieres on NBC. The show is about Steve Irwin and his family moving to Seattle, Washington, after a new zoo opens there. The Irwin family play fictional versions of themselves and they have a talking crocodile as a pet named Sue. A recurring gag is Sue, a male crocodile, being ridiculed for his feminine name.

August 1, 2008: President Kasich makes a gaffe when he says, "The economy is not in such a good position right now, with the problems on Wall Street. You gotta get somebody serious and who knows what they're doing to combat this." While Kasich's campaign quickly clarifies he was talking about himself and that the economy is "having some difficulties, but to say it is bad is not correct," Dean and the Democrats proceed to use it in TV ads against the President.

August 1, 2008: The International Astronomical Union announces the new name of 2006 UB-313 as Latona, after the Roman goddess of light.

August 6, 2008: President Kasich proposes the Department of Science and Technology, a cabinet department responsible furthering scientific and technological progress in the United States. Kasich is privately considering appointing astrophysicist and cosmologist Neil deGrasse Tyson as the department's first Secretary.

August 12, 2008: Provisional President of Zimbabwe Joseph Tangwerai is elected to his first term as the official President of Zimbabwe. He vows to continue the policies that lead to the miraculous economic recovery of Zimbabwe.

August 12, 2008: Congress begins hearings on the creation of the U.S. Department of Science and Technology.

August 17, 2008: Hewlett-Packard officially releases the HP-Cell smartphone. Most of the Microsoft successors officially follow suit soon after.

August 8-24, 2008: The 2008 Summer Olympics are held in Toronto, Canada. The host nation Canada leads in the medal count, followed closely by the United States in second and Russia trailing behind in third.

August 19, 2008: Howard Dean announces he is picking Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia as his running mate.

August 25-28, 2008: The 2008 Democratic National Convention is held in Boston, Massachusetts. Notable speakers at the Fleet Center include former U.S. President Ann Richards of Texas, Governor Caroline Kennedy of New York, Chicago Mayor Barack Obama, and Senator Paul Wellstone of Minnesota.

August 26, 2008: Long-time Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) narrowly loses the Republican Senate primary to Bill Walker after having been hounded by a corruption investigation for most of the year.

August 27, 2008: At its convention in Boston, Massachusetts, the Democratic Party nominates former Governor Howard Dean of Vermont for President of the United States and Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia for Vice President.

August 28, 2008: Andrew Mimms purchases a tract of land near the Tarará suburb of Havana, Cuba, for Luna Park Havana, the first new amusement park in Cuba in over 50 years.

September 1-4, 2008: The 2008 Republican National Convention is held in Phoenix, Arizona. Notable speakers at the U.S. Airways Center include Governor Mike Ditka of Illinois, Governor Duke Aiona of Hawaii, U.S. Senate candidate Chris Christie of New Jersey, Hewlett-Packard C.E.O. Carly Fiorina, and eBay C.E.O. Meg Whitman.

September 1, 2008: Conan O'Brien announces that he will leave Late Night on NBC in June 2009 to take over for Jay Leno on The Tonight Show.

September 4, 2008: At its convention in Phoenix, Arizona, the Republican Party nominates incumbent U.S. President John Kasich of Ohio and Vice President Connie Mack III of Florida for re-election.

September 5, 2008: Michelle Moon, a high school English teacher from San Diego, California, wins Season 4 of Whodunit.

September 8, 2008: The TV drama Student Loans premieres on AMC. The show follows college freshmen Dylan Parker (played by Aaron Paul) and Kevin Lowell (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) as they resort to cooking and dealing meth in order to pay off their rising student loans. The show sparks a national debate on the rising costs of college tuition in the United States.

September 8, 2008: The animated TV show The Toontown Show premieres on the Disney Channel. Featuring such classic Disney characters as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Roger Rabbit, the show follows their everyday lives in Toontown. It goes on to become one of the Disney Channel's highest rated shows.

September 9, 2008: Fear Factor ends its seven-year run on NBC.

September 10, 2008: The RealClear Politics average has Ventura at 13.5%, Dean at 38.3%, and President Kasich at 40.4%. Ventura needs 15% to get into the debates.

September 11, 2008: Trump University Rhyolite officially opens for its first semester. The reborn town of Rhyolite quickly becomes quite a thriving college town. Businesses are built to cater to the university students and faculty, housing is built to house the employees of said businesses, and other businesses are opened to cater to those people. The population of the town quickly grows exponentially as a result of this. A snap election results in Harrison Bell being elected the first Mayor of the new Rhyolite.

September 13, 2008: Taylor Swift makes her debut as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. She would become known for her portrayal of Kids Next Door lead singer Stefani Germanotta in the show's 35th season.

September 15, 2008: A Monmouth University poll has President Kasich (R-OH) at 44.2%, Howard Dean (D-VT) at 38.3%, and Jesse Ventura (I-MN) at 15.2%.

September 17, 2008: The Commission on Presidential Debates formally invites Jesse Ventura (I-MN) to its first presidential debate at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.

September 19, 2008: For the first time in the show's 24-year history, a three-way tie occurs on Jeopardy!.

September 19, 2008: NBC announces that Saturday Night Live cast member Bill Hader will succeed Conan O'Brien as the host of Late Night.

September 20, 2008: Julie Elliston, age 17 from Washington, is crowned Miss America 2009.

September 20, 2008: Howard Dean warns that Jesse Ventura is a "fraud" and "offering nonsense" and he is the alternative to Kasich.

September 22, 2008: A Washington Post report alleges that the Kasich campaign has received illegal donations from foreign donors. Kasich says the report is "fabricated."

September 22, 2008: While walking down the steps off the stage at a campaign rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Howard Dean trips and breaks his left leg.

September 23, 2008: Jesse Ventura comes under fire when he says Dean's broken leg is "what he deserves."

September 23, 2008: Chatter, a social networking website founded by Harvard alumni and Olympic rowers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, launches on the Internet. The site allows users to post messages in 140-character-long "chats."

September 25, 2008: Through the White House's official Chatter account, President Kasich wishes Howard Dean a full and speedy recovery.

September 26, 2008: The first presidential debate between John Kasich, Howard Dean, and Jesse Ventura is held at Tulane University's Fogelman Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. The debate opens with Dean hobbling to his podium on crutches, which prompts a rousing applause. A controversy soon erupts when Ventura accuses President Kasich of "selling us out to the Kremlin" when asked a question about the foreign donation leak.

October 2, 2008: The Walt Disney Company confirms that it has made a deal with Hasbro and Discovery Communications allowing the new animated series Star Wars: Into the Galaxy to be syndicated on the new Kids Universal channel, for $100 million and 10% ownership of the channel. At the time of its debut in 2009, Kids Universal is owned 10% by the Walt Disney Company, 40% by Hasbro, and 50% by Discovery Communications. Disney later sells it's 10% in the company back to Hasbro in the summer of 2011 and drops Star Wars from Kids Universal.

October 3, 2008: The 2008 vice presidential debate between Connie Mack III, Tim Kaine, and Bradley Nowell is held at Quinnipiac University's TD Bank Center in Hamden, Connecticut. The debate becomes infamous when Nowell says that Kaine keeps "whipping out that Iran thing again" when asked about foreign policy. Vice President Mack's most notable remark of the evening was "Are we gonna trust someone that's a heartbeat away from the presidency who has a lyric that says, 'Daddy's got a brand new 45'? Come on people!!"

October 4, 2008: Bradley Nowell (I-CA) is seen as the clear winner of the vice presidential debate, mostly for his comebacks such as "Mr. Vice President, I think you are taking that song and lyric out of context, like what you're doing with me and Ventura's plans for this country."

October 4, 2008: The National Committee for Fair Elections (NCFE) announces that a presidential debate will be held on October 18 featuring John Kasich, Howard Dean, Ron Paul, Bernie Sanders, Jesse Ventura, Bob Barr, Donald Trump, Jr., and (surprisingly) Socialist candidate Brian Moore.

October 5, 2008: McDonald's officially announces the launch of the new McBistro restaurant chain. The new restaurant features a relaxed atmosphere and a much healthier version of the traditional McDonald’s menu. Only a few hundred McBistro restaurants are opened as a proof of concept run. They also launch a healthy choices menu for the traditional McDonald’s restaurants.

October 6, 2008: A top speed of 174 mph is achieved during testing on the TEXPRESS high-speed rail line.

October 7, 2008: The second presidential debate between John Kasich, Howard Dean, and Jesse Ventura is held at Washington University's Field House in St. Louis, Missouri. Ventura makes yet another controversial remark when he says that the Kasich administration is handling the economy "like a bunch of drunken Irishmen." Both Kasich and Dean are appalled at the remark, with the Democratic nominee declaring, "This type of ethnic bigotry has no place in 21st century America! We shouldn't tolerate from anyone, let alone a major candidate for Commander-in-Chief!"

October 8, 2008: An audit of the Donald J. Trump Cancer Foundation reveals that the charity organization donated 80% of the money raised to cancer research. It's then revealed that four major cancer charities had been embezzling charity funds on personal expenses. These charities are shuttered and their leadership arrested for fraud. The Trump Cancer Foundation's donations skyrocket due to the Foundation's lack of corruption.

October 8, 2008: South Park airs the episode "The China Problem," in which Cartman and Butters hold a P.F. Chang's hostage thinking the Chinese are going to take over America. Meanwhile, Stan, Kyle, and Kenny are traumatized after seeing The Flash.

October 9, 2008: Jesse Ventura issues an apology for his remarks at the October 7 debates. He says, "I forgot to filter my thoughts for a national audience. I ask for the forgiveness of anyone I offended Tuesday night."

October 10, 2008: An anonymous source within the Kasich campaign reveals to the press that the allegations regarding illegal donations were true. While it's not known whether Kasich knew about the illegal donations or whether it was the work of an overzealous member of the campaign staff, the Kasich campaign suffers a blow because of it.

October 10, 2008: The Trump University Company officially purchases the area around the abandoned Michigan Central Station for use in a new university and shopping complex.

October 10, 2008: Congress passes legislation creating the U.S. Department of Science and Technology. Organizations moved to the new department include NASA, NOAA, the National Science Foundation, the EPA, the CDC, the National Weather Service, and FEMA. President Kasich appoints Neil deGrasse Tyson as the department's first Secretary.

October 15, 2008: The third presidential debate between John Kasich, Howard Dean, and Jesse Ventura is held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Compared to the first two, the town-hall-style debate is much calmer and more level-headed. When the topic of education came up, Ventura expressed his vehement opposition to "Zero Tolerance" policies put in place in the wake of the Yankton Massacre. He said that the policy is "a sad excuse for school security" and "little more than authoritarian fear-mongering." In what was perhaps the highlight of the evening, he concluded with the belief that "saying violent video games makes you a murderer is like saying Monopoly makes you a millionaire!"

October 15, 2008: At a morning rally in Des Moines, Iowa, Howard Dean mocks President Kasich as "weak," saying, "Look at him, he is so wimpy. It's an embarrassment! We need a President who will stand up to special interests for the American people!"

October 15, 2008: Nick Denton Media sponsors a third-party presidential debate at the Marriott World Trade Center in New York, New York. In attendance are Ron Paul, Bernie Sanders, Bob Barr, and Donald Trump, Jr.

October 15, 2008: The Trump University Company purchases the abandoned Hawthorne Plaza Mall in Hawthorne, California, for use in a new university.

October 17, 2008: Atuk, directed by Dennis Dugan, is released to cinemas. Based on the novel by Mordecai Richler, the film stars Chris Farley as the titular Eskimo who visits New York City and falls in love with a beautiful filmmaker named Michelle (played by Courteney Cox). The film receives mixed reviews, with many citing the predictable plot and the questionable depiction of the Inuit people as slow and simple.

October 18, 2008: The largest presidential debate in American history is held at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center in Paradise, Nevada. Participating in the debate are President John Kasich, Howard Dean, Ron Paul, Bernie Sanders, Jesse Ventura, Bob Barr, Donald Trump, Jr., and Brian Moore. Moderated by NBC's Tim Russert, the debate is surprisingly uneventful, given the short airtime each of the eight candidates were given.

October 18, 2008: The first-person shooter Medal of Honor: MASH is released. The protagonist is a U.S. Army medic named Blake Williams during the Korean War.

October 19, 2008: The Cleveland Crew defeat the Atlanta Ambush 2-1 to win the 2008 MLS Cup.

October 20, 2008: The Trump University Company purchases the dying Crestwood Court mall in Crestwood, Missouri, for use in a new university.

October 20, 2008: In a shocking NBC poll, Jesse Ventura leads Minnesota and Bernie Sanders leads Vermont.

October 21, 2008: Nickelodeon declares Howard Dean to be the winner of Kids Pick the President 2008. This would become the first time in the promotion's history that the kids' poll went against the results of the actual election.

October 22-29, 2008: The Arizona Outlaws defeat the Orlando Coasters 4 games to 1 to win the 2008 World Series.

October 25, 2008: The RCP poll average puts Jesse Ventura at 18.5%, President Kasich at 38.2%, and Howard Dean at 38.3%.

October 26, 2008: A new jobs report shows 16,000 jobs were lost in October. The stock market experiences a crash.

October 28, 2008: Howard Dean declares, "We're winning! We are gonna take this country back!" Jesse Ventura mocks Dean as a "child," and says "America needs a real man, not those two idiots!"

October 28, 2008: On FOX News's The Dobbs Factor, Lou Dobbs is caught muttering, "Can you believe what this motherfucker Dean is saying?".

October 30, 2008: The surviving members of Pink Floyd announce plans for a reunion tour in the near future.

October 31, 2008: James Robinson, the killer of Pauly Shore, is killed trying to blow up his jail cell's walls in an attempted escape.

November 1, 2008: MLB Commissioner George W. Bush announces he is running for Governor of Texas in 2010.

November 1, 2008: The FBI announces it will be investigated allegations of foreign meddling in the presidential election and illegal Kasich campaign donations. Kasich says, "I'm the least corrupt politician in Washington. I am the servant of the American people and not big donors." Howard Dean lets out a bellowing laugh at Kasich's statement, before ripping him as a "failed Washington insider."

November 2, 2008: At a rally in Jacksonville, Florida, Howard Dean warns Jesse Ventura could throw the election to the House of Representatives and to President Kasich.

November 2, 2008: James Hetfield, former lead singer of Metallica, gives a interview on 60 Minutes talking about his life after the plane crash that killed most of his bandmates.

November 2, 2008: Punk legend Dee Dee Ramone endorses Jesse Ventura (I-CA) for President of the United States.

November 2, 2008: Roger Walters denies interest in a Pink Floyd reunion tour, leaving only David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright. In a stunning move, they hire former Ramones bassist Dee Dee Ramone.

November 3, 2008: At his final rally in Indianapolis, Indiana, Bradley Nowell says Tim Kaine and Howard Dean are "punks" and "don't act presidential."

November 3, 2008: Jeb Bush announces his candidacy for a U.S. Senate seat from Florida in 2010.

November 3, 2008: Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart appear on the cover of Time magazine with the caption "We Joke. You Decide. The seriously partisan politics of late-night comedy."

November 4, 2008: The final CNN poll for the 2008 presidential election shows President Kasich and Howard Dean tied at 38% and Jesse Ventura at 12%.

November 4, 2008: For the first time since 1824, no candidate gets a majority of electoral votes in the Electoral College, throwing the election to the House of Representatives.

genusmap.php


President John Kasich (R-OH) / Vice President Connie Mack III (R-FL) - 269 EVS (47.2% PV)

Former Gov. Howard Dean (D-VT) / Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA) - 265 EVS (46.1% PV)

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura (I-MN) / Congressman Bradley Nowell (I-CA) - 4 EVS (3.2% PV)

November 4, 2008:
2008 House elections
John Boehner - Republican: 232 49.4%
Steny Hoyer - Democratic: 203 46.6%
435 seats
218 for majority

2008 Senate elections
Bill Frist - Republican: 54 (+2)
Tom Daschle - Democratic: 46 (-2)
100 seats
51 for majority

November 4, 2008: Republican Mitt Romney is re-elected Governor of Utah over Democrat Bob Springmeyer.

November 4, 2008: Republican Chris Christie is narrowly elected as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey over Democratic incumbent Frank Lautenberg.

November 4, 2008: Democrat Harold Ford, Jr., is narrowly elected to Al Gore's Senate seat over Republican Ed Bryant.

November 4, 2008: Republican Lee Raymond is elected as a U.S. Senator from Texas over Democratic incumbent Ron Kirk.

November 4, 2008: Democrat Daniel Mongiardo is narrowly elected as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky over Republican Steve Pence to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell.

November 4, 2008: Democrat Mary Landrieu is elected as a U.S. Senator from Louisiana over Republican incumbent Peggy Wilson.

November 4, 2008: Democrat Martha Coakley is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts over Republican Bill Weld.

November 4, 2008: Democrat Paul Wellstone is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Minnesota over Republican Harold Shudlick.

November 4, 2008: Republican Karen Handel is elected as a U.S. Senator from Georgia over Democrat Steve Henson. She is the first female Senator from Georgia.

November 4, 2008: Republican John Thune is narrowly elected as a U.S. Senator from South Dakota over Democratic incumbent Tim Johnson by a margin of 207 votes.

November 4, 2008: Nate Silver is elected to Congress from New York's 12th congressional district as a Democrat.

November 4, 2008: Edward Snowden is elected to Congress from Maryland's 3rd congressional district as an Independent.

November 4, 2008: Liz Cheney is elected to Congress from Wyoming's at-large congressional district as a Republican.

November 4, 2008: Katie McGinty is elected to Congress from Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district as a Democrat.

November 4, 2008: Tulsi Gabbard is elected Mayor of Honolulu over incumbent Mufi Hannemann.

November 4, 2008: A highly controversial ballot initiative to legalize recreational marijuana succeeds in Vermont, with 51% of voters in favor of the measure.

November 5, 2008: South Park airs the episode "About Last Night," in which John Kasich and Howard Dean use the 2008 U.S. presidential election as a cover for an elaborate Ocean's Eleven-style jewel heist. The episode ends with Independent candidate Jesse Ventura gallantly taking the blame for the heist at the Smithsonian.

November 13, 2008: After a wildly successful "Vanilla" period and the success of its first expansion The Burning Crusade, the World of Warcraft behemoth stumbles on the release of its second expansion Into the Nightmare. Passing over potential ideas floated about visiting Northrend and fighting the Lich King for what is panned in online circles as "an elf expansion," the developer team at Blizzard also experiences some shake-ups, resulting in patchy content updates. The ongoing success of the Mogworld trilogy, which competes with it in the fantasy gaming genre and pokes fun at the MMO's style and interface, also hurts its credibility in the eyes of some. The game struggles as it apparently enters middle age, and eventually the last official servers are shut down in 2011 as Blizzard moves on to bigger and better things. Despite this, the more ardent portions of the game's fanbase would maintain private servers running versions of the game's glory-days "Vanilla" build for the better part of a decade afterwards. The demise of WoW is widely seen as marking the end of the MMO genre in the mainstream video gaming world.

December 12, 2008: Pop singer and entertainment legend Michael Jackson announces he is undergoing treatment for prescription painkiller addiction.

December 17, 2008: Chatter founders Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss are collectively named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2008.

December 20, 2008: The U.S. House of Representatives votes to re-elected John Kasich for President of the United States.

genusmap.php


Red denotes states whose congressional delegations voted for Kasich/Mack, Blue denotes states whose congressional delegations voted for Dean/Kaine, and Green denotes states whose congressional delegations voted for Ventura/Nowell.

December 25, 2008: The Disney comedy Bedtime Stories is released to cinemas. The film focuses on Gary White (played by David Spade), a hotel handyman who has custody of his kids for the weekend from his divorced wife Lauren (played by Lisa Kudrow). His life changes when the bedtime stories he tells his kids at night magically come to life the days after. While mildly successful at the holiday box office, the film receives mixed reviews, with some praising the original storyline and others criticizing the bland character development.

January 1, 2009: As per the November 4 referendum results, recreational marijuana is legalized in Vermont.

January 3, 2009: Prince William transfers to the RAF and trains as a search-and-rescue helicopter pilot after being denied active Army duty by the British government.

January 3, 2009: The Pink Floyd reunion tour officially kicks off in the U.S., with The Kids Next Door as their opening act.

January 6, 2009: The Nickelodeon show Danny Phantom is renewed for a fifth season.

January 9, 2009: British Prime Minister John Prescott calls a general election for February 10. The incumbent Prime Minister faces an uphill battle in the coming weeks due to the fact that the public and many in the Opposition believe he lost his mandate to govern and the rising numbers for Malcolm Rifkind and the Conservatives in the polls.

January 12, 2009: Austria applies to join the Visegrád Group.

January 13, 2009: The Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Auburn Tigers 31-13 to win the 2008-09 NCAA Football Championship.

January 14, 2009: One of the largest blizzards on record slams the northeastern United States. Philadelphia receives a record 31.8 inches of snowfall, the federal government in Washington, D.C., shuts down for several days, and New York City public schools close for the first time in 26 years.

January 16, 2009: The Mall Cop is released to cinemas. The comedy film tells the story of Jim Klink (played by Chris Farley), a mall security guard who has to save the fictitious Pine Barrens Mall in New Jersey from an organized crime syndicate. Many pan the film, saying some of the scenes insensitively resembled images of the King of Prussia massacre 12 years earlier.

January 20, 2009: John Kasich takes the Oath of Office for a second term as President, and promises to "heal the divisions we face" and bring "a new era of common-sense conservatism to America." "I am proud to be your President, and I have a lot of stuff I want to do. I look forward to serving as your commander in chief for the next four years." Connie Mack III is sworn in for a second term as Vice President. Minor protests disrupt the inaugural parade, and one protester throws water on Vice President Mack. However, security prevented the situation getting out of hand. Kasich begins his second term with a 44% approval rating.

January 20, 2009: Neil deGrasse Tyson officially takes office as the first U.S. Secretary of Science and Technology.

January 22, 2009: U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) announces that he will be retiring from the Senate and will not be running for re-election in 2010.

January 25, 2009: The New York Giants defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 38-15 to win Super Bowl XLIII.

January 25, 2009: Nicholas Mead, an enraged Dean support, is arrested in Washington, D.C, for attempting to set fire to Number One Observatory Circle.

January 28, 2009: Jesse Ventura holds a protest rally in Minneapolis, Minnesota, attended by over 15,000 people. Ventura declares "the election was rigged" and that Kasich is an "illegitimate President." He calls on Americans to "fight against the pro-special interests, anti-American, anti-middle class agenda of John Kasich." Ventura vowed to organize more protest rallies in cities across the country "until this rigged, illegitimate election is overturned" and "the corrupt bargain of Kasich and Washington special interests is thrown out for a bargain for the American people." Howard Dean comments, "I am disappointed in the election result, but I don't think it's helpful to say it was rigged, and the fact is John Kasich is our President."

January 30, 2009: The Pink Floyd reunion tour starts with a concert at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California.

February 5, 2009: Governor Linda Schrenko (R-GA) announces that she will not be seeking re-election in 2010 due to charges against her of embezzlement while she was Superintendent of Schools.

February 8, 2009: Former U.S. President Ann Richards says that Jesse Ventura needs to accept that he lost.

February 9, 2009: Jesse Ventura says that an "insider" like Ann Richards, who is a "fruity old bat," won't tell him what to do.

February 10, 2009: The 2009 British general election is held. The results are a devastating loss for Prime Minister Prescott, whose Labour Party lost 127 seats in the House of Commons. Malcolm Rifkind is sworn in as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

Malcolm Rifkind (Conservative) - 348 seats +127 (34.6% PV)
John Prescott (Labour) - 195 seats -127 seats (27.5% PV)
Vince Cable (Liberal Democratic) - 89 seats +18 (22.1% PV)

650 seats in the House of Commons
326 seats needed for a majority

February 12, 2009: U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell (R-GA) announces that he will be retiring from the Senate after his current term ends.

February 13, 2009: Former British Prime Minister John Prescott resigns as leader of the Labour Party.

February 19, 2009: The Trump University Company purchases the abandoned Camp Evans Signal Laboratory near Belmar, New Jersey, for use in a new university.

February 22, 2009: The Assassination of Pauly Shore shockingly wins the Academy Award for Best Picture. The surviving members of the Shore family accept the award and thank the people for making it happen.

March 1, 2009: Adventure Time debuts on Nickelodeon. Created by Pendleton Ward, the cartoon follows the adventures of Jake the Dog and Finn the Human in the bizarre Land of Ooo.

March 1, 2009: The International Olympic Committee announces that dodgeball will be added to the program for the 2012 Summer Olympics in Moscow.
 
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March 1, 2009: An early-bird 2012 presidential poll shows most Americans want Republican Connie Mack and Democrat Jim Webb facing off.

March 3, 2009: U.S. Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) announces that he will not be seeking re-election in 2010.

March 5, 2009: NBC-Universal announces plans for a "Marvel Cinematic Universe," in which all included movies would take place in a shared universe and follow a strict continuity. The first film in the project is announced as The Spectacular Spider-Man, scheduled for release in 2011.

March 9, 2009: Seattle Mariners third baseman Chris Weinke appears in the Season 1 finale of The Steve Irwin Show, as the episode is about the Australia Zoo in Seattle being a sponsor of the Mariners.

March 23, 2009: Actor and comedian Robin Williams announces he is undergoing treatment for Parkinson's disease.

March 26, 2009: The Nintendo Universe theme park opens near Kyoto, Japan. In attendance at the grand opening are Emperor Akihito, Shigeru Miyamoto, and Nintendo President Satoru Iwata. The park features areas themed to such franchises as Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Pokemon, Donkey Kong, and others. Within its first year of operation, the park draws enough visitors to become one of Kyoto's top tourist attractions.

March 30, 2009: Nirvana releases Sunken, their first album in a decade. It is praised for its mix of grunge and modern rock.

April 3, 2009: The Late Late Show with Chris Farley debuts on CBS. His first guests are the surviving members of Pink Floyd and St. Louis Archers running back Maurice Clarett. The show receives mixed to negative reviews, with the most common complaint being Farley's uncharacteristic reliance on pop culture references in his jokes.

April 8, 2009: Chicago Mayor Barack Obama launches an outreach program towards black teenagers, particularly young men, living in the city's infamous South Side in the hopes of preventing gang membership rates in the city from rising any further.

April 9, 2009: Mobile Suit Gundam: Gihren's Stand premieres. The series is the long demanded sequel to Gihren's Glory and returns to the Dusk Wraiths once again in 0087 UC. This time, the Dusk Wraiths try to defend Zeon against the Titans, a Federation Remnant/Terrorist Group, and the rise of Char's Neo Zeon, who reveals himself to be Casval Deikun.

April 10, 2009: Steve Irwin comes out as a conservative and says he supported President Kasich's re-election bid and Senator Jeb Bush's campaign on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

April 13, 2009: Disgruntled ex-fiancee of indie game developer Alecia Bohannon makes a blog post revealing that Bohannon had been cheating on him with several people involved in the games industry. This includes Russell Spinks, a writer at gaming blog Kotaku. The post alleges that Bohannon slept with Spinks in order to gain positive media attention.

April 14, 2009: The live-action My Little Pony movie is released into theaters. The movie is mainly an adaptation of Escape From Dark Castle with a few characters from later installments of the franchise thrown in. The film is centered around Megan Williams (played by Miranda Cosgrove) and how the pony Firefly (voiced by Grey Delisle) brought her into their world to help save their world from the evil Tirek (voiced by Clancy Brown). The filmmaker's controversial choice to "gender flip" the character of Applejack by casting Jim Carrey is validated when he gave one of his better performances in the last five years. The special effects of this movie look amazing, as the ponies look like living animals. This was accomplished with a combination of animatronics, motion capture of real ponies, and CGI for when the ponies needed more humanlike movement or for stunts. The movie is shockingly well-written for a My Little Pony movie, which contributes to the film's massive success.

April 15, 2009: Ford introduces a plug-in hybrid version of the F-150.

April 20, 2009: Father Brad Clements, a Catholic priest from Oakland, California, wins a record $1,453,760 after winning his 43rd consecutive episode of Jeopardy!.

April 22, 2009: Cyril Ramaphosa is elected to succeed Thabo Mbeki as President of South Africa.

April 25, 2009: Russell Spinks is fired from Kotaku for his involvement in the Bohannon scandal. Kotaku publishes an anonymous interview with the ex-fiancee who revealed that Bohannon had admitted to the cheating personally in a text message. The ethics policies of the subsidiaries of Nick Denton Media are tightened considerably.

May 1, 2009: The Kashmir referendum takes place. The Kashmiri people officially vote to declare independence. In the months leading to the referendum, there were speeches made to swing voters to their side. Calls to avoid the religious conflict of the past were very persuasive, as most people living in Kashmir were sick of the Pakistan and India's constant fighting over ownership of Kashmir. The government of Kashmir promises a secular constitution for the newly independent country.

May 1-5, 2009: Many Hindus and Muslims (half a million in total) voluntarily migrate from Kashmir out of a sense of patriotism. Members of the Bharati Janata Party (BJP) call for the counter-secession of Hindu-majority Jammu and its incorporation into the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, pointing out that in the referendum, Jammu voted to stay by a ten-point margin, as well as cultural dissimilarities between Jammu and Kashmir.

May 1-3, 2009: The three-part TV movie Wishology airs on Nickelodeon. Acting as the series finale for The Fairly OddParents, it features Timmy Turner and his friends setting out on a quest to save Fairy World by finding the mystical Fire, Earth, and Ice Wands. Containing parodies of fantasy and science-fiction films like Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, the finale also features a multitude of celebrity cameos, including Nirvana members Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl as protectors of the Ice Wand, Mel Gibson as superhero Turbo Thunder, and former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura as FBI agent Derek Schwartz.

May 1, 2009: Alecia Bohannon's image is further tarnished by the revelation that she had been abusing the DMCA to remove negative coverage of her games from MeV. This leads most users of the digital games service Steam to boycott her games on the service. Bohannon's career as a game developer is effectively sunk by these twin controversies.

May 2, 2009: The video game adaptation of the My Little Pony movie hits shelves. The game is a turn-based strategy game where you can swap out characters from the shows who have different abilities. The game is every bit as successful as the movie it's based on. The combat system is particularly praised by both critics and fans.

May 2, 2009: Eleventh Hour, driven by Lowell Perry, wins the 2009 Kentucky Derby.

May 3, 2009: The United States recognizes Kashmir.

May 4, 2009: The United Kingdom recognizes Kashmir.

May 5, 2009: Pakistan and India recognize Kashmir.

May 6, 2009: Russia recognizes Kashmir.

May 8, 2009: Canada recognizes Kashmir.

May 9, 2009: U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski (R-AK) announces that he will not be seeking re-election in 2010.

May 10, 2009: Australia recognizes Kashmir.

May 13, 2009: Westfield announces plans to refurbish its shopping mall at the World Trade Center complex in New York City. Scheduled to be fully completed in 2013, the refurbishment is intended to give the mall a more modern, contemporary feel.

May 14, 2009: The Romanian people vote 63.5% in favor of joining the Eurasian Union.

May 15, 2009: Sabina Noguerra, age 21 from El Salvador, is crowned Miss Universe 2009.

May 16, 2009: Eleventh Hour, driven by Lowell Perry, wins 2009 Preakness Stakes.

May 18, 2009: The growing popularity of Tonight in Britain leads to a proposal for John Oliver to begin hosting a late night television series called Friday Night Affairs, an offer which he accepts. Over the years, he has many prominent British politicians guest star on his show, famously including the British Prime Minister Malcolm Rifkind in 2011.

May 22, 2009: Bear Stearns declares bankruptcy, plunging Wall Street and the global financial system into crisis.

May 22, 2009: Cuba and Zimbabwe recognize Kashmir.

May 22, 2009: Disney releases Antonius to cinemas. The animated film features Orlando Bloom as the voice of the title character, a leopard in ancient Egypt who becomes a freedom fighter against the tyrannical Pharaoh (voiced by Morgan Freeman).

May 22, 2009: Congressman Bernie Sanders (G-VT) introduces the Serve and Be Served Act (SABSA), which would lower the national drinking age back to 18.

May 22, 2009: Glee, directed by Paul Feig, is released to cinemas. Despite being marketed as a musical teen comedy, the film deals with drastically mature topics such as drug addiction and a sexual student-teacher relationship. The film generates a storm of controversy, angering people on the left due to its ethnic stereotyping of the character Ranjit (played by Aasif Mandvi) and people on the right due the supposed lack of "family values." Large protests occur across the country at cinemas playing the film.

May 23, 2009: Congressman Bradley Nowell (I-CA) voices his support for SABSA.

May 24, 2009: Chicago Mayor Barack Obama is approached about a possible bid for the Governor's seat in Springfield. The Mayor, while not commenting on the matter before the media, has privately considered running.

May 25, 2009: U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) voices his support for SABSA.

May 26, 2009: Congressman Edward Snowden (I-MD) voices his support for SABSA.

May 29, 2009: Conan O'Brien hosts his last episode of Late Night. His final guests are Jack Black and Miami Dolphins linebacker Marco Rubio.

May 30, 2009: Iran and Israel recognize Kashmir.

May 30-June 12, 2009: The Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Seattle Totems 4 games to 3 to win the 2009 Stanley Cup.

May 30, 2009: Wigan Athletic defeats West Bromwich Albion 2-0 to in the 2009 FA Cup.

May 31, 2009: When asked about Mayor Obama's potential gubernatorial run, U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham-Schaeffer (D-IL) states that she "can't make up his mind for him," but adds that she thinks of him as "a deeply respectable man, and [he] would represent Illinois handsomely" if he were to be elected Governor.

June 1, 2009: Conan O'Brien takes over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno. Jay Leno starts a daily comedy show, Jay's Garage, at 11:30pm on Fox. The feared repeat of the infamous transition of 1992 is thus avoided.

June 1, 2009: Air France Flight 447 from Rio de Janeiro to Paris lands at Charles de Gaulle Airport without incident.

June 2, 2009: The new Luna Park is opened near Cleveland, Ohio. The 35-hectare park is to be the flagship of Andrew Mimms' new Ingersoll Parks Company, named after the respected theme park designer Frederick Ingersoll. The park's entrance is a replica of the entrance of the historic Cleveland Luna Park. The park features a large statue of Frederick Ingersoll in a large square near the entrance of the park, and a museum dedicated to the life of Frederick Ingersoll. The park features four lands themed after medieval Europe, feudal Japan, revolutionary America, and a futuristic city.

June 3, 2009: The Wonder Woman film is officially released into theaters. The film stars Catherine Zeta-Jones as Diana, Princess of Themyscira. The film centers around her entering Man's World as Wonder Woman to prevent Liam Neeson's Ares from plunging the world into endless war. The god had been secretly been sparking conflicts in his mortal guise as Duncan Russell, head of the MARS arms conglomerate. He had been secretly seeding discord in Man's World since the Corto Maltese Conflict in 1989. The film also features Christian Bale as USAF pilot Steve Trevor, who discovers the island after his plane is secretly sabotaged by Ares in order to cause Wonder Woman's entry into Man's World. The massive success of the Wonder Woman movie officially destroys the stigma that female-led superhero movie are doomed to failure.

June 3, 2009: Fully Ramblomatic releases Mogworld II: Nose To The Grindstone, the sequel to Mogworld. The game continues the series' tradition for fantastic humor and slick, intuitive controls. The game picks off from the last game, as Captain Heropants had just saved The Kingdom from the dreaded Over-Powered Emperor. The plot features yet another world-destroying threat that only Captain Heropants can defeat. The game features the ability to skip annoying fetch quests, but doing so limits the loot the character can get in the process. The player is torn between limiting grinding and gaining better weapons and armor for their character.

June 4, 2009: Trailer Park Boys ends its original run on Showcase.

June 4, 2009: The Legend of Zelda: Sword of Storms is released for the Nintendo Revolution. The game revolves around the Hero of Time's granddaughter Linkle's efforts to rescue her sister the current Princess Zelda from Ganondorf. The titular Sword of Storms is a legendary sword that Linkle can use that affects the weather. This comes in a variety of forms from using lightning to enhance attacks to changing the weather to help various people along the way. The game is the first in the Legend of Zelda series to include a firm chronology of the events of the series via a series of collectible lore books. Completing the campaign as Linkle also unlocks a second campaign where you play as Princess Zelda as she journeys to rescue Linkle. While the idea of a female Link is initially somewhat controversial, the character of Linkle eventually wins over critics by having a greater depth of personality than Link ever had.

June 4-18, 2009: The Golden State Warriors defeat the Orlando Magic 4 games to 3 to win the 2009 NBA Finals.

June 5, 2009: The first episode of Late Night with Bill Hader airs on NBC. His first guests are former Saturday Night Live co-star Jimmy Fallon and Vice President Connie Mack III.

June 5, 2009: The Hangover is released to cinemas. The R-rated comedy follows the bachelor party of middle school teacher and Phil Wenneck (played by Paul Rudd), dentist Stu Price (played by Seth Rogen), Phil's socially inept future brother-in-law Alan Garner (played by Jonah Hill), and Las Vegas stripper and escort Jade (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar) as they travel around Las Vegas searching for the missing groom Doug Billings (played by Heath Ledger). It is a box office smash, and goes on to become the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time.

June 6, 2009: Eleventh Hour, driven by Lowell Perry, wins the 2009 Belmont Stakes to become the first Triple Crown winner in 31 years.

June 6, 2009: At a screening of Glee in a Little Rock, Arkansas, movie theater, two protesting groups engage in a violent clash, resulting in over a dozen arrests. On the night's episode of NBC Nightly News, Brian Williams calls Glee "perhaps the most polarizing film of the year."

June 6, 2009: White House Down is released to cinemas. The movie is about Speaker of the House Dan Kendrick (played by James Woods) launching a coup against the White House to overthrow President Michael Ludlow (played by Kevin Spacey) and Vice President Tim Willis (played by Bryan Cranston), who are aided by Secret Service agent John Perry (played by Gerard Butler).

June 7, 2009: Former U.S. President Ann Richards releases a statement saying that she has been diagnosed with Stage 2 esophageal cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

June 9, 2009: Bradley Nowell announces his run for Governor of California in 2010 as a Libertarian.

June 11, 2009: The Serbian people vote 78.2% in favor of joining the Eurasian Union.

June 11, 2009: Nicktoons Superstar Showdown is released for the Atari Cougar and the Nintendo Revolution. Similar to Super Smash Bros., the fighting game features characters from such shows as Ren & Stimpy, Rugrats, Constant Payne, My Life as a Teenage Robot, The Fairly OddParents, and Adventure Time duking it out for fame and glory. The game receives generally positive reviews, with many comparing it positively to Super Smash Bros. and Marvel vs. Capcom.

June 12, 2009: NASA Director Rumsfeld unveils a tentative twenty-year plan for the organization, which involves a return to the moon by 2019, and a manned mission to Mars by 2029.

June 12, 2009: Jurassic Park IV is released to cinemas. Taking place eight years after the events of Jurassic Park: Extinction, the film features former Disney Channel star Shia LaBeouf as Nick Sanders, a mercenary who is hired by the Masrani Global Corporation to train a team of genetically modified human-dinosaur hybrids for use in rescue missions and counterterrorism operations. Keira Knightley appears as Nick's girlfriend Dr. Hannah Todd and Richard Attenborough reprises his role as John Hammond. Despite a record-breaking performance at the box office, the film receives mixed reviews, with people praising LaBeouf and Knightley's chemistry onscreen, while criticizing the film's radical departure from its three predecessors.

June 12, 2009: Wayne Brady airs his last episode as host of Family Feud.

June 14, 2009: A referendum on the final status of Northern Ireland is planned for August 12, 2010. Advocates for the three positions in the poll commence fierce campaigns to try to make the referendum swing their way.

June 15, 2009: The long-suffering province of Gilgit-Baltistan officially votes to secede from Pakistan. The years of no rights or democracy within Pakistan have driven the people of the province to seek incorporation within the Muslim-majority Republic of Kashmir.

June 15, 2009: Ingersoll Parks officially purchases the struggling Nara Dreamworld park from its owners. The park had been struggling for years with the success of Tokyo Disneyland, though it had narrowly avoided another competitor when Universal had decided to build their next Universal Studios park in Australia to compete with Disneyland Sydney. Its planned to rebrand the park Luna Park Nara to remove the stigma of being a Disney knockoff.

June 15, 2009: SABSA narrowly passes the Houses of Representatives 292-143.

June 18, 2009: Air Canada Jazz 1911, a Bombardier Dash 8 en route from Toronto to Thunder Bay with 50 passengers and four crew on board, disappears from radar over Lake Superior.

June 19, 2009: Debris from ACJ 1911 is found near the plane's last known location, along with the bodies of three passengers.

June 19, 2009: Batman: Dark Knight, the sequel to Batman: Caped Crusader, is officially released to theatres. Alec Baldwin returns to the role of Batman as he faces down the criminal mastermind known as the Penguin. It's later discovered that wealthy businessman Oswald Cobblepot (played by Peter Dinklage) is the Penguin. He had been using his successful nightclub The Iceberg Lounge as a front for his criminal activities. Batman then spends the rest of the film taking down Cobblepot's syndicate, exposing Cobblepot's involvement to the public. Cobblepot is arrested and taken to Blackgate Prison. The film also includes cameo appearances from Robin Williams' Joker and Jeff Dunham as the nebbish Arnold Wesker (aka The Ventriloquist). The Ventriloquist character is popular enough that Warner Brothers allows Dunham to tour as Wesker to promote the film.

June 20, 2009: The new Kashmiri Constitution is signed into law. It's a secular constitution officially recognizing the rights of the nation's religious minorities. This makes the provisional Kashmir government immensely popular throughout the country, as nobody in the country wishes to repeat the religious conflict that took place following the independence of India and Pakistan.

June 25, 2009: Guns n' Roses lead singer Axl Rose dies of a drug overdose a few months before their release of the long overdue album Chinese Democracy.

June 25, 2009: President Kasich, a big classic rock fan, sends his condolences to the family of the late Axl Rose, saying drugs are a serious problem and something about it needs to be stopped.

June 29, 2009: Yvette Cooper is elected the new leader of the Labour Party.

June 30, 2009: Kashmir officially becomes a member of the United Nations.

June 30, 2009: A petition from a small group of dedicated Nara Dreamland fans and employees get Ingersoll Parks to officially agree to leave the rather infamous knock-off castle in the center of the park alone. The renovations for the park are adjusted accordingly.

July 3, 2009: The funeral for Axl Rose is held in his hometown of Lafayette, Indiana. In attendance are his family, the surviving members of Guns n' Roses, Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, the surviving members of the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Mike Kroeger, Steven Tyler, Bruce Springsteen, and surprisingly President Kasich, who said that "rock and roll has lost a legend, and musicians and fans alike need to come together to honor the past while remaining hopeful for the future."

July 3, 2009: At the funeral for Axl Rose, Congressman Bradley Nowell (I-CA) and Slash jam out to a ska version of "November Rain."

July 4, 2009: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Steve McNair survives being shot in the head by his ex-girlfriend.

July 6, 2009: The first passengers ride a TEXPRESS bullet train from Houston to Dallas. Regular service begins August 10 with a 155 mph speed limit.

July 6, 2009: The wreckage of Western Airlines Flight 1907 is located. The FDR and CVR are recovered.

July 10, 2009: Kids Universal, a joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications, begins. Some of the first programming includes Transformers Adventures, Star Wars: Into the Galaxy, and My Little Pony: Friendship is Forever.

July 10, 2009: The new My Little Pony: Friendship is Forever series makes its premiere on the Kids Universal channel. The new series is in a separate continuity to the film series and there are no overt references to either in the films or series. That is until the My Little Pony IDW comic crossover event between the two universes, though the events of the comic naturally have no effect on the continuity of either the films or cartoon.

July 12, 2009: A follow-up referendum on Jammu's status has 58% of the population voting to secede from Kashmir and rejoin India. While there were concerns about voter fraud, it was later revealed to have been all above-board. Soon afterward, there is an exchange of people wishing to remain in the independent Republic of Kashmir and those wishing to return to India.

July 16, 2009: The wreckage of ACJ 1911 is discovered on the bottom of Lake Superior. Because the wreckage is located on the American side of the lake, the NTSB assumes responsibility for the investigation.

July 19, 2009: The reality TV show Pawn Stars premieres on the History Channel. Following the day-to-day operations of the Harrison family's Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, Nevada, the show goes on to become of the network's top rated shows. Many accredit Pawn Stars with having helped bring the History Channel out of its supposed "Hitler Channel" era.

July 24, 2009: Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan declares the signing of the Eurasian Union treaty. The new alliance is a merger of the Eurasian Defence Coalition and the Eurasian Economic Community.

July 24, 2009: Hurricane Anatole hits the southwestern coast of France. For the first time in 200 years, a hurricane hits the mainland of France. Luckily it is a Category 1 storm which weakened rapidly into an extratropical storm. Damages in the Bordeaux area are however still high.

July 25, 2009: U.S. Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) announces that he will not be seeking re-election in 2010.

August 1, 2009: The City of Champions Stadium opens in Inglewood, California, serving as the new home stadium of the Los Angeles Rams.

August 2, 2009: The Republican-held Congress passes the Bank Emergency Asset Relief (BEAR) program to save the crashing Wall Street. Most Democrats vote "no" on opposition.

August 2, 2009: The final Guns 'n Roses album Chinese Democracy is released. On the back of the CD, it says, "In memory of the late Axl Rose."

August 3, 2009: Wall Street stabilizes after BEAR passes Congress. However, job numbers are very poor, with the economy shrinking by 5.0% due to the crash and unemployment rising to 7.6%.

August 4, 2009: Howard Dean leads a protest against the Wall Street bailout. He calls on voters to "wipe away the crooked politicians and special interests." In an interview on Meet the Press, Dean said it was "extremely unlikely" he would run in 2012, but he urged Democrats to elect "true progressives" to office.

August 4, 2009: The Bulgarian people vote 61.7% in favor of joining the Eurasian Union.

August 5, 2009: President Kasich's approval rating, following the financial crash and Wall Street bailout, hits a new low at 37%.

August 5, 2009: After 72 stitches, Steve McNair is released from the hospital, but it is unknown if he will play again.

August 11, 2009: The Middle School Chronicles is published. Written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney, the graphic novel follows 12-year-old Ben Hoffman as he goes through a year of middle school and has to face a cast of crazy characters.

August 12, 2009: Provisional Kashmiri President Vohra officially signs an agreement with the People's Republic of China officially recognizing the current border and rescinding Kashmir's claims on territories currently controlled by the Chinese.

August 21, 2009: Warner Bros. Feature Animation releases Chicken Little to cinemas. Featuring Miranda Cosgrove as the voice of the title character, the hand-drawn animated film tells the story of how Chicken Little goes to summer camp in order to boost her confidence so she wouldn't overreact all the time. She then uncovers a nefarious plot that her camp counselor Freddy Fox (voiced by Penn Jillette) is planning against her hometown of Oakey Oaks. The film is both a critical and commercial success, with many praising the unique spin on a classic fable.

August 22-26, 2009: Woodstock 40 is held in Bethel, New York, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the original Woodstock festival in 1969. Among the notable acts are Nirvana, Tabitha's Secret, Green Day, Blind Melon, and reunions of The Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, and Oasis.

August 31, 2009: SABSA passes the Senate 69-31.

September 1, 2009: Azad Kashmir officially votes to join the Republic of Kashmir.

September 2, 2009: Steve McNair retires from professional football two months after being shot in the head. Doctors report that it is best for his health.

September 4, 2009: Kurt Young, a career advisor from Chandler, Arizona, wins Season 5 of Whodunit.

September 5, 2009: Kashmiri President Vohra officially signs an agreement recognizing the current border with Pakistan.

September 7, 2009: Nadya Suhalia Hakim, a 19-year-old student at the Riyadh University for Women, sets herself on fire in protest of the Wahhabist government in Saudi Arabia.

September 7-9, 2009: Inspired by Nadya Suhalia Hakim, the Saudi Arabian cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina erupt in protests against the Wahhabist government. Over the course of three days, military and police action cause 38 protestors to be killed and hundreds more to be injured and/or arrested.

September 7, 2009: Character actor Jim Varney airs his first episode as host of Family Feud.

September 9, 2009: Cuban President Taciano Ybarra condemns the use of force against peaceful demonstrations in Saudi Arabia, calling the response "a disgraceful violation of our most basic human rights."

September 10, 2009: Cuba closes its embassy in Riyadh and severs diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.

September 10, 2009: Cleveland Browns tight end Vernon Gale sparks controversy when he refuses to stand for "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the start of his team's season opener against the Minnesota Vikings. Gale claims he is protesting the national anthem to raise awareness for police brutality against African-Americans.

September 13, 2009: Governor Mike Ditka (R-IL) criticizes Vernon Gale for protesting the national anthem, saying, "I think it's a problem...anyone who disrespects this country and the flag. If they don't like the country or don't like the flag...get the hell out!"

September 14, 2009: President Kasich signs SABSA into law.

September 15, 2009: The Iranian government closes their Saudi Arabian embassy in response to the violent suppression of peaceful protests.

September 19, 2009: Sissie Rodgers, age 18 from Alabama, is crowned Miss America 2010.

September 19, 2009: Ford introduces the Shelby Ranchero. With a top speed of 180 mph, it sets the record for the world's fastest production pickup truck.

September 21, 2009: CSI: London premieres on CBS. Using The Who song "Eminence Front" as its theme song, the police drama centers on the new life of Dr. Peyton Driscoll (played once again by Claire Forlani) after she returned to the United Kingdom to live with her family.

September 22, 2009: Adelina Barros of the Christian People's Party is elected President of Cuba over Democratic Union incumbent Taciano Ybarra.

October 1, 2009: Atlantic City International Airport officially reopens after five years of extensive renovations. nearly triple its original size, the airport now rivals Newark International Airport as New Jersey's top transportation hub.

October 2, 2009: The International Olympic Committee selects Tokyo, Japan, to host the 2016 Summer Olympics.

October 5, 2009: Outright rebellion breaks out against the Wahhabist Saudi Arabian government and the House of Saud after further protests are violently suppressed by the government. The rebels are inspired by the precedent set by the overthrow of the former Cuban and Zimbabwean governments.

October 6, 2009: Congressman Bernie Sanders (G-VT) calls on the Kasich administration to sever diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia.

October 7, 2009: South Park airs the episode "Dead Celebrities," a parody of The Sixth Sense and Poltergeist in which Ike is haunted and possessed by the ghosts of Gerald Ford, James Robinson, Pauly Shore, Adam Sandler, and Axl Rose.

October 8, 2009: Infiniti sells its 500,000th G25.

October 10, 2009: The Iranian government begins covertly funneling supplies to the rebels via the rebel-controlled ports on the Persian Gulf.

October 12, 2009: Chicago Mayor Barack Obama announces his bid for the Democratic nomination for Governor of Illinois. He earns the endorsement of Senator Hillary Rodham, who campaigns for the Mayor intermittently throughout the election.

October 13, 2009: Mario & Mickey at the Olympic Winter Games is released for the Nintendo Revolution. Released to coincide with preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Salzburg, Austria, the game features some of Nintendo and Disney's most iconic characters facing off in various winter sports.

October 16, 2009: Disney releases The Haunted Mansion, directed by Guillermo del Toro, to cinemas. Based on the ride at Disney theme parks around the world, the film stars Steve Martin as Barry Jones, a realtor who's struggling to sell the mansion to potential buyers. Christopher Lloyd appears as Master Gracey, the ghost of the mansion's original owner. One of Disney's highest grossing movies of the year, the film becomes a cult classic, receiving mixed to positive reviews from critics and fans alike.

October 18, 2009: The Kansas City Wizards defeat the Houston Dynamo 2-1 to win the 2009 MLS Cup.

October 20, 2009: A local Iranian company officially makes an agreement with Ingersoll Parks to license the construction of a new Luna Park near Tehran. The old Luna Park had been destroyed in the Iran War.

October 26, 2009: Discovery Zone opens its first franchise in Havana, Cuba. While popular with local children, the entertainment center is criticized for having gutted an old Spanish colonial building during construction.

October 28-November 4, 2009: The Cleveland Indians defeat the Houston Astros 4 games to 1 to win the 2009 World Series. This is the first World Series in history to end in the month of November.

October 31, 2009: Bulgarian expatriate student Vladimir Danchev shoots and kills 28 people before killing himself at a Halloween party on the campus of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The still image from security footage showing Danchev in a clown costume brandishing an AK-47 goes on to become one of the most chilling images of the 2000s.

October 31, 2009: President Kasich gives a primetime speech on the Lancaster Massacre, calling it a "horrific act of unspeakable violence" and promising a full and thorough investigation into Vladimir Danchev.

October 31, 2009: U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) is tragically killed when his plane crashes in central Indiana due to an engine malfunction en route to Washington, D.C.

November 1, 2009: Vladimir Danchev's mother discloses that her son had a lifelong history of mental problems.

November 3, 2009: Democrat Richard Codey is re-elected Governor of New Jersey over Republican Jeff Chiesa. Newark Mayor Cory Booker ran with Richard Codey to become the state's first Lieutenant Governor.

November 3, 2009: Republican Joe Lhota is elected Mayor of New York City over Democrat Anthony Weiner. Weiner's campaign was severely damaged after a sexting scandal involving the Democratic nominee and an escort surfaces online.

November 9, 2009: Memorial services are held in Iowa for Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), who had died in a plane crash ten days earlier. Notable figures in attendance include Senate Majority Leader Don Nickles and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, who led a delegation of 24 members of Congress to pay their respects to Harkin.

November 13, 2009: Governor Patty Judge (D-IA) appoints Democrat Michael Gronstal to succeed the late Senator Tom Harkin. Gronstal immediately announces that he will not be running in the special election to fill Harkin's seat for the rest of the term.

November 24, 2009: Adelina Barros is sworn in as the first female President of Cuba.

November 26, 2009: The British-American historical crime epic Nottingham, directed by Guy Ritchie, is released to cinemas. The film flips the traditional story of Robin Hood by having it be from the perspective of the Sheriff of Nottingham (played by Daniel Craig), who is investigating a series of murders in Nottingham. Robin Hood (played by Elijah Wood) is considered by be the prime suspect. Although innocent, he is convicted and executed as the armies of both Prince John and King Richard lay siege to Nottingham. Historians praise the film for having the Sheriff use actual 12th century crime investigation techniques.

November 26, 2009: A 1976 recording of Russian singer Eduard Khil singing a non-lexical vocable version of the song "I Am Glad, 'Cause I'm Finally Returning Back Home" is uploaded to MeV. Both the video and the song quickly gain popularity on the Internet as "Trololo," and become symbols of Internet trolling.

December 10, 2009: Christina Grimmie, a high school freshman from Marlton, New Jersey, gains national fame after a video of her singing the American and Canadian national anthems at a New Jersey Devils game goes viral on MeV.

December 16, 2009: The Liberal Democratic Party wins the Japanese general election with 47%, with the Democratic Party coming in second.

December 16, 2009: Nadya Suhalia Hakim is posthumously named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2009.

December 22, 2009: Slovenia applies to join the Visegrád Group.

December 25, 2009: Queen Elizabeth II announces that she would transfer some her tasks to her son Prince Charles of Wales. Some British media speculate on an abdication or illness of the Queen.

January 1, 2010: Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia join the Eurasian Union.

January 1, 2010: Regular Show premieres on Adult Swim. The show is about Mordecai the bluejay and Rigby the raccoon on their adventures in college and at their part-time job.

January 4, 2010: Sunrise enters talks with Universal Pictures to produce a live-action Gundam film for the franchise's 35th anniversary.

January 8, 2010: Rendezvous with Rama, directed by David Fincher, is released to cinemas. Based on the science-fiction novel by Arthur C. Clarke, the film stars Morgan Freeman (who also produced the film) as Commander Bill Norton, the leader of a human expedition sent by Earth to investigate a cylindrical alien spaceship that has just entered the solar system. While only a modest success at the box office, the film is praised for its faithfulness to the source material.

January 12, 2010: The Tennessee Volunteers defeat the Louisiana State Tigers 24-10 to win the 2009-10 NCAA Football Championship.

January 14, 2010: Greece plans a referendum on continued European Union membership on August 5.

January 20, 2010: The Walking Dead premieres on HBO. The show revolves around nine individuals who are suffering from cancer, and follows how they each deal with their unfortunate situations. At the end of every season, a character succumbs to their illness.

January 31, 2010: The Baltimore Ravens defeat the Dallas Cowboys 34-16 to win Super Bowl XLIV.

February 2, 2010: Chicago Mayor Barack Obama wins the Democratic primary for Governor of Illinois against State Senator James Clayborne, Jr. Mayor Obama will face former Attorney General Jim Ryan in November.

February 12-28, 2010: The 2010 Winter Olympics are held in Salzburg, Austria. The United States leads in the medal count, followed by Russia in second and Canada in third.

February 15, 2010: The Johnny Carson Performing Arts Center opens as part of World Trade Center complex in New York City.

February 17, 2010: At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Salzburg, Austria, Canadian snowboarder Justin Trudeau wins the gold medal in the men's half-pipe event.

February 18, 2010: The NCAA announces plans for a new college bowl game, the Paradise Bowl, to be played on the first Friday of January in Havana, Cuba. The Bowl will be played between the top winning teams from the SEC and the AAC.

February 19, 2010: Rapunzel, the 47th Disney animated feature film, is released to cinemas. A musical adaptation of the classic fairytale, the traditionally animated film features Idina Menzel as the voice of Rapunzel and Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of Prince Bastian.

March 2, 2010: The Middle School Chronicles: Science Fair is published. This sequel to The Middle School Chronicles has Ben Hoffman having to deal with his faulty science project and how it goes awry when faux lava ends up flooding the boys' bathroom at school.

March 7, 2010: Nottingham wins Best Picture at the 82nd Academy Awards.

March 15, 2010: Live on The Late Show, David Letterman announces he is retiring in 2011.

March 22, 2010: CBS announces that Chris Rock will succeed David Letterman as host of The Late Show.

March 22, 2010: The Vienna Summit is held between the United States and Russia. During the meeting, a SORT agreement is signed by U.S. President John Kasich and Russian President Sergey Glazyev.

March 26, 2010: Fotonet, a social networking website and smartphone app, is launched by Milwaukee entrepreneur Jonah Fuhrmann.

March 29, 2010: A Russian Oscar-II submarine enters the North Sea, causing a diplomatic row with the United Kingdom.

April 4, 2010: Five paintings worth a combined total of just over $100,000,000 are stolen from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

April 6, 2010: President Kasich announces his appointment of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Diane Sykes to Roger Miner's seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.

April 7, 2010: The final episode of The Late Late Show with Chris Farley airs on CBS, with the final guests being Steve Irwin and Tabitha's Secret. Critics see the episode as an appropriate end to a talk show that had been struggling long enough to just barely warrant a second season.

April 10, 2010: Wawa Stadium opens at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford, New Jersey, as the new home stadium of the New York Giants.

April 11, 2010: At age 62, Prince Charles becomes the longest-served heir apparent in British history, beating former record holder King Edward VII.

April 12, 2010: U.S. Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), the longest serving U.S. Senator in history, passes away at the age of 92 from natural causes.

April 18, 2010: A memorial service for Robert Byrd is held in Charleston, West Virginia. In attendance are President Kasich and Vice President Mack, as well as Governor Darrell McGraw (D-WV) and many members of Congress.

April 22, 2010: University of Florida quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow is drafted by the Las Vegas Chargers.

April 29, 2010: Governor Darrell McGraw (D-WV) appoints Democratic congressman Nick Rahall to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Senator Robert Byrd.

May 4, 2010: The Wahhabist regime in Saudi Arabia is overthrown after King Abdullah is killed during the fighting. Most members of the House of Saud have either fled the country, been executed for war crimes, or reluctantly work with the new provisional government. The first action the new provisional government makes is to abolish the monarchy and institute a republic along the lines of the current Iranian government.

May 7, 2010: The UN votes to send peacekeepers to the new Republic of Arabia to ensure democratic elections in the wake of the removal of the House of Saud.

May 10, 2010: The first UN peacekeepers arrive in Arabia to help stabilize the new government.

May 10, 2010: Iran and the United States recognize the Republic of Arabia.

May 11, 2010: The United Kingdom recognizes the Republic of Arabia.

May 12, 2010: Russia recognizes the Republic of Arabia.

May 13, 2010: Oil prices jump worldwide after loyalists to the Saudi monarchy begin sabotaging Saudi Aramco oil refineries.

May 15, 2010: Former U.S. President Ann Richards announces that her cancer is in full remission.

May 15, 2010: Arsenal defeats Swansea City 1-0 to win the 2010 FA Cup.

May 17, 2010: Diane Sykes is confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice by the U.S. Senate 55-45.

May 18, 2010: The season finale of Better Days airs on the Disney Channel. The episode features Chloe Stewart and her friends graduating from high school and going their separate ways.

May 20, 2010: Time Warner C.E.O. Oprah Winfrey's net worth surpasses $1 billion, making her the first African-American billionaire.

May 21, 2010: U.S. Secretary of Science and Technology Neil deGrasse Tyson comes under fire from the American public after making a comment about how Pluto "may not actually fit the scientific definition of a planet."

May 26, 2010: In Nashville, Tennessee, former U.S. Senator Al Gore begins a national book tour for An Inconvenient Truth. The book is Gore's attempt to educate the population on the dangers of global warming.

May 28, 2010: Germany is selected to host the 2016 Euro Football Championship.

May 28, 2010: Ashley Mathers, age 27 from Australia, is crowned Miss Universe 2010.

May 29-June 9, 2010: The Ottawa Senators defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 4 games to 2 to win the 2010 Stanley Cup.

June 1, 2010: Dead Kennedys frontman Jello Biafra says he will run for Mayor of San Francisco as an Independent.

June 1, 2010: Matt Gorman, a high school gym teacher from New Haven, Connecticut, becomes the sixth million-dollar winner on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.

June 1, 2010: Hewlett-Packard unveils their new HP-Watch smart-watch. The watch has many functions built into it, including a Bluetooth microphone that allows users to access their phone to make calls. It's hoped to eventually make a watch that can make calls without linking to the user's phone via Bluetooth. The convenience of the call function is still enough to make the watches fly off of store shelves.

June 3-13, 2010: The Boston Celtics defeat the Golden State Warriors 4 games to 1 to win the 2010 NBA Finals.

June 4, 2010: Pirates of the Caribbean: Maelstrom is released to cinemas. In this installment, Captain Jack Sparrow and the crew of the Black Pearl must survive an attack by the legendary Kraken, along with a series of natural disasters, while sailing the Caribbean Sea. While highly successful at the box office, the critical reception was much harsher, with many claiming it to be the result of lazy writing at Disney.

June 8, 2010: Planet Hollywood Atlantic City opens with all the glamour of a big Hollywood premiere. In attendance at the grand opening are New Jersey Governor Richard Codey, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Demi Moore, and Bruce Willis.

June 11, 2010: U.N. Peacekeepers score a major victory over the Saudi Loyalists as most of their leadership is killed when their desert compound is raided by UN forces assisted by Republican Arabs.

June 11, 2010: Friday Night Affairs host John Oliver weds his longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton.

June 16, 2010: In Loveland, Ohio, Loveland High School's Class of 2010 uploads a MeV video of their senior prank, in which they reenact a medieval tournament on the football field. The video goes viral later that day, becoming of the most popular viral videos of 2010.

June 18, 2010: Hogwarts Village opens at Disney Studios Florida in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Some of the attractions featured are the Escape From Azkaban special effects show, the Hogwarts Express train ride, the Flying Weasley Car family coaster, and the Voldemort's Revenge dark ride.

June 21, 2010: CBS announces that Margaret Cho will succeed Chris Farley as host of The Late Late Show.

June 25, 2010: it is reported that since the Queen transferred many of her duties to Prince Charles, he is the busiest Royal with more appearance in six months than most of the rest of them in the whole of year before. Many columnist and TV pundits speculate if the Prince can keep up the workload with the Duchy of Cornwall duties.

June 29, 2010: A user known as MacGregor posts a thread on alternatehistory.com titled "The Union Forever: A TL," which details an alternate history in which George McClellan is paralyzed in 1862, leading to a very different Peninsular Campaign during the American Civil War. Over the years, the timeline becomes known for its far-reaching butterfly effect.

July 11, 2010: Mexico defeats France 4-1 to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

July 16, 2010: The horror film Inception, directed by Christopher Nolan, is released to cinemas. The films centers on Dom Cobb (played by Will Smith), a Los Angeles businessman who is haunted by the dreams featuring his colleague Arthur (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt). Saturday Night Live cast member Taylor Swift makes an appearance as Ariadne, Arthur's girlfriend who sometimes appears with him in Cobb's dreams.

July 20, 2010: Croatia applies to join the Visegrád Group.

July 23, 2010: Hellsing: Requiem, a multi-part movie series based off hit manga Hellsing, is announced at San Diego Comic-Con's Legendary Panel in Hall H. Some of the cast (Cillian Murphy as Alucard, Juno Temple as Seras Victoria, Katrina Kaif as Integra Hellsing, and Gerard Butler as Father Alexander Anderson) appear at the convention. It will be directed by Scott Derrickson and the Russo Brothers. Industrial Light & Magic will help with the special effects.

July 30, 2010: Warner Bros. Feature Animation releases Osmosis Jones to cinemas. Stuck in development hell for nearly 15 years, the film features both the first CGI animation from WBFA and live-action segments directed by Chris Columbus. The plot focuses on rebellious City of Frank detective Osmosis "Ozzy" Jones (voiced by Ryan Reynolds) trying to save his host Frank Eastman (played in the live-action segments by Kevin Spacey) from the deadly virus Thrax (voiced by Samuel L. Jackson) with the help of Drixenol "Drix" Koldreliff (voiced by Patrick Stewart), a stoic cold relief pill with an arm cannon. The film receives mixed reviews, with the animated portions praised for their fast-paced comedy and the live-action portions criticized for Spacey's nonsensical dialogue.

August 5, 2010: The Greek people vote 61.4% in favor of leaving the European Union.

August 5, 2010: A Gallup poll has President Kasich getting a 34% approval rating. Polls show Democrats are set for big gains in the 2010 midterms.

August 10, 2010: After many years in development, the Harry Potter musical Hogwarts, produced by Michael Jackson and J.K. Rowling, debuts on Broadway. Initial reviews are mixed, with many citing the bizarre mix of an R&B/pop score with the distinctive British style of the Harry Potter universe.

August 12, 2010: The pro-independence campaign shockingly wins the Northern Ireland referendum by a 2% margin. Equally shocking is that both the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom agree to recognize the newly-independent Republic of Ulster. Unionists reluctantly agree to the referendum results as they would result in "Home Rule" as was frequently claimed, and Nationalists reluctantly agree to the terms as it'd mean that Ulster would no longer be "British-Occupied Ireland."

August 13, 2010: Queen Elizabeth II officially changes the name of her country to the “United Kingdom of Great Britain.”

August 13, 2010: The animated TV show Scott Pilgrim vs. the World starts airing on Adult Swim; consisting of 9 1-hour episodes, with both the premiere and finale being two-parters, the show is about the eponymous Canadian Scott Pilgrim (Ryan Reynolds) and his life as a band's bass player, his attempts to woo the beautiful Ramona Flowers (Ellen Page), and his fights against her seven evil exes.

Praised for it's witty and humorous dialogue, impressive animation, and numerous pop-culture references, the show quickly gains a cult following and is widely regarded as one of the best adult animated shows to air in the early 2010s.

August 15, 2010: The Arabians draft a new constitution based on that of the Iranian government. The President is the elected head of state with a newly founded legislature with much-strengthened powers called the Federal Assembly.

August 21, 2010: The 2010 Australian federal election is held. Peter Costello's Liberal/National Coalition government increases its majority in the House of Representatives. The election is also notable for the record performance of the Greens in the polls.

Peter Costello (Liberal/National) - 94 seats +7 (50.4% PV)
Kim Beazley (Labor) - 51 seats -9 (47.5% PV)
Richard Di Natale (Greens) - 5 seats +5 (2.1% PV)

150 seats in the House of Representatives
76 seats needed for majority

August 26, 2010: Former Australian Prime Minister Kim Beazley resigns as leader of the Labor Party following its defeat in the 2010 Australian federal election.

August 31, 2010: Martin Ferguson is elected the new leader of the Labor Party following Kim Beazley's resignation five days earlier.

August 31, 2010: Jonathan Jafari creates a MeV channel called JonTron 2.0, with the first video being a review of the infamous 2004 Tremors video game. Over the next several years, the channel goes on to become one of the most popular channels in MeV's gaming and entertainment community.

September 11, 2010: Trump University Detroit officially opens for its first year.

September 12, 2010: Trump University Hawthorne officially opens for its first year.

September 12, 2010: Trump University Hartsville officially opens for its first semester. The campus is built around the sole cooling tower built before the project was canceled. The tower features dorms and a restaurant on the top with a panoramic view of the surrounding area. The rest of the facility is built using the half-constructed remnants of the nuclear power plant.

September 13, 2010: In the Las Vegas Chargers' season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback Tim Tebow starts a national phenomenon known as "Tebowing" when he kneels to pray after scoring a touchdown.

September 13, 2010: Trump University Crestwood officially opens for its first year.

September 13, 2010: The Late Late Show with Margaret Cho debuts on CBS, with the first guests being rapper Tupac Shakur and pro snowboarder Justin Trudeau. The ratings are far higher than they were under Chris Farley, with many critics citing Cho's more original jokes as a contributing factor.

September 18, 2010: Tiana Sullivan, age 24 from New Jersey, is crowned Miss America 2011.

September 21, 2010: The third season of The Steve Irwin Show debuts on NBC. Chris Farley plays Todd Henderson, the Irwins' new next-door neighbor. His character becomes known for tripping while he runs and yelling "I'm OK!"

September 23, 2010: Classified debuts on Cartoon Network. Created by Seth MacFarlane, the animated sitcom follows bumbling CIA agent Bob Brown and his pet alien Kevin as they deal with both their upper-middle-class family and their duty to the country.

October 1, 2010: The NTSB releases its final report into the crash of Western Airlines Flight 1907. The report concludes that the Airbus suffered a failure of the rudder travel limiter and that in the process of trying to troubleshoot the problem, the flight crew unwittingly disabled the flight envelope protection system, allowing the plane to stall and fall into Lake Michigan. The report sparks a debate on the role of automation in aviation.

October 18, 2010: Buckingham Palace announces Prince William's engagement to West End actress Emily Nicholson.

October 27-November 1, 2010: The St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Boston Red Sox 4 games to 1 to win the 2010 World Series.

October 31, 2010: Robert King's theme park is opened near Houston, Texas. It's a horror-themed theme park called Frightland. The theme park is divided into six themed lands.
  • Atomtown, USA: A 50's era town that was irradiated when the neighboring nuclear plant had a meltdown. The residents weren't evacuated because the comedically corrupt U.S. government denied that the town had even existed. The blasted 50's era decor is accompanied by cast members dressed as cheerful nuclear mutants in 50's era garb. The main ride is a ride designed to simulate a heavily-damaged wooden rollercoaster, with part of with having crashed into the nuclear plant. The land also included a walk-through murder mystery attraction that subtlety changed every day.
  • Deadman Bay: An abandoned Caribbean colonial town laid claim to by undead pirates. The main ride is a boat tour that finds out that the "abandoned" colonial town isn't quite so abandoned after all.
  • Barebones Gulch: A Wild West boom town that was abandoned after the mine unleashed evil spirits upon the town. Now only the evil spirits and possessed miners roam the town. The main ride is a journey through the haunted mine and the ancient ruins that the mining uncovered.
  • Electro-Dystopia: A retro-futuristic setting where the robots have rebelled and started killing and enslaving humans. The main ride is what would have been a showcase of technological innovation had the demonstrating animatronics not rebelled and started killing people. The ride is a dark ride where the guests in the cart are threatened by rogue animatronic housewives whilst the AI narrator says frightening things whilst keeping a friendly tone of voice.
  • Wicked Kingdom: A fantasy kingdom where an evil sorcerer has bewitched the land. The main ride is a ride where the guests are riding a carriage that is being pursued by the sorcerer's pet dragon.
  • No Man's Land: A war-torn landscape located between the eternally unchanging trenches. The land is riddled with tunnels made by the Wild Deserters; a ragtag multinational gang of cannibalistic savages who relentlessly any man who sets foot in No Man's Land. The most notable feature of the land is the cruiser inexplicably half-buried in the land. The crew had been fused to the ship because of a teleportation experiment that had gone horribly wrong. The USS Pennsylvania contains the land's main ride, a motion simulator that allows the guests to reenact the fateful experiment.
November 2, 2010: The Democrats win control of both houses of Congress in the 2010 midterms. This is widely seen as a rejection of President Kasich and the Republicans.

Senate results
Tom Daschle - Democratic: 54 (+8)
Don Nickles - Republican: 46 (-8)

100 seats
51 for majority

House results
David Bonior - Democratic: 242 (+42) 49.8%
Bob Livingston - Republican: 189 (-43) 42.2%
Christina Tobin – Libertarian: 1 (+1) 2.7%
Independents: 3

435 seats
218 for majority

November 2, 2010: Republican Tom DeLay is re-elected Governor of Texas over Democrat Chris Bell.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa is elected Governor of California over Republican incumbent Tom McClintock and Libertarian Bradley Nowell.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Caroline Kennedy is re-elected Governor of New York over Republican Rick Lazio.

November 2, 2010: Republican Jennifer Carroll is re-elected Governor of Florida over Democrat Alex Sink.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Jason Carter is elected Governor of Georgia over Republican Nathan Deal.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Barack Obama is elected Governor of Illinois over Republican Jim Ryan.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Jack Wagner is elected Governor of Pennsylvania over Republican incumbent Jim Greenwood.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Deval Patrick is re-elected Governor of Massachusetts over Republican Paul Loscocco.

November 2, 2010: Republican Susana Martinez is elected Governor of New Mexico over Democrat Bill Richardson.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Barbara Buckley is elected Governor of Nevada over Republican incumbent Lorraine Hunt.

November 2, 2010: Republican Roy Moore is re-elected Governor of Alabama over Democrat Artur Davis.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Tammy Baldwin is elected Governor of Wisconsin over Republican incumbent J.B. Van Hollen. She is the first openly gay governor of any U.S. state.

November 2, 2010: Republican Carol Springer is re-elected Governor of Arizona over Democrat Phil Gordon and Libertarian Barry Hess.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Steve Kelley is re-elected Governor of Minnesota over Republican Patricia Anderson and Independent Tom Horner.

November 2, 2010: Republican Henry McMaster is elected Governor of South Carolina over Democrat Robert Ford.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Tim Ryan is elected Governor of Ohio over Republican Marlene Anielski.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Cheri Jahn is elected Governor of Colorado over Republican Marilyn Musgrave. She is the first female Governor of Colorado.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Zephyr Teachout is elected as a U.S. Senator from New York over Republican incumbent George Pataki.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Rod Blagojevich is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Illinois over Republican Patrick Hughes.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Richard Cordray is elected as a U.S. Senator from Ohio over Republican incumbent Mary Taylor.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Allyson Schwartz is elected as a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania over Republican Tom Corbett. She is the first female U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Rory Reid is elected as a U.S. Senator from Nevada over Republican incumbent Sue Wagner.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Gayle Slossberg is elected as a U.S. Senator from Connecticut over Republican incumbent Ann Coulter.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Barbara Boxer is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from California over Republican Ed Royce.

November 2, 2010: Republican Joe Scarborough is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Florida over Democrat Gwen Graham.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Tom Barrett is elected as a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin over Republican incumbent Tom Petri.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Earl Blumenauer is elected as a U.S. Senator from Oregon over Republican incumbent Greg Walden.

November 2, 2010: Libertarian-leaning Republican Rand Paul is elected as a U.S. Senator from Kentucky over Democrat Greg Fischer to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Jim Bunning.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Janet Napolitano is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Arizona over Republican Joe Arpaio.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Carol Shea-Porter is elected as a U.S. Senator from New Hampshire over Republican Craig Benson.

November 2, 2010: Republican Vicky Hartzler is elected as a U.S. Senator from Missouri over Democrat Lacy Clay. She is the first female Senator from Missouri.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Nick Rahall is elected as a U.S. Senator from West Virginia over Republican Evan Jenkins.

November 2, 2010: Democrat Tom Vilsack is elected as a U.S. Senator from Iowa over Republican Tom Latham.

November 2, 2010: Republican Jack Kingston is elected as a U.S. Senator from Georgia over Democrat John Barrow.

November 2, 2010: Republican Elizabeth Dole is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina over Democrat Anthony Foxx.

November 2, 2010: Republican Sarah Palin is narrowly elected as a U.S. Senator from Alaska over Democrat Mark Begich. She is the first female Senator from Alaska.

November 2, 2010: Christina Tobin is elected to Congress from California's 26th congressional district as a Libertarian.

November 2, 2010: Voters in Colorado approve Amendment 63, with 53% in favor. At midnight on January 1, recreational marijuana will become legal in Colorado.

November 3, 2010: Former U.S. President Ann Richards say she has a big fear that she will be the last ever Democratic president.

November 3, 2010: President Kasich vows to "work across the aisle with the new Congress to solve our country's problems." He says "there is frustration, but we can work through it." Unemployment is currently at 8.3%. Kasich's approval rating is currently at 36%.

November 6, 2010: The Daily Mirror reveals that the Kazakhstan President's billionaire son-in-law Timur Kulibayev paid the Duke of York's representatives £15 million, £3 million over the asking price, via offshore companies, for the Duke's Surrey mansion, Sunninghill Park in 2003. Prince Andrew weathers the storm.

November 7, 2010: The Republic of Arabia holds its first democratic election. The newly-formed Arabian Republican Party's candidate Ayser Mujahid Essa is elected President over the Arabian Traditionalist Party's Naim Anbar Tahan. The Republicans also win a majority of the seats in the Federal Assembly.

November 9, 2010: Prince Charles appears on the live 50th Anniversary episode of Coronation Street, a long running ITV soap drama. The Prince makes a small speech praising how the community had "preserved the historic features of the area" and undertook a short "walk-about" down the famous cobbled street. The show went off without an error, apart from a fumbled curtsy from one of the child actors, who stumbled over and was picked up by the Prince’s guard. The appearance is received well by viewers.

November 14, 2010: Prince's Charities Australia is founded; it is a group of non-profit organizations who have a connection to Prince Charles. There is a similar organization along the same lines in the U.K. managing Prince Charles' charity interests. The Prince of Wales personally cuts the ribbon on the new offices in Melbourne, with his brother Prince Edward, Governor-General of Australia in attendance.

November 18, 2010: Walt Disney World announces plans to renovate and rebrand Pleasure Island at Downtown Disney as Hyperion Wharf. Themed an an early 20th century wharf, the project includes upgrades to the district's popular nightclubs and the addition of all-new retail and dining locations.

November 20, 2010: All That Begins Well, the 23rd James Bond movie, is released to cinemas. The conclusion to the "Spectre" trilogy focuses on 007 (Dominic West) finally confronting Stavros Blomfield (Anthony Hopkins), finding out the man's past and bringing down his organization. The movie's marketing campaign succeeds in making it a major hit, and critics praise it as the best one in the trilogy. It's nominated for four Oscars and wins three (Dominic West for Best Actor, Hopkins for Best Supporting Actor, and Pink Floyd for Best Original Song). The movie marks the final appearance of West in the role of 007 and Michael Gambon as M.

November 20, 2010: Epic Mickey is released for the Atari Cougar and the Nintendo Revolution. Featuring long-lost Disney characters and locales, the game has players assume the roles of Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit as they try to save the residents of the Wasteland from an evil plot cooked up by the Mad Doctor and the Shadow Blot. The game is universally praised for its compelling story, but criticized for its wonky control issues.

November 22, 2010: Ulster officially joins the United Nations.

November 24, 2010: A remake of the 1984 film Red Dawn is released to cinemas. Featuring the People's Republic of China as the main villain, the film stars Chris Evans as Iran War veteran Jed Eckert, Nickelodeon star Josh Peck as his brother Matt Eckert, Disney Channel star Ashley Tisdale as Matt's girlfriend Hannah Green, B.D. Wong as the main antagonist Colonel Zhu, and professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in a cameo as downed Air Force pilot Andrew Tanner. A success at the box office, the film receives mixed to positive reviews, with many believing it to be as good as or better than the original 1984 version.

November 24, 2010: Jack Ryan: Wolf's Fang is released to cinemas. The movie stars Ben Affleck in the titular role facing of against Russian terrorist Ivan Kormenko (Gustaf Skarsgard) as he attempts to carry out a series of devastating attacks over the U.S. The movie is filled with production problems and delays. The constant conflict between Affleck and the studio over the script leads to severe changes at the last minute. The movie is still a major financial success, but receives mixed critical reviews. Many critics believe the franchise is suffering from sequel fatigue. It is the first in the rebooted Jack Ryan Franchise not to receive any Oscars nominations (although it does launch Skarsgard to stardom).

December 1, 2010: The U.S. Consulate in Belfast is officially upgraded to Embassy status.

December 1, 2010: The Scottish National Party sets up a referendum on Scottish independence for 2011.

December 1, 2010: Work begins on a crowdfunding campaign for Cards Against Humanity, an Apples to Apples-like game using words and phrase that are considered offensive, risque, or politically incorrect.

December 7, 2010: The /p/AdviceAnimals submark is created on PlusMarks.

December 15, 2010: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2010.

December 29, 2010: First Lady Karen Kasich appears on Sesame Street to teach children the value of exercise and healthy eating.

January 1, 2011: As per the November 2 referendum results, Minnesota legalizes same-sex marriage.

January 1, 2011: As per the November 2 referendum results, recreational marijuana becomes legal in Colorado.

January 3, 2011: The NHL announces plans for an expansion team in Burlington, Vermont, to begin play in the 2012-13 NHL season.

January 5, 2011: Trailer Park Boys is picked up by Blockbuster Online for its 10th season.

January 7, 2011: In Havana, Cuba, the Texas A&M Aggies defeat the Connecticut Huskies 38-28 to win the 2010 Paradise Bowl.

January 10, 2011: Barack Obama officially succeeds Mike Ditka as Governor of Illinois.

January 10, 2011: Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia join the Visegrád Group.

January 11, 2011: The Indiana Hoosiers defeat the Iowa State Cyclones 24-21 to win the 2010-11 NCAA Football Championship.

January 11, 2011: The Spanish government plans a Catalonian independence referendum for May 29, 2012.

January 13, 2011: U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) announces she will not be running for re-election in 2012.

January 15, 2011: The Japanese battleship Musashi is found by Robert Ballard.

January 17, 2011: The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim announce they will be moving to Las Vegas at the start of the 2012-13 NHL season.

January 29, 2011: U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) announces the he will not be seeking re-election to a seventh term in the Senate in 2012.

January 30, 2011: The Houston Oilers defeat the Arizona Cardinals 41-7 to win Super Bowl XLV.

January 30, 2011: The crowdfunding campaign for Cards Against Humanity ends, having raised over $15,000 (just under 400% of its original goal).

February 4, 2011: The Sudanese government announces plans for an independence referendum in South Sudan for October 2, 2012.

February 10, 2011: U.S. Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) announces he will not be seeking re-election in 2012.

February 13, 2011: During his performance at the 2011 Grammy Awards, rapper Tupac Shakur announces he is running for President of the United States in 2012 as a Democrat.

February 13, 2011: Tabitha's Secret shockingly wins Song of the Year for "Sleeping at the Wheel" at the 2011 Grammy Awards.

February 15, 2011: Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA) announces he is running for the 2012 Democratic Party nomination. Patrick vows to "bring change to America" and "take this country forward to a progressive future."

February 17, 2011: 2008 Democratic Party nominee Howard Dean declines to run for President, despite polls showing him as a frontrunner in the 2012 primary. He says "it's time for new blood in the Democratic Party."

February 28, 2011: David Petraeus (D-NY), a popular Iran War general, announces he is running for President of the United States.

March 1, 2011: U.S. Jeb Bush (R-FL) says he will not run for President of the United States in 2012 and will stick to his six-year plan.

March 1, 2011: Congressman Bradley Nowell (I-CA) introduces a bill that would tighten control on heroin use.

March 1, 2011: The Trump University Company officially moves its headquarters to the thriving town of Rhyolite, Nevada.

March 4, 2011: Iraqi dictator Qusay Hussein is assassinated in Mosul by an unidentified gunman.

March 4, 2011: U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) announces that he will not be seeking another term in 2012 due to his declining health.

March 15, 2011: Governor Barack Obama (D) of Illinois, with his wife Michelle, announces that he will push for educational reform in his home state: "We will make sure that every Illinois school will have a fair educational agenda for all of its students, we will reform the nutritional content of Illinois school cafeterias, and we will make sure that every student can say with pride, "I graduated from an Illinois high school."

March 15, 2011: The Roast of Jim Varney airs on Comedy Central. Among the roasters are Seth MacFarlane, Jeff Ross, Snoop Dogg, Taylor Swift, Sarah Silverman, Mia Hamm, and Gilbert Gottfried.

March 18, 2011: The Church, written by South Park co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, debuts on Broadway. The comedic musical focuses on two members of the Church of Scientology who set out on a road trip to bring ordinary Americans "into the hands of our Lord and Savior Tom Cruise."

March 20, 2011: Shi'ites revolt in southern Iraq. The Revolutionary Iraqi People's Movement (RIPM) takes over Basra.

March 20, 2011: The Illinois School Reform Act is introduced to the Illinois General Assembly.

March 22, 2011: Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri, a top general in Iraq's army, seizes government buildings in Baghdad and declares himself President of Iraq.

March 22, 2011: Governor Richard Codey (D-NJ) announces he is running for President of the United States.

March 23, 2011: Hussein loyalists seize Saddam's hometown of Tikrit and declare themselves in revolt against President Al-Douri.

March 28, 2011: The video game Homefront is released. Set in 2025, the game details the Russian invasion of the continental United States after the Greater Middle Eastern War and focuses on former U.S. Marine Adam White, who became a rebel in Oregon.

April 1, 2011: Kurdistan declares independence. The self-proclaimed Republic of Kurdistan announces its intentions to unite all Kurdish lands under one government.

April 1, 2011: The Illinois School Reform Act passes in the General Assembly, and Governor Obama signs it into law later that day. Many critics refer to the ISRA as the "April Fool's Act," which eventually becomes picked up by its supporters and the general public.

April 2, 2011: Sheriff David Clarke of Wisconsin announces his campaign for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.

April 5, 2011: Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) announces she is running for President of the United States.

April 7, 2011: U.S. Senator Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY) announces she will not be seeking re-election in 2012 due to ill health.

April 7, 2011: Senator Daniel Mongiardo (D-KY) announces he is running for President of the United States.

April 12, 2011: President Kasich visits the Fort Sumter National Monument in Charleston, South Carolina, to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. In a speech at the fort, he says, "Just as Abraham Lincoln said at Gettysburg, 'the world may little note what we say here, but it can never forget what we did here.' We need to unite as one American people to preserve his legacy and to make sure that all men are indeed created equal."

April 12, 2011: The MeV channel The Filthy Frank Show posts its first video, titled "Filthy Shit."

April 13, 2011: David Letterman hosts his last episode of The Late Show. The episode opens with archival footage of Gerald Ford and pre-recorded cameos of former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, Ann Richards, and incumbent U.S. President John Kasich all saying "Our long national nightmare is over." Celebrity guests include Alec Baldwin, Chris Farley, Jerry Seinfeld, Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift, Peyton Manning, Steve Irwin, and Heath Ledger. The episode concludes with The Kids Next Door performing Letterman's favorite song "One Night Ago" and footage of his son Harry skiing.

April 17, 2011: A Song of Ice and Fire, a new show based on the book series of the same name by George R.R. Martin, premieres on HBO. The show stars former Bond actor Sean Bean as Ned Stark, Lena Headley as Catelyn Stark, Tamzin Merchant as Daenerys Targaryen, Gillian Anderson as Cersei Lannister, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau as Jaime Lannister, Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Kit Harrington as Robb Stark, Iwan Rheon as John Snow, and many others. The show becomes a international sensation, with a massive audience, a dedicated following, and great critical reception.

April 18, 2011: Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) announces she is running for President of the United States.

May 1, 2011: Kurdish forces overrun the disputed city of Kirkuk and over 1,000 government loyalists are executed.

May 1, 2011: Cards Against Humanity goes on sale on Amazon, quickly becoming of of the highest-selling games on the site.

May 2, 2011: Senator Hillary Rodham-Schaeffer (D-IL) introduces the American School Reform Act into the United States Senate, modeled off of the ISRA.

May 5, 2011: The American School Reform Act is passed in the Senate 72-27 (1 absent).

May 11, 2011: The American School Reform Act is passed in the House of Representatives 347-88.

May 13, 2011: The American School Reform Act is signed into law by President Kasich.

May 13, 2011: Chris Farley and David Spade star in a black comedy entitled I-dead-ity. Featuring two lifelong best friends and co-workers, the film concerns their feigning of their deaths to open up an "identity erasing" business on the lam. The film receives mixed to positive reviews, praising Farley and Spade's chemistry and the humor of the original plot. The film is a surprise box office hit, grossing $50 million on its opening weekend and making $229 million dollars in the U.S. by the end of its box office run.

May 19, 2011: Former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AR) announces that he is running for President of the United States in 2012.

May 20, 2011: Governor Barack Obama of Illinois meets with President Kasich and Secretary of Education William Hansen, and later Secretary Simon, to offer advice for implementing the ASRA.

May 23, 2011: Governor Duke Aiona (R-HI) announces he is running for President of the United States.

May 26, 2011: An estimated two billion people around the world watch the wedding of Prince William and Emily Nicholson, who are made Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, respectively.

May 26, 2011: Secretary of Education William Hansen resigns, citing personal issues. President Kasich offers the job to U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), who declines the offer. Kasich instead appoints former Lieutenant Governor Raymond Simon of Arkansas for the job.

May 26, 2011: The Hangover Part II is released to cinemas. The film tells the story of Phil, Stu, Alan, and Doug as they travel to Havana for Stu's wedding. Along the way, they get roped into a drug trafficking operation led by former Castro bureaucrat Benito Sanchez (played by Danny Trejo). The film also features cameos by Mel Gibson as a tattoo artist and former U.S. President George H.W. Bush as a vomiting tourist.

May 27, 2011: The Spectacular Spider-Man, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, is released to cinemas. The first film in Universal's "Marvel Cinematic Universe," it features former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell in the role of Peter Parker/Spider-Man, who has to face off against the Vulture (played by Ben Kingsley) and Felicia Hardy (played by Anne Hathaway). J.K. Simmons cameos as the Daily Bugle editor J. Jonah Jameson.

May 27, 2011: Malka Feigenbaum, age 18 from Israel, is crowned Miss Universe 2011.

May 31-June 9, 2011: The Philadelphia 76ers defeat the Denver Nuggets 4 games to 1 to win the 2011 NBA Finals.

May 31, 2011: The Intertidal Zone: Washed Away premieres on MTV. Acting as a two-hour series finale, the TV movie ties up all the loose ends of the show's 12-season run. Some of the most notable moments include Rob the Sponge finally getting his boating license and Paul the Starfish graduating from the first grade.

May 31, 2011: Football legend and Denver Broncos C.E.O. John Elway says he has a very special message coming soon.

June 1-13, 2011: The Halifax Schooners defeat the Colorado Avalanche 4 games to 3 to win the 2011 Stanley Cup.

June 1, 2011: The new and improved Luna Park Tehran is opened to massive popularity, as it is the first major theme park opened in post-war Iran since the deal with Disney fell through.

June 1, 2011: David Petraeus wins a Democratic straw poll in Iowa.

June 1, 2011: Hewlett-Packard C.E.O. Carly Fiorina says she is running for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 2012.

June 1, 2011: The Trump University Company officially purchases the shuttered Everglades Regional Medical Center in Pahokee, Florida, for use in a new campus and shopping center.

June 2, 2011: Socialite Gloria Vanderbilt passes away from natural causes at the age of 87.

June 2, 2011: Twenty-five years after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, Steve Irwin does a Discovery Channel special called The Chernobyl Diaries about the wildlife that reigns there today. Irwin experiences problems with his gas masks, but isn't affected by the radiation.

June 2, 2011: The series finale of The Wild, Wild West airs on CBS.

June 3, 2011: At Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado, John Elway announces that he is running for the Republican nomination for President of the United States and describes himself as "a different kind of Republican," running on a moderate libertarian platform.

June 3, 2011: Wolf Blitzer takes over Anderson Cooper 360 as guest host while Cooper grieves with his family.

June 3, 2011: The Fool's Errand, the 48th Disney animated feature film, is released to cinemas. The story centers on a court jester (voiced by Jack McBrayer) who goes on a mythical journey to return peace to the Kingdom of Corona.

June 5, 2011: A straw poll for the 2012 presidential election has Governor Obama polling high against other prominent Democrats for the Democratic nomination, fueling speculation of a possible presidential run for Governor Obama.

June 5, 2011: Steve Irwin releases his autobiography My Life: The Crocodile Hunter & Beyond. The book talks about his childhood, meeting his wife Terri, his fame on The Crocodile Hunter, his near-death experience in 2006, The Steve Irwin Show, and his hopes for the future.

June 6, 2011: At E3 2011, Atari announces its 8th-generation console: the Atari Jackal, scheduled for release in November 2012.

June 7, 2011: At E3 2011, Nintendo announces its 8th-generation console: the Nintendo Wave, scheduled for release in November 2012.

June 8, 2011: Using the precedent formed by the Microsoft and Exxon-Mobil breakups, Anheuser-Busch is officially broken up in an antitrust suit. The brewing company is broken up into six independent companies that are forbidden by law from reuniting. The Busch Entertainment Corporation is officially spun off into an independent company.

June 8, 2011: Adam "MCA" Yauch of the Beastie Boys announces that he is cancer-free.

June 8, 2011: U.S. Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) announces that he will not be seeking re-election in 2012.

June 10, 2011: Al Roker airs his last episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. He will be succeeded by ESPN sportscaster Erin Andrews when the new season starts in September.

June 10, 2011: On Meet the Press, John Elway (R-CO) says his views reflect those of the late Gerald Ford.

June 12, 2011: Scotland votes for independence from the United Kingdom.

June 12, 2011: The Trump University Company officially purchases the abandoned Walnut Ridge Mansion and surrounding lands in Gonzales, Texas, for use in a new campus and shopping center.

June 13, 2011: John Elway reveals his campaign motto "No Politician Whatsoever."

June 15, 2011: Congressman Nate Silver (D-NY) announces that he will run for Geraldine Ferraro's U.S. Senate seat.

June 17, 2011: The Disney comedy Wedding Banned is released to cinemas. The film stars Robin Williams and Anjelica Huston as a husband and wife who kidnap their daughter (played by Taylor Swift) on her wedding day so she doesn't make the same mistakes they did. The film receives mixed to negative reviews, with critics and fans alike citing the lack of energy in the acting and the predictable plotline.

June 18, 2011: Vice President Connie Mack III (R-FL) announces his campaign for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.

June 20, 2011: Governor Barack Obama (D-IL) is approached about running for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

June 21, 2011: 2008 vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine (D-VA) announces his candidacy for President of the United States.

June 21, 2011: U.S. Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) announces that he will not be seeking re-election in 2012.

June 23, 2011: Former Governor Mike Ditka (R-IL) announces his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President of the United States. On the same day, Governor Barack Obama announces his own candidacy for the Democratic nomination for President.

June 24, 2011: The Crocodile Hunter Movie is released to cinemas. The movie follows Steve "The Crocodile Hunter" Irwin being recruited by the CIA and the President of the United States (played by John Candy) to track down Tom Morrison (played by Martin Sheen), the leader of an international illegal poaching ring. The movie gets mixed reviews, but critics praise the performance of Martin Sheen.

June 24, 2011: Pixar and Disney release How to Train Your Dragon, directed by Chris Sanders, to cinemas. Based on the book series by Cressida Cowell, the film features Jay Baruchel as the voice of Hiccup Haddock III, Heath Ledger as the voice of Stoick the Vast, Craig Ferguson as the voice of Gobber the Belch, and America Ferrera as the voice of Astrid Hofferson.

June 27, 2011: Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) announces he is running for President of the United States.

June 27, 2011: Billionaire businessman and real estate developer Steve Wynn announces that he will be running for the U.S. Senate in Nevada as a Democrat.

July 1, 2011: Luna Park Nara is officially opened to a grand celebration. The park had been rebranded into a steampunk fantasy setting with elements of the original park located in Osaka. The park's central castle, the landmark left most intact, is remodeled enough to not be an explicit bootleg of the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The coming years see attendance rates far higher than the park had seen over the last decade of operation as Nara Dreamland.

July 4, 2011: The last attempted suicide bombing by the Second Revolutionary Army takes place. It's a total farce as the bomber's faulty suicide vest goes off early and only ends up killing the bomber. It's later revealed through the bomber's journal that he was planning on bombing the new Luna Park as it was "a symbol of the Great Satan's decadent corruption of Iranian culture." The SRG organization, which had been gutted by mass arrests of its leadership, officially folds not long after the failed Luna Park bombing.

July 8, 2011: Fun Frog Saves the Kids, written by and starring Derek Savage, is released. A children's educational video about gun safety and the dangers of bullying, the film is universally ridiculed for its lazy writing and unironically cheesy dialogue. The film gains even more notoriety after Derek Savage has several negative reviews taken off the Internet on the grounds of copyright infringement.

July 9, 2011: Former U.S. President Ann Richards passes away at her ranch in Garfield, Texas, at the age of 77.

July 13, 2011: The state funeral for Ann Richards is held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. In attendance are President Kasich, Vice President Mack, former Presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, MLB Commissioner George W. Bush, Senator Jeb Bush of Florida, Governor Tom DeLay of Texas, House Speaker John Boehner, and the entirety of Texas' congressional delegation.

In his eulogy, President Kasich said that Ann Richards "proved what it means to be American. Through decades of passion and hard work, she managed to achieve her life goals and break the glass ceiling of political power. While we may not have agreed on a lot of issues, I deeply respect her. She truly helped to bring the United States into the 21st century."

July 13, 2011: Fully Ramblomatic releases Mogworld III: The Search For More Loot, which is the final entry in the Mogworld trilogy. Captain Heropants must once again save The Kingdom from the dreaded Final Boss, though hilariously the Final Boss patiently waits for the player to reach the final dungeon to fight them. The game viciously lampoons the concept of a binary moral choice system, which both the player and Necromancer Jim call "restrictive nonsense."

July 20, 2011: Derek Savage is arrested and charged with embezzlement. He had allegedly used excess funds from producing Fun Frog Saves the Kids to bid on Eddie Van Halen memorabilia in online auctions.

August 1, 2011: The first Republican presidential debate is held in Tampa, Florida. John Elway and Connie Mack are seen as the clear winners.

August 1, 2011: West Side Stadium officially opens in New York City. The stadium was built on the former site of the West Side rail yard in Lower Manhattan.

August 2, 2011: Derek Savage is sentenced to 10 years in prison for embezzlement related to Fun Frog Saves the Kids.

August 2, 2011: U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) announces that he will not be running for re-election in 2012.

August 3, 2011: Al-Douri forces seize Tikrit and kill 3,000 Hussein loyalists in the ensuing massacre.

August 11, 2011: The first Democratic presidential debate is held at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana. Richard Codey and Daniel Mongiardo are seen as the winners of the debate.

August 11, 2011: With the huge success of the TEXPRESS trains, the newest phases of expansion are unveiled. The first phase of expansion would include extensions of the existing line down to Galveston and west to Weatherford, as well as a second line connecting Houston and San Antonio through Austin. Construction is expected to begin in 2014.

August 17, 2011: Scotland officially joins the European Union.

August 17, 2011: Governor Barack Obama (D-IL) earns the endorsement of Cecile Richards, the daughter of former President Ann Richards.

August 25, 2011: RIPM forces are repulsed at the edge of Baghdad by Al-Douri.

August 27, 2011: The video game Deus Ex: Human Evolution is released. Set in the year 2027, the game focuses on Adam Jensen, a security manager for the Sarif Industries Corporation who uncovers a plot to ignite World War III.

August 29, 2011: Iran threatens to intervene in Iraq if Al-Douri attacks Basra.

August 29, 2011: Congressman Bradley Nowell of California officially changes his party affiliation to Libertarian.

September 1, 2011: Saudi Arabia threatens to intervene in Iraq if Iran intervenes in Iraq.

September 2, 2011: Congressman Bradley Nowell (L-CA) appears on The Late Late Show with Margaret Cho and engages in an argument with the hostess over feminism after Nowell criticizes third-wave feminism. The exchange becomes known for Nowell's remark "Ya done goofed, Maggie!"

September 2, 2011: Phil Samuels, a publisher from Columbus, Ohio, wins Season 7 of Whodunit.

September 2, 2011: Blind Melon frontman Shannon Hoon endorses Bernie Sanders for President of the United States.

September 3, 2011: John Elway criticizes Bradley Nowell's appearance on The Late Late Show with Margaret Cho, calling it "unprofessional and immature behavior for someone who's supposed to be helping make our country better."

September 3, 2011: John Elway leads in a new CNN Republican poll at 29%.

September 5, 2011: Erin Andrews airs her first episode of Who Wants to be a Millionaire?. The most notable change this season is the replacement of the Phone-A-Friend lifeline with the +1 lifeline, which allows contestants to bring a companion with him or her to the Hot Seat for help in answering a question.

September 6, 2011: The first episode of The Late Show with Chris Rock airs on CBS. His first celebrity guests are former presidential candidate Jesse Ventura and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.

September 7, 2011: The second Republican presidential debate is held at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. John Elway and Lincoln Chaffee are seen as the winners of the debate.

September 7, 2011: At the second Republican presidential debate, John Elway says, "The Democratic Party is dying a slow and painful death and we are enjoying it."

September 7, 2011: John Elway (R-CO) voices his support for the admission of Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., as U.S. states.

September 8, 2011: At a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, Vice President Mack (R-FL) dismisses fellow candidate John Elway (R-CO) as "little more than a pretty-boy sports star" with "loony ideas" and "absolutely no idea how real government works!"

September 9, 2011: Republican presidential candidate John Elway appears on Today to discuss his reaction to Vice President Mack's comments about him the previous day. He says, "I find it hard to believe that our Vice President has resorted to schoolyard insults to boost his poll numbers."

September 9, 2011:
Congressman Bradley Nowell (L-CA) issues an apology to CBS and Margaret Cho, saying "I got too carried away."

September 11, 2011:
Chris Chandler (online name "ChrisChan") gains Internet notoriety when he posts a video of his crudely drawn comic strip "Sonichu" on MeV.

September 12, 2011:
Trump University Belmar officially opens for its first semester.


September 17, 2011:
Hope Kristofferson, age 20 from Minnesota, is crowned Miss America 2012.

September 20, 2011:
At the second Democratic presidential debate in Newark, New Jersey, Tupac Shakur exclaims, "Basic Kasich and Long John Elway are running this country into the ground! It's about time we had some fresh blood like me in the White House!"

September 22, 2011:
John Elway responds to Tupac Shakur's comments on him, saying, "No president would ever use childish names like that."

September 25, 2011: President Kasich negotiates a ceasefire in Iraq. Al-Douri controls central Iraq with Baghdad, Al-Anbar and slivers of territory, the Kurds have seized northern Iraq and the RIPM controls southern Iraq and most of Iraq's oil. The U.S. threatens to intervene if the ceasefire is broken by Al-Douri.

September 28, 2011: The Duke of Duchess debuts on CBS. Starring Chris Farley as postal worker Ken Elmer and Jane Lynch as his spunky wife Connie, the sitcom follows their trials and tribulations in married life in Poughkeepsie, New York.

October 6, 2011: Justin Trudeau's Pro Snowboarding is released for the Atari Cougar and the Nintendo Revolution. Often compared the Tony Hawk games 10 years earlier, the game gets mixed to positive reviews, with critics and fans alike praising the lifelike graphics, despite the "uncanny valley" look of the in-game Justin Trudeau.

October 12, 2011: Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) suddenly announces his resignation from the U.S. Senate in a shocking move, having led Senate Democrats for the last 17 years. It is later revealed that he has an inoperable brain tumor and only has six months to a year left to live.

October 12, 2011: The Middle School Chronicles: First Date is published. The third installment in the book series has Ben Hoffman coming up with a way to ask his girlfriend Sarah Sykes to the spring dance and making the most of it.

October 13, 2011: In an emergency meeting of the Senate Democratic caucus, Majority Whip Ed Rendell (D-PA) is elected as the new Senate Majority Leader while Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) is elected as the new Majority Whip.

October 16, 2011: The Chicago Fire defeat the Miami Fusion 1-0 in extra time to win the 2011 MLS Cup.

October 16, 2011: John McAfee announces his candidacy for President of the United States as a Libertarian.

October 17-20, 2011: U.S. President John Kasich makes a state visit to the United Kingdom. He meets with Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and Prime Minister Malcolm Rifkind.
 
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October 17, 2011: At a rally in Portland, Oregon, Governor Barack Obama (D-IL) makes public his intention for the United States to recognize and support the new Republic of Kurdistan, despite the potential damage it would do to Turkish-American relations.

October 19-27, 2011: The Baltimore Orioles defeat the Washington Grays 4 games to 2 to win the 2011 World Series.

October 20, 2011: Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio announces he is running for President of the United States under the Green Party.

October 24, 2011: Tupac Shakur appears on The Late Show with Chris Rock to discuss his campaign's support for the nationwide legalization of marijuana. His subsequent speech runs far over the allotted time, causing CBS to cut a performance by Tabitha's Secret.

October 25, 2011: Darrell Castle announces he is running for President of the United States under the Constitution Party.

October 28, 2011: The 60s Shark series finale airs on Discovery. The major event of the episode is Kat's brother Michael returning home from Vietnam in time for the countdown to 1970.

October 30, 2011: Bob Barr announces his candidacy for President of the United States under the Constitution Party.

October 30, 2011: The NTSB releases its final report into the crash of Air Canada Jazz 1911. The board determines that a propeller blade from the plane's No. 1 engine had separated from the hub in flight from metal fatigue. The blade punctured the cabin and exited through the opposite site, resulting in an explosive decompression that caused the plane to break apart. The report places the blame on Air Canada Jazz and their failure to perform proper maintenance.

November 1, 2011: Scott Copeland announces he is running for President of the United States under the Constitution Party.

November 2, 2011: South Park airs the episode "The Brothers Buffett," in which billionaire Warren Buffett and singer Jimmy Buffett discover they're long-lost brothers and team up to take over the world.

November 3, 2011: Jello Biafra is elected Mayor of San Francisco in a tight race. He soon gets a phone call from Congressman Bradley Nowell (L-CA) congratulating him.

November 8, 2011: The wreck of the S.S. Richard Montgomery explodes. The blast it self could be seen two miles away and the force of the blast shatters windows and causes a tidal wave that causes flooding in the areas surrounding its wreck. Most of the damage is in the Isle of Grain and the Isle of Sheppey. Causes of the explosion are being investigated. Only 4 people are killed and 20 people are injured, but the damage is estimated at nearly 1 billion pounds.

November 8, 2011: Democrat Gatewood Galbraith is elected Governor of Kentucky over Republican Anne Northup.

November 8, 2011: Democrat Foster Campbell is elected Governor of Louisiana over Republican Walter Boasso.

November 8, 2011: Republican Hudson Holliday is elected Governor of Mississippi over Democrat Travis Childers.

November 8, 2011: Political activist Richard Winger of California announces his campaign for President of the United States as a Libertarian.

November 10, 2011: College professor William Kreml of South Carolina announces his candidacy for President of the United States under the Green Party.

November 10, 2011: John Elway wins a Nevada caucus straw poll.

November 11, 2011: Michael Jackson releases This Is Me, his first album in several years. Critics praise the songs' lyrics, particularly those of "Sunrise," which allude to Jackson's pansexuality, which he had publicly announced a decade earlier.

November 14, 2011: Former Governor Gary Johnson of New Mexico announces announces his campaign for President of the United States as a Libertarian.

November 15, 2011: Mario & Mickey at the Moscow 2012 Olympic Games is released for the Nintendo Revolution. Released to coincide with preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Russia, the game is notable for both its Russian folk-inspired score and the addition of a dodgeball minigame. The opening sequence sparks controversy due to its depiction of both Nintendo and Disney characters saluting the Russian flag as the Russian national anthem plays in the background.

November 18, 2011: 2004 Republican presidential candidate and U.S. Ambassador to Spain Bill Weld is hospitalized in Madrid after he is stabbed in the back by an unknown assailant.

November 19, 2011: In the early hours of the morning, Zigor Iturburua is arrested by Spanish authorities as a suspect in the stabbing of U.S. Ambassador Bill Weld. It is revealed that Iturburua has ties to the ETA, and that he stabbed Weld to protest "American imperialism and its puppet King Juan Carlos."

November 20, 2011: Rocky De La Fuente announces his candidacy for President of the United States under the Reform Party.

November 23, 2011: Michael Steinberg announces his candidacy for President of the United States under the Reform Party.

November 26, 2011: Evan McMullin announces his candidacy for President of the United States under the Constitution Party.

November 30, 2011: Jim Webb announces his candidacy for President of the United States under the Reform Party.

December 4, 2011: In a home game against the Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is paralyzed from the neck down as a result of a particularly nasty hit in the fourth quarter.

December 4, 2011: The investigation of the SS Richard Montgomery explosion ends. It is revealed that a wall collapsed, hitting a bomb and causing a chain reaction.

December 6, 2011: At a rally in Baltimore, Maryland, Governor Richard Codey (D-NJ) proclaims his support for a nationwide high-speed rail system modeled after TEXPRESS.

December 7, 2011: President Kasich visits the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to speak with Governor Duke Aiona (R-HI) at a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of American entry into World War II. At the ceremony, he says "the attack here 70 years ago forever changed how we saw war. We saw that our enemies would be ruthless, unwilling to back down in the face of our retaliation. We must always remember those who gave their lives here for our freedom, and we must remember those who continue to serve here today."

December 10, 2011: Congressman Bernie Sanders of Vermont announces his candidacy for President of the United States under the Green Party.

December 14, 2011: In a surprise announcement, U.S. Senator Zephyr Teachout (D-NY) endorses Tupac Shakur for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2012.

December 14, 2011: Iraqi President Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri is named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2011.

December 15, 2011: U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham-Schaeffer (D-IL) endorses Governor Richard Codey (D-NJ) for President of the United States.

December 22, 2011: Through her Chatter account, actress and Saturday Night Live cast member Taylor Swift endorses John Elway for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.

December 29, 2011: In an interview with CBS News, Dan Rather criticizes Tupac Shakur, saying, "The man thinks he can be president even though he acts childish and thinks he's running for king."

January 1, 2012: To escape to negative publicity caused by the crash of Flight 1911, Air Canada rebrands Air Canada Jazz as Air Canada Connection.

January 1, 2012:
Unemployment decreases to 7.8%, and the economy grows by 2.5% in the fourth quarter of 2011. President Kasich's approval rating rises to a three-year high of 47%.

January 2, 2012:
U.S. Senator Jeb Bush (R-FL) endorses John Elway for President of the United States, saying "We need another moderate voice for the GOP."

January 2, 2012:
Longtime Detroit Lions quarterback Kirk Herbstreit endorses John Elway for President and starts campaigning for him in the Midwest.

January 2, 2012:
At West Side Stadium, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights defeat the Penn State Nittany Lions 20-6 to win the first Big Apple Bowl.

January 3, 2012:
John Elway calls out Tupac Shakur during a rally in Taos, New Mexico, referring to him as "a washed up rapper who doesn't need to be here."

January 5, 2012:
The 2012 Iowa caucuses are held. Delegates are to be allocated in a statewide convention on June 16.

Iowa caucuses - Republican
  • John Elway - 27%
  • Connie Mack III - 21%
  • Mike Ditka - 18%
  • David Clarke - 12%
  • Susan Collins - 8%
  • Carly Fiorina - 2%
  • Lincoln Chafee - 2%
Iowa caucuses - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 37% (22 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 21% (13 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 20% (11 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 16% (8 delegates)
  • David Petraeus - 10% (2 delegates)
In his victory speech, John Elway says, "One step for victory and one step towards D.C."

January 6, 2012: Mary Landrieu claims she is gaining momentum after a stronger than expected result in the Iowa caucus.

January 6, 2012: In Havana, Cuba, the Arkansas Razorbacks defeat the Tulsa Golden Hurricanes 30-29 to win the 2011 Paradise Bowl.

January 7, 2012: The Mongiardo 2012 campaign debuts a political ad titled "Chivalry" in several key battleground states, including Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Colorado, and Nevada. The animated commercial depicts Senator Mongiardo (D-KY) as a knight in shining armor on a quest to slay the two-headed dragon of John Kasich and Connie Mack III. Parodies of the ad become one of the most popular memes of 2012.

January 10, 2012: The Missouri Tigers defeat the Kentucky Wildcats 20-3 to win the 2011-12 NCAA Football Championship.

January 10, 2012: The 2012 New Hampshire primaries are held.

New Hampshire primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 26% (3 delegates)
  • John Elway - 21% (3 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 18% (2 delegates)
  • Susan Collins - 13% (2 delegates)
  • Duke Aiona - 10% (1 delegate)
  • Lincoln Chafee - 6% (1 delegate)
  • Carly Fiorina - 3% (0 delegates)
New Hampshire primaries - Democratic
  • Deval Patrick - 35% (10 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 28% (7 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 26% (7 delegates)
  • David Petraeus - 18% (4 delegates)
January 11, 2012: Tupac Shakur drops out of the race after a poor showing in New Hampshire.

January 12, 2012: Tupac Shakur endorses Deval Patrick (D-MA) for President of the United States in 2012.

January 15, 2012: In an interview with Tim Russert on Meet the Press, John Elway (R-CO) says he wants to separate himself from President Kasich, whose approval rating is under 50%.

January 18, 2012: The U.S. version of House of Cards debuts on Blockbuster Online. The show follows Texas Congressman Walter Nelson (played by Daniel Day-Lewis) as he climbs up the ranks of political power on Capitol Hill.

January 20, 2012: Martin Lager, a former employee of the Department of Civil Defense, discloses operations by a U.S. government mass surveillance program to various news publications, and flees the country.

January 21, 2012: The 2012 South Carolina Republican and Nevada Democratic caucuses are held.

South Carolina primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 23% (6 delegates)
  • John Elway - 22% (6 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 20% (5 delegates)
  • Lincoln Chafee - 15% (4 delegates)
  • Carly Fiorina - 12% (3 delegates)
  • David Clarke - 8% (1 delegate)
Nevada caucuses - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 36% (13 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 29% (10 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 19% (7 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 13% (5 delegates)
  • David Petraeus - 7% (1 delegate)
January 22, 2012: Martin Lager is granted asylum by Norway.

January 22, 2012: Governor Richard Codey (D-NJ) drops out of the race for President of the United States after a poor showing in Nevada.

January 22, 2012: Duke Aiona (R-HI) and Carly Fiorina (R-CA) suspend their campaigns after failing to gain traction in the first few primaries and caucuses.

January 24, 2012: U.S. President John Kasich delivers his final State of the Union Address. In his speech he focuses on rebuilding infrastructure, tackling drug addiction in the wake of Axl Rose's death, and continuing the fight against terrorism. The speech becomes notable for President Kasich's demand that Norwegian government hand over Martin Lager to face trial in the United States for unauthorized communication of classified government information.

January 25, 2012: Congressman Edward Snowden (I-MD) calls on President Kasich to pardon Martin Lager.

January 26, 2012: President Kasich (R-OH) calls on the Norwegian government to hand Martin Lager back to the United States to face trial.

January 28, 2012: The 2012 South Carolina Democratic primaries are held.

South Carolina primaries - Democratic
  • Mary Landrieu - 38% (21 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 25% (12 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 20% (11 delegates)
  • David Petraeus - 13% (7 delegates)
  • Daniel Mongiardo - 9% (4 delegates)
January 29-March 3, 2012: The 2012 Maine Republican caucuses are held. Delegates are to be allocated in a statewide convention on May 6.

Maine caucuses - Republican
  • John Elway - 39%
  • Connie Mack III - 28%
  • Susan Collins - 15%
  • Mike Ditka - 12%
  • Lincoln Chafee - 6%
January 29, 2012: The Detroit Lions defeat the New England Patriots 29-27 to win Super Bowl XLVI.

January 29, 2012: David Petraeus and Daniel Mongiardo drop out of the race after less than stellar showings in South Carolina. Meanwhile, Mary Landrieu gains momentum after a strong finish in South Carolina while the split in the black vote between Obama and Patrick prevented each of them from winning South Carolina, boding poorly for other races in the South. With a little over a month until Super Tuesday, the Democratic primary has narrowed down to a four-way race between Mary Landrieu, Barack Obama, Deval Patrick, and Tim Kaine, with Obama currently in the lead with 54 pledged delegates. With two days until the Florida primary, it is anyone's guess as to who will emerge on top.

February 2, 2012: Congressman Bradley Nowell (L-CA) denies rumors of a possible presidential run in 2016, expressing his desire to stay in the U.S. House of Representatives.

February 4, 2012: The 2012 Nevada Republican caucuses are held.

Nevada caucuses - Republican
  • John Elway - 31% (9 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 30% (8 delegates)
  • Susan Collins - 18% (5 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 11% (3 delegates)
  • David Clarke - 7% (2 delegates)
  • Lincoln Chafee - 3% (1 delegate)
February 4, 2012: History is made when a hologram of Adam Sandler hosts Saturday Night Live.

February 6, 2012: The Commonwealth of Nations celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II 60 years after she ascended to the British throne in 1952.

February 7, 2012: The 2012 Colorado Republican caucuses, Missouri primaries, and Minnesota caucuses are held.

Colorado caucuses - Republican
  • John Elway - 35%
  • Mike Ditka - 26%
  • Connie Mack III - 18%
  • Susan Collins - 13%
  • David Clarke - 5%
  • Lincoln Chafee - 3%
Missouri primaries - Democratic
  • Mary Landrieu - 35% (27 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 35% (27 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 17% (13 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 13% (10 delegates)
Minnesota caucuses - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 40% (36 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 27% (25 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 19% (17 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 14% (13 delegates)
While Landrieu received a few thousand more votes than Obama in the Missouri primary, it is effectively a tie between the two, with Obama benefiting from being the governor of neighboring Illinois. Despite this, Obama decisively wins the Minnesota caucus, proving his continued strength in caucuses. Meanwhile, Deval Patrick's faltering campaign and poor showing in both contests raises speculation as to how much longer he is going to stay in the race.

February 10, 2012: Retired NFL player and ESPN sportscaster Marco Rubio endorses fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway (R-CO) for President of the United States.

February 11-29, 2012: The 2012 Wyoming Republican caucuses are held. Delegates are to be allocated in statewide conventions on March 10 and April 14.

Wyoming caucuses - Republican
  • John Elway - 43%
  • Connie Mack III - 28%
  • Mike Ditka - 25%
  • Susan Collins - 4%
February 12, 2012: Princess Caroline is born to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

February 12, 2012:
On Real Time with Seth Meyers, Steve Irwin says he is endorsing John Elway (R-CO) for President of the United States in 2012, saying Vice President Connie Mack (R-FL) is "like a rattlesnake, likable but can cause damage."

February 15, 2012: Michael Jackson begins his This Is Me world tour with a concert at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

February 18, 2012: Steve Irwin hosts Saturday Night Live along with 2012 presidential candidate John Elway (R-CO). The most notable sketch in the episode is a satire of an Elway presidency in which Steve Irwin, playing the Prime Minster of Australia, has a phone call with President John Elway. The skit gets several million views on MeV. The Clash are the musical guest, performing "London Calling," "Train in Vain," and a hit from their comeback album Going Nowhere.

February 19, 2012: The 2012 Florida primaries are held.

Florida primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 45% (50 delegates)
  • John Elway - 31% (0 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 18% (0 delegates)
  • Susan Collins - 3% (0 delegates)
  • David Clarke - 2% (0 delegates)
  • Lincoln Chafee - 1% (0 delegates)
Florida primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 37% (102 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 31% (86 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 20% (55 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 12% (33 delegates)
After having polled a few points ahead of Obama for several weeks, Tim Kaine wins his first primary of the season. His appeal to Latinos and suburban voters vaulted him to victory in Florida, putting him into second place behind the frontrunner, Governor Barack Obama. With Deval Patrick’s last place showing, it becomes clear that the future of his campaign rests on a victory in the Massachusetts primary, where Obama has seen a surge in support in the polls after his victories in Iowa, Nevada, and Minnesota.

February 21, 2012: Governor Caroline Kennedy (D-NY) endorses fellow Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA) for President of the United States.

February 27, 2012: The Fred Rogers biopic Would You Be My Neighbor is released into theaters. The Wes Anderson-directed film stars Jack McBrayer as Fred Rogers and depicts highlights of his career. The highlight of the film is a recreation of Fred Rogers's impassioned testimony before Congress supporting funding PBS. Anderson's trademark attention to detail and McBrayer's excellent performance succeed in bringing the deceased children's entertainer back to life. The film ends with this quote from Fred Rogers: "You know, I think everybody longs to be loved and longs to know that he or she is lovable. And, consequently, the greatest thing that we can do is to help somebody know that they're loved and capable of loving."

February 28, 2012: The 2012 Arizona and Michigan Republican primaries are held.

Arizona primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 37% (29 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 29% (0 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 20% (0 delegates)
  • David Clarke - 8% (0 delegates)
  • Susan Collins - 4% (0 delegates)
  • Lincoln Chafee - 2% (0 delegates)
Michigan primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 34% (18 delegates)
  • John Elway - 27% (8 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 19% (2 delegates)
  • Susan Collins - 11% (0 delegates)
  • David Clarke - 5% (0 delegates)
  • Lincoln Chafee - 4% (0 delegates)
February 29, 2012: David Clarke (R-WI) withdraws from the 2012 U.S. presidential race after failing to win any delegates in Michigan.

February 29, 2012: At a campaign stop in Boulder, Colorado, John Elway (R-CO) tells the crowd, "I will beat the Democrats like a drum this November!"

February 29, 2012: Denver Broncos quarterback Todd Helton endorses John Elway (R-CO) for President of the United States.

March 1, 2012: At a campaign rally in St. Louis, Missouri, Mike Ditka (R-IL) says that he doubts Barack Obama is a legitimate U.S. citizen.

March 1, 2012: Rap rock singer Kid Rock endorses Mike Ditka (R-IL) for President of the United States in 2012.

March 1, 2012: Sheriff David Clarke endorses Mike Ditka for President of the United States and releases his delegates.

March 2, 2012: Russian President Sergey Glazyev visits Athens to meet with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. The two men discuss forging economic, political, and military ties in the coming years.

March 2, 2012: Violent Delights, the 24th James Bond movie, is released to cinemas. 007 (Henry Cavill) must face a former Cuban colonel (Wagner Moura) turned arms dealer who intends on selling a dirty bomb to Scottish ultranationalists. M is played by Sir Ian McKellen. The movie approaches the controversial topics of the fallout of Castro's regime and Scottish separatist extremists. It is well received by critics, and wins its only Oscar nomination: Wagner Moura for Best Supporting Actor.

March 2, 2012: On The Late Show with Chris Rock, salesman and infomercial legend Billy Mays endorses John Elway (R-CO) for president of the United States, saying that Connie Mack III is "nothing like our great president."

March 2, 2012: Governor Duke Aiona (R-HI) endorses John Elway for President of the United States and releases his single delegate.

March 3, 2012: The 2012 Washington Republican caucuses are held. Delegates are to be allocated in a statewide convention on June 6.

Washington caucuses - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 34%
  • John Elway - 32%
  • Mike Ditka - 20%
  • Susan Collins - 10%
  • Lincoln Chafee - 4%
March 3, 2012: At a rally in Salem, Oregon, John Elway (R-CO) calls out Mike Ditka: "While I don't agree with Mr. Obama's politics, those comments are bold and ludicrous."

March 4, 2012: Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) suspend their campaigns after poor performances in the Maine caucuses.

March 5, 2012: Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) releases his delegates and advises them to support John Elway for the Republican presidential nomination.

March 5, 2012: A day before Super Tuesday, Taylor Swift campaigns for John Elway in San Diego, California.

March 6, 2012: Super Tuesday occurs for both parties.

Colorado caucuses - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 42% (30 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 30% (22 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 19% (14 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu 9% (6 delegates)
Georgia primaries - Democratic
  • Mary Landrieu - 37% (41 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 33% (36 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 21% (23 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 7% (10 delegates)
Massachusetts primaries - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 40% (44 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 34% (37 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 20% (22 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 6% (7 delegates)
Ohio primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 38% (67 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 31% (54 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 17% (30 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 13% (23 delegates)
Oklahoma primaries - Democratic
  • Mary Landrieu - 43% (19 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 29% (13 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 23% (10 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 4% (3 delegates)
Tennessee primaries - Democratic
  • Mary Landrieu - 42% (34 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 36% (30 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 17% (14 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 5% (4 delegates)
Vermont primaries - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 42% (8 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 34% (6 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 17% (3 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 6% (1 delegate)
Virginia primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 45% (48 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 32% (34 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 18% (19 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 5% (5 delegates)
Barack Obama, in an upset, defeats Deval Patrick in his home state of Massachusetts by a decisive margin, sealing the fate of the Patrick campaign. Patrick suspends his campaign an hour after the result is called and immediately endorses Obama, declaring that "while Democratic voters decided I was not the one to carry the progressive mantle, I believe it is quite clear they believe Governor Obama is the one to do so and so do I. Therefore, I am endorsing Governor Obama as he is the only one who will carry progressive values into the White House."

Meanwhile, Mary Landrieu sweeps the southern primaries as expected, while Tim Kaine wins his home state of Virginia and Ohio. With Patrick's exit from the race, Obama is expected to do better in the South as the African-American vote consolidates behind him.

Alaska caucuses - Republican
  • John Elway - 46% (11 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 31% (7 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 20% (4 delegates)
Georgia primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 42% (39 delegates)
  • John Elway - 35% (23 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 22% (11 delegates)
Idaho caucuses - Republican
  • John Elway - 50% (29 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 27% (0 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 23% (0 delegates)
Massachusetts primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 44% (25 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 36% (11 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 19% (2 delegates)
North Dakota caucuses - Republican*
  • John Elway - 43%
  • Connie Mack III - 28%
  • Mike Ditka - 26%
Ohio primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 39% (30 delegates)
  • John Elway - 37% (27 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 22% (6 delegates)
Oklahoma primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 40% (19 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 35% (13 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 23% (8 delegates)
Tennessee primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 43% (28 delegates)
  • John Elway - 35% (24 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 19% (3 delegates)
Vermont primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 47% (9 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 31% (5 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 20% (2 delegates)
Virginia primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 43% (37 delegates)
  • John Elway - 39% (7 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 16% (0 delegates)
*Delegates to be allocated at a statewide convention on April 1.

Elway wins a majority of the contests on Super Tuesday and 4 more delegates than Mack, much of it as a result of his strength in the West and among more moderate Republicans in the Northeast and Midwest. Mack, meanwhile, continues to appeal to more conservative Republicans across the country and especially in the South. However, his surprisingly close finish in Ohio is a sign of an Elway surge and it remains to be seen whether Mack can keep his lead or whether Elway will eclipse him following later contests.

Ditka's last place finish in every contest results in him arguing against how the Republican primaries are set up. At a rally he says that "I should be getting more delegates but the system is rigged against me. Just look at Massachusetts and Ohio! I got around 20% of the vote in each but much fewer delegates than that. It is totally rigged!" Ditka refuses to leave the race and says he will stick through until the end, leaving open the possibility that there may be a contested convention in August if neither Mack nor Elway wins a majority of the delegates.

March 6, 2012: Actor Sean Penn announces his campaign for Mayor of New York City in 2013 as a Democrat.

March 7, 2012: The 2012 Hawaii Democratic caucuses are held.

Hawaii caucuses - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 52% (14 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 36% (9 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 8% (2 delegates)
  • Deval Patrick - 4% (1 delegate)
March 8, 2012: Tabitha's Secret frontman Rob Thomas endorses John Elway (R-CO) for President of the United States, shouting "I'm going all the way with John Elway!" at a concert.

March 9, 2012: John Elway says he is disappointed in President Kasich for raising taxes.

March 9, 2012: In a new CNN/ORC poll, John Elway leads Republican millennial voters in a landslide.

March 10, 2012: The 2012 Guam, Kansas, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands Republican caucuses are held.

Guam caucuses - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 72% (7 delegates)
  • John Elway - 26% (2 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 2% (0 delegates)
Kansas caucuses - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 48% (25 delegates)
  • John Elway - 29% (10 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 21% (5 delegates)
Northern Mariana Islands caucuses - Republican
  • John Elway - 61% (4 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 35% (2 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 4% (0 delegates)
U.S. Virgin Islands caucuses - Republican
  • Uncommitted - 37% (2 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 35% (3 delegates)
  • John Elway - 21% (1 delegate)
  • Mike Ditka - 7% (0 delegates)
March 11, 2012: An election official from Boston, Massachusetts, known only as "Mr. X" claims the Obama campaign paid off his coworkers to "conveniently wipe" the records of white voters in the city to ensure an Obama victory in Massachusetts.

March 12, 2012: The Obama campaign releases a statement in response to the accusations that he paid off election officials in Massachusetts to help him win the primary, saying that "Governor Obama would never stoop to such a level," and that Obama "won the Massachusetts primary fairly." Despite denying the accusations, the media continues to report on them, with some right-wing outlets even going so far as to accuse Obama of being racist against white people.

March 12, 2012: U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) endorses John Elway for president, saying that he is "the best candidate to protect the rights of Americans while ensuring that the government remains small and out of the economy."

March 12, 2012: On his Chatter account, Donald Trump, Jr., chats "Crooked Barry at it again! Stealing the election from the rightful winners! #LockHimUp".

March 13, 2012: The 2012 Democratic primaries are held in Alabama and Mississippi and caucuses in Idaho and Utah.

Alabama primaries - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 55% (35 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 34% (22 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 10% (6 delegates)
Idaho caucuses - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 48% (11 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 39% (9 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 11% (2 delegates)
Mississippi primaries - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 52% (21 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 37% (15 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 9% (4 delegates)
Utah caucuses - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 45% (13 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 38% (12 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 15% (4 delegates)
Obama sweeps the Alabama and Mississippi primaries, largely because of the consolidation of African-American support behind his candidacy. However, the most surprising results come in Idaho and Utah, where Obama does worse than expected. This is largely a result of the recent controversy surrounding the Massachusetts primary which has engulfed Obama's campaign over the past few days.

March 13, 2012: The 2012 Republican primaries are held in Alabama and Mississippi and caucuses in American Samoa and Hawaii.

Alabama primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 49% (25 delegates)
  • John Elway - 30% (13 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 20% (9 delegates)
American Samoa caucuses - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 59% (6 delegates)
  • John Elway - 25% (2 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 16% (1 delegate)
Hawaii caucuses - Republican
  • John Elway - 49% (10 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 31% (4 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 28% (3 delegates)
Mississippi primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 51% (19 delegates)
  • John Elway - 28% (10 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 21% (8 delegates)
As expected, Mack sweeps the more conservative states of Alabama and Mississippi while Elway wins Hawaii. The only result of note is in Hawaii, where Ditka comes surprisingly close to overtaking Mack after having come a distant third in most of the primaries and caucuses to date.

March 13, 2012: John Elway (R-CO) expresses concern for the integrity of the Democratic primaries in Massachusetts following Mr. X's accusations against the Obama campaign.

March 13, 2012: The Democratic National Committee gets hit with emails from thousands of Tim Kaine supporters to investigate the Massachusetts primaries.

March 14, 2012: Jesse Ventura (I-MN) appears on Today and talks about how incidents like the Obama scandal are why America needs campaign finance reform: "The two-party system's trying to screw us over, Matt [Lauer]! Just look at what Barack Obama's been doing in Massachusetts, trying to stomp the little guy out, just like the bigwigs in Washington and Wall Street have been doing for decades now!"

March 14, 2012: The DNC releases a statement in response to emails from Kaine supporters over the Massachusetts primary, saying that "the DNC does not have the power to investigate the results of primaries and caucuses," and that "everyone concerned about the results of the Massachusetts primary should send their inquiries to the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth." Soon after the statement is released, the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth is inundated with emails from Kaine supporters asking for an investigation into voting irregularities.

March 15, 2012: Retired Boston Red Sox shortstop Rafael "Ted" Cruz endorses Connie Mack III (R-FL) for President of the United States.

March 16, 2012: In an interview with Tim Russert on Meet the Press, John Elway talks about his campaign message, President Kasich, what he does for fun, his motivations for running, and how he loves to watch anime with his kids.

March 16, 2012: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin announces that an investigation into reports of voting irregularities, particularly voters suddenly discovering that they were no longer registered to vote, during the Massachusetts primary.

March 16, 2012: Blind Melon frontman Shannon Hoon endorses John Elway (R-CO) for President of the United States in 2012, saying he will stop the spread of drugs on the streets.

March 17, 2012: The 2012 Alaska and Northern Mariana Islands Democratic caucuses are held.

Alaska caucuses - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 49% (8 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 35% (5 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 14% (2 delegates)
Northern Mariana Islands caucuses - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 53% (2 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 36% (2 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 11% (0 delegates)
March 18, 2012: The 2012 Puerto Rico Republican primaries are held.

Puerto Rico primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 52% (10 delegates)
  • John Elway - 34% (7 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 12 (3 delegates)
March 18, 2012: In a Town Hall on CNN, John Elway (R-CO) says he has no problem with marijuana despite his anti-drug message.

March 20, 2012: The 2012 Illinois primaries are held.

Illinois primaries - Republican
  • Mike Ditka - 45% (42 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 29% (6 delegates)
  • John Elway - 27% (6 delegates)
Illinois primaries - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 43% (82 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 37% (71 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 19% (36 delegates)
Obama and Ditka predictably win the primaries in their home state. However, Obama’s margin of victory is much smaller than expected, sending shockwaves through the Obama campaign as it becomes clear that the Massachusetts primary controversy is causing serious damage to his chances of becoming the Democratic nominee.

March 20, 2012: Several delegates that had been released by Deval Patrick say that they will not be voting for Obama at the DNC because of the Massachusetts primary irregularities. They are expected to vote for either Mary Landrieu or Tim Kaine, with more possibly refusing to vote for Obama in the coming weeks and months depending on how the investigation goes.

March 20, 2012: At a rally in New Orleans, Louisiana, John Elway slams Connie Mack III's tax plan, saying he will "pull a George Bush and only talk the talk and not walk the walk."

March 21, 2012: Carly Fiorina endorses Connie Mack III for President of the United States and releases her delegates.

March 21, 2012: South Park airs the episode "Barry Ballots," in which the boys uncover a plot by Barack Obama and campaign manager Donna Brazile to fabricate a national Dunkin' Donuts shortage in order to distract the public and the media from the Massachusetts primary controversy.

March 23, 2012: The Ann Richards Presidential Library officially opens in Austin, Texas. President John Kasich, Cecile Richards, former President Jimmy Carter, and former Vice Presidents Walter Mondale and Chris Dodd are the speakers for the opening ceremony.

March 24, 2012: The 2012 Democratic primaries are held in Louisiana and caucuses in Maine and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Louisiana primaries - Democratic
  • Mary Landrieu - 49% (31 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 33% (21 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 18% (12 delegates)
Maine caucuses - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 45% (11 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 43% (10 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 12% (3 delegates)
U.S. Virgin Islands caucuses - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 54% (4 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 32% (2 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 14% (1 delegate)
In an upset result, Tim Kaine narrowly defeats Barack Obama in the Maine caucuses. Obama had been widely expected to emerge victorious and the fact that he lost comes as yet another sign of the damage that is being done to his campaign because of the Massachusetts primary controversy.

March 24, 2012: The 2012 Missouri Republican caucuses are held.*

Missouri caucuses - Republican
  • John Elway - 47%
  • Mike Ditka - 33%
  • Connie Mack III - 20%
*Delegates to be allocated at county conventions on April 21 and a state convention on June 2.

Mack’s third place finish in the Missouri caucuses prompts concern within his campaign that he is losing momentum, despite remaining the frontrunner for the Republican nomination and having grown his delegate lead over Elway in March. However, with upcoming contests in April favoring Elway, it appears that Mack’s lead is set to shrink as it becomes increasingly possible that Republicans will be headed toward a contested convention.

March 24, 2012: At a rally in Spokane, Washington, Mike Ditka (R-IL) humiliates himself when he falls off the stage and snaps his ankle while giving an angry speech about "rigged elections."

March 25, 2012: A gunman fires shots outside the Orpheum Theater in Los Angeles, California. The gunman, Arnold Gordon, shot and killed businessman David McKenny and injured three others before turning himself in to the police. When the LAPD investigate Gordon's house, they discover a letter that details his plans for further shootings that were intended to bring attention to inadequate gun control laws.

March 25, 2012: In a Town Hall hosted by Tim Russert on MSNBC, John Elway says he supports President Kasich, even though he isn't perfect.

March 26, 2012: Three recent Gallup polls show a spike in the popularity of Green Party candidate Bernie Sanders.

March 28, 2012: Australian Prime Minister Peter Costello resigns from office after audio of him making derogatory comments about "those goddamn f*ckin' Abbos" surfaces online. Liberal/National coalition deputy leader Julie Bishop is sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Australia, the first female to hold the office.

April 1, 2012: The final Republican delegate allocation for North Dakota is released following its state convention.

North Dakota Republican Delegate Allocation
  • John Elway – 18 delegates
  • Connie Mack III – 6 delegates
  • Mike Ditka – 2 delegates
April 2, 2012: At a rally for Governor Barack Obama, a man by the name of Russell Simmons rushes the stage. He manages to punch the Governor in the face once before being apprehended. The fact that Simmons had been able to make contact with the Governor becomes a source of controversy with the Secret Service that ends with the Head resigning.

April 2, 2012: The Elway campaign releases an attack ad against Connie Mack III saying he will "lie his way to the presidency like John Kasich and George Bush."

April 3, 2012: The 2012 primaries are held in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Wisconsin.

District of Columbia primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 55% (16 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 32% (0 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 11% (0 delegates)
District of Columbia primaries - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 72% (16 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 23% (5 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 4% (1 delegate)
Maryland primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 47% (28 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 31% (6 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 11% (0 delegates)
Maryland primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 44% (43 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 41% (40 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu 14% (14 delegates)
Wisconsin primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 41% (27 delegates)
  • John Elway - 36% (12 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 22% (3 delegates)
Wisconsin primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 43% (44 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 36% (37 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 19% (19 delegates)
Elway wins in D.C. and Maryland as expected. However, his closer than expected second place finish in Wisconsin spells more trouble for the Mack campaign as the primary season turns to more favorable contests for Elway in the Northeast.

While Obama wins D.C. with overwhelming black support, he surprisingly loses Maryland despite the state having a favorable electorate to him. It is ultimately determined that weaker than expected support from white liberals is to blame, largely turned off by the accusations of racism and fraud that have come Obama’s way as a result of the ongoing Massachusetts primary controversy. He also loses Wisconsin, a state he had been leading in the polls until the middle of March as Kaine began to surge in the Midwest.

April 5, 2012: Steve Irwin says he is disappointed in Prime Minister Costello, saying it was "a joy having him here, even though he said something no Prime Minister should ever say." He also wishes Julie Bishop luck as Prime Minister.

April 6, 2012: A report comes out on NBC News with video excerpts from several sermons given by Obama's pastor, Jeremiah Wright, in which he is critical of white people for past injustices they have brought against Native Americans and blacks. One particularly damaging one from March 2000 has Wright calling former President Richards the "embodiment of the racist white establishment of not only the Democratic Party, but of America as well." Obama immediately denounces the remarks and announces that he has revoked his membership from his church. However, the media frenzy that commences as well as the racially tinged controversy surrounding the Massachusetts primary drowns out the efforts by the Obama campaign to control the story.

April 7, 2012: Congressman Bradley Nowell (L-CA) endorses Jim Webb for President of the United States in 2012.

April 8, 2012: John Elway releases campaign commercials promising tax cuts, balanced budgets, and cuts to Social Security.

April 10, 2012: This Week Tonight with Joe Rogan premieres on HBO, with the first guests being alternative rock band Blind Melon and Republican presidential candidate John Elway.

April 11, 2012: The series finale of Danny Phantom airs on Nickelodeon. The episode focuses on Danny saving both Earth and the Ghost Zone from an incoming meteor, revealing his secret to the world, and finally starting to date Sam.

April 12, 2012: As part of Disneyland Paris' 20th anniversary celebrations, The Thunder Mesa River Expedition opens in Frontierland. Based on the abandoned Western River Expedition concept from Walt Disney World, the boat ride takes guests on a journey through comical scenes of life in the wild west, culminating with a five-story plunge into the Rivers of the Far West.

April 13, 2012: Margaret Cho and Steve Irwin have a Chatter feud after Cho says that Irwin needs to stay out of politics.

April 14, 2012: The 2012 Democratic caucuses are held in Idaho, Kansas, and Wyoming.

Idaho caucuses - Democratic
  • Barack Obama - 48% (9 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 46% (9 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 6% (1 delegate)
Kansas caucuses - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 46% (18 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 41% (16 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 12% (5 delegates)
Wyoming caucuses - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 53% (10 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 40% (7 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 6% (1 delegates)
Obama’s losses in Kansas and Wyoming comes as his support in the Midwest and West collapses following the revelation that his pastor had criticized white people and called former President Richards and the Democratic Party racist. Speculation begins to mount as to whether Obama can recover from this recent controversy or whether this is the nail in the coffin for his campaign as Kaine gains momentum from his recent victories in Maryland, Kansas, and Wyoming.

April 14, 2012: The final Republican delegate allocations for Colorado and Wyoming are released following their state conventions.

Colorado Republican Delegate Allocation
  • John Elway – 22 delegates
  • Connie Mack III – 10 delegates
  • Mike Ditka – 1 delegate
Wyoming Republican Delegate Allocation
  • John Elway – 19 delegates
  • Connie Mack III – 6 delegates
  • Mike Ditka – 0 delegates
April 14, 2012: Noam Chomsky intervenes in the Cho vs. Irwin Chatter feud by saying, "I think people should have opinions of other countries' politics even if I disagree with them."

April 15, 2012: A Gallup poll is released which shows how people would likely vote in a hypothetical scenario.

Kaine vs. Elway - 50% Kaine, 43% Elway, 7% Uncertain/Other

Obama vs. Elway - 47% Obama, 46% Elway, 7% Uncertain/Other

Landrieu vs. Elway - 43% Landrieu, 47% Elway, 10% Uncertain/Other

Kaine vs. Mack - 51% Kaine, 45% Mack, 4% Uncertain/Other

Obama vs. Mack - 50% Obama, 44% Mack, 6% Uncertain/Other

Landrieu vs. Mack - 48% Landrieu, 48% Mack, 4% Uncertain/Other

Kaine vs. Ditka - 52% Kaine, 40% Ditka, 8% Uncertain/Other

Obama vs. Ditka - 46% Obama, 46% Ditka, 8% Uncertain/Other

Landrieu vs. Ditka - 52% Landrieu, 39% Ditka, 9% Uncertain/Other

April 15, 2012: A life-size replica of the Titanic is unveiled at Manhattan Beach. The ship is to serve as a museum and floating hotel where the guests get to experience what life was like for a passenger on the doomed maiden voyage. The unnecessary boilers were replaced with a full museum dedicated to the history of the Titanic and the White Star Line. Proceeds from room rentals, museum tours, and purchases from the Purser's Office souvenir shop all go to charity. The ship is "launched" with a respectful ceremony dedicated to the centennial of the Titanic disaster.

April 17, 2012: In Sorrentino v. Pennsylvania, the United States Supreme Court rules 6-3 that laws prohibiting same-sex marriage are in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.

April 17, 2012: On his Chatter account, Tupac Shakur expresses his support for the Supreme Court decision in Sorrentino v. Pennsylvania: "Today was a major victory for LGBT rights. Let's keep it going! #LoveWins".

April 18, 2012: Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin announces that the investigation into the Massachusetts primary has been completed. As it turns out, thousands had been removed from the voter rolls due to being inactive voters. However, they had not been informed of their removal, which caused issues on the day of the primary as some voters who came out due to the competitive nature of this year's primaries were unable to cast official ballots and had to cast provisional ones instead that had not been counted. While this comes as a welcome relief to the Obama campaign, the Wright controversy continues to loom over Obama as several superdelegates that had previously supported him instead announce that they are backing Tim Kaine.

April 18, 2012: At a campaign rally in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, former Governor Mike Ditka (R-IL) criticizes the Supreme Court decision in Sorrentino v. Pennsylvania, calling it "a gross violation of states' rights and the sanctity of marriage. It's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve!"

April 18, 2012: John Elway says he is fine with the Supreme Court's ruling in Sorrentino v. Pennsylvania: "If it doesn't affect anything, I'll continue campaigning."

April 21, 2012: Magicians Penn and Teller endorse Gary Johnson (L-NM) for President of the United States in 2012.

April 24, 2012: The 2012 primaries are held in Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.

Connecticut primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 49% (18 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 38% (7 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 10% (0 delegates)
Connecticut primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 45% (34 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 39% (29 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 14% (10 delegates)
Delaware primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 47% (12 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 35% (5 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 16% (0 delegates)
Delaware primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 45% (11 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 36% (9 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 17% (4 delegates)
New York primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 51% (89 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 34% (3 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 14% (0 delegates)
New York primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 48% (167 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 36% (125 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 13% (45 delegates)
Pennsylvania primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 49% (37 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 36% (5 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 14% (1 delegate)
Pennsylvania primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 51% (119 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 34% (79 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 13% (30 delegates)
Rhode Island primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 56% (10 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 31% (6 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 11% (0 delegates)
Rhode Island primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 44% (14 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 40% (13 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 15% (5 delegates)
Elway does very well with moderate Republicans in the Northeast, allowing him to sweep all five primaries by decisive margins. His largest victory comes in Rhode Island, where he benefitted from the endorsement of Senator Lincoln Chafee who also actively campaigned for him across the state.

Elway officially surpasses Mack in the delegate count following these contests, making him the frontrunner for the Republican nomination as Mack’s campaign continues to struggle.

While the announcement that Obama had not attempted to commit voter fraud in Massachusetts helps him in Connecticut and Rhode Island, the continued coverage of the Wright controversy prevents Obama from being able to win either primary. Coupled with devastating losses to Tim Kaine in Pennsylvania and New York, it becomes increasingly clear that the controversies that have engulfed Obama in the last month and a half have hurt him considerably and given Kaine much needed momentum. Meanwhile, Landrieu’s campaign struggles as she continues to come a distant third in most contests outside of the South.

It becomes increasingly clear by this point that no Democratic candidate will realistically be able to get a majority of the delegates at the Democratic National Convention so long as all three candidates remain in the race.

April 27, 2012: Kurt Cobain releases a self-titled solo album. Critics praise the songs' lyrics about fatherhood and struggling with drug addiction.

April 28, 2012: The 2012 Louisiana Republican caucuses are held. Delegates are to be allocated at a statewide convention on June 2.

Louisiana caucuses - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 45%
  • John Elway - 34%
  • Mike Ditka - 19%
May 1-6, 2012: The 2012 Democrats Abroad primaries are held.

Democrats Abroad primaries
  • Barack Obama - 47% (7 delegates)
  • Tim Kaine - 43% (6 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 9% (1 delegate)
May 4, 2012: Deadpool 2 is released to cinemas. Picking up where the first Deadpool left off, the film follows the title character as he teams up with Domino (played by Jennifer Lawrence) and Cable (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) to fight William Stryker (played by Mark Hamill). Drake Bell cameos as Spider-Man, fueling rumors of a possible crossover film with the two characters.

May 5, 2012: The 2012 Democratic primaries are held in Michigan and caucuses are held in Guam.

Guam caucuses - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 52% (4 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 36% (3 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 11% (0 delegates)
Michigan primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 50% (93 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 40% (75 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu 8% (15 delegates)
Obama continues to fare poorly in the Midwest, despite having put the Massachusetts primary controversy behind him. His loss in Michigan is yet another sign of the loss in support he has suffered as controversies have roiled his campaign for the past two months.

May 6, 2012: The final Republican delegate allocation for Maine is released following its state convention.

Maine Republican Delegate Allocation
  • John Elway – 16 delegates
  • Connie Mack III – 7 delegates
  • Mike Ditka – 1 delegate
May 7, 2012: Ingersoll Parks officially opens Luna Park Havana to the public. In attendance at the opening ceremony are Andrew Mimms, U.S. Ambassador Ed Bagshaw, and Cuban President Adelina Barros.

May 8, 2012: The 2012 primaries are held in Indiana, North Carolina, and West Virginia.

Indiana primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 45% (22 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 39% (5 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 15% (1 delegate)
Indiana primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 45% (44 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 39% (38 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 15% (14 delegates)
North Carolina primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 45% (24 delegates)
  • John Elway - 42% (22 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 11% (6 delegates)
North Carolina primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 42% (59 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 37% (52 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 20% (28 delegates)
West Virginia primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III - 47% (16 delegates)
  • John Elway - 40% (10 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 12% (2 delegates)
West Virginia primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 55% (20 delegates)
  • Barack Obama - 32% (12 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu - 12% (4 delegates)
Elway pulls off a decisive victory in Indiana, benefitting from Mack’s floundering campaign. Mack, however, is able to secure a narrow victory in North Carolina despite the campaign troubles he has been having as well as a more decisive one in West Virginia. With these being more favorable to Mack, however, these results are less victories and more signs of Mack’s lackluster campaign.

Obama does better in Indiana than in previous Midwest primaries, largely due to his stature as governor of nearby Illinois. However, his loss in North Carolina comes as a blow as he had been expected to win the state only a month prior but the Jeremiah Wright controversy cost him dearly there. A much bigger blow, however, is Mary Landrieu’s distant third place finish. Her campaign had been pinned on a strong showing in North Carolina as her southern strategy began to crumble. With increasing pressure from party leaders to drop out of the race as well as a drying up of campaign funds, it remains to be seen whether Landrieu will continue on to the last southern primaries or not.

Tim Kaine continues his streak of high-profile victories, gaining significant momentum as he barely surpasses Obama in the pledged delegate count, being only one delegate ahead of him. With the remaining primary contests favorable to him, it appears that Kaine is set to become the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination as the candidate with the most pledged delegates and popular votes.

May 9, 2012: Mario Cuomo, former New York Governor and HHS Secretary under Ann Richards, dies from heart failure at his home in Manhattan at the age of 79.

May 10, 2012: In a shocking move, Mary Landrieu announces that she will be suspending her campaign for president, saying that “it was not [her] time” and that “Democratic voters clearly did not believe that [she] should be their nominee.” While she has not endorsed anyone yet, it is widely expected that she will endorse Tim Kaine as her and Governor Obama are on completely different wings of the Democratic Party. The shockwave of her withdrawal dashes any hopes of Obama capturing the Democratic nomination and it is unknown if he will continue his campaign or withdraw.

May 11, 2012: Barack Obama suspends his campaign for president, saying that he “cannot see a credible path to victory from here.” However, he thanks his supporters, saying that they “have proven that progressive, forward-looking ideas have a place in the Democratic Party,” and that “we’ve gotten to the point where even a black man can become a serious contender for a major party’s nomination.” He officially endorses Tim Kaine for president, thanking him for a “hard-fought, constructive campaign for the future of the Democratic Party” and calling on Democrats to unify behind him so they can defeat whoever the Republican nominee is in the fall. With Obama’s withdrawal and endorsement, Tim Kaine becomes the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, having yet to secure the necessary number of delegates but being expected to do so after all primaries are held.

May 12, 2012: C.S.A.: The Confederate States of America 2, a sequel to the 2004 cult classic, hits theaters nationwide. The movie is set as if it was a public access TV show about servants, with fake commercials in between segments.

May 13, 2012: At a rally in Fresno, California, John Elway calls on Mike Ditka to drop out of the Republican primaries.

May 14, 2012: Mike Ditka responds to John Elway's call for him to drop out, saying that the "rigged system has clearly benefited Elway and Mack" and that "[he] will take [his] message all the way to the RNC to show the Republican establishment that [he] means business."

May 15, 2012: The 2012 primaries are held in Oregon and the Democratic primaries are held in Nebraska.

Nebraska primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 71% (27 delegates)
  • Barack Obama 19% (7 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu 9% (4 delegates)
Oregon primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 53% (13 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 31% (8 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 15% (4 delegates)
Oregon primaries - Democratic
  • Tim Kaine - 82% (58 delegates)
  • Barack Obama 12% (8 delegates)
  • Mary Landrieu 6% (4 delegates)
May 15, 2012: Former R&B and rap star Kanye West, star of the show West: The Life of Yeezy and Kim, is found unconscious after an overdose on a cocktail of drugs. Although doctors are able to restore consciousness, West has not left his vegetative state. Public debate on the issue of whether or not his feed may be cut remains an issue, even in the presidential debates. Kanye's attempted suicide raises public awareness to the effects of fame on the psyche. The attempt comes as a surprise to many, as Kanye was seen as a level-headed man in a show mostly dominated by kids Chloe and Bert.

May 19, 2012: During their performance at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, Green Day sparks controversy by chanting, "No Republicans, no KKK, no Fascist USA!"

May 20, 2012: Donald Trump, Jr., takes to Chatter to call Green Day's chant at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards "unpatriotic" and that the band "oughta be deported!"

May 21, 2012: Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong defends himself against Donald Trump Jr.'s chats, noting, "Apparently it's okay to fight against your own state when you want to create a new one, but not when you have a problem with it? Don't ask me, Jr. knows best."

May 22, 2012: The 2012 Republican primaries are held in Arkansas and Kentucky.

Arkansas primaries - Republican
  • Connie Mack III 45% - (16 delegates)
  • John Elway - 42% (15 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 11% (2 delegates)
Kentucky primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 48% (25 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 41% (15 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 9% (2 delegates)
Mack barely wins in Arkansas as his campaign continues to struggle amid a surging Elway. Meanwhile, Elway wins decisively in Kentucky due to his support from popular U.S. Senator Rand Paul, as well as frequent campaigning in the state leading up to its primary.

May 25, 2012: Thi Diêu Trân, age 22 from Vietnam, is crowned Miss Universe 2012.

May 27, 2012: The Whole Nine Yards debuts on NBC. Hosted by Olympic snowboarder Justin Trudeau, the summer reality competition show has ten contestants race through a series of obstacle courses for a grand prize of $100,000. The show becomes famous for Trudeau's catchphrase "Let's go racing!"

May 29, 2012: The 2012 Republican primaries are held in Texas.

Texas primaries - Republican
  • John Elway - 46% (77 delegates)
  • Connie Mack III - 42% (63 delegates)
  • Mike Ditka - 12% (11 delegates)
Elway’s victory in Texas marks the last stand of Mack’s campaign as his path to victory rapidly closes. He announces shortly after the result is called that he is suspending his campaign for President, saying that it is “time the Republican Party came together to stand up to Tim Kaine and his radical liberal agenda.” He endorses Elway and says he will release his delegates at the RNC, urging them to back Elway. As Elway becomes the presumptive Republican nominee, doubts linger over whether he is qualified enough to become president due to his lack of political experience.

May 29, 2012: 55% of Catalonians vote in favor of independence. The new government of Catalonia promises a republican form of government and continued membership in the European Union.

May 29, 2012: Slovenian supermodel Melania Novak appears on The Late Late Show with Margaret Cho. The clip of her playing the "Wheel of Impressions" game, especially her impression of presidential candidate Mike Ditka, gains an incredible amount of popularity on the Internet.

May 30-June 11, 2012: The New Jersey Devils defeat the Detroit Red Wings 4 games to 2 to win the 2012 Stanley Cup.

June 1, 2012: The Italian government announces plans for a referendum on Sicilian independence on September 11, 2013.

June 1, 2012: The economy grows by 3.05 in the second quarter of 2012, and unemployment shrinks to 6.8%. President Kasich's approval rating spikes to 51%.

June 2, 2012: The generic congressional ballot has Republicans ahead 45-43 over the Democrats.

June 5, 2012: Friday Night Affairs host John Oliver expresses interest in beginning a political career of his own, commenting that "I would certainly make a wonderful MP."

June 8, 2012: Universal Studios and Marvel Entertainment release Captain America to cinemas. The film stars Tobey Maguire as the title character, who has to fight a Nazi syndicate named HYDRA headed by the Red Skull (played by Alexander Skarsgard). Stan Lee cameos as a World War I veteran meeting Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House.

June 8, 2012: The 2012 Euro Football Championship opens in Italy.

June 12, 2012: Spain and Portugal recognize Catalonia.

June 12-25, 2012: The New Orleans Pelicans defeat the Toronto Raptors 4 games to 3 to win the 2012 NBA Finals.

June 13, 2012: In a surprising turn of events, 2008 Democratic nominee Howard Dean endorses Jim Webb (RF-VA) for President of the United States, calling him "the only one in the race who can truly drain the Washington swamp."

June 14, 2012: Mount Vesuvius erupts, sending lava towards the city of Naples and disrupting transatlantic air travel for nearly two weeks. There are at least 36 confirmed deaths in Naples.

June 15, 2012: President Kasich cancels a meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City due to the Mount Vesuvius eruption the previous day.

June 15, 2012: 2008 vice presidential nominee and Congressman Bradley Nowell (L-CA) calls out Howard Dean, saying "Webb is against politicians like you! You are the swamp!"

June 15, 2012: The alternate-historical political thriller Fatherland is released into theaters. Detailing an alternate 1960s where the Axis Powers won World War II, the film stars George Clooney as Detective Xavier March, who is tasked with solving a murder mystery, but uncovers a much greater secret. The film receives positive reviews for its eerie depiction of life in the Nazi Germany-dominated 1960s, but has a weak opening weekend of only $32 million.

June 19, 2012: Russian President Sergey Glazyev visits the Olympic Stadium under construction in Moscow. In a statement to the press, he says, "I'm very excited to greet the athletes of the world here next month."

June 20, 2012: John Elway attracts controversy after he reportedly mentions enjoying Fatherland, calling it "a wonderfully exciting thriller." Leftists extremists take to Chatter, accusing him of being a "Nazi sympathizer."

June 20, 2012: Baio, a news program hosted by Happy Days actor Scott Baio, premieres on Fox News.

June 22, 2012: The broadcasts of Xinhua and CCTV are hacked by an anonymous source. The hacker broadcasts footage of a man donning a Guy Fawkes mask giving speech directed at the Chinese people: "Your government is full of monsters. They are tyrants who threaten your basic rights and freedoms as human beings. They cover up dark moments for their history, such as the Tiananmen Square Massacre 23 years ago. The People's Republic of China is not truly a people's republic. It is, in fact, a republic for the elite, for the bigwigs up top in the Communist Party leadership. If you learn anything from this broadcast, let it be that your government isn't what you thought it was."

June 22, 2012: Pixar and Disney release High Score to cinemas. The film's protagonist is Reboot Ralph (voiced by Seth Rogen), who is ironically the villain in an arcade game called Fix-It Felix (whose title character is voiced by Jon Cryer). Most of the film's plot revolves around how Ralph wants to be the hero for once in his life and sets out on a quest to fulfill his dream, inadvertently bringing havoc to the arcade in which he and his friends live. There are countless video game character cameos in the film, including the Mario Brothers, Sonic the Hedgehog, Pac-Man, and Ryu from Street Fighter.

June 22, 2012: At a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, John Elway calls Tim Kaine "an elitist crony who's incompatible with the sensible beliefs of average Americans" and "out of touch with the real struggles of our hardworking middle class."

June 23, 2012: At a rally in Charlotte, North Carolina, Tim Kaine replies to John Elway's comments about him, saying he is "incredibly unfit to be Commander-in-Chief. Sure, he can lead his team to the Super Bowl, but can he lead our nation to victory in war?"

June 25, 2012: John Elway is seen having lunch with U.S. Senator Jeb Bush (R-FL), causing some to speculate Bush being on Elway's shortlist for Vice President.

June 27, 2012: Actor Sean Penn jumps on the "Nazi" bandwagon and accuses Elway of supporting the party, due to his enjoyment of Fatherland.

June 28, 2012: In response to the backlash, Sean Penn says that he will expose John Elway's "Nazi beliefs."

June 28, 2012: John Elway outlines his fiscally conservative economic plan on his social media and MeV channel, promising tax cuts on the middle class and balanced budgets across the board.

June 29, 2012: The animated dark comedy film Ted is released to cinemas. Directed by Larry & Steve and Classified creator Seth MacFarlane, the film features MacFarlane as the voice of the title character, a teddy bear who became sentient as a result of a Christmas wish, and Mark Wahlberg as the voice of John Bennett, a hedonistic twentysomething who lives with Ted in a Boston apartment. The film receives positive reviews, and gets nominated for the Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Best Animated Feature.

June 30, 2012: In footage uncovered by TMZ, John Elway is heard calling Sean Penn a retard.

July 1, 2012: Sean Penn says on Chatter, "Nazis killed retards, and John Elway called me a retard! Coincidence? I think NOT! #NAZIELWAY". John Elway responds, "Shut up and do something with your life." and Penn says, "WATCH OUT!"

July 1, 2012: Romania defeats Slovakia 5-4 in extra time to win the 2012 Euro Football Championship.

July 1, 2012: A new Gallup poll shows Green Party candidate Dennis Kucinich at 9%.

July 4, 2012: John Elway slams Sean Penn on Chatter, saying that he has "no sympathy for socialists."

July 5, 2012: The British government is rattled after an unidentified man kills Prime Minister Malcolm Rifkind as he was leaving 10 Downing Street. Rifkind, who had popular approval ratings at the time, was suspected by international media to be killed by a lone wolf, disgruntled with the government for personal reasons. Conservative Deputy Leader Stephen Crabb is sworn in as the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

July 5, 2012: The man who killed Prime Minister Rifkind is identified as Marc Allen, who was seen on tape while wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt and yelling "Proletariat!!" as he shot Rifkind.

July 5, 2012: Sean Penn endorses Tim Kaine, saying on Chatter, "KAINE KNOWS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SOCIALIST AND AN ELWAY SUPPORTER #NAZIELWAY". Tim Kaine almost immediately disavows Penn's endorsement.

July 6, 2012: In a press release, Sean Penn says, "No matter what, I will make sure that the next president, who is going to be either Nazi Elway or Lame Kaine, does not have a easy time in office."

July 6, 2012: The United States and the United Kingdom recognize Catalonia.

July 10, 2012: In Pyongyang, North Korea, exiled former Cuban President Raúl Castro dies in his sleep at the age of 81.

July 11, 2012: The state funeral for Malcolm Rifkind is held at Westminster Abbey in London. In attendance are dignitaries from over 90 nations, including U.S. President John Kasich, Russian President Sergey Glazyev, Australian Prime Minister Julie Bishop, Cuban President Adelina Barros, and Arabian President Ayser Mujahid Essa.

July 12, 2012: Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle passes away in his home in Washington, D.C., at the age of 64.

July 15, 2012: At its convention in Baltimore, Maryland, the Green Party nominates Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio for President of the United States and Congressman Bernie Sanders of Vermont for Vice President.

July 20, 2012: Presumptive Democratic nominee Tim Kaine announces his selection of Senator Martha Coakley of Massachusetts as his running mate.

July 27-August 12, 2012: The 2012 Summer Olympics are held in Moscow, Russia. Host nation Russia leads in the medal count, followed by China in second and the United States in third. The Games are notable for the Olympic debut of Kashmir, who sent a total of 27 athletes to Moscow. Athletes from the newly independent Ulster and Catalonia competed under the Olympic flag.

August 3, 2012: At a White House press conference, John Elway earns the endorsement of U.S. President John Kasich.

August 8, 2012: Presumptive Republican nominee John Elway announces his selection of Governor Roy Moore of Alabama as his running mate.

August 21, 2012: Russia recognizes Catalonia.

August 24, 2012: Disney releases The Jungle Cruise to cinemas. Based on the attraction of the same name at Disney theme parks around the world, the adventure comedy film stars Matthew McConaughey as Skipper Dan Schweitzer and Idris Elba as Trader Sam, two explorers with the Lost River Charter Company who set out into the deep jungle in search of the legendary Temple of the Forbidden Eye. A modest success at the box office, the film receives mainly positive reviews, with many praising the originality of the script's unique jokes and McConaughey and Elba's delivery of them.

August 27-30, 2012: The 2012 Democratic National Convention is held in Seattle, Washington. Notable speakers at the KeyArena include former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Cecile Richards, Senator Harold Ford of Tennessee, 2008 Democratic nominee Howard Dean, Honolulu Mayor Tulsi Gabbard, Governor Caroline Kennedy of New York, Governor Antonio Villaraigosa of California, Senator Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, and Senator Hillary Rodham-Schaeffer of Illinois.

August 27, 2012: On the first day of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Sean Penn live chats, "LAME KAINE'S SLAVES" and "I WILL MAKE TIM KAINE LAME."

August 29, 2012: A special video tribute to former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle is shown at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, resulting in a standing ovation after it ends. Long time Senate Democratic leader, Daschle had passed away in July from complications caused by an inoperable and malignant brain tumor.

August 30, 2012: At their convention in Seattle, Washington, the Democratic Party nominates former Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia for President of the United States and Senator Martha Coakley of Massachusetts for Vice President.

August 31, 2012: Disney announces plans for a second theme park at the Disneyland Resort Australia. Similar to Port Disney in Anaheim, California, Disney's Worlds of Wonder will allow guests to explore six distinct, immersive themed areas: Nantucket Harbor, Hollywoodland, Dinotopia, Paradise Pier, Mermaid Lagoon, and Vulcania.

September 4-7, 2012: The 2012 Republican National Convention is held in Atlanta, Georgia. Notable speakers at the Georgia Dome include President John Kasich, Governor Jennifer Carroll of Florida, Senator Chris Christie of New Jersey, Governor Duke Aiona of Hawaii, actor Clint Eastwood, NFL Commissioner Condoleezza Rice, eBay C.E.O. Meg Whitman, Fotonet founder Jonah Fuhrmann, and NYC Mayor Joe Lhota.

September 4, 2012: On the first day of the 2012 Republican National Convention, Sean Penn live chats, "#NAZIELWAY" and "LOOK AT THIS NAZI RALLY #NAZIELWAY."

September 6, 2012: On the third day of the 2012 Republican National Convention, infomercial legend Billy Mays pitches John Elway to the American people in a spoof of his most famous infomercials.

September 7, 2012: At their convention in Atlanta, Georgia, the Republican Party nominates retired football player John Elway of Colorado for President of the United States and Governor Roy Moore of Alabama for Vice President.

September 7, 2012: Marc Donovan, a pediatric surgeon from Dallas, Texas, wins Season 8 of Whodunit.

September 12, 2012: At a campaign event in Dayton, Ohio, Republican vice presidential nominee Roy Moore calls homosexuality a "grievous sin upon America." His remarks sets off a firestorm on social media as thousands defend the LGBT community, with even Republican presidential nominee John Elway distancing himself from Moore's statement.

September 13, 2012: Republican presidential nominee John Elway says that he "cannot defend Moore's remarks about homosexuality."

September 13, 2012: Angelica Salamanca, a bus driver from Anaheim, California, becomes the seventh million-dollar winner on Who Wants to be a Millionaire?.

September 15, 2012: Mary Upton, age 17 from Delaware, is crowned Miss America 2013.

September 18, 2012: Tupac Shakur releases his next studio album, entitled Playaz Paradise: The Machiavelli Parable. A self-described "autobiographical rap opera," the album receives universal acclaim from music critics, with many hailing Shakur as "returning to form." The album is a huge commercial success, selling over 35 million copies over the course of its shelf life.

September 23, 2012: On his Chatter account, John Elway gives his thoughts on space exploration, saying that visiting Mars is something that needs to be done before establishing a lunar colony.

September 27, 2012: Australia recognizes Catalonia.

September 30, 2012: In Jackson, New Jersey, Six Flags Wild Safari closes to public traffic.

October 2, 2012: South Sudan votes 96.1% in favor of seceding from Sudan.

October 3, 2012: The first presidential debate between Tim Kaine and John Elway is held at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville, South Carolina, with a focus on foreign policy. John Elway praised President Kasich and his administration for keeping the United States out of international conflict after withdrawing from Iran, while Tim Kaine claims President Kasich "left Iran in the dust."

October 5, 2012: President Kasich makes a public appearance in San Antonio, Texas, where he mistakenly refers to the city as San Alto. Though most brush this gaffe off as being the result of stress, others question the soon to be ex-President's mental health.

October 5, 2012: An anonymous source sends an audio clip to the Richmond Times-Dispatch that allegedly features Tim Kaine saying that Jill Stein should "rot in hell" and that she is "an enemy of America."

October 6, 2012: Chris Farley hosts the week's episode of Saturday Night Live, on which he, portraying President Kasich, repeatedly refers to New York City as "New Yuck City." The skit receives unanimous praise, with it being considered as funny as Farley's work when he was a cast member on the show.

October 7, 2012: Richard Rohrer, the widower of Jill Stein, calls Tim Kaine's alleged remarks about Stein "totally unacceptable" and demands an immediate apology from the Democratic nominee.

October 9, 2012: At an Elway rally in Palm Beach, Florida, a bisexual man by the name of Eric Harman is arrested after plotting to kill John Elway. Harman was stopped before entering the auditorium where Elway was speaking, and was arrested by Secret Service agents after he confessed to his plot. He later stated that he made his plan for the assassination in response to Elway's selection of Roy Moore as his running mate, stating that "Elway proved that he doesn't give a damn about equal rights."

October 10, 2012: Canada recognizes Catalonia.

October 11, 2012: The 2012 vice presidential debate between Martha Coakley and Roy Moore is held at Arizona State University's Sun Devil Arena in Tempe, Arizona. Focusing on domestic issues, the debate gets heated when the issue of same-sex marriage and Sorrentino v. Pennsylvania comes up. Roy Moore criticizes "the sodomite culture that's plaguing our nation," while Martha Coakley replies by explaining how "Governor Moore's backwards views are holding our country back."

October 11, 2012: The Vermont Voyagers (in the Wales Conference) and the Las Vegas High-Rollers (in the Campbell Conference) make their debut in the NHL.

October 12, 2012: Martin Lager is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his actions in exposing mass government surveillance by the U.S. Department of Civil Defense. President Kasich strongly criticizes the decision and calls Lager "a traitor to this great republic."

October 12, 2012: A man claiming to be an advisor to the Kaine campaign calls into CNN to talk about Kaine's scheduled town hall. The call turns out to be a prank when he asks Brooke Baldwin, "Would you bang Howard Stern?".

October 12, 2012: France and Japan recognize Catalonia.

October 12, 2012: The Master of Disguise, directed by Ben Affleck, is released in cinemas. Starring Antonio Banderas as CIA agent Tony Mendez and Matt Damon as Canadian Ambassador Kenneth Taylor, the film centers around the Canadian Caper during the Iran Hostage Crisis. The film is well received and is a smash-hit success worldwide due to the historical accuracy of the film and the film's representation of the both Canada and the U.S. working together during these time of adversity. The film is also popular in Iran, as well, due to the fact that the film accurately depicted revolutionary Iran at that time.

October 15, 2012: The infamous tape of Tim Kaine insulting the late Jill Stein is revealed to be an elaborate forgery made by splicing audio clips of Kaine's voice together.

October 16, 2012: The second presidential debate between Tim Kaine and John Elway is held at Hofstra University's Mack Sports Complex in Hempstead, New York. Focusing on domestic issues, John Elway is seen as the winner due to his plan for tax cuts similar to those proposed by 1996 Republican nominee Bob Dole and his views on climate change, which he calls "undisputed fact that shouldn't get political."

October 21, 2012: The San Francisco Earthquakes defeat the Los Angeles Galaxy 2-1 to win the 2012 MLS Cup. The game is notable for an own goal scored by Galaxy midfielder Sam Osborne.

October 22, 2012: The third and final presidential debate between Tim Kaine and John Elway is held at Notre Dame University's Joyce Center in Notre Dame, Indiana. Featuring a mix of both foreign and domestic issues, Tim Kaine is seen by many as the winner of the debate due to his reply to John Elway's comment about the rising Eurasian Union being "not a very serious threat to our security." Kaine replies, "Mr. Elway, with all due respect, Sergey Glazyev and his cronies are a bigger threat to our interests than your Denver Broncos ever were."

October 23, 2012: Nickelodeon declares Tim Kaine to be the winner of Kids Pick the President 2012.

October 24, 2012: The Middle School Chronicles: Boys of Summer is published. In this installment, Ben Hoffman and his friends must spend three months on a comically hellish travel baseball team. Conservative pundits fiercely criticize author Jeff Kinney for allegedly basing the book's Coach Smelko off of Chicago Bears legend and former Illinois Governor Mike Ditka.

October 24-30, 2012: The Cleveland Indians defeat the Montreal Expos 4 games to 2 to win the 2012 World Series.

October 26, 2012: RealClearPolitics gives John Elway a lead of just 0.2%, while Democrats have a lead in House polling and Republicans have a slight lead in Senate polling.

October 28, 2012: Catalonia officially becomes a member of the United Nations.

October 30, 2012: Actor Terry Crews reprises his role as the fictional U.S. President Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho from the 2005 film Idiocracy for the first in a series of videos on the website Funny or Die satirizing the 2012 U.S. presidential election campaigns.

October 31, 2012: A referendum is passed on the potential independence of Wallonia from Belgium. 65% officially vote to declare independence from Belgium. Work is immediately begun on the constitution for the new Republic of Wallonia.

November 5, 2012:

General Election Poll Numbers
  • John Elway - 45.3%
  • Tim Kaine - 44.9%
  • Other Candidates - 6.5%
November 5, 2012: John Elway makes his final campaign speech before Election Day in Tampa, Florida. He departs Tampa later that evening for Denver, Colorado, where he and his campaign are gathered for Election Night the next day. Tim Kaine makes his final speech in St. Louis, Missouri, and departs for Richmond, Virginia, where his campaign is waiting for Election Night.

November 6, 2012: The 2012 U.S. presidential election is held. Former Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia decisively defeats businessman John Elway in a repudiation of the Republican Party and incumbent President Kasich. John Elway's libertarian platform alienated many conservative Republicans and while Gov. Roy Moore of Alabama was able to bring some of them back into the fold, his controversial statements on social issues drove away moderates and independents who may have otherwise voted for Elway. At the same time, President Kasich's middling popularity did no help to Elway, who remained tied to him despite efforts he made to distance himself from the Kasich administration. While Kaine was not the most adept campaigner, his message of economic renewal resonated with a country that had been facing economic stagnation following the Recession of 2008-2009 and was dissatisfied after eight years of Republican leadership under John Kasich. His choice of Sen. Martha Coakley as running mate also helped bring liberals and progressives on board with his campaign, which greatly helped him in several key swing states such as Ohio, Colorado, and Florida.

genusmap.php


Fmr. Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA) / Sen. Martha Coakley (D-MA) - 342 EVS (49.3% PV)

Businessman John Elway (R-CO) / Gov. Roy Moore (R-AL) - 196 EVS (43.9% PV)

November 6, 2012: Along with the presidential election, elections for the House and Senate are held. Democrats make modest gains in the Senate as several seats from the 2006 GOP wave are up, while Republicans hold on to the seat held by Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.

Senate results
Ed Rendell - Democratic: 57 (+4)
Don Nickles - Republican: 42 (-5)
Independent: 1 (+1)

100 seats
51 for majority

Democrats lose several seats in the House following the 2010 wave as congressional Republicans outperform Elway by a few points and improve upon their 2010 performance.

House results
David Bonior - Democratic: 238 (-4) 49.7%
David McIntosh - Republican: 193 (+4) 45.4%
Bradley Nowell – Libertarian: 2 (0) 2.1%
Independents: 2

435 seats
218 for majority

November 6, 2012: Republican Jon Huntsman is elected Governor of Utah over Democrat Peter Cooke.

November 6, 2012: Republican Rupert Boneham is elected Governor of Indiana over Democrat John R. Gregg.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Andrew Cuomo is elected as a U.S. Senator from New York over Republican Dennis Vacco.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Barbara Lee is elected as a U.S. Senator from California over Republican incumbent Matt Fong. She's the first African-American to be elected Senator from California.

November 6, 2012: Republican Jenna Bush Soriano is elected as a U.S. Senator from Texas over Democrat Ricardo Sanchez.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Jon Corzine is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey over Republican Joseph Kyrillos.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Gabrielle Giffords is elected as a U.S. Senator from Arizona over Republican J.D. Hayworth.

November 6, 2012: Republican Jeb Bush is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Florida over Democrat Buddy Dyer.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Ed Rendell is re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania over Republican Glenn Thompson and Libertarian John Featherman.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Tim Murray is elected as a U.S. Senator from Massachusetts over Republican Elizabeth Poirier.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Patty Wetterling is narrowly elected as a U.S. Senator from Minnesota over Republican Tim Pawlenty. She is the first female Senator from Minnesota.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Steve Wynn is elected as a U.S. Senator from Nevada over Republican Brian Sandoval.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Martin Chávez is elected U.S. Senator from New Mexico over Republican Steve Pearce.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Patrick Lynch is elected as a U.S. Senator from Rhode Island over Republican incumbent Lincoln Chafee.

November 6, 2012: Republican Deborah Pryce is narrowly re-elected as a U.S. Senator from Ohio over Democrat Charlie Luken.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Patty Wetterling is narrowly elected as a U.S. Senator from Minnesota over Republican Tim Pawlenty. She is the first female Senator from Minnesota.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Steve Wynn is elected as a U.S. Senator from Nevada over Republican Brian Sandoval.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Colleen Hanabusa is elected as a U.S. Senator from Hawaii over Republican Duke Aiona. She is the first Asian-American woman to be elected to the U.S. Senate and the first female Senator from Hawaii.

November 6, 2012: Democrat George Jepsen is elected as a U.S. Senator from Connecticut over Republican Chris Shays.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Mark Warner is elected as a U.S. Senator from Virginia over Republican incumbent Doug Wilder.

November 6, 2012: Republican Mike Parker is elected as a U.S. Senator from Mississippi over Democrat Gene Taylor.

November 6, 2012: Democrat Anthony Brown is elected as a U.S. Senator from Maryland over Republican Michael Steele. He is the first African-American Senator from Maryland.

November 6, 2012: Tulsi Gabbard is re-elected Mayor of Honolulu over Peter Carlisle.

November 7, 2012: South Park airs the episode "Kaine Wins!," in which Cartman conspires to compromise the integrity of the 2012 U.S. presidential election as part of a plot that involves President Kasich, the Department of Civil Defense, Martin Lager, the Denver Broncos, and the future of the country.

November 10, 2012: The remains of Belgium officially rename their country to Flanders, the Walloon members of the government having left to help form the new government of Wallonia. This begins a peaceful migration of Walloons from Flanders and Flemings from Wallonia.

November 14, 2012: The German-dominated Luxembourg County officially votes to join the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

November 16, 2012: Tam Lin, the 49th Disney feature animated film, is released to cinemas. An adaptation of the legendary Scottish ballad, the film features newcomer Taron Egerton as the voice of the title character and Reese Witherspoon as the voice of Margaret.

November 18, 2012: Nintendo officially releases the Nintendo Wave.

November 20, 2012: Atari officially releases the Atari Jackal.

December 11, 2012: While en route to Los Angeles International Airport to begin a European tour, Bob Dylan is killed at the age of 71 when his limo speeds off the road and smashes head on into a guardrail, giving him a fatal TBI. Fans of the fallen star mourn his death, while fellow musician George Harrison laments: "Not only did we lose a great man and artist, but a god amongst mortals. Bob didn't just predict the times were a-changin', he MADE the times a-changin' and without him, I doubt me, John, Paul, and Ringo would have gotten where we did."

December 12, 2012: Donald Trump, Jr., takes to Chatter, accusing the late Bob Dylan's limo driver of being "drunker then an Irishman on Saint Patrick's Day!" He then took the time to launch a subtle jab against Dylan's ever-changing beliefs, proclaiming, "I'd say God bless him, but just as I'm finishing this Chat, he'd probably want me to go 'Ooga-wooga-wooga-wooga'." Many Buddhists and Hindus are offended by Trump's comments, believing they are a jab at their beliefs.

December 13, 2012: Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis passes away in her home in Brookline, Massachusetts, at the age of 83.

December 23, 2012: U.S. President-elect Tim Kaine is named Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2012.

December 27, 2012: MLS announces the creation of the Minnesota Dragons (in the Federal Conference) and Montreal Impact (in the National Conference), to begin play in the 2014 season.

January 1, 2013: Greece joins the Eurasian Union.

January 1, 2013: At West Side Stadium, the Purdue Boilermakers defeat the Illinois Fighting Illini 28-14 to win the 2012 Big Apple Bowl.

January 2, 2013: Dan Rather airs his last episode of CBS Evening News. He signs off by saying, "Folks, we've been through a lot throughout the years here, from Watergate to the Yankton massacre to the election of Ronald Reagan to the election last November. I'd like to thank you for tuning in to me all this time and making me who I am today. For the last time, this is Dan Rather and good night."

January 2, 2013: In his final Medal of Freedom ceremony, President Kasich awards Steve Irwin the Presidential Medal of Freedom for entertaining both Australians and Americans and helping to save endangered species and environments throughout the United States.

January 4, 2013: In Havana, Cuba, the South Carolina Gamecocks defeat the South Florida Bulls 24-10 to win the 2012 Paradise Bowl.

January 8, 2013: The Syracuse Orange defeat the Texas Longhorns 45-42 to win the 2012-13 NCAA Football Championship.

January 9, 2013: Buckingham Palace announce Prince Harry's engagement to socialite Stacy Stone.

January 10, 2013: CBS announces that Meredith Vieira, former co-host of The View and correspondent on 60 Minutes, will succeed Dan Rather as the anchor of CBS Evening News.

January 10, 2013: After 15 years in existence, Block Party opens its first franchise in New York City, located in the heart of Times Square. The new location is also the largest in the franchise, with three floors of games and bars all looking over Times Square.

January 14, 2013: U.S. President John Kasich delivers his farewell address from the Oval Office. He reflects back on the progress the country has made in the past eight years, the rise of democracy in Cuba, Zimbabwe, and the former Saudi Arabia, and the "enduring spirit and power of the U.S. Constitution." He also wishes President-elect Tim Kaine "the best of luck in the years ahead."

January 15, 2013: At a Eurasian Union summit in Moscow, Russian President Sergey Glazyev calls for "all the friendly nations of the world to curb the tide of globalism" and to "stand up to imperialism in all its forms."

January 15, 2013: Vice President-Elect Martha Coakley resigns from her seat in the Senate in preparation to be sworn in as Vice President on January 20. On the same day, Governor Deval Patrick (D-MA) appoints Paul Kirk to fill her Senate seat until it's up again in 2014.

January 16, 2013: WWF Chairman Vince McMahon announces plans for a professional dodgeball league in North America called the Xtreme Dodgeball Federation (X-D-F). Major cities including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Havana express interest in establishing teams.

January 17, 2013: Madame Tussaud's unveils its wax figure of U.S. President-elect Tim Kaine on Today.

January 20, 2013: Tim Kaine is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. In his inaugural address, he pledges to "continue the great strides we've made over the last decade and usher in even more welcome change and innovation! We will not be content with merely satisfactory results, pushing to make America even more of a haven for the free than before!"

January 20, 2013: Neil deGrasse Tyson is sworn in for another term as U.S. Secretary of Science and Technology.
 
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