2008 Toppers
Posted on January 2, 2009
Filed Under Culture, Main, People, Politics | 1 Comment
As 2008 drew to a close and 2009 began, we were inundated with Top 10 lists (movies, TV shows, books, etc.) and while we get tired of all the ballyhooing of the “tops” in the entertainment world, there are some lists we thoroughly enjoy. Below is a sample.
Let’s kick things off with:
The 10 Greediest People of 2008
as compiled by Website AlterNet:
According to the site, “We probably couldn’t have picked a better year than 2008 to so “honor” our most avaricious. This year’s stunning economic meltdown has fixed the attention of our entire nation — and world — on the grasping antics of those who yearn for ever more than they could rationally ever need. But this year also presents enormous challenges for anyone bold enough to rank the greedy. With so much greed out there, how could we possibly limit our list to a mere 10?
The latest greed explosion to hit the headlines — the $50 billion Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme — illustrates just how difficult a task ranking the greedy can be. In the end, we came to realize, the size of the fortune alone doesn’t determine greed. It’s the thought that counts. In that holiday spirit, we hope you find our top ten greedy list of some interest — and greed-busting inspiration.”
1. Republic Windows and Doors CEO Richard Gilman
2. High-finance Mr. Fix-It John Thain
3. Oracle business software chief exec Larry Ellison
4. Lockheed Martin CEO Robert Stevens
5. Steve Jobs of Apple
6. Comcast’s Ralph Roberts
7. ConocoPhillips chief exec James Mulva
8. Former Congressman Richard Baker from Louisiana.
9. Patrick Soon-Shiong of APP Pharmaceuticals.
10. Dwight Schar, the chair of homebuilding giant NVR Inc.
Jump on over to AlterNet for their profiles of greed.
Top 10 Censored Stories:
Every year for more than three decades Project Censored has put together a list of censored, overlooked and underreported stories. Below are the top 10 stories from their Top 25 Censored Stories of 2008:
1. No Habeas Corpus for “Any Personâ€
2. Bush Moves Toward Martial Law
3. AFRICOM: US Military Control of Africa’s Resources
4. Frenzy of Increasingly Destructive Trade Agreements
5. Human Traffic Builds US Embassy in Iraq
6. Operation FALCON Raids
7. Behind Blackwater Inc.
8. KIA: The US Neoliberal Invasion of India
9. Privatization of America’s Infrastructure
10. Vulture Funds Threaten Poor Nations’ Debt Relief
For the mainstream press’ take on undereported stories, jump on over to Time and Newsweek.
Top 10 Financial Scandals:
There’s a theme here, and to continue with it here’s one more perinent list: Top 10 finanical crises as reported by Time magazine:
1. Lehman
2. AIG’s Credit Default Swaps
3. The Detroit Three
4. The Citigroup Colossus
5. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Shareholders
6. Supposedly “Safe” Securities
7. Rating Agencies’ Credibility
8. Exploding Hedge Funds
9. Greenspan’s Reputation
10. Iceland Goes Belly Up
Time also has a Top 10 of Everything home page, which lists all sorts of scandals, fleeting celebrities, oddball news stories, scientific discoveries and more.
But wait, there’s more. Next time we’ll list the Center for Media and Democracy’s fifth annual Falsies Awards as well as information on Rex Sorgatz’s incredible Fimoculous site, which, among other things, has a gigantic master list of yearend lists (would you believe 775 or so?).
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