The Outlet's Top Ten Stories of 2007.

First thing's first. Some of you...okay, all three of you...might have been wondering what happened to the Website of the Week? It will return January 4th. Now to the article.

The Outlet has only been around for little more than a month. However, the editor has a damn good memory of what happened in 2007. I took the unenviable (and difficult) task of narrowing my picks to ten, and I did it. You may not agree with my picks. That is fine.

I give you my top ten stories of the year.

10. The writers strike- Starting last month, the writers for the late-night comedy shows (Letterman, Leno, and O'Brien), sit-coms, dramas, and film walked from their jobs and to the picket lines, thus shutting down production of many shows and movies. This was the result of bickering between the writers and producers over money from internet shows. The strike still goes on, but the late-night shows will return on January 2nd.

9. College football upsets- Starting with Appalachian State's victory over Michigan on the first week of the season, upsets were the story in college football this year. Many once-thought improbable upsets became reality and the BCS was once again thrown into a mess.

8. NIE Report- Iran was once thought to be enriching uranium for nuclear weapons. However, according to sixteen intel agencies, Iran stopped enrichment in 2003. This caused outrage and broke my trust in the Bush Administration.

7. Minnesota Bridge Collapse- In August, a river bridge, as a result of faulty maintainence, collapsed into the Mississippi River, shutting down a major accessway and killing 9 people. This tragedy made the nation think about bridge safety.

6. Sports Scandals- See Tim Doneghey, Barry Bonds, Michael Vick, and Adam "Pacman" Jones.

5. Don Imus canned, then back on air- The day after the Women's College Basketball Championship between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, radio show host Don Imus called the Rutgers players, who lost the game, "nappy-headed hos". The comments sparked outrage from Women's groups and the African-American community. Led by the Reverends Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, Don Imus was canned by MSNBC and CBS Radio. Eight months later, Don Imus was back on the radio.

4. Celebrities behaving badly- See Linday Lohan, Paris Hilton, and (Do I need to mention?) Britany Spears. Also see Chris Crocker's "Leave Britany Alone" video.

3. Global Warming (and its hypocrits)- See Live Earth and Al Gore.

2. Chinese Recalls- See toy recalls and pet food recalls.

1. Virginia Tech Shootings- On April 16, just 4 days before the 8th anniversary of the Columbine Massacre, Virginia Tech student Cho Seung-Hui opened fire on the campus, killing a total of 32 students and faculty before killing himself. The Virginia Tech shootings had all campuses across the nation thinking and revamping security measures. A blue-ribbon panel investigation led by Governor Tim Kaine (D) determined that the campus failed miserably in the prevention of the killings and the security of the campus. Lawsuits have been filed and more are sure to follow.

These are the Outlet's ten stories of the year. 2008 is sure to be a busy one at The Outlet with a pivitol and crucial presidential election coming up. I am also looking forward to the NFL Playoffs, fallout from The Mitchell Report, fallout from the Barry Bonds indictment, and the future of TV and Film as a result of the writers strike. Bring on 2008.

Good night, and good luck.