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OLD ACQUAINTANCES TO BE FORGOTTEN WE BID A FOND FAREWELL TO SOME OF 2008's LEAST NOTEWORTHY ACHIEVEMENTS

January 1, 2009 12:35 am

BY AMANDA GRIECO

Sitting and looking back at the year 2008, many things come to a person's mind--things like famous music, Hollywood dirt and historic events that shaped us for the new year that is dawning.

Some of these things are notable, unique events that will never be forgotten. But a few are not so memorable.

This week, we count down the top nine things that we aren't going to miss about 2008.

9. 'I KISSED A GIRL'

Katy Perry's infamous song about experimenting with lesbianism became a music hit almost overnight.

This song may be catchy and strong in its feminine ways, but through its constant repetition over the radio, in clubs and on iPods, it reached the top of everyone's "most irritating song" list.

Beyond its overplayed status, it is also the most controversial song of 2008. These qualities easily put "I Kissed a Girl" on the list of things we aren't going to miss in 2009.

8. MICHAEL PHELPS' MEDALS

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps made history this summer when he won eight gold medals in a single sport, surpassing Mark Spitz's previous record of seven.

After Phelps won his golds, he shot into instant stardom. The Baltimore native was the entire nation's hometown hero, showing everyone that dreams are possible.

In spite of Phelps' positive image, the news coverage and Internet stories slowly started to turn his memorable achievement into something that most Americans were tired of hearing about.

After several months on every television show, every magazine cover and all over the Web, Phelps' gold has lost its luster.

7. 'THE GAME'

Among high school and college students, four words have become almost universally loathed: "I lost the game."

This statement refers to a game played mostly by guys, although some girls do play it. There is no real title other than "The Game," and the rules are simple:

Rule 1: When you think of The Game, you lose The Game.

Rule 2: When you lose The Game, you announce it to those around you.

This simplistic pastime started out as a fun way to annoy friends, but has turned into something that just plain annoys. Maybe in 2009 we can all win by forgetting about The Game.

6. AUTO-TUNE

Last year saw a wide array of artists such as Lil Wayne relying on a new type of musical method called the Auto-Tune. This is an effect where a singer or rapper performs a song, then uses a pitch-correcting device to change his or her voice, making it sound almost robotic.

At the beginning of the year, it seemed to be something interesting we had heard only a couple of times before. But as the year went on, we started to add it to the list of music we no longer wanted on our iPods.

5. THE PREGNANT 'MAN'

Thomas Beatie made the news at the beginning of 2008 with what many thought was medically impossible. He was said to be the world's first pregnant man.

Since making global news, Beatie clarified that he is a transgender person, who was born a woman but underwent a sex-change process while keeping the female sex organs.

He made the news for several months, until America decided to leave him and his wife alone so that they could continue their lives. In November, though, Beatie came back to the spotlight. This time was for his second pregnancy.

Beatie may have legally been the first pregnant man, but he is also officially on the list of things we don't want to hear about anymore.

4. DISNEY MANIA

From Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon to Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake, Disney has long been responsible for churning out teen idols. But last year, it must have gotten a bad batch.

By June, America already had its fill of Miley Cyrus' Vanity Fair scandal and "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens' inappropriate Internet pictures.

Things only got worse in November, as word came that middle Jonas Brother Joe had jilted his girlfriend, country singer Taylor Swift, and the two publicly traded barbs.

Now, as we ring in the new year, we are ringing out Disney's teen celebrities and the stories they made in 2008.

3. O.J. SIMPSON'S FREEDOM

"If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit." This statement once symbolized O.J. Simpson's successful defense in the trial for the 1994 murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman.

At the end of 2008, though, the former football great was finally convicted and sentenced to at least nine years in prison on charges related to a 2007 robbery.

This conviction effectively ended the many years of hearing O.J. claim he'd never committed any crimes, let alone murder, even after trying to release a book titled, "If I Did It: Confessions of the Killer."

Simpson may still make news in the coming years, but in 2008, he kissed his claims of innocence goodbye.

2. $4 GAS

This year may see gas prices that go higher than $2 per gallon, but something that we are not going to miss about 2008 was when it cost at least $4 for a single gallon of gasoline.

These prices were not only extremely high, but also forced people to choose between getting gas for their cars and other things, such as groceries.

The negative impact that soaring prices at the tank had on the average person made it an easy choice for this list.

1. THE ELECTION FRENZY

One thing no one will miss about 2008 is the coverage surrounding the presidential election. From Hillary Clinton's and Barack Obama's primary feuding to the incessant references to plumbers and pit bulls, it seemed November couldn't come soon enough.

Once the election was actually over, many Americans were excited not only for the first black president-elect, but also were relieved that the mudslinging was finally over.

Amanda Grieco is a student at Germanna Community College.