Top Posts of the Year: 2009

It’s been a relatively short year for this blog, but it has nevertheless been a fruitful one with nearly 40 posts in a short 2 months period. Here’s a round up of the top posts of 2009.

1. IB Results

SIS had its first batch of IB students completing their exams and the results of this was released sparsely with only certain staff members insisting that they were wonderful. However, in an ironic twist, the school carefully choose to exclude a number of important statistics of comparison.

2. Principal Interviews

With the announcement that Mr. Wray was due to go to another school, the process of selecting a new principal began. Ultimately, Mr. Graham Silverthorne was selected. You can read his bio here.

2009: The Year

Aretha Franklin's Hat

The decade has ended, so too has 2009. Here’s a roundup of how it went. From political triumph and failure to sporting tragedy and comebacks. Of course we said our fair share of farewells and both sad and fond memories of special anniversaries.

Warrior wins Nobel Peace Prize

It’s a simple, stark and striking contrast. The contradictory and ironic juxtaposition of President Barack Obama.

Typhoon Nobama: Part 5

Barack Obama’s Controversial Nobel Peace Prize 2009 Win

Typhoon Nobama : [Typhoon Nobel Obama] The ensuing storm after current US President Barack H. Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2009.

At first, we reviewed the events prior and after the announcement of Obama as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2009.
In the second of the series we considered the way forward on this issue.
I previewed some of the notable nominees that were overlooked by the selection committee
and finally concluded that any choice would have been met with both praise and condemnation although the others were also deserving.

Additional Resources

Here are some of the websites and commentary I’ve been using for those who want to get more information.

Typhoon Nobama: Part 4

Barack Obama’s Controversial Nobel Peace Prize 2009 Win

Typhoon Nobama : [Typhoon Nobel Obama] The ensuing storm after current US President Barack H. Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2009.

At first, we reviewed the events prior and after the announcement of Obama as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2009.
In the second of the series we considered the way forward on this issue.

Other Nominees

Last time, I posted a short profile of some of the other nominees for the Nobel Peace Prize 2009 that was eventually won by Barack Obama. But did they deserve the win from than Obama? We find out.

Even as a self identified centrist democrat, I would say that whilst I feel the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Barack Obama was justified and ought not be contested, he isn’t necessarily the only candidate that would deserve the prize. In fact I would go as far as to say that any one of the candidates named in my previous post would have righteously received the Nobel Peace Prize with more dignity, more appreciation and weaker response.

Typhoon Nobama: Part 3

Barack Obama’s Controversial Nobel Peace Prize 2009 Win

Typhoon Nobama : [Typhoon Nobel Obama] The ensuing storm after current US President Barack H. Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2009.

At first, we reviewed the events prior and after the announcement of Obama as the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 2009. Last time we considered the way forward on this issue.

Other Nominees

By winning the Nobel Peace Prize, Obama defeated more than 200 other nominees. Who were the? Did they deserve it more? First, here are 6 of the other nominees.

Typhoon Nobama: Part 2

Barack Obama’s Controversial Nobel Peace Prize 2009 Win

Typhoon Nobama : [Typhoon Nobel Obama] The ensuing storm after current US President Barack H. Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2009.

Last Time:
We reviewed the events that unfolded, resulting in the announcement of Obama as the winner of the 2009 Nobel peace Prize.
The ensuing fire storm involved both sides of the divide, some congratulating, some ridiculing.

The 24 hour news circuit, lift to fever pitch white high emotions on both sides. Liberals offered their congratulations and defended the prize whilst conservatives and republicans claimed insanity, a politically motivated decision and even demanded Obama to reject accepting the award.

I was amongst those who were momentarily stunned by the announcement and then quietly congratulated him.

Did I expect it, NO

Did I believe he was necessarily the best candidate, NO

Did I think he had achieved much, NO

Typhoon Nobama: Part 1

Barack Obama’s Controversial Nobel Peace Prize 2009 Win

Typhoon Nobama : [Typhoon Nobel Obama] The ensuing storm after current US President Barack H. Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2009.

For Centuries in politics, people have said that you can’t judge something until after the storm has passed.

That seems to have worked for Obama during his bid for the presidency, first after his comments in Pennsylvania where he said that “You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest… And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.” First Reported by The Huffington Post here with audio.
In this instance, Obama didn’t apologize but choose to respond in limited situations and let the storm pass while he kept his head down and campaigned.