On Sept. 11, 2001, a jet airliner nears one of the World Trade Center towers in New York {thanks, AP}

NEWS STORIES:
1. Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks/ war on terror
The moment that changed the world. And every American. A quick attack to Afghanistan and, two years later, an invasion of Iraq that divided a nation united after 9/11.

2. Hurricane Katrina
A devastation matched only by the devastating images of the dead and homes lost — and the devastating government response.

3. Global recession
Greed and bailouts became the buzzwords of the decade. Apparently, we hadn’t quite had enough nostalgia for the 1980s.

4. Election of Barack Obama
The most charismatic politician since JFK had a historic rise just as swift.

5. 2000 election
A five-week saga that left the nation riveted. And it all came down to a 5-4 vote in the Supreme Court.

6. Gay marriage debate
The movement of the decade, with a nation seemingly evenly divided. The next decade promises even more of a stronger fight — and perhaps stronger resistance.

7. Asian tsunami
Nearly 230,000 died in the aftershocks of one the largest earthquakes ever recorded in 2004. Eleven countries felt the effects.

8. Going green movement
No plastic bags. Hybrid cars. Carbon emissions. Meanwhile, the scientific debate on the concept of global warming rages more than ever.

9. Virginia Tech shootings
With shadows of Columbine, a lone, troubled student gunman killed 32 (and then himself) in 2007. Once again we asked, “How can we prevent and prepare for this?” The answer is still not clear.

10. Darfur
Starting in 2003, the world’s attention turned (very slowly) to one of the largest-scale genocides Africa had ever seen. Will we do more and when?

honorable mentions: death of Michael Jackson; rise of social networking/Twitter; new golden age of TV; Sarah Palin

FADS/TRENDS
1. Bluetooth
A part of our increasingly mobile life, the tiny alienish in-ear cell phone devices came omnipresent

2. Boob jobs
Sure, they’ve been around for awhile. But now it’s not just the rich and famous altering their looks. Changes are you know a soccer mom or a college freshman who have gone under the knife.

3. “That’s hot”
A perfectly vapid statement from the vapid celebrity queen of the 2000s.

4. Rubber bracelets
For a cause of course. Thousands of different causes, with colors to match. Thanks, Lance.

5. Return of the game show
“Who Wants to be a Millionaire” sparked it, but during the 2000s, more people than ever were watching “The Price is Right,” revivals of “Family Feud” and “Newlywed Game,” as well as newbies such as the wildly popular “Deal Or No Deal.”

6. Snuggie
It’s the blanket with sleeves (aka a backwards robe). No wonder we loved it! And now there are designer prints and even Snuggies for dogs.

7. Reality TV wannabes
The fight for 15 minutes got fierce in the 2000s, with Octomom, Balloon Boy family and the White House party crashers motivated by what they saw as the time in the spotlight entitled to them.

8. Vampires
Suck it.

9. Gossip sites
Thanks to Perez and TMZ, no celeb is safe while on a quick stop to Starbucks.

10. Skinny jeans/other hipster wares
It says, “I’m on my way to an art exhibition at a loft where a local shoegazer band will play. But I won’t eat there.”

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