Top Stories for December 22 - 31, 2008 

Yes, it's time to party like it's 2009! Andwhat a year 2008 was. America elected its first African-American president. ("Aloha Obama, first Hawaiian President," blogged Statehood Hawaii.) The Dow shrunk to prehistoric levels, plunging by 777 points on September 29. ("I always thought when something stopped at "777" it meant we won something," said Daily Kos.) Miley Cyrus got her learner's permit. ("Be careful if you live within a drunken drive of Hollywood," says Jalopnik, unfairly.) So what the heck happened in 2008, and how do we get our money back? It depends whom you ask...