45 Years: Apollo 1 Fire

1967: Apollo 1 astronauts Grissom, White, and Chaffee died in the cockpit fire on the launch pad during a test.

National Day of Remembrance for Americans Downwind from Nuclear Testing Sites

S.Res. 330: DESIGNATING JANUARY 27, 2012, AS A NATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR AMERICANS WHO, DURING THE COLD WAR, WORKED AND LIVED DOWNWIND FROM NUCLEAR TESTING SITES AND WERE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THE RADIATION EXPOSURE GENERATED BY THE ABOVE GROUND NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTING

   Whereas on January 27, 1951, the first of years of nuclear weapons tests was conducted at a site known as the Nevada Proving Ground, located approximately 65 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada;

   Whereas the extensive testing at the Nevada Proving Ground came just years after the first ever nuclear weapon test, which was conducted on July 16, 1945, at what is known as the Trinity Atomic Test Site, located approximately 35 miles south of Socorro, New Mexico;

   Whereas many Americans who, during the Cold War, worked and lived downwind from nuclear testing sites (referred to in this preamble as ``downwinders'') were adversely affected by the radiation exposure generated by the above ground nuclear weapons testing, and some of the downwinders sickened as a result of the radiation exposure;

   Whereas the downwinders paid a high price for the development of a nuclear weapons program for the benefit of the United States; and

   Whereas the downwinders deserve to be recognized for the sacrifice they have made for the defense of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate--

    (1) designates January 27, 2012, as a national day of remembrance for Americans who, during the Cold War, worked and lived downwind from nuclear testing sites and were adversely affected by the radiation exposure generated by the above ground nuclear weapons testing; and

    (2) encourages the people of the United States to support and participate in appropriate ceremonies, programs, and other activities to commemorate January 27, 2012.

(Senate - November 16, 2011)

1972: Space Shuttle Program Announced

President Nixon's 1972 Announcement on the Space Shuttle



President Richard M. Nixon and NASA Administrator James C. Fletcher announced the Space Shuttle program had received final approval in San Clemente, California, on 5 January 1972.

Statements by President Nixon and NASA Administrator James Fletcher
5 January 1972

HT: This Week in Space, January 2, 2012

International Year of Cooperatives

S.Res. 87: A resolution designating the year of 2012 as the "International Year of Cooperatives"

2012 is Beginning

Welcome to 2012.

Innovative Ideas to Watch in 2012

4 Big Moves Google Should Make in 2012

Marc Andreesen's predictions for 2012: "Software is eating the world...2012 retail really starts feeling the pressure." awe.sm/5c8oY
— ian c rogers (@iancr) December 20, 2011

Investor's Business Daily 2012 tech predictions

Is Samsung giving up on netbooks?

Six tech trends to watch in 2012 usat.ly/yTdvHx
— USA TODAY Top News (@USATODAY) January 3, 2012

America’s Most Stressful Jobs 2012 cnbc.com/id/45859025 - America's Least Stressful Jobs 2012 bit.ly/y35Vfs
— CNBC (@CNBC) January 3, 2012

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2012

2011 Is Ending

Goodbye 2011.

50 Economic Numbers From 2011 That Are Almost Too Crazy To Believe
Michael Snyder, The Economic Collapse

The Space Shuttle program ended.
There's nothing to replace it.

Google Nails 2011: Portrait of a Banner Year
Larry Page, CEO of the Year

The 9 Oddest Job Interview Questions Asked at Tech Companies in 2011

Notable tech products of 2011, from iPhone 4S to Spotify

Tablets: an Android 2011 Retrospective

Who Won 2011?

Twitter. A few years ago, the platform was new. Then it became fun. Then it became addictive.

In 2011, it simply became important.

Yes, the platform is a one-stop shop for pretty much anything you want (or don't want), but there's no glossing over the fact that some of the year's biggest events would be drastically different if Twitter did not exist. Between the Osama bin Laden raid (accidentally live-tweeted by Sohaib Athar), the Japan Tsunami (with Twitter serving as a primary form of communication between survivors and the world), and the Tunisian Revolution (citizens Tweeting anything from the location of snipers to places to get medical attention), the platform truly became the medium for communication in 2011.

From a year ago:

11 Things Americans Will Be Doing in Space in 2011

Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week

S.Res. 199: A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of "Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week"

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 25, 2011

Mr. REID (for himself, Mr. REED, and Mr. COCHRAN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

---

RESOLUTION

Supporting the goals and ideals of ‘Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week’.

Whereas Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are serious, chronic inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;

Whereas Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease, afflict approximately 1,400,000 people in the United States, 30 percent of whom are diagnosed as children;

Whereas the cause of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are unknown and no medical cure exists;

Whereas Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can affect anyone, at any age, and is being diagnosed with increased frequency in children;

Whereas Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients are at high risk for developing colorectal cancer;

Whereas a lack of awareness among health professionals and the general public may contribute to the misdiagnosis and mismanagement of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis;

Whereas the annual direct cost of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in the United States is estimated to be $6,100,000,000;

Whereas the goals of ‘Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week’ are--

(1) to invite and encourage all people in the United States to join the effort to find a cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis;

(2) to engage in activities aimed at raising awareness of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis among the general public and health care providers; and

(3) to promote and support biomedical research needed to find better treatments and a cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis; and

Whereas the week of December 1, 2011, through December 7, 2011, has been designated ‘Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week’: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) supports the goals and ideals of ‘Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week’;

(2) encourages media organizations to participate in ‘Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week’ by helping to educate the general public about Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis;

(3) recognizes all people in the United States living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and expresses appreciation to the family members and caregivers who support them; and

(4) commends the dedication of health care professionals and biomedical researchers who care for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients and work to advance basic, genetic, and clinical research aimed at developing new treatments and a cure for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.