Another action-packed year has come and gone in a flash. Where does the time go? Remember back in the '80s when we thought by the coming of the millennium, we would be driving flying cars and shopping for designer space suits? Well, it is almost 2005, and even though we have not quite made it into space, life here on Earth is as exciting as ever. Here is a list of 2004's most newsworthy people and events.

Top 5 Stories in 2004

1. The war in Iraq wages on.
2. Bush and Cheney win their second term in office.
3. As the rest of the U.S. pushed for bans against same sex marriages, San Francisco courthouses issued marriage licenses and performed assembly-line nuptials for gay couples.
4. Martha Stewart was found guilty on four counts of obstructing justice and lying to investigators about her scandalous stock sale and faces jail time.
5. Scott Peterson was convicted of first and second degree murder for killing his pregnant wife and their unborn son. The jury is pushing for the death penalty.
   

Celebrities Who Ruled

1. Lindsay Lohan continues the reign of teenage pop stars with the release of Mean Girls and her new album "Speak."
2. Jude Law was named People's Sexiest Man Alive and stayed busy, staring in six major motion picture productions, including Alfie, Closer ,The Aviator, I Heart Huckabees, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events.
3. Jamie Foxx really showed us what he is made of, earning 2005 Golden Globe nominations for his spectacular roles in Collateral, Ray, and Redemption.
4. Midwestern muckraker Michael Moore stirred up political debate with his controversial film Fahrenheit 911, the highest-grossing documentary film ever made.
5. Paris Hilton had a tumultuous year. Despite widespread release of her scandalous sex tape, her reality show The Simple Life was a hit, and her book made the New York Times' best-seller list. The checks kept rolling in from Guess?, perfume, and jewelry endorsements.
   

Hot Hollywood Mommies

1. Gwyneth Paltrow
2. Kate Hudson
3. Courtney Cox
4. Julia Roberts
5. Liv Tyler

Celebrities That Tied The Knot

1. After one joke marriage with long-time friend Jason Alexander, Britney Spears settled down with new hubby Kevin Federline.
2. It seems J-Lo can't stay away from the altar. Her marriage to Marc Anthony will make her fourth in the last six years.
3. Tiger Woods tied the knot with Swedish beauty Elin Nordegren.
4. The View's Star Reynolds wed banker Al Reynolds in a star-studded Park Avenue ceremony.
5. Robert DeNiro and wife Grace Hightower renewed their vows after seven years.
   

Hollywood Blockbusters

1. Director Alexander Payne's hit Sideways.
2. Ray starring Jamie Foxx.
3. Martin Scorsese's The Aviator.
4. The epic film Troy.
5. Mel Gibson's graphic The Passion of the Christ.
   

Small Screen Splashes

1. Fox's drama The O.C.
2. Extreme makeover shows like Nip/Tuck and The Swan.
3. Desperate Housewives.
4. Donald Trump's The Apprentice and Richard Branson's Rebel Billionaire.
5. Fox's real-time series 24.
   

Music that Rocked

1. Usher's "Confessions" was the best selling record of the year, boasting four No. 1 hit singles and winning 25 awards in 2004 alone.
2. Outkast's "Speakerboxx/The Love Below."
3. Despite her lip syncing fiasco, Ashlee Simpson's "Autobiography" sold 2.2 million copies and spent three weeks at No. 1.
4. "Collision Course,"the debut album of MTV's Ultimate Mash Ups with Jay-Z and Linkin Park, flew off record store shelves.
5. Green Day's "American Idiot."
   

Top Sports Stories

1. The Olympics in Athens.
2. The Boston Red Sox made the biggest comeback in baseball history, winning the World Series after being down 3-0 and finally breaking an almost century-long curse that began when the Sox traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees.
3. Rape charges against Laker's star Kobe Bryant were dropped.
4. Chaos ensued at a Pacers/Pistons game after a foul between Ben Wallace and Ron Artest turned into one of the ugliest brawls in NBA history. Players and fans alike traded punches, chairs, bottles, ice, and popcorn were hurled at players as they ran into the locker room.
5. A nasty labor dispute in the NHL turned into a full blow lockout. As players are scattering to international rinks, the NHL in the states is slowly dying.
   

Legends Lost

2004 also saw the passing of many great and important figures in our time. Among them, actor and activist Christopher Reeve, comedian and actor Rodney Dangerfield, actor Marlon Brando, Johnny Ramone from the legendary punk band The Ramones, funk singer Rick James, WuTang member ODB, musician Ray Charles, celebrity chef Julia Child and 40th President Ronald Reagan.