(Photo by Pete Souza)

Pete Souza, the official White House photographer, uploaded The Year in Photos 2012 to the White House Flickr account.

The photo we included here was taken by Souza on Aug. 15, 2012, at an event in Davenport, Iowa. According to Facebook, it was the most-liked photo on the social network in 2012. When President Obama tweeted this photo on Election Night, it became the most-retweeted Tweet in the history of Twitter.

You can browse through Souza's photos here.

There are multiple reports this morning that Zipcar Inc., the Cambridge-based vehicle sharing service that rents cars by the hour, is being purchased by the Avis Budget Group.

Reports by the Wall Street Journal, NBC News, and other outlets list the purchase price at $500 million.

We will have more on this story as details emerge.

(Washington, DC) – The following is a statement by Victoria Reggie Kennedy regarding the nomination of Senator Kerry to the position of Secretary of State, and the announcement of Congressman Markey regarding his campaign to for the Senate seat to be vacated by the appointment.

“In nominating Senator John Kerry to be our next Secretary of State, President Obama has chosen an enormously capable and honorable leader to represent our nation to the rest of the world. John has been a superb Senator and Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who is respected by his colleagues and held in high esteem throughout the globe. He has served Massachusetts with distinction and has always fought for our state and his constituents. As Secretary of State, he will continue that legacy of outstanding service.

As we look to the future, I believe that Congressman Ed Markey is the best person to continue in the tradition of John Kerry to serve our Commonwealth in the United States Senate. Ed is the dean of the Massachusetts delegation and has been an exceptional Congressman for his District. He’s respected nationally for his energetic leadership on issues relating to the environment, energy and technology. He has the experience and expertise to address the pressing economic issues facing our nation. He knows how to get things done. He will bring proven experience in the workings of Congress to his service in the Senate, and that is an enormous asset and benefit for the people of Massachusetts. Ed Markey is the right person for the job. He will be a superb Senator for Massachusetts.”

Thank you, readers, for sharing so many of our stories on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media networks this year. Below you'll find the list of the Boston.com stories that you found the most compelling of 2012 (excluding posts from our Big Picture photography blog).

1. 1. Am I mom enough?
After Time magazine wrote a story in May about "extreme" parenting - featuring a cover photo of a beautiful mother in skinny jeans nursing her preschool-aged son - and titled it, "Are You Mom Enough?", blogger Kara Baskin exploded in indignation, declaring, "This is not a contest!" Her Motherhood Wish List of the important things she wanted to teach her son Andrew also exploded online, and was the most shared item of 2012.
2. 2. Scott Brown says Elizabeth Warren's criticism of his health insurance decision is 'sad'
What was his decision? To continue insuring one of his daughters through the Obama administration health care law that he opposed and tried to repeal.
3. 3. Savoring time as the Internet's favorite punching bag
The story of how a Millis guy became Scumbag Steve online, and then capitalized on it.
4. 4. It's official. There is a Muslim exemption to the First Amendment.
The ACLU of Massachusetts blogged in April that the ruling against and sentencing of Tarek Mehanna of Sudbury suggested that Muslims do not have the right to protected speech, and that "venting" can cost them long years in prison.
5. 5. Former Patriots linebacker Junior Seau found dead in apparent suicide
The sports world was shocked when Seau, a 43-year-old 12-time NFL Pro Bowl linebacker and former member of the Patriots, shot himself in May.


6. 6. How facts backfire | Researchers discover a surprising threat to democracy: our brains
A story that first ran in 2010 caught fire again this year: Facts don't necessarily have the power to change our minds. In fact, quite the opposite.
7. 7. Boxed in, wanting out | A new study of American families reveals troubling trends: Too much stuff, too little time
The reaction of Boston parents to the July report was universal: No kidding.
8. 8. In Needham’s forest, a secret miniature railroad set
Everyone who makes her way deep into the Needham Town Forest is rewarded with a remarkable sight: a miniature railroad set, complete with hundreds of feet of track, a station, train bridge, and passengers.
9. 9. Mitt Romney planned Boston Harbor fireworks show that was scotched by election loss
Instead, Atlas Professional Fireworks Displays unloaded the pyrotechnics from mortars set up on a barge near the Bank of America Pavilion and carted them back to its headquarters in Jaffrey, N.H.
10. 10. Job seekers getting asked for Facebook passwords
In their efforts to vet applicants, some companies and government agencies are going beyond merely glancing at a person's social networking profiles and instead asking to log in as the user to have a look around. Although this Associated Press story has expired on Boston.com, you can still read it on Yahoo! Finance.
11. 11. Romney a wimp? Not so much, say gays who engaged with him as governor
The Boston Spirit bloggers wrote in September that same-sex couples, as well as other gays and lesbians in and out of government, found governor Romney generally disinterested in others, unable to connect with anyone unlike him, and completely lacking in empathy.
12. 12. You know you're from Boston when ...
This August gallery by Travel writer Eric Wilbur explored the delights of Phillips Candy House, the devotion to sports icons like Bobby Orr, and the resolve to leave Duck Boat tours to the tourists.
13. 13. Report: Boxer Micky Ward cancels planned endorsement of Scott Brown
In August, the former boxer said, "I found out Scott is anti-union and I'm a Teamster guy. I found out he's also against gay marriage, and I say if you love someone, you should have the same rights no matter who you are."
14. 14. Mitt Romney will release 2011 tax return by Oct. 15, campaign says
He actually released it on Sept. 21, revealing that he paid $1.9 million in taxes on $13.7 million in income, most of which came from his investments. It means his effective tax rate for 2011 was 14.1 percent.
15. 15. Prosecutor: Ga. murder case uncovers terror plot
Prosecutors said that four Army soldiers based in southeast Georgia killed a former comrade and his girlfriend to protect an anarchist militia group they formed that stockpiled assault weapons and plotted a range of anti-government attacks. This Associated Press story has expired on Boston.com, but you can read it on Yahoo! News.
16. 16. Spotted in Boston: Out and about in the city
Our "Spotted" photographers go to events all over the city and post their images of Bostonians celebrating in this popular gallery.
17. 17. Romney stayed longer at Bain | Firm's 2002 filings identify him as CEO, though he said he left in 1999
The timing of Romney's departure from Bain was a key point of contention because he had said his resignation in February 1999 meant he was not responsible for Bain Capital companies that went bankrupt or laid off workers after that date.
18. 18. Wes Welker reveals targets of Tom Brady's sideline curse
Welker claimed that Brady was swearing at him and Deion Branch for teasing him about whether he actually scored a touchdown or not during the Sept. 30 game at Buffalo.
19. 19. 'Battle Royale' hasn’t lost any of its impact | Cult classic from Japan has ties to 'Kill Bill' and 'Hunger Games'
Pulitzer Prize winner Wesley Morris reviewed this 12-year-old film that was shown at the Brattle Theater in March.
20. 20. Four stabbed in downtown Boston within three minutes
Police said tensions stemming from a trial at the nearby Suffolk Superior Courthouse spilled onto the sidewalk near the intersection of Tremont and Beacon streets in June.
21. 21. Freezer failure at brain bank hampers autism research
The damage to these brains in June could slow autism research by a decade as the collection is restored.
22. 22. Pakistan parents killed daughter for eyeing boy
The girl’s death in October underlined the problem of so-called "honor killings" in Pakistan where women are often killed for marrying or having relationships not approved by their families or because they are perceived to have somehow dishonored their family.

P.S. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

According to the Rochester, N.Y.-based Democrat and Chronicle.com, two Webster, N.Y. firefighters are dead after a gunman or gunmen opened fire on responders to an early-morning blaze.

A total of four firefighters were shot, according to officials.

We will have more on this developing story as information comes in.

A anti-gun violence billboard on the Massachusetts Turnpike has been redone in the wake of a shooting rampage on Dec. 14 in Newtown, Conn.

The billboard, sponsored by the non-profit Stop Handgun Violence, has 20 small hands on it and the message: "Assault weapons have stopping power. Fortunately, so does your vote. We need a Federal Assault Weapons Ban NOW!"

Painting 20 small hands on the stop handgun violence billboard in Boston to honor the Newtown children twitter.com/girlamongboys/…

— Amy C Snelling (@girlamongboys) December 22, 2012

20 small hands were just painted on the 'stop handgun violence billboard' near Fenway to honor the Newtown victims. twitter.com/BostonTweet/st…

— BostonTweet (@BostonTweet) December 22, 2012

Powerful image from the @_shv billboard. 20 tiny hands painted for the 20 children lost in Newtown @universalhub twitter.com/kaitlinmaud/st…

— Kaitlin Maud (@kaitlinmaud) December 22, 2012

Gunman Adam Lanza, 20, fatally shot 20 first-graders and six women at Sandy Hook Elementary School before turning the gun on himself. His mother, Nancy, 52, was found fatally shot in her bed at the nearby home she shared with her son.

The shooting rampage has renewed a push for stricter gun control laws, including an assault weapons ban, which expired in 2004.

Another group pushing for tougher gun control laws is Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which is co-chaired by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino.

The group has a prominent ad on The Washington Post web site. The ad includes videos featuring testimonials from people whose lives were affected by gun violence.

The ad urges people to contact President Obama and Congress to demand action to stop gun violence.

Menino, a longtime advocate for tougher gun laws, yesterday denounced a proposal from the National Rifle Association to put armed police officers in every school in the wake of the Connecticut shooting rampage.

Menino said the NRA's proposal ‘‘is not a plan, but a ploy to bring more guns into our neighborhoods.’’

A video on YouTube of a Golden Eagle apparently snatching up a little boy turns out to be fake and was created as a student project from a group at NAD Centre, a Montreal new media training center, according to a press release from the center.

"The “Golden Eagle Snatches Kid” video, uploaded to YouTube on the evening of December 18, was made by Normand Archambault, Loïc Mireault and Félix Marquis-Poulin, students at Centre NAD, in the production simulation workshop class of the Bachelors degree in 3D Animation and Digital Design," according to a message on the Centre NAD web site.

The video shows a frightening scene where a Golden Eagle swoops down into a Montreal park and attempts to snatch a small child off the ground.

In the video, the large bird gets the child airborne briefly before letting go.

There was plenty of web-based buzz about the clip, including multiple claims before the center's message that it was all a fake.

The folks at Poynter.org outlined a fairly strong case that it was phony.

Here is a link to a YouTube version without the news-anchor commentary. The clip does, however contain expletives, so be forewarned: Here's the link.

Were you taken in by the students' project? Or did you think it was fake all along? Tell us in the comments section.

Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus

President Barack Obama has been named TIME magazine's 2012 Person of the Year, the magazine's managing editor revealed on NBC's TODAY show.

Obama, who also received the distinction in 2008, was chosen this year in part for his successful campaign for re-election despite a surging unemployment rate.

Last year's Person of the Year was not a single individual, rather a cumulative choice "The Protester." Other recent winners include Mark Zuckerberg, Ben Bernanke, and Vladimir Putin.

A report in the Hartford Courant describes the violent shooting spree that claimed the lives of 20 children and six adults on Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

The story, citing unnamed law enforcement sources, describes how gunman Adam Lanza, 20, forced his way into the school after killing his mother, Nancy, at their nearby home.

Once inside the school, Lanza headed toward first-grade classrooms, the newspaper said. Principal Dawn Hochsprung and school psychologist Mary Scherlach heard the sounds of gunfire and shattering glass and went into the corridor across from the classrooms, according to the report.

Both women were shot dead with a rifle.

Lanza passed the first classroom he went by, the newspaper said. He later entered a classroom, where he killed everyone inside, including 14 children, the Courant reported.

In a second classroom, teacher Victoria Soto is believed to have hidden her students in a closet, the newspaper reported. But six tried to flee. The Courant reported that Lanza shot and killed the children, Soto, and another teacher in the classroom.

In a press conference this afternoon, Lieutenant J. Paul Vance of the Connecticut State Police confirmed the suspect behind the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School died in the building. Vance also confirmed a high number of fatalities, but would not offer more information, saying he was waiting for notification of the victims' families.

Responding to a reporter's question, Vance said the public is "not in danger."

In a press conference this afternoon, Lieutenant J. Paul Vance of the Connecticut State Police confirmed the suspect behind the shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School died in the building. Vance also confirmed a high number of fatalities, but would not offer more information, saying he was waiting for notification of the victims' families.

Responding to a reporter's question, Vance said the public is "not in danger."

UPDATE Multiple media outlets are reporting that Ryan Lanza is the shooter involved in the attack that killed 27 people, including 18 children, at a school in Newtown, Conn.

The AP is reporting that the shooter's mother worked at the Sandy Hook Elementary School and is among the dead.

The AP is also reporting that the suspect's younger brother is being held.

BREAKING: AP source: Suspect in Connecticut school shootings is 24-year-old; younger brother being held. -SS

— The Associated Press (@AP) December 14, 2012

The Hartford Courant is reporting that multiple people, including children, have been killed today in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

CBS News reported on its Twitter account that one child has been killed.

BREAKING NEWS: @cbsnews has confirmed that one child has been killed in CT school shooting and one gunman is dead cbsn.ws/live

— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 14, 2012

The Hartford Courant reports that the total number of victims is unclear and that many of the shootings took place in a kindergarten classroom. The newspaper is also reporting that a person believed to be the shooter is dead.

A grim New York Post cover photo showing the final moments of a Queens man who authorities say was pushed onto subway tracks has sparked outrage among readers.

New York Post freelance photographer R. Umar Abbasi photographed 58-year-old Ki Suk Han as he struggled yesterday to escape an oncoming train after being pushed onto the tracks by an unidentified man at the Times Square Station.

New York Police Department footage captured the argument that Han had with his assailant before being shoved onto the tracks.

The Post photograph was accompanied by the two headlines "Pushed on the subway track, this man is about to die," and "Doomed."

The criticism on Twitter was aimed at Abbasi, who was at the station while on assignment for an unrelated project, and at the Post for publishing the photograph. Critics asked why Abbasi did not do more to save Han.

Shame on you if you'd rather take pics of a man about to die, than help that man about to die. bit.ly/TzSczC

— Sarah Kogod (@SarahKogod) December 4, 2012

The photographer described trying to alert the train operator to Han by firing the camera flash.

"I just started running, running, hoping that the driver could see my flash,” Abbasi said.

Jeff Sonderman, a digital media fellow at the Poynter Institute, offered a roundup of critical Twitter postings from journalists who were angered by the Post's decision to publish the photograph.

"Even if you accept that the photographer and other bystanders did everything they could to try to save the man, it's a separate question of what the Post should have done with that photo," Sonderman wrote.

Nick Confessore, a political reporter for The New York Times, wrote in a Twitter posting that Hun "is the Kitty Genovese of our time."

Guy on the tracks is the Kitty Genovese of our time. And the photographer... bit.ly/TDeRyo

— Nick Confessore (@nickconfessore) December 4, 2012

Genovese was a Queens woman who was murdered in 1964 in a crime that was witnessed by neighbors who did not call police.

Do you think of the Post's photographer's actions and the newspaper's decision to publish the photograph? Please share your comments.

For many Michael Jackson fans, it remains their favorite album. "Thriller" was released on Nov. 30, 1982, and has hit legendary status. Depending on what you read, "Thriller" is still the No. 1 selling album in history, or it's somewhere in the top five.

Of course, the album brought us this stellar video.

In related news, Joe Jackson, patriarch of the family, suffered a stroke Wednesday.

Jack Pickell, Boston.com Staff

Working versions of Pong and Pong Doubles at the American Classic Arcade Museum in Laconia, New Hampshire. Pong, one of the original video games, debuted 40 years ago, on Nov. 29, 1972.

By Jack Pickell, Boston.com Staff

Gamers of today sit down on their sofas, fire up their tried-and-true Xbox 360 or their brand-spanking new Wii U, and get instantly caught up in the sophisticated game-play and stunningly realistic graphics of titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, Halo 4, and Assassin's Creed III.

How far we've come from two little lines and one moving dot.

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the granddaddy of video games -- Pong. Atari's coin-operated version of the game debuted at Andy Capp’s Tavern in Sunnyvale, Calif. on this date back in 1972.

Pong quickly took its place along the rows of pinball machines at arcades everywhere. During the mid-'70s, Pong successfully expanded from arcade attraction to living room fixture as home versions of Pong machines were high on little gamers' letters to Santa Claus.

We all know what happened from there. Pong eventually had to make room in the arcade rows for games with deeper concepts and slightly better graphics, like Space Invaders and Missile Command, and single-game home units were eclipsed by systems like the Atari 2600 and Mattel's underrated Intellivision. And that was just the beginning.

Pong still exists. It's readily available to play online (just Google it), and if you know where to look, you can still find a rare working version of the now-40-year-old coin-op machine.

One such place is the amazing American Classic Arcade Museum (ACAM) located at Funspot in Laconia, New Hampshire -- a fully working arcade, filled with vintage games, including some of the world’s rarest, and all in great working order.

Boston.com ran a feature on ACAM about a year ago. Read the article and check out the photo gallery of the vintage games.

Jack Pickell is a Senior News Content Producer at Boston.com, once owned a Pong game, and is still saving up to buy a vintage Donkey Kong coin-op machine. He can be reached at jpickell@boston.com.

John Shearer/Invision/AP

According to NBC 4 in New York City, Lindsay Lohan has had another run-in with the law.

Police told the station that the 26-year-old actress was arrested last night after allegedly becoming involved in a conflict with another person at Club Avenue in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.

She faces an assault charge in the incident, the station reported.

A natural gas explosion rocked downtown Springfield on Nov. 23, injuring 18 people. The blast destroyed a multistory building, which housed a strip club, and damaged a number of others.

Friday night’s natural gas blast in one of New England’s largest cities was caused by ‘‘human error,’’ State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan said at a news conference. The blast at Scores Gentleman’s Club at 453 Worthington St. occurred when a worker from Columbia Gas of Massachusetts who was investigating a gas odor accidentally punctured a high-pressure gas line at the foundation of the building.

This raw video shot by WWLP Springfield Skycam, shows the explosion. A strip club was flattened and a day care center was heavily damaged in the massive blast.

Cyber Monday now rivals Black Friday as the top shopping day in the holiday season. With the ease of shopping online, though, comes the risk of falling prey to scam artists and hackers. The Better Business Bureau offers up these tips on staying safe while surfing and shopping.

1. Protect your computer – A computer should always have the most recent updates installed for spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a secure firewall.

2. Shop on trustworthy websites – Shoppers should start with BBB to check on the seller’s reputation and record for customer satisfaction. Always look for the BBB seal and other widely-recognized “trustmarks” on retailer websites and click on the seals to confirm that they are valid.

3. Protect your personal information – BBB recommends taking the time to read the site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used. If there isn’t one posted, it should be taken as a red flag that personal information may be sold to others without permission.

4. Beware of deals that sound too good to be true – Offers on websites and in unsolicited e-mails can often sound too good to be true, especially extremely low prices on hard-to-get items. Consumers should always go with their instincts and not be afraid to pass up a “deal” that might cost them dearly in the end.

5. Beware of phishing – Legitimate businesses do not send e-mails claiming problems with an order or an account to lure the “buyer” into revealing financial information. If a consumer receives such an e-mail, BBB recommends picking up the phone and calling the contact number on the website where the purchase was made to confirm that there really is a problem with the transaction.

6. Confirm your online purchase is secure – Shoppers should always look in the address box for the “s” in https:// and in the lower-right corner for the “lock” symbol before paying. If there are any doubts about a site, BBB recommends right-clicking anywhere on the page and select “Properties.” This will let you see the real URL (website address) and the dialog box will reveal if the site is not encrypted.

7. Pay with a credit card – It’s best to use a credit card, because under federal law, the shopper can dispute the charges if he or she doesn’t receive the item. Shoppers also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized charges on their credit card, and many card issuers have “zero liability” policies under which the card holder pays nothing if someone steals the credit card number and uses it. Never wire money and only shop locally on sites like Craigslist.

8. Keep documentation of your order - After completing the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page or the shopper might receive confirmation by e-mail – BBB recommends saving a copy of the Web page and any e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.

9. Check your credit card statements often – Don’t wait for paper statements; BBB recommends consumers check their credit card statements for suspicious activity by either calling credit card companies or by checking statements online regularly.

10. Know your rights – Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or online be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated, within 30 days. If the goods aren’t shipped on time, the shopper can cancel and demand a refund. There is no general three-day cancellation right, but consumers do have the right to reject merchandise if it’s defective or was misrepresented. Otherwise, it’s the company’s policies that determine if the shopper can cancel the purchase and receive a refund or credit.

NEW YORK (AP) — Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash has resigned from ‘‘Sesame Street’’ in the wake of an allegation that he had sex with an underage youth.

In its statement Tuesday, Sesame Workshop said ‘‘the controversy surrounding Kevin’s personal life has become a distraction that none of us want,’’ leading Clash to conclude ‘‘that he can no longer be effective in his job.’’

‘‘This is a sad day for Sesame Street,’’ the company said.

In a statement of his own, Clash said ‘‘personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work Sesame Street is doing and I cannot allow it to go on any longer. I am deeply sorry to be leaving and am looking forward to resolving these personal matters privately.’’

As the announcement was made, a lawsuit was being filed in federal court in New York charging Clash with sexual abuse of a second youth. The lawsuit alleges that Cecil Singleton, then 15 and now an adult, was persuaded by Clash to meet for sexual encounters.

The lawsuit seeks damages in excess of $5 million.

Clash, who had been on ‘‘Sesame Street’’ for 28 years, created the high-pitched voice and child-like persona for Elmo, a furry, red Muppet that became one of the most popular characters on the show and one of the company’s most lucrative properties. Sesame Workshop produces ‘‘Sesame Street’’ in New York.

Clash’s exit followed a tumultuous week that began on Nov. 12 with a statement from the company that Clash had requested a leave of absence following the charge by a man in his early 20s that he had had a relationship with Clash when he was 16.

Clash denied the charge from that man, who has not been publicly identified, calling it ‘‘false and defamatory.’’

Clash, the 52-year-old divorced father of a grown daughter, acknowledged that he is gay in that statement.

Sesame Workshop, which said it was first contacted by the accuser in June, said it had launched an investigation that included meeting with the accuser twice and meeting with Clash. Its investigation found the charge of underage conduct to be unsubstantiated.

The next day Clash’s accuser recanted his charge, describing his sexual relationship with Clash as adult and consensual. Clash responded that he was ‘‘relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest.’’

In addition to his marquee role as Elmo, Clash had served as the show’s senior Muppet coordinator and Muppet captain. He won 23 daytime Emmy awards and one prime-time Emmy.

In 2006, he published an autobiography, ‘‘My Life as a Furry Red Monster,’’ and was the subject of the 2011 documentary ‘‘Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey.’’

Though it remained unclear who might take over for Clash performing as Elmo, other ‘‘Sesame Street’’ puppeteers have been trained to serve as his stand-in, Sesame Workshop said.

‘‘Elmo is bigger than any one person,’’ the company said last week.

Thanksgiving is near. Here's a little something to get you into the holiday spirit.