President Obama, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (center) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie visit the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's World Trade Center site for a briefing on construction progress in June. The Republican Christie and Democrat Cuomo will have to find consensus on the plan for rebuilding after Superstorm Sandy, together and with a divided Congress. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption

U.S. Rep. Joe Baca of California, shown at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, learned the power of superPACs firsthand this year, when he lost for the first time since he was elected in 1999. Jae C. Hong/AP hide caption

A diamond prospector filters earth from a river in Koidu, the capital of diamond-rich Kono district in eastern Sierra Leone. Koidu suffered some of the worst ravages of Sierra Leone's war in the 1990s as rebels forced citizens to mine at gunpoint. Ten years after the conflict, diamonds remain a contentious issue. Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

A forest near Trieste, Italy, is largely dead owing to drought stress during the summer of 2012. Andrea Nardini/Nature hide caption

Army Spc. Matthew Bolar attended the NFL's NFC championship game in January 2007 with his father, Gordon. A few months later he was killed by an IED. Courtesy of Gordon Bolar hide caption

The Mallett Brothers Band is, from left to right, Brian Higgins, Wally Wenzel, Luke Mallett, Will Mallett, Nate Soule and Nick Leen. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

American lightweight Benny Leonard, pictured in 1925, is remembered as one of boxing's greatest. Topical Press Agency/Getty Images hide caption