So as 2011 comes to a close, I got to thinking about all the major events that happened this year. With smart phones, social networking sites and the internet, it has become easier than ever to get news from point A to point B. I’d say that I find out more big news thru Twitter or Facebook, than I do from television or (ancient) radio. Bar arguments can be settled within seconds with smart phones and Wikipedia to prove everyone wrong (or right in my case…always). Our generation has grown up with technology at its peak. In 5th grade, we were playing the Oregon Trail video game in the computer lab. In 8th grade, we were told that our book report could only have one “online” source in the bibliography (tragic). Spelling errors in Word documents are a thing of the past. In college, Facebook took over the world and has remained a huge part in the social networking movement. Advertisers have coveted this new outlet to personalize their ads, reach their effective target market, and seek out niche groups. Twitter has narrowed the gap between public figures and celebrities to the everyday social networker. Stars are able to break news, respond to fans, and market themselves in a whole new way. Just when you think they have thought of everything, they think of something else, and I LOVE IT.
I did a little time line here of what I would consider major events of 2011. I put some pop culture stuff in here, and some historical events. Fun for everyone!
Feb. 10 — Rebecca Black’s song “Friday” is uploaded to YouTube and now has over 15 million views to date. There are several parodies circulating YouTube as well.
March 7 — After a public spat with creator of Two and a Half Men, lead actor Charlie Sheen got fired from the show. Then went absolutely insane and everyone, myself included, loved it.
March 11 — A massive 9.0-magnitude earthquake strikes northern Japan, triggering an even more devastating tsunami. More than 10,000 people are killed or missing and the Fukushima nuclear reactors are damaged causing radiation leaks and long-term evacuations. This picture is courtesy of National Geographic.
April 29 — An estimated 2 billion people watch the wedding of Price William and Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey in London. Also, Pippa’s caboose was revealed to the world in a hip hugging white dress.
May 1 — After a nine-and-a-half year manhunt, American commandos find and kill Osama Bin Laden in a compound north of Islamabad, Pakistan.
July 5 — Casey Anthony’s verdict comes back NOT guilty causing mutiny amongst case followers.
July 13 — Harry Potter releases it FINAL movie from the 8 part series, ending over a decade of hype. The films generated $7,706,147,978 in box offices worldwide. I went, and then felt empty inside when it was all over.
July 23 — Amy Winehouse is found dead in her apartment due to a drug overdose at age 27.
Aug. 5th — One of my best friends Christy gets married!
Aug. 20 — Kim Kardashian gets married and chronicles the entire experience on her reality show, Keeping Up With the Kardashians….then gets divorced 72 days later. I hadn’t even had a chance to watch the wedding on my TiVo before it was announced that they were splitting.
Sept. 11 — Family members of 9/11’s approximately 3,000 victims finally see the official memorial — two reflecting pools set in the footprints of the original Twin Towers — in New York City on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
Oct. 3 — American student Amanda Knox is released from an Italian prison after being acquitted of the murder and sexual assault of British student Meredith Kercher, ending her four-year legal battle to prove her innocence.
Oct. 5 — Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Inc., and its long-time CEO, dies at age 56 from pancreatic cancer.
Oct. 21 — President Barack Obama announces all remaining U.S. troops will leave Iraq by the end of 2011, ending a war that deeply divided the nation, left almost 4,500 American soldiers dead and cost more than 800 billion dollars.
Nov. 18 — Demi and Ashton split
Now I’m sure some will be disappointed with this list. I know I missed a few events, but I have a job. I can’t just be making a timeline of every event of this year. That is what WIKI is for — go look it up, you bum.
I leave you pondering this; when the world ends next December, will there still be internet? I hope so, otherwise things could get weird.
Today’s music comes from R.E.M.
Seems appropriate:
listening to It’s The End Of The World As We Know It … by R.E.M. #nowplaying http://tinysong.com/AtA5
Enjoy,
xoxo
shu
The Adventures of Shuey 