As every year draws to an end, the familiar phrase ‘this year has gone by so fast’ becomes more of a thought provoking sentence, rather than an overused cliché. As you rapidly try to collect your memories in the past 365 days, you realize that it’s all a blur and that the year has in fact gone by incredibly fast. Events start to feel like years ago and you realize once again, your memory has failed you. This was an unforgettable year, as with every year, so dig deep into your memory and let’s try to recount the events of the past 365 days. It was the year of adversity, revolution, possibility and success.
Thankfully, as time goes by technology gets faster, easier, slimmer and smarter…just ask Siri. In 2011 we moved forward through technology once again. The battle of the techno-fruits continued and the iPad proved to be the only screen you required. So, finally a smartphone that can do everything….Wait. Which one is it again?!
The unfortunate death of one of the greatest innovators of our time needed some dual core processing as the world tried to rationalize what we just lost.
We bid farewell to many in 2011, some good, some bad and some brilliant. Death is the only thing we cannot control going into 2012. As the passing away of some brought about mourning, the deaths of others brought about closure and a revolution. We say rest in peace, Elizabeth Taylor, Amy Winehouse, Sai Baba, Steve Jobs, Seve Ballesteros, Osama Bin Laden, Maummar Gaddafi and many more who lost their lives this year. It was the year we appreciated heroes and conquered things we never thought possible.
The natural disasters came in waves. They caused panic, deaths and left our world devastated time after time. Floods washed away lives in Brazil and Thailand. We once again showed the strength and courage of mankind, when the Fukushima 50 heroically cleaned up the mess of Japan’s earthquake.
We protested to such an extent that Time Magazine named ‘The Protestor’ as their infamous person of the year.
Tahrir Square proved to be more than just a 4 sided figure when a revolution began and freedom was found there. Another revolution changed Tunisia. We welcomed the world’s newest country, South Sudan and said goodbye to the war in Iraq.
We ‘occupied’ a lot of places, through protests and through the 7 billion people that now roam the earth.
We marked 10 years since the tragic fall of the Twin Towers in New York City and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
The last space shuttle was launched into the unknown (….That is not so unknown anymore, thanks NASA.)
Prince William and Kate Middleton captured our news ns the Internet when they got married.
The king of pop can finally rest in peace as his cause of death was vigorously examined in court. The world watched as Dr. Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter of Michael Jackson.
New heroes were born in the world of sport as Novak Djokovic conquered Wimbledon and Sebastian Vettel showed us that speed should not be feared. The numbers 8-2 and 6-1 will never just be numbers in any English Premier League football fans mind. We argued about referees, goal-line technology and match fixing. Racism in sport got the boot, but unfortunately Sepp Blatter did not.
Corruption continued, the rich got richer and the economic crisis made some poorer. We tweeted, liked, BBMed and iMessaged. We travelled and despite all, we had the time of our lives. We realized that there is a whole new year awaiting our experiences, our discoveries and most importantly, awaiting us,
Happy New Year, “Stay focused. Stay foolish.” -Steve Jobs.
The World in Technicolour 