Society & Culture Your thoughts on 2011

[MarcMaverick]

Well another year comes to an end as we announce the arrival of 2012*.

My thoughts on the year as follows:

Weather-wise it was the most intense period of natural disasters for a long time. From the yearly book-end earthquakes in New Zealand to the destructive tsunami in Japan to the vicious wet whirlwinds in our part in the world and the unbelievable flooding in wherever you look 2011 has been tumultuous.

Politics: We saw Osama bin Laden found and killed in Abbotabad and just recently Kim Jong-Il died in North Korea. A breach of voters trust was made when Julia Gillard announced that her party introduced the Carbon Tax after telling us that under her government there would be none, whilst failing to remedy the asylum-seeker problem.

In sporting terms this was the year of break-through's. Cadel Evans won his first Tour de France after many years of trying. Samantha Stosur won her maiden title the US Open after beating Serena Williams. It was also a year of controversies whereby the three Pakistani cricketers were found guilty of match-fixing. It was also a year of deaths where Dan Wheldon and Marco Simoncelli died doing what they like to do most of-racing.

In the celebrity world Michael Jackson's doctor was found guilty and sentenced to 4 years behind bars.

Personally I had one of the best years of my life I passed my fist half of the course well I lost 20-odd kilos. And I got closer to my family. I will miss 2011


So as we say farewell on this year we welcome and hopefully survive 2012*.


MarcMaverick

* if you believe any of these doom-sayers that say that at the end 2012 will be the "End of the World". Hopefully not but you never know.

By the way I did not know what prefix to put so I put Society and Culture.

 

[La Dispute]

Really liked it actually.

Cadel winning was great.

 

[Gough]

This year has had a 1989 feel about it to me. One of those years that turns the established order on it's head.
2012 will be an interesting year.

 

[grizzlym]

This year has had a 1989 feel about it to me. One of those years that turns the established order on it's head.
2012 will be an interesting year.

We seem to be agreeing with each other a bit recently. Yep, 2012 could be a very interesting year.

 

[Stats Man]

Go on...(for those born after 89)

 

[rustyg70]

It was definately the year of the natural disaster.
It just seemed like one after another.

On a personal note,besides me having back surgery,my family and friends are all still alive and kicking and doing well so it cant have been all that bad.
*Except for the first Saturday in October.*

 

[DVS Laxman]

**** of a year

 

[Umpa Lumpa]

A year where scarlett johansson's nude pics were leaked, can never be a bad year

 

[rustyg70]

A year where scarlett johansson's nude pics were leaked, can never be a bad year

It is when you haven't seen them.

 

[LouisCK]

Thought it sucked politically in some ways.

We watched the wealthy effectively start ripping off public servants to pay for the mistakes the wealthy made in the lead up to the GFC. Always a pain in the arse to see the rich flex their political muscle, and make the majoirty pay for their greed.

On the plus side we see the Occupy Movement, and the continuation of people power across the Middle East and Asia. Good signs for the eventual dismantling of the Anglo Empire and the dictators it backs.

In Australia we saw Julia Gillard run a pretty competent government in the face of a lot of adversity and a minority parliament. She let a lot of people down by continuing to support stupid wars, but jeez the alternative is so much worse its scary.

In Europe we saw right wing Christian fanaticism can be equally as deadly as Islamic fanaticism (which is right wing itself).

In Victoria we saw Ted Baillieu acting like the rich piece of shit that he is, and targetting nurses and policemen for budget cuts. As well as banning bongs. As well as setting gun toting maniacs onto the public transit system. A system he has never personally used in his life.

The rich are getting richer, but the poor are getting angrier. So as bad as 2011 was, there is a lot of room for hope. Exciting times ahead.

 

[kBuck]

I will most likely remember 2011 for the uncharacteristic run of natural disasters around the world.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

I thought 2011 was a pretty crappy year to be honest, other than a resurgent West Coast Eagles I didn't see much else of 2011 to look upon glowingly, with all the natural disasters and dictators dying and all, next year well be even better, out come the doomsday theorists, last year on earth...ughhhhhhh

 

[thecatattack]

Geelong winning the flag made my year.

 

[stmookeyj]

The fact that several that were either family or friend passed on during the year (particularly early) made it tough. Add to that the floods that virtually cut us off for a number of days (but were conveniently forgotten by the press, particularly as further south hit trouble).

At least though there was a positive in being promoted from part time to full time and looking like staying there for a while yet.

 

[Gift]

Interesting year its been, but not a great one imo. Bring on 2012!

 

[tandino]

It's been a prick of a year for me. Happy to see the end of it.

 

[raskolnikov]

It's been a prick of a year for me. Happy to see the end of it.

This, although there were a couple of highlights. A trip on the Trans-Siberian being the main one. Unfortunately I can't see 2012 being any better.

 

[JD11]

every year sucks. days can be good. but years always eat balls.

 

[no orange peeler]

every year sucks. days can be good. but years always eat balls.

guess the glass is always half empty.......
great year won a flag that i have been trying to get in 11 years, knocked the mrs up with our first. seen the best mate get married, paid out his mother in law on the official wedding video, and ran into an old friend on boxing day that i haven't seen in a very long time, started a new job that i'm loving. Great year.

 

[NitroFan]

so was there actually 'more' natural disasters this year than other years or is it just they happened to occur in places where they got a lot of publicity?

 

[XFactor1979]

Theres a grandstand special on the year in Australian sport right now

 

[abs_of_STEELE]

It's been a prick of a year for me. Happy to see the end of it.

Same here, **** 2011. Bring on 2012!

 

[LouisCK]

so was there actually 'more' natural disasters this year than other years or is it just they happened to occur in places where they got a lot of publicity?

Pakistan, Haiti, Italy, Japan, Queensland, Turkey, Vietnam, Philippines and Christchurch all copped it way worse than usual.

Then you've got the drought in Russia. Plus the USA had some severe disasters too.

It was a pretty crazy year. A lot to do with overuse of water apparently. The more we use intensively for farming etc. the more ends up in the atmosphere at any one time, hence ridiculous levels of flooding.

Earthquakes? Who knows if that was any worse than usual, but the ones in Japan and NZ were seriously bad, same with Turkey and Haiti.

 

[Kaladin Stormblessed]

Good year.

Promotion at work, 6 week holiday to the US, became an uncle. Will miss

 

[millsy29gopies]

Wasn't the best year, but certainly looking forward to 2012