Holiday Post: What the heck happened in 2011? Or, a last look before we go on with 2012

Starting a new year seems to invite all sorts of looking back, reflections, and remembering the past year. I would like to think we do that, in part, in order to learn to avoid the mistakes of the past. That may be a bit too optimistic on my part. People being people, they do repeat mistakes left and right in a fairly consistent fashion. Still, it can be fun to have a look back and get a laugh or two now and then. So, here is my roundup of links about things from the past year. I will try to steer clear of the usual as much as possible, looking for the more quirky things. As I often do, these are offered with some of my thoughts and snark.

The News: How Much Do You Remember?

Whether you paid attention or not 2011 did have a lot of stuff in the news going on. There were big events and there were some not so big ones. How many do you actually remember? Try your hand at one of these quizzes and see how aware and informed or not you were this past year? So, if you think you are mostly over your hangover, take a crack at these.

• Spiegel looks at "News You May Have Missed in 2011."
• The Daily Beast has "10 Questions on the Newsmakers of 2011."They also have a more general quiz on 2011 News.

The News: Summaries

OK, so maybe you did not do so well in the quizzes. Maybe you did your best to forget 2011, and who can blame you. It was a messed up year in many ways. So, to help you remember, here are some news summaries.

• Mark Fiore summarizes for us "The Year in Crazy." With his animation, I think you won't be needing CNN or the usual folks to remember what happened last year.
• Now, you can go to one of those big networks or websites and get a summary of the usual news. Miss Cellania over at Mental Floss, on the other hand, will give you a list of "Top 20 Weird News Stories of 2011." Let's be honest, these stories are more fun to read. I think the horse herpes one is my favorite from this list.
• Via The New Yorker, "The Most Overhyped Political Stories of 2011."  If you have to look at politics, here ya go. 
• Via Scientific American, here are "The Top 10 Science Stories of 2011." 
• The ACLU posts on their blog a small summary of the year in terms of civil liberties. This is worth a look given it is the kind of thing that often slips under the radar. 
• For something different, The Guardian has a photo set of news events, in Legos.
• Not all news are serious and depressing. Here are "The 50 Funniest Headlines of 2011." Via BuzzFeed. 
• Via Treehugger, here are weird animal stories of the year.  
• 2011 was a big year of protests from the Arab Spring to the Occupy Movement. Here are then "The 40 Best Protest Signs of 2011." There are some very good ones here. Via BuzzFeed.
• Pundit Kitchen points to a pretty good summary of the news. The video does have some language, so there is your warning.
• As we know, a lot of people get their information from Google. So here is a roundup video of top searches in the search engine for last year. Via Free Technology for Teachers.
• And finally for news, since I am a librarian, I have to include an obligatory list of stuff with specific appeal to librarians, lest I lose my cred as a librarian "who keeps up." My three readers would not believe how the "keeping up" thing is such a big deal in librarianship (even if a lot of librarians actually fail miserably at it, including probably one or two in hiring committees who, ironically, ask candidates how they keep up. Yes, I have seen that happen). At any rate, via LISNews, "Ten Stories that Shaped 2011."

Deaths

It is always obligatory to look at those we lost in the past year. So, here are some lists of those we lost this year.

• Bizmology summarizes the 2011 losses in the retail industry. What? Corporations are people now according to the U.S. Supreme Court (in one of their less than brilliant decisions), so this list belongs here. The only loss I would mourn here is Borders. They always had a much better selection than Barnes & Noble (at least the local one), especially in things like manga as they brought in titles the whimpy local B&N would never dream of stocking (probably due to certain local pressures). Granted, I had to go out of town to visit Borders, but it was usually worth it. 
• This one is certainly open to argument and comment, but Xfinity has a list of jobs that died in 2011. Some may be moribund, but the writing is in the wall. Hat tip to mikeroweworks.
• Most of the death lists focus on the famous people. You can go find those lists someplace else. Here are "10 Not-so-famous People We Lost in 2011." Personally, I find these lists more interesting. Via Mental Floss.

Pop Culture

A lot happened in pop culture as well. Some of it was good, and some of it was not so much.

• Via AlterNet, we get "10 Pop Monstrosities That Almost Destroyed Our Culture in 2011." In the case of one or two of the list items, I think our culture has already been destroyed, razed to the ground, and then lit on fire so nothing can grow afterward. Case in point is the TLC atrocity known as "Toddlers and Tiaras." Why the hell child services agencies have not raided them, taken all the children away, and put their breeders in prison for child abuse is something I do not understand. Why people insist on watching it is even more puzzling as they are just enabling child abuse. Let's be honest, if no one watched it, there would be no advertisers, and the show would be off the air. So yes, those who keep it on the air help the problem. 
• Not all is bad. There is nothing that cute cats cannot fix. So, here are "The 30 Most Important Cats of 2011." Via BuzzFeed.
• And just because I think animal photos are neat, here are 50 more. I like the one of the workers in panda suits working the panda cub. Via BuzzFeed.

Pop Culture: Film

As my three readers know, I do not go to movie theaters any more. I watch my movies on DVD at home when I feel like it. It's not that I dislike cinema. I am very picky about what I do like to watch, plus I do not care much for the modern theater going experience. Anyhow, here are some things on film.

• The Daily Beast brings together a couple of critics to banter and chat about their best and worst movies. To be honest, I think most of their "best" kind of suck, but their interaction was amusing to watch. The guy who likes the Twilight flick needs to not just turn in his "man card," he may need a lobotomy if he wants to keep his cred as a movie critic. 
• The AV Club offers their list of the "Worst Films of 2011." Lists like these just reaffirm my desire to stay far away from a movie theater.
• John Scalzi gives a nice overview of science fiction films in 2011 over at Filmcritic.com.

Pop Culture: Television

Television stuff. I am not a big television watcher aside from a few shows and things I like. I don't really watch many dramas with any regularity, and I am getting to the point that for series, I prefer to wait for the DVD to come out, then rent or buy, and watch it on a sitting or two.  I am not one of those snobs who say they don't have a TV. I do watch it, but it is mostly light things. Anything that requires a lot of attention I tend to like getting the package as stated. My other issue tends to be things like seasons ending at odd times (that bullshit of a mid-season finale The Walking Dead pulled is an example. The stunt was b.s.; the episode was fine, albeit a bit predictable), reschedules (say because some sports season starts, and they move a show), and the incessant commercials. But I do keep enough awareness to know what shows are on and if they are good or not so I can find them later. I do like TV shows (some); I just don't always like having to watch them on TV. Anyhow, a few things on television.

• From The Daily Beast, their opinion on best and worse TV shows of 2011. There are a few things here I have watched now and then and liked. A few others I have not seen, but they seem interesting enough to get the DVD later. And some others that I honestly do not give a shit no matter how much my friends gush over them. From the list I have watched and liked Sons of Anarchy (though have not kept up with it recently). They mentioned Hell on Wheels, which I started watching, but it is not really growing on me. Not sure I may keep up with it. From the list, Boardwalk Empire may be the only one I would look up sometime later. I did try watching The Killing, but I hated it. I overall hate slow, slogging shows, and The Killing was slower than dripping molasses (and not in a good way). 
• Now for the most part, commercials tend to suck. But once in a blue moon, something creative comes along which is amusing (at least til television stations drive it to the ground by showing it every five minutes). Via Stash Magazine, their videos on best ads for TV and cinema for the year. A hat tip to Adweek.
• Adweek also presents the 30 Freakiest Ads of the year.

Pop Culture: Music 

This is an area I do not follow as much. I follow just enough to be aware. Take a stroll of what the year offered in terms of music, maybe find a suggestion or two of something new to listen to as well.

• Nerve offers their "15 Best Albums of 2011."
• Here is Blogcritics list of the best albums of 2011.
• Dangerous Minds presents "a highly subjective mix of some of the best music of 2011." Go ahead and listen.

Reading and books

This would not the blog of a librarian if I did not offer things about books and reading. There was a good amount of neat things happening in the world of books and reading. Plus, this may give you some ideas of things to read in the upcoming year.

• IO9 presents their list of "The Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Comics of 2011." 
• GOOD offers their list of GOOD Books 2011. These are not necessarily books that came out in 2011, but it is a list of what they see as good.  From their list, I've read Among the Thugs, and I was fortunate enough to see it staged in Chicago back when I was in graduate school. The stage version of it is worth seeing if you get the chance. I have also read The Walking Dead series, which I do recommend if you like the zombie genre. 
• Via Longreads, the editors of Mental Floss pick out some favorite long articles to read that may be of interest.  
• Katherine Dacey, the Manga Critic, picks out the best manga of 2011.She also provides a helpful 2011 Manga Hall of Shame, which has the stuff to avoid.
• From the blog Arabic Literature (in English), here is a best of Arabic Lit in English list. Want to find something different to read, here are some ideas then.

Asshattery and stupidity

Yep, 2011 was a fine year for asshats and stupid people overall. Here are some fine examples.

• The Texas Freedom Network always puts together their list of quotes by various stupid people and asshats. A lot of it is focused on Texas, but there are a few national ones too. Here is the Islamophobia list, and here is the bashing gays list. You can visit their blog for other lists. 
• Via AlterNet, here are "The 10 Most Ridiculous Right-Wing Outrages of 2011." I am sure that I notice this kind of nonsense more because I live in East Texas, where asshats like Leo Berman (our local state representative) and Louie Gohmert (our Congressman) thrive as they keep getting elected by the locals who take great pride in their right winger fundie way of life. Plus there is that thing called the GOP primaries going on that amplifies it. So, there is the War on Christmas (TM) and nine other stupid non-stories the Right Wing wanted to peddle.
• And speaking of the GOP primary, the GOP hopefuls and not-so-hopefuls did say some very stupid things this year. Why anyone votes for these people is beyond me, though I am guessing most of them are just as dumb as the politicians they favor. And by the way, the Democrats have their dumbasses as well. Here is the Democrats' compilation of stupidity. Via BuzzFeed.
• Asshats for some reason tend to like Fox News as a source. Of course, calling Fox News a "source" when it comes to news is an insult to the concept of news source. I guess right wingers and asshats need to get "news" that reaffirm their warped and ignorant worldview, so Fox News stays in business. If you missed it, here are "The 45 Worst Fox News Moments of 2011." I am sure the list could be bigger. Via BuzzFeed. C'mon, can you really take seriously a broadcaster that rails over Spongebob Squarepants, makes a fuss because President Obama was not wearing a tie in one instance, and accuses Sesame Street of being a danger to the nation? I will be blunt: if Fox News is your go to news "source," I will not have a good opinion of you unless you are a fact checker for a legitimate news organization or you work for The Daily Show.
• Then there are the pathetic and just funny asshats. These are the ones often seen in the First World Problems meme. The site White Whine collects these, and here are their most viewed white whines for the year.
• This needs little explanation Via Jezebel, "The Year in Dicks." Basically guys who did their best to be jerks and lower my faith in humanity. As they point out, Sandusky, the former Penn State assistant coach, deserves to be on the list, but so do the mofo students who rioted when Paterno was fired for helping cover Sandusky's crimes. I sincerely hope that those students, when potential employers find out their actions, decline to employ them because rooting for a guy who enabled child abuse is the trait employers should embrace. See what other jerks shined this past  year.
• Jezebel also looks at "The Year in Workplace Discrimination, Harassment, and General Fuckery."

A Few Neat Things Mostly for Adults (may be NSFW)

And to wrap, a thing or two that may not be for the kiddies. Yes, I do enjoy adult entertainment in various forms, as does the Better Half. And I am sure some out there do as well, so this one is for you perverts out there. If you are easily offended, repressed, your sky fairy tells you not to read this, etc., you can stop reading here now. If you like taking a walk on the naughty side, please proceed.

• Let us have a look at some "Pervy World Records Broken in 2011." These may not be hard NSFW, but some sensitive people may want to avoid anyhow. Via BuzzFeed.
• IO9 gives us "The Year in NSFW." Who knew there was such a thing as Sasquatch Porn? Also some links to nice pin ups and other risque things I find cool.
• Fleshbot has their "This Year in Flesh: 2011 Review." A roundup of all sorts of things in porn and adult amusements. (This is definitely NSFW in case you did not read the warning above). I've got to check out that Star Trek TNG parody. Their "Year in Review" tag has other items of interest.
• Violet Blue, writing for ZDNet, gives us "2011's Top Ten Sex and Tech Headlines."
• In her blog, Violet Blue gives us a list of "The Top 12 Sex Books of 2011." There is a little bit of everything here.
• Em & Lo list the top ten sex scandals of the year.

May the new year bring you peace, happiness, and many other good things.