It’s impossible to overstate how tumultuous a year 2011 has been.

Every year we seem to think that we have been shaken, twisted around, rudely awakened. Usually it’s about technology. But usually it’s about some life-changing technology, or a new ways of doing things. Refreshingly, this year there was a large human dimension to it, some of which I covered here on this blog.

It was as if we were looking through a camera and switching between two filters:  Pro-democracy and Anti-terrorism. But we also saw a share of media events, some even about the media!

• The people’s revolutions in Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Russia, Libya…
• In a surprising move, the US captured and killed of Osama Bin Laden — ten years after he declared war on the US.
• Then there was Occupy Wall Street, a movement pooh-poohed by many but seemed to catch on, franchise-like, sprouting  arms, posters, and megaphones…
• The shooting (and amazing recovery) of congresswoman Gabby Giffords dominated the early part of the year. At least here in Arizona.
• The media scandal in the UK rocking Rupert Murdock’s empire.
• The Kate and William extravaganza in the media -a.k.a. the royal wedding.
• The earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan in April.
• The passing away of Steve Jobs –perhaps slightly exaggerated as an ‘event’ (even on this blog!) But it made us consider how one man could have impacted so many.
• Aung Su Kyi returned to the political arena, registering to run in upcoming elections