From the notebook of Spin, a 17-year-old boy living hundred years from now.
Name: Spin
Age: 17 Years
Date: December 21, 2109
Project: Top 10 News Stories Of The Year 2009
 |
| Top Ten News Stories 2009 |
Name: Spin
Age: 17 Years
Date: December 21, 2109
Project: Top 10 News Stories Of The Year 2009
6. Talks about the earth getting hotter were hot throughout the year. The world leaders supported or denied to implement the measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions according to their self-interest.
The climate scientists, devoid of any authority, could only provide suggestions. In November 2009, a month before the United Nations Climate Conference, the private email messages of climate scientists were hacked, giving the skeptics a few straws as fodder. In December 2009, the developed and the developing nations held a climate conference and finalized a deal, which was called “meaningful” by the former and “weak” by the latter. The activists around the world protested against the half-hearted solutions, and demanded higher targets for reducing pollution.
As I sat ruminating in my transparent sunroom—I love this room with a lot of view—enjoying the pleasant breeze and the beauty of the nature, in what used to be the coldest month in the past, studying the efforts of our forefathers for our sake, I remembered an important obligation—to cast my vote against manipulation of the weather by local administrators for short-term gains.
7. In an era when discrimination and prejudice against people with homosexual orientation were widely prevalent due to lack of understanding, the appointment of Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir as the world’s first openly lesbian head of state was a big milestone. She became the Prime Minister of Iceland on February 1, 2009.
8. The latest trend in technology in the year 2009 was to own a smart phone, which allowed people to browse internet for information and stay connected via hugely popular social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The device was used to send two dimensional text messages, pictures, and videos. People still had to carry credit cards, identification cards, and various other documents with them, as these applications were not included in those not-so-smart phones, which were also liable to be misplaced or stolen.
9. On June 1, 2009, an airplane, Air France Flight 447, on its way to Paris from Rio de Janeiro crashed into Atlantic Ocean killing 228 passengers including the crew members.
The climate scientists, devoid of any authority, could only provide suggestions. In November 2009, a month before the United Nations Climate Conference, the private email messages of climate scientists were hacked, giving the skeptics a few straws as fodder. In December 2009, the developed and the developing nations held a climate conference and finalized a deal, which was called “meaningful” by the former and “weak” by the latter. The activists around the world protested against the half-hearted solutions, and demanded higher targets for reducing pollution.
As I sat ruminating in my transparent sunroom—I love this room with a lot of view—enjoying the pleasant breeze and the beauty of the nature, in what used to be the coldest month in the past, studying the efforts of our forefathers for our sake, I remembered an important obligation—to cast my vote against manipulation of the weather by local administrators for short-term gains.
7. In an era when discrimination and prejudice against people with homosexual orientation were widely prevalent due to lack of understanding, the appointment of Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir as the world’s first openly lesbian head of state was a big milestone. She became the Prime Minister of Iceland on February 1, 2009.
8. The latest trend in technology in the year 2009 was to own a smart phone, which allowed people to browse internet for information and stay connected via hugely popular social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The device was used to send two dimensional text messages, pictures, and videos. People still had to carry credit cards, identification cards, and various other documents with them, as these applications were not included in those not-so-smart phones, which were also liable to be misplaced or stolen.
9. On June 1, 2009, an airplane, Air France Flight 447, on its way to Paris from Rio de Janeiro crashed into Atlantic Ocean killing 228 passengers including the crew members.
People used to travel dangerously by rudimentary models of cars, trains and airplanes. They didn't have the life-saving body suits, into which we slip while actual travelling. Travel was a necessity as they were not able to have near-real physical contact with coworkers, friends, and relatives unless they actually visited them. Modern transportation was yet undiscovered, though it is mentioned in the science fiction of that period.
10. The year is also remembered for the sudden death of Michael Jackson, an excellent singer, songwriter, musician, and performer. He died of cardiac arrest caused by an overdose of drugs in the presence of his personal physician. When the news of his death broke, the internet experienced unprecedented level of traffic, shutting down some websites. Heartfelt tributes were paid all over the world.
He generated intense curiosity due to his lifestyle, which did not fit the “norms” of the day. He was a troubled soul. Artists, as opposed to the people in any other profession, do become extremely sensitive and are most of the time on the verge of insanity. When I think of Michael Jackson, instead of his songs, these words ring in my ears:
"Wacko Jacko - where'd that come from? Some English tabloid. I have a heart and I have feelings. I feel that when you do that to me. It's not nice. Don't do it. I'm not a 'wacko'."
On a personal note, in the month of September, my ancestor Giribala Joshi who spent her life in the service of letters began her writing career with a blog, The Grist Mill: Bring Your Own Grain. I guess I got my love for words from her. She lived in relative material poverty, but had an enriching and satisfying inner life, indulging herself in music, painting, and poetry. The following philosophical couplets, her favorite ones, will give you some idea of the depth of her artistic sensibilities:
Main unki gali se guzra, ajeeb ittefaq tha,
Unhone phool fenka, gamla bhi sath tha!
(I walked past her lane, a strange coincidence it was,
She threw a flower at me, accompanied with a flowerpot!)
Woh aye meri kabra pe, diya bujha ke chal diye,
Baki bacha jo tel tha, sar pe laga ke chal diye!
(She visited my grave, blew off the oil lamp kept there,
And, before leaving, applied the remaining oil on her head!)
10. The year is also remembered for the sudden death of Michael Jackson, an excellent singer, songwriter, musician, and performer. He died of cardiac arrest caused by an overdose of drugs in the presence of his personal physician. When the news of his death broke, the internet experienced unprecedented level of traffic, shutting down some websites. Heartfelt tributes were paid all over the world.
He generated intense curiosity due to his lifestyle, which did not fit the “norms” of the day. He was a troubled soul. Artists, as opposed to the people in any other profession, do become extremely sensitive and are most of the time on the verge of insanity. When I think of Michael Jackson, instead of his songs, these words ring in my ears:
"Wacko Jacko - where'd that come from? Some English tabloid. I have a heart and I have feelings. I feel that when you do that to me. It's not nice. Don't do it. I'm not a 'wacko'."
On a personal note, in the month of September, my ancestor Giribala Joshi who spent her life in the service of letters began her writing career with a blog, The Grist Mill: Bring Your Own Grain. I guess I got my love for words from her. She lived in relative material poverty, but had an enriching and satisfying inner life, indulging herself in music, painting, and poetry. The following philosophical couplets, her favorite ones, will give you some idea of the depth of her artistic sensibilities:
Main unki gali se guzra, ajeeb ittefaq tha,
Unhone phool fenka, gamla bhi sath tha!
(I walked past her lane, a strange coincidence it was,
She threw a flower at me, accompanied with a flowerpot!)
Woh aye meri kabra pe, diya bujha ke chal diye,
Baki bacha jo tel tha, sar pe laga ke chal diye!
(She visited my grave, blew off the oil lamp kept there,
And, before leaving, applied the remaining oil on her head!)
Part I: News Stories 1-5
(Picture courtesy The Economist)
(Picture courtesy The Economist)
"relative material poverty'? Unless one has private airplanes, super size yachts and has to earn a living is forced to live in "relative material poverty" :-(
ReplyDeleteI am a penniless aspiring writer...by choice :-)
ReplyDeletelmao
ReplyDelete