Warning: This post contains a long material. Please decide now whether you want to read an encyclopedia-longed article. Thanks :)
As 2009 finishes, the first decade of the millennium is also going to an end. The decade of 2000s has been rather extreme. It was filled with highs and lows. TIME says it was the worst. In contrast,Washington Post says that prosperity reigned America in this decade. Now, you might be also wondering what I think of it. This decade is the first full decade I have ever witnessed. I was born in 1995. In 2000 I was 4, and so I couldn't remember about fourth the decade. I do not remember my first four years either. And so I will just "copy and paste" from other sites and conclude my post quickly :)
As 2009 finishes, the first decade of the millennium is also going to an end. The decade of 2000s has been rather extreme. It was filled with highs and lows. TIME says it was the worst. In contrast,Washington Post says that prosperity reigned America in this decade. Now, you might be also wondering what I think of it. This decade is the first full decade I have ever witnessed. I was born in 1995. In 2000 I was 4, and so I couldn't remember about fourth the decade. I do not remember my first four years either. And so I will just "copy and paste" from other sites and conclude my post quickly :)
A leap year started the millennium--2000! According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2000 was designated as International Year for the Culture of Peace and World Mathematical Year. One of the highlights of 2000 was the Microsoft vs. the United States case, stating that Microsoft violated US antitrust laws by keeping an "oppressive thumb to its competitors." 2000 was also the start of Y2Kconcerns. It was being said that computers would not shift from 1999 to 2000 correctly. On November 7, 2000, United States held its presidential election. Herein Republican George Bush defeats Vice President Al Gore. The closest election ever in history also happened.
Days go on. Many things happened thereafter and now, we're in 2001. 2001 was rather eventful [I know you know that!] In January 15, Wikipedia launches on the Internet. January 20 marks now-former George Bush's inauguration and succeeds now-former President Bill Clinton. People Power in the Philippines marks its second revolution--now against again-running-president-former-president Joseph Estrada. Afterwards, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo seats, as the 14th and the second woman president, the Philippine presidency. June 23--Peru was hit by an earthquake. The world's first self contained artificial heart was also made and implanted in Robert Tools. August 24 places the Heino murders in Finland (wherein 4 teenagers murdered a businessman and his wife). The 9/11 attackshappens on, obviously, September 11. Almost 3,000 were killed in 2 planned attacks in Arlington, VA (the Pentagon, specifically), the World Trade Center in New York City, and in an unsuccessful trip to rural area of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Pretty much, that's it for 2001.
The world transitioned to another new year--2002. It was designated as four things: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains, Year of the Outback in Australia, National Science Year in the UK, and Autism Awareness Year in the UK also. Not much significant events happened in 2002. But let's look back at some milestones and catastrophes happened in 2002. On the first day of 2002, Euro coins and notes were issued France, Spain, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Finland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Austria, Ireland and the Netherlands. The No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law by George Bush on January 8. Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearls was kidnapped in Pakistan also on January. Be surprised by this one: May 7-Gay Canadian teenager Marc Hall is granted a court injunction ordering that he be allowed to attend his high school prom with his boyfriend. May 20 marks East Timor's independence, meanwhile. Telecommunications giant WorldCom files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (the largest such filing in United States history) on July 21st. And the last in this ironically long section of 2002 happened on November 25th. This was the signing of theHomeland Security Act, establishing the Department of Homeland Security, as a law by President George Bush. Also on this year, Population Division of the United Nations calculates that 40 million people around the world are infected with HIV.
I suppose I am making this longer than ever. Let's make it brief. We're now on 2003. 2003 was designated as the International Year of Freshwater and European Disability Year. One of the most significant events in the field of technology happened on March 23, 2003. This was the creation of the first public social networking site--Friendster. May 1 – U. S. president George W. Bush lands on the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, where he gives a speech announcing the end of major combat in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. A banner behind him declares "Mission Accomplished." August 11 was the hottest day in Paris that year--or at record. I don't know. But what the fascinating thing is that a heat wave in Paris causes temperatures up to 44°C (112°F). On November 9 of that year, a lunar eclipse was seen in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Central Asia. On December 1st, United Kingdom made the use of cellphones while driving illegal. And for the conclusion of this paragraph, on December 26th, an earthquake hit southeastern Iran, killing approximately 40,000 people in the city of Barn.
I'll end this post with 2004. 2004 was designated as the International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and as the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and its Abolition by UNESCO. These are some significant events that happened in 2004: February 4- my favorite social networking website Facebook was launched. February 12- San Francisco, CA began issuing marriage license to same-sex couples in an act of civil disobedience. June 5- President Ronald Reagan dies at his house in Bel-Air, California. On October 20, Ubuntu operating system launches. November 2 was the US Presidential Election, and George Bush retains the Presidential seat. Also on that day, eleven states ban same-sex marriage. Finally, on December 26th, the strongest earthquake since the 1960s hit Southeast Asia, killing 186, 983 people.
2005. 2005 was a year of disasters. In Wikipedia, it was designated as The Year of the Veteran in Canada, The Year of the Volunteer in UK, The World Year of Physics, and The Year of Discovery. Let's not make this very long. We all know on 2005, Hurricane Katrina splashed New Orleans in Louisiana; an earthquake shakes Japan, injuring 56; and more I know. John Pope II also dies on April 2nd. On February of that year also, Youtube was launched.
2005. 2005 was a year of disasters. In Wikipedia, it was designated as The Year of the Veteran in Canada, The Year of the Volunteer in UK, The World Year of Physics, and The Year of Discovery. Let's not make this very long. We all know on 2005, Hurricane Katrina splashed New Orleans in Louisiana; an earthquake shakes Japan, injuring 56; and more I know. John Pope II also dies on April 2nd. On February of that year also, Youtube was launched.
Let's jump onto 2006. 2006 was designated as the Year of Mozart, marking Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 250th birthday. The year started in Australia with its warmest day on record--45°C or 113°F. On October 10 of that year, Google buys Youtube for $1.65 billion.
Moving on. 2007. On March 1, The International Polar Year program was established to research and study the North and South Poles. On July 21, the last of Harry Potter book series was released. On August 15, an 8.0 earthquake strikes Peru, leaving 512 people dead and 1500 injured. This caused the some tsunami warnings in the Pacific Ocean. On December 19 of this year, Vladimir Putin of Russia was TIME's Person of the Year.
Phew. I am tired of typing. And I reckon you're also tired of reading this now. But moving on!
Named as the International Year of Planet Earth, 2008 is also International Year of Languages, International Year of Potato, and International Year of Sanitation. It is also the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. On January 25th of this year, China had its worst snowstorm since 1954, killing 133 people. Kosovo gained independence from Serbia on February 17th of the year. February 19th marks Fidel Castro's resignation as President of Cuba. An exploding star becomes the farthest known object ever visible to the naked eye. That's on March 19th. Bill Gates steps down to focus on philanthropy on June 27th. November 4, US elects the first African American President ever: Barack Obama.
We are down to 2009! What's in 2009? 2009 is the Year of Astronomy and the Year of Natural Fibres. I know you know what happened this 2009!
So anyway, if you read all of the paragraphs above, then you are a nerd. :)
By the way, this is just FYI. Watch out for MY review.