Trending Topics

BUZZWORDS

The (s)language of the year

occupy [2011 origin: Wall Street]

It began with a group of protesters who had a vague, lefty anti–Wall Street impulse. A few started camping out at a park in Manhattan’s financial district. Then, as the movement coalesced around the idea that it represented “the 99%”–as opposed to the richest 1%–Occupy protests spread to Boston, London and even Antarctica.

planking [2011 origin: Australia]

For reasons that may never be clear to historians, the trend of people positioning themselves horizontally in unusual or even dangerous places to be photographed for social-media sites went viral in 2011. Planking apparently began in Australia, but eventually the phenomenon had people going prostrate the world over.

carmageddon [2011 origin: Los Angeles]

Early last summer, Los Angeles transportation officials announced that a 10-mile (16 km) stretch of the 405 freeway would be closed for a weekend in July. The media anticipated an apocalyptic traffic jam. But carmageddon turned out to be anticlimactic, just like most end-of-the-world predictions.

super PAC [2011 origin: Washington]

Super PACs, political action committees that can spend unlimited amounts of money in elections, emerged in 2010. But the term became popularized in the run-up to the 2012 elections, particularly after satirical newsman Stephen Colbert formed a super PAC to highlight the corporate powers behind campaign finance. His slogan is still the one to beat: “Making a better tomorrow, tomorrow.”

hacktivist [2011 origin: the ether]

Hacking is usually considered a criminal act, but this year it was also a political one. Hacktivist is a term that describes someone who uses invasive tech skills to advance a cause and leak information. Hacktivist group Anonymous was the highest profile, with its repeated attacks on “corrupt companies.”

APOLOGIES

The year in regret

REED HASTINGS, NETFLIX

“I messed up … Many members felt we lacked respect and humility in the way we announced the separation of DVD and streaming … In hindsight, I slid into arrogance based upon past success.”

ROB MARUSTER, JETBLUE

“We did not deplane those aircraft in our target time allotted … Let’s face it–at JetBlue you count on us for a lot more … and we know we let some of you down.”

ANTHONY WEINER

“To be clear, the picture was of me, and I sent it … I have exchanged messages and photos of an explicit nature with about six women over the last three years … I’m deeply ashamed.”

NEWS OF THE WORLD

“Quite simply, we lost our way. Phones were hacked, and for that this newspaper is truly sorry.”

TRACY MORGAN

“I want to apologize to my fans and the gay & lesbian community for my choice of words at my recent standup act in Nashville … I’m not a hateful person.”

KENNETH COLE

“My attempt at humor regarding [Egyptians’] liberating themselves … was poorly timed and absolutely inappropriate.”

LEBRON JAMES

“Everything I went through this summer, with The Decision and deciding to come down here to be a part of this team … I apologize for the way it happened.”

Sorry.

BEST TWEETS

Life in 140 characters (or fewer)

@Ghonim Wael Ghonim

Mission accomplished. Thanks to all the brave young Egyptians.

#Jan25

319 days ago

(For Egypt’s digital revolutionaries, victory at last)

@BillGates Bill Gates

For those of us lucky enough to get to work with Steve, it’s been an insanely great honor. I will miss Steve immensely.

82 days ago

(Microsoft’s founder honors a rival and friend)

@ReallyVirtual Sohaib Athar

Uh oh, now I’m the guy who liveblogged the Osama raid without knowing it.

238 days ago

(IT consultant becomes unwitting war correspondent)

@news_va_en Pope Benedict XVI

Dear Friends, I just launched News.va Praised be our Lord Jesus Christ! With my prayers and blessings, Benedictus XVI

181 days ago

(The Pope’s first tweet; call it religion 2.0)

@whitehouse Barack Obama

in order to reduce the deficit, what costs would you cut and what investments would you keep –bo

173 days ago

(The President works on his Klout score–a solid 87)

@JonnieMarbLes Jonnie Marbles

It is a far better thing that I do now than I have ever done before

#splat

160 days ago

(A pie for Murdoch unfurls in live Twitter theater)