2011, the year of unexpected headlines ~ What next?

So, it's been an... interesting year, so far. We've got, to quote our good website, a flaming fruit vendor who caused, via Disaster Dominoes the fall of Ben Ali and Mubarak, a tsunami wiping out 30,000 Japanese people and causing a nuclear accident, France urging the U.S. in the U.N. to go to war in North Africa before sending troops in Ivory Coast, Ben Laden helifragged in his house a few blocks away from the Pakistani military academy (who said "honorary teacher in asymetric warfare"?), and now, the IMF boss caught in a story you'd normally find in bad thrillers.

As the guys on Alternate History forums summed it up: we're in Alien Space Bats territory, there (read "improbable situations that could only be explained through the influence of all-powerful alien space bats willing to see the result of some weird "What if..." situation").

The question I thus have for my fellow tropers is the following:

-In two weeks from now, what will be the next headline?

Fate is officially a Cloudcuckoolander, so, anything is fair game.

Didn't hear abou the business with the IMF guy. Do we have a thread on it?

Sum-up of the situation: Dominique Straus-Kahn, the IMF boss, was arrested yesterday in a Air France plane a few minutes before departure. He's currently accused of rape and illegal imprisonment on a hotel maid. There's a big outcry in the U.S. and France (DSK's country), but a lot of people begin to think it's some kind of a set-up, since he's one of the main contenders for the presidency in France next year and a lot of his decisions in the IMF weren't popular with both Wall Street and some countries in Europe. Noone really knows what really did happen and what will be the consequences (DSK had some affairs, but as long as the girl is willing, the European public doesn't give a damn about it, whereas it sinks a career in the U.S. But if there was really a rape, this is a whole other thing).

And while he wasn't a candidate for the left wing in France (yet), some put a lot of hopes in him (and from the polls, quite a lot of French people too). Now we're kinda doubtful towards the usual left-wing (petty internal business takes up all their time) and we're left contemplating an horrible outcome for the 2012 Presidential election: far right vs the dwarf (and I say that with as much scorn as I can muster for a human being) already in place.

Ah, so I saw when I popped down to read today's Telegraph. New topic? New topic.

edited 16th May '11 4:16:53 AM by Iaculus

in September the Palestinians are apparently planning to ask the UN to recognize them as a sovereign state. if that would pass thing could get interesting.

There's also the Wikileaks business, though it started last year - but so did the Middle East protests, and it does count as this year's news.

Also, after 16 years, Finland finally won the Ice Hockey World Championship again!

edited 16th May '11 9:47:23 AM by BestOf

The Chicago Cubs winning the World Series is the next highly improbable event to occur this year.

14.3 trillion-dollar Debt Ceiling reached- oh, wait, that actually happened.

Public release of the files regarding Who Shot JFK?

Genetically-engineered pigs with wings

Video Games recognized as an art form

The end of the Republican party of the USA

Terrorists will finally use a "dirty bomb" as has been theorized for so long

A Russian will buy an American sports team

Electric cars will hit the market, and they will not be lease-only either

^ People have been forecasting the "end" of the Republican Party since 1932. It never sticks.

The US political system requires and encourages two large parties. If the Republicans go under it will only be because a new party takes their place, which will effectively be the same party in terms of support.

Yes, and noone could have thought Mubarak would have been kicked out of power. And noone really believed Ousama was going to be found. The next headline of the series could be about Bush Jr. giving a scientific speech on the global warming and being applauded by Al Gore, I wouldn't be suprised.

^ Dude, Al Gore is so full of himself, George W Bush could say absolutely everything right to him that's in full agreement to all his positions and he'll still razz and complain about the man.

It's more likely the Cubs are going to win the World Series than ever get respect for somebody else out of Al Gore.

That would be a very unusual event in of itself.

"DSK found hung in his cell" That one would be so awesome for the conspiracy theorists, no?

"Nuclear war in the Middle-East ~ Iran and Israel holes in the map" That one would be less than happy...

edited 16th May '11 11:57:49 PM by RufusShinra

Defense spending in America is reduced by one trillion dollars by cutting and or closing carriers, missiles, overseas bases, and intelligence agencies while still maintaining the largest military force on the planet.

x8 Believe it or not, video games have already been recognized as an art form. The Smithsonian is putting on an exhibit.

edited 17th May '11 1:03:23 AM by SeventySeven

Well, Australia has had the whole planking craze, then death by planking, and then Moral Guardians opposing planking.

For reference, planking.

Here's to hoping for another Iranian revolution and the surprise collapse of North Korea.

Games Now Legally Considered an Art Form

May 21, 2011: the First-and-one-Halfth Coming.

Jesus descends from the Heavens, says "Seriously, guys, stop hurrying me up. It will be done when it is done. Myself." and ascends again.

edited 17th May '11 6:24:39 AM by Carciofus

"Obama is the father of the child of Sarkozy's wife"

Obama real birth certificate is found and shows he wasn't born in the US, but it doesn't change anything because it will also show he was born before 1776 and therefor can legally be the president

edited 17th May '11 8:57:20 AM by nnokwoodeye

To add insult to injury, he was born in Hawaii when Hawaii was a colony of Kenya.

What? You didn't know Kenya was a colonial superpower and that it ruled Hawaii for a while? Well, that's because it didn't make headlines until this year!