My 2015 Person of the Year

Another year is successfully behind us and with it another opportunity to reflect upon the people and events that made 2015 unforgetable.  In addition, I now have another opportunity to present to my half dozen blog readers the newest installment in my Person of the Year series.  This is my 4th installment (you can see previous winners for 2011, 2012 and 2013 by clicking those years).  Sadly, 2014 was left in the dust due to my lack of interest in blogging that year (my blogging has gone down dramatically but hopefully that will change). So, without further delay I present to the world the Brad Hart 2015 Person of the Year!





5.) Donald Trump

First, let me say for the record that I am NOT a Donald Trump fan.  Far from it.  With that being said, there can be little doubt that Mr. Trump has had a dramatic impact on American politics. The American electorate (especially on the right) has grown tired of "politics as usual." The traditional Washington politician is a tiresome and annoying presence that most Americans no longer trust. Trump, for better or for worse, has presented himself as an alternative to the traditional American politician.  Love him or hate him (and there is little in between when it comes to the Donald), Trump has been the biggest newsmaking figure in the 2015 American political arena.





4.) Pope Francis

What can I say...I LOVE this guy!  Pope Francis is rapidly becoming my all-time favorite Catholic Pope (he actually won one of my previous "Person of the Year installments).  The Catholic Pontiff had another big year in 2015.  Not only did he follow through on his promise to open the financial books of the the world's largest church to the world, but Francis also reformed the financial practices of the faith.  Francis has hired independent accounting agencies to oversee the church's finances.  He has dismissed a number of Catholic leaders (to include 2 Cardinals) for financial indiscretions.  He continues to enact changes to the bureaucracy of the Vatican that promote honesty and transparency. His visit to the United States was met with excitement by millions of Catholic Americans.  In short, Pope Francis continues to breathe new life into a church that was literally saturated with scandal. Catholicism is back in large part to the man at the helm.





3.) American Pharoah

This may seem like a silly pick (hey, 2015 didn't exactly have the biggest or best selection) but American Pharoah was a noteworthy figure in 2015. American Pharoah became the first race horse in 37 years to win the Triple Crown of horse racing (that means he won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes). American Pharoah proved to be faster than any previous Triple Crown horse to include even the legendary Secretariat.






2.) The Return of the Jedi

There can be no debate that one of the biggest stories of 2015 was the return of Star Wars to the big screen. You don't need a Ph.D. to fully realize and appreciate the incredible cultural significance that Star Wars has had in not only the United States but most of the world. It can be easily argued that no other film franchise has had the impact that Star Wars has had over the past 40 years, and its newest installment is likely to catapult the legend of the Jedi even further into the stratosphere.  J.J. Abrams not only hit a home run in 2015 (along with the cast of the film) but he has endeared himself to millions of nerdy Star Wars geeks who have a stronger cult following to The Force than most religions.  Make no mistake, Star Wars is back!







And the winner of the 2015 Brad Hart Person of the Year Award is..................[cue the drumroll].............................................................................................................................





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1.) Pluto

Yes, yes, I realize that Pluto is not a person so stop already! It doesn't matter because in 2015, no story was bigger or more important than our furthest neighbor in the Solar System.  On July 14th of this Year, NASA's New Horizons space probe made its closest fly by of the dwarf planet, capturing scores of important pictures and data that are still being analyzed by scientists here on Earth.  This achievement is remarkable not only for the pictures taken but for the advances in science that are still breaking records.  New Horizons is, to date, the fastest man-made vehicle in history.  It has gone further in a shorter amount of time than even thought possible even 10 years ago.  Pluto itself is telling us more about the nature of our Solar System (and the Universe in general) than scientists anticipated.  This small, seemingly insignificant little dwarf planet, which sits on the outskirts of our humble little Solar System, is now on center stage. Astronomers and scientists of all molds have grown to appreciate the immense significance of not only this tiny world but of our ability to both travel to and analyze our most distant cosmic neighbor.

There you have it...the 2015 person of the year!  Thanks, 2015!  Now, R.I.P.

My 2013 Person of the Year

Another year has come to an end and with it another opportunity to look back and reflect on the people and events that helped to shape 2013 into the year it was.  And as has become tradition on my blog, the conclusion of another year affords me the opportunity to select my "Person of the Year."

Time Magazine has, since 1927, continued this tradition.  My humble little blog is only in its third year (you can see my previous selections by clicking on the following links.  My 2011 winner can be found by clicking here and my 2012 winner by clicking here).

So, without further delay, I offer up my selections for 2013's Person of the Year:

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10.) Lance Armstrong

Professional athletes who have confessed to using performance enhancing drugs is nothing new. The case of Lance Armstrong, however, is unique.  After all, no athlete was more passionate about his innocence than Armstrong.  Compounded with his triumph over cancer, Armstrong had been a beacon of moral integrity and purity of athletic ability.  For over a decade, Armstrong had vehemently defended his position that he had never used drugs of any kind while competing.  In January of this year that all changed.  In a dramatic confession to Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong admitted to using drugs throughout his career.  His subsequent downfall, which is arguably the most dramatic of any professional athlete who has admitted to drug use, led to his dismissal from his Livestrong foundation and the loss of virtually every sponsor that Armstrong ever had. Armstrong's fall from grace was one of the most dramatic stories of the then infant year that was 2013 (you can read a previous blog post that I wrote on the Armstrong scandal by clicking here).

9.) Sheryl Sandberg

2013 was the year that saw Facebook successfully evolve from being what Founder Mark Zuckerberg called "a really cool website to a really profitable company."  And one of the chief reasons for that successful evolution was Sheryl Sandberg.  After being "stolen" away from Google and made COO of Facebook, Sandberg set to the task of guiding Facebook into the world of a publicly-traded company.  It was a task she understood very well and succeeded at accomplishing. But this was only part of why Sandberg had such a successful year.  In March, Sandberg released her first book, Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead. The book, which became an instant best seller and stayed at the top for quite some time, addressed the issue of women in the workplace, particularly women (or the lack thereof) in leadership positions.  Sandberg was both critical of society and of women, stating that both could do a better job of establishing greater gender equality and of promoting qualified women to leadership positions.  Sandberg's example has catapulted her to the highest echelon of the business world as one of the few women to break into that club.

8.) Margaret Thatcher

April saw the passing of a British legend.  Margaret Thatcher, the "Iron Lady," Great Britain's longest serving Prime Minister of the 20th century, made her grand exit from the world after a stellar career as a staunch conservative politician and leader.  Thatcher's resume needs no review here on my humble little blog.  The bottom line is she was one of the most charismatic and influential world leaders of the 20th century.  Her iron will and uncompromising, unapologetic devotion to conservative ideals, which had been forged over a lifetime, made Thatcher one of the most imposing figures in both her nation and on the greater world stage.  Her name has become synonymous with tough, unforgiving yet still elegant British politics.  Her name deserves to be uttered with the likes of Churchill and other great British leaders who are now larger than life.  Farewell, Iron Lady! Heaven added one formidable woman to its ranks in 2013!


7.) The "Culture Warrior"

Duck Dynasty, George Zimmerman, Paula Deen, Miley Cyrus, racism, gay marriage, war, corporate greed and corruption, gun rights, Ted Cruz, government shut downs, Anthony Wiener, talk radio, yadda, yadda, yadda.  2013 was, like many before it, inundated with a vast assortment of polarizing issues that were hijacked by eager culture warriors who were more than willing to spin their rhetoric in a way that was sure to pull at the heart strings of their respective listeners. Like Baskin Robbins does with ice cream, 2013 offered up a flavor of cultural sensationalism that appealed to the palette of everyone.  The culture warriors did a magnificent job of ensuring that these issues, and many others, became larger than life and stole the headlines when other stories deserved the air time. They successfully stole the communal microphone and forced us to listen to their ilk whether we wanted to or not.  Thank you, brave culture warriors, for helping us to complicate the obvious and get all worked up over stuff that doesn't really need to preoccupy our time.

6.) Peter Higgs

In March, the incredible scientists at CERN (the large hadron collider in Europe) went public with a remarkable discovery that has defined particle physics.  The Higgs Bozon, the particle that essentially gives all matter in the universe its mass, was confirmed to be a real phenomenon of nature.  The discovery of this so-called "God Particle" was the life work of one Peter Higgs, a British physicist and Nobel Prize winner who first postulated his theory of the Higgs Bozon in the 1960s.  With CERN's confirmation that the Higgs Bozon is not merely a theory but a fact of nature, particle physicists are now able to to better determine how everything in our universe (stars, planets, etc.) came into existence.  And make no mistake, this discovery is one of the "big ones" that will go down in the history books for as long as humans study the universe.  Undoubtedly the biggest science story of 2013.

5.) Kathleen Sebelius

The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. "Obamacare") was meant to be one of the crowning achievements of President Barack Obama's second term.  The hope was that millions of Americans, who either couldn't afford or qualify for health care, would find respite in the new law, thereby granting all Americans access to needed medical services.  The problem, however, was the fact that signing up for "Obamacare" became more difficult than crossing the Arctic Circle in flip flops.  And the blame for Obamacare's roll out (whether deserved or not) was placed squarely on the shoulders of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius.  Sebelius' office, which was responsible for creating and maintaining the Obamacare website, completely jumped off the boat and missed the ocean.  In addition, Sebelius came under scrutiny when she was unable to specifically explain to a congressional committee where approximately $12 billion in funding for Obamacare had gone.  In short, Kathleen Sebelius became one of the largest scapegoats and whipping boys of 2013.

4.) Edward Snowden

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you have heard of Edward Snowden.  Whether you consider him a hero or a villain is a question that will likely continue long into the future. Snowden, a computer specialist who contracted with the CIA and NSA, released documents to various media outlets that revealed the questionable surveillance practices of those and other agencies.  Snowden, who has since his "treason" sought asylum in various nations, has become a focal point in the debate over government's duty to protect its citizens v. the 4th Amendment right to privacy. Again, the question of whether Snowden is a hero or a villain is not going to be solved any time soon, but the information he has brought to light is going to fuel the debate of surveillance v. privacy for years to come.  Where does government's duty to protect its citizens go too far?  How does technology come into play with regards to this debate?  Only time will tell but what is certain is the fact that Snowden has provided ample ammunition for those on both sides of this argument.

3.) Hassan Rouhani

In June, the Iranian people saw the ascension to power of its seventh president, Hassan Rouhani. Rouhani, who is not a newcomer to the stage of Iranian politics, is a controversial figure to say the least.  Unlike almost all of his predecessors, Rouhani is determined to reconcile his nation with the Western world.  Rouhani has stated, on multiple occasions, his desire to see Iran become an ally of the United States and even Israel.  Unlike previous Iranian leaders, Rouhani admits that the Holocaust was a real and terrible event and that Israel and the rest of the Muslim world can and should reconcile with one another.  In addition, Rouhani has been a vocal supporter of women's rights, freedom of the press and ending poverty. Rouhani is also opposed to the nuclear programs that have landed his nation in hot water with the rest of the world.  Americans, along with the rest of the world, should be very excited at the fact that a man like Rouhani is in a position to effect change in a nation that has been at odds with the Western world.  Rouhani may very well be the beacon of change we all have been hoping for and that his people deserve.

2.) Nelson Mandela

There is little doubt that the most prominent figure to depart the world in 2013 was none other than Nelson Mandela. Like Margaret Thatcher mentioned above, I see little reason to review Mandela's unprecedented resume of accomplishments here on my little blog.  The bottom line is Mandela was one of those figures who transcend history.  His fight for equal rights in his home nation of South Africa will be praised long after we have all taken that magic carpet ride into the sky.  Mandela is proof that one man with courage, integrity and endurance can change the world for the better.  Mandela endured more challenges and trials that any person should be asked to bear, but he did so with his head held high and his feet firmly planted on the ground.  His legacy is an inspiration to anyone who dares to believe that the world can and will be changed for the good of all mankind.  Farewell, Madiba!!!  The world is a much better place because you lived in it.

And now, the winner of the Corazon's Corner 2013 Person of the Year Award is..............

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1.) Pope Francis

This is actually the first time in my three years of doing this that I have agreed with Time Magazine's selection of Person of the Year. Simply put, Pope Francis is, in my opinion, the most impressive Catholic Pontiff in over 1,000 years.  Like the fictional character King Midas, it seems that everything Francis touched in 2013 turned instantly into gold.  This is, of course, due to the fact that Francis has a perfect understanding of a very key principle of Christianity: actions speak MUCH louder than words!

I cannot even begin to emphasize how much I love this guy!  Pope Francis makes me wish that I could be both a Catholic and a Mormon.  His example of humble and authentic discipleship is something that I sincerely hope every leader of every congregation of every brand of Christianity (or any faith or no faith for that matter) will take note of and attempt to emulate.  Whether it be Francis' example of washing the feet of convicted criminals, his sincere embrace of a disfigured man, his dismissal of Catholic leaders who live off the riches of others, his vehement opposition of greed, or the many other examples he has set, Francis' actions are those that have made Catholicism relevant again.

I for one will be the first to invoke the words of the Late Reverend Krister Stendahl, who coined the phrase "holy envy."  I have holy envy for Catholicism because of the works and example of one Pope Francis.  He makes me want to be a better Mormon, a better father, a better human.  If there is a better selection for 2013's person of the year I don't see it.  Pope Francis is, in my estimation, the clear winner...and this may not be the only year he wins!

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There you have it, folks.  Thank you for reading.  And may I take this time to wish each of you a happy, safe, prosperous and joyous 2014.  Love and peace to you and yours in the year to come!

My 2012 Person of the Year

Another year has finally come to an end and with it another opportunity to reflect on the people and events that helped to make 2012 an unforgettable moment in history.  Yes, I realize that I am 24 days PAST the new year, but I still wanted to get this post in before moving forward with anything else.  For the millions...er...half dozen of fans of Corazon's Corner, I am pleased to present the second annual installment of my Person of the Year award (you can see last year's winners by clicking here).  So, without further delay, here are my selections for 2012's Person of the Year:



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10.) Michael Phelps
Last summer, at the Olympic Games in London, Phelps became the most decorated Olympian of all-time, winning 22 medals overall for his career, 18 of which were gold.  Phelps' dominance in the pool over the last 15 years (and 3 Olympic games) has made him swimming's ultimate hero, not to mention has earned him millions of dollars (impressive considering the fact that swimmers really aren't that celebrated).  2012 also marks the end of Phelps' dominance, as he announced his intention to retire at the conclusion of the London Games.  Thanks, M.P. for all the memories! You were a joy to watch!

9.) The Super Hero
So maybe this selection is a little over the top and is certainly influenced by the fact that my two young boys are DIE HARD super hero fans right now. With that said, I couldn't help but notice just how prevalent super heroes were in our culture last year.  For example, the top two grossing films for 2012 were The Avengers ($623 million) and The Dark Knight Rises ($448 million), while The Amazing Spiderman came in 6th ($262 million).  For whatever reason, the super hero has been a big deal in American (and world) culture in 2012, but I think it isn't simply due to their entertainment value.  Super heroes make us hopeful.  They make us believe that a better world, with better people (capable of amazing feats) is possible.  The past few years have brought with them a measure of economic and social decline, but the super hero, albeit fictional, makes us feel like the darkness can and will eventually give way to the dawn.  And if not....Hulk SMASH!!!!!

8.) Bashar al-Assad

Just another asshole dictator trying to maintain his pathetic regime at the cost of the people he claims to "love." Bashar is the second of four sons (and one daughter) of the al-Assad family, which rose to power in Syria in the 1960s.  The family line is one of tyranny and evil, and Bashar seems more than happy to continue the family business.  The struggle of the Syrian citizenry gripped the headlines throughout 2012, and al-Assad is a chief reason for it.  His unwillingness to compromise or release even a small measure of control has caused misery and despair for far too many. One can only hope that Bashar's people will have the opportunity to show him the same love that the Lybians showed Muammar Gaddafi.

7.) Queen Elizabeth II

Back in June of last year, Queen Elizabeth II, along with millions of citizens of Great Britain and the Commonwealth across the globe, celebrated the Diamond Jubilee (60th anniversary) of Britain's second longest standing monarch.  Queen Elizabeth II's reign has been one of constant change.  She came to the throne at the conclusion of the Second World War, and witnessed first-hand the social, political and economic evolution of Great Britain from that of a dominant world power to a lesser but still very relevant nation.  In addition, the British Royal Family has experienced a number of ups and downs that have caused popular support for their reign to ebb and flow over the years.  Everything from Princess Diana, Lady Camilla, and a wild Prince Harry have captivated the tabloids, and brought the Royal Family unwanted attention. Yet through it all, Queen Elizabeth has managed to keep the British Monarchy relevant.  Her approval is still quite high and doesn't appear to change any time soon.  She truly has become the embodiment of everything special about Great Britain.

6.) Barack Obama

Any time you are the President of the United States you are probably a lock to be a top 10 Person of the Year every year. But when you win reelection it becomes a virtual requirement. Of course, we all know that President Obama won a second term in the Oval Office, despite facing a number of obstacles that, at least to some, threatened his chances in a big way. From a historical perspective, it is rare that a standing president with high unemployment levels and rising debt is able to win a second term, but Obama did just that, and did so in fairly convincing fashion. Some will argue that he won because of Romney's ineptitude, others will say he won because he was a success in his first term. Personally, I think he won because of a shifting electorate. Best of luck with your second term, Mr. President. We all wish you the best.

5.) The Changing American Voter

As stated in the comment above, I firmly believe that Barack Obama won reelection thanks in large part to a shifting electorate.  The American voter is, no longer, what he once was.  The clear shift in demographics, predominantly marked by a massive increase in Latino voters, has forever changed the American political landscape.  No longer can a national candidate hope to guarantee his/her seat in office by focusing on the traditional "meat and potato" voting block.  An increased number of Latino, African American and female voters, along with a younger demographic, has changed the game in a big way.  President Obama's team understood this, Romney's did not.  Pure and simple. 

4.) Neil Armstrong

Okay, I must admit, I am a bit of a space nerd but that isn't the reason I made this pick.  When it comes to exploration, there is no greater name than that of Neil Armstrong.  People of this generation seem to forget (or never understood in the first place) just how important of an achievement the Apollo space program really was, and Neil Armstrong is its crowning gem.  As the first man to walk on the Moon, Armstrong forever etched his legacy in stone with the likes of Columbus, Magellan and Lindbergh (he actually surpasses those guys).  After his astronaut career, Armstrong essentially retired from public life.  He was rarely if ever outspoken except for on a few key issues, the main one of course being the importance of further space exploration (a cause that I agree with 100%).  With the passing of Armstrong, along with the retirement of the Space Shuttle, one has to wonder if America will ever explore the heavens again like we once did so many years ago. One can only hope that the legacy of this, the greatest explorer in human history, will challenge us to do better...MUCH better!  

3.) Curiosity: The Mars Rover

On August 6th of last year, at approximately 5:17 a.m. (EST), a 7ft tall, 9ft long, 2,000lb robotic car named Curiosity made contact with the surface of Mars.  This, of course, was not the first time that a human-built robotic object has graced the Martian surface.  Far from it.  Curiosity, however, is still a special achievement.  Her size, strength, speed, mobility, on board navigation and communications alone make her the most advanced rover to ever venture into space.  But that isn't all that Curiosity has packed under her skirt.  Along with all of her technological advances, Curiosity is also equipped with the most advanced biological, geological, geochemical and radiological sensors/equipment known to man.  Her mission, which is primarily to assess if life has/is/is capable of existing on Mars, has already yielded mountains of invaluable data, and will surely supply even greater amounts of data in the coming months.  Thanks to Curiosity and other rovers like her, Mars is becoming less like the distant alien world our ancestors worshiped, and more like a friendly neighbor who lives next door. 

2.) The Nut-Job

2012 saw no shortage of paranoid, idiotic, crazy, whacked out, Looney Tune, kookoo for Cocoa Puffs, doomsday nut-jobs!  In fact, 2012 was full of them.  Whether it was the Newtown Connecticut shooting, the Aurora movie theater shooting, the Seattle cafe shooting, the Sikh Temple shooting in Wisconsin (4 of at least 16 mass shootings last year), 2012 saw its fair share of psychotic evil.  But that wasn't all.  As if our crazy train wasn't full enough, 2012 also saw plenty of paranoid political propagandists as well.  With the election of 2012, both extremes of the political spectrum had more than enough crazy to last a lifetime.  But the biggest nut-jobs of the year have to be the dimwits who bought into the whole Mayan apocalypse.  From doom bunkers to cataclysmic global power outages, these wackos spent ridiculous sums of money and time preparing for an end that never came.  And, of course, let's not forget the other "end of days" loons.  People like Warren Jeffs, who has convinced his polygamous flock that the world was going to end before New Year's Day, and the Westboro Baptist Church, which has protested everything under the sun in the name of some psychotic apocalyptic god.  Yes, I think it is safe to say that the inmates took over at least a portion of the asylum in 2012.  Here's hoping we can get rid of them in 2013.  In the words of Jack Nicholson from the movie, As Good As It Gets, "Sell crazy someplace else, we're all stocked up here." 

And the winner of the 2012 Corazon's Corner Person of the Year Award is.....{cue drum roll}........


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1.) Malala Yousafzai

Though she may seem like any other average teenage girl, the life and story of Malala Yousafazai is far from mundane.  Long story short, she has become the embodiment of everything hopeful and praiseworthy about the "Arab Spring."  Her short life has served to illustrate the power and value of every human life, regardless of age, race, gender or religion.

Malala's story begins with her quest to challenge the social, political and religious norms of her home in Pakistan by insisting on her right to pursue an education (something forbidden to young girls).  Her insistent petitions eventually let to her expulsion from school, along with severe condemnation for her family.  Eventually, however, Malala's vocal pleas provided her with an opportunity to become a blogger for the BBC.  Malala used the opportunity to share with the world not only her plight but her dreams, goals and aspirations.  In so doing, this added a human element to conditions in Pakistan (and many other parts of the world), which garnered greater support for change.  Eventually, the attention forced Pakistani officials to reluctantly re-open schools for young girls.  Malala's efforts in this manner, coupled with her devotion to other women and human rights causes, eventually led to her being awarded the National Youth Peace Prize and International Children's Peace Prize.  Malala has also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize as well.

Sadly, Malala was shot and almost killed in October of last year by Taliban radicals.  After spending weeks in a coma and months in recovery, Malala was eventually healthy enough to be transported to Great Britain where she had a full recovery.  Malala's iron will and grit not only let to her physical triumph over her foes, but continues to aid her in the continued cause of peace and human rights.

There is no doubt that the "Arab Spring" still has a long way to go, but thanks in large part to the efforts of Malala Yousafzai and others like her, there is great hope for a renaissance of sorts taking place in the Middle East and other areas.  Malala's impact will, no doubt, be felt for generations to come.  As a Joan of Arc of sorts to the Muslim world, Malala's life serves as proof that nobody is too young or feeble to make a change.  This makes her the PERFECT selection for the Corazon's Corner Person of 2012.

My 2011 Person of the Year

At the conclusion of very year, since 1927, Time Magazine has selected a "Person of the Year", to headline a special December issue of their magazine. Everyone from Adolf Hitler to Franklin D. Roosevelt; the computer to the endangered Earth have been given this distinction. For 2011, Time has selected "The Protester" as the person of the year. And though I agree that "The Protester" is a fair selection, I have a problem with Time selecting a very generic "person" to headline their "Person of the Year." This isn't the first time that Time has chosen a generic figure. In 2006, Time selected "You" for person of the year. In 2002, the honor went to "The Whistle blowers", and in 1993 the award went to "The Peacemakers."

Now, I realize that Time is trying to do two things with these types of selections: first and foremost, sell magazines and second, I do believe they are trying to be objective. However, I personally believe that a "Person of the Year" needs to be just that: a PERSON! Picking a large, generic group of people just seems like a cop out.

With that said, here are my 10 selections (from 10-1) for the 2011 Person of the Year:

10.) Muammar Gaddafi
The former Lybian dictator, who was killed on October 11 of this year, kicks off my list. I chose Gaddafi not because of anything great he did but rather for all of his horrible acts towards the people he claimed to "love" so much (those same people are the ones who killed him). Gaddafi was the epitome of a narcissistic dictator who used his position of power to exclusively benefit himself. The irony is that his style of leadership is ultimately what led to his pathetic demise. He is deserving to be on this list because he is essentially the embodiment of a changing Middle East. His long reign of terror is finally over. Adios, puto!

9.) The Scientists as CERN
Ok, I know I started this post off by complaining that Time sometimes chooses a group of people for their person of the year, and here I am doing the same thing (I actually do it twice on this list. Another "group" is coming). I chose the scientists at the CERN laboratory for one big reason: they may have proven Einstein wrong. Earlier this year, CERN released the findings from their neutrino studies conducted at the Swiss/French Hadron Collider. In a nutshell, what they discovered is that neutrinos apparently can travel faster than the speed of light. This is a monumental discovery because, if substantiated, it would prove a portion of Einstein's Theory of Relativity to be wrong, and would force us to reevaluate some of the ways we look at physics.

8.) Princess Kate Middleton
Ok, I know that most Americans don't understand the importance of the British Royal Family but that doesn't mean that they are irrelevant to the rest of the world (and especially to Britain). Earlier this year, Kate Middleton married Prince William, the future King of England, making Kate the future queen. Kate has become an icon for the British people. As the spouse of the son of the Late Princess Diana, the pressure for Kate to meet expectations is extreme. Needless to say, she has met those expectations. Kate Middleton, a "commoner" by birth, actually has a great deal in common with her mother-in-law. She has been a vocal advocate against poverty and children with cancer. Kate was also a vocal proponent in favor of the new British law (passed this year) which no longer gives favor to males as heirs to the crown. This means that if Kate has a daughter first, she will be the first future Queen of England to have preference over a brother.

7.) Mitt Romney
As we all know, Romney is running for president in 2012. But unlike the other candidates, Romney has managed to stay consistent and relevant in what has been a whirlwind mess of a GOP field. It seems like every other month a new Republican candidate gains a ton of momentum and then fizzles out. Romney, however, has been the epitome of steady consistency, which according to many political experts, makes him the biggest threat to an Obama reelection.

6.) Ai Weiwei
Most Americans are probably not very familiar with Weiwei (I wasn't until earlier this year) but he has done some wonderful things in China. Weiwei is by trade an artist, but in recent years has taken to being a very vocal supporter of Chinese reform. A former communist himself, Weiwei is now a staunch supporter for democratic reform in China. His work has landed him in prison on a number of occasions, where he has been the recipient of several police beatings. Unlike other Chinese advocates who usually fizzle out, Weiwei is extremely popular throughout the country.

5.) Barack Obama
Anytime you are the President of the United States you are probably a perennial person of the year. Obama has fallen in popularity this year but is still a powerful contender for 2012. Among his other accomplishments this year, Obama concluded the war in Iraq, cut taxes (yes, he really did cut taxes), and ordered the mission that killed Osama Bin Laden. Obviously, 2012 is going to be the most important year for Obama's presidency as he seeks a second term, but his role as President of the United States in 2011 secures him a spot on this list.

4.) Gabrielle Giffords
In January of this year, Congresswoman Giffords was nearly killed in a horrific shooting that claimed the lives of six people. Giffords' prognosis was grim for most of 2011 as she struggled for life while on a ventilator and in a coma. Doctors were unsure if she would survive let alone return to her seat in the House of Representatives. And though she initially had several complications including an inability to walk, talk and breathe on her own, Congresswoman Giffords eventually made a near complete recovery. Less than eight months after being shot several times (including in the head) she was back in the House attending to the affairs of her elected position. Regardless of one's political leanings, Congresswoman Giffords is one heck of an example and inspiration!

3.) Tayyip Erdogan
Erdogan, who is the Prime Minister of Turkey, is the personification of the many changes that are taking place all over the Middle East. A devout Muslim, career politician, popular protester (he served time in prison for opposing Turkey's dictatorship), and a former professional athlete, Erdogan's politics appeal to a wide range of Turks who have been hungry for change. Erdogan has helped Turkey emerge as a serious economic juggernaut. Next to China, Turkey is currently the second fastest growing economy in the world. Erdogan has also been a champion of Islamic pacifism by promoting secular democracy and by opposing Syria. And though he has opposed the United States on its policies regarding Israel and Iran, Erdogan is considered an important American ally in the Middle East.

2.) Seal Team 6
Seal Team 6 is my second "group" nominee for person of the year. Needless to say, Seal Team 6 succeeded in killing a man who had been on the run for almost 10 years. The killing of Osama Bin Laden was a righteous achievement, though not one in which we as Americans should boast. The taking of any life is never an occasion for celebration. With that said, the men of Seal Team 6 did a remarkable job in completing a very complex and important mission and they deserve to be praised.

And the winner of the Brad Hart Person of 2011 is...

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1.) Steve Jobs
On October 5 of this year, Steve Jobs passed away after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. Jobs was a rare and special talent to say the least. As the co-founder of Apple, Jobs became a pioneer in the computer and technology world. He revolutionized the music industry, improved the entertainment business and made personal computers a reality (heck, a near necessity) for humanity. Jobs was the epitome of a dreamer, an innovator, an inventor and a visionary. Jobs' genius was that he wasn't a genius. He was a normal person who knew what he wanted out of life and did it. He expected greatness from himself and all others around him, but not so much that he didn't know how to cut loose. It is a well known fact that Jobs was a drug user in his early years while creating apple (especially LSD). Even though at the end his body fell apart, Jobs' mind was always sharp. He was the primary advocate for the creation of the iPad and the iPhone, innovations that have catapulted Apple to an even greater level.

And even in death Jobs saw what we couldn't. His final words were, "Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow!" One can only imagine what Jobs was seeing but I would imagine that it would have to be pretty damn impressive to get that kind of a reaction from Jobs. There is no doubt that the world lost an icon in 2011. Thank you, Steve Jobs for all you gave us! And don't rest in peace (since we know that's the last thing you want to do). Instead, go dazzle the heavens with your next innovation!

Steve Jobs' EXCELLENT address at Stanford University: