What 11 moments will you remember from 2011?

(ARA) - As the year winds down, the events of 2011 become water cooler conversation.  Reflections of what happened in the world beyond one's front door take the form of "top moments" and "best ofs."

To mark the end of another exciting year in global, national and local news, AOL, whose mission is to inform, entertain and connect the world, shares the "11 Days That Shaped 2011." These are the moments that made news that got people talking, sharing and commenting most this year, from the horrific shooting of Representative Gabrielle Giffords and her miraculous recovery, to the passing of Steve Jobs and the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton.  People can visit 11in2011.aol.com to agree, disagree, or add to the moments that helped define the year.

The "11 Days that Shaped 2011":

* The shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords: On January 8, a deranged gunman went on a rampage that critically injured Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and killed six others. This brutal act led to an outpouring of support for Giffords and renewed focus on gun control.

* Arab Spring: Inspired by their Tunisian neighbors who successfully overthrew their own oppressive government, Egyptians gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square in January to protest the brutal 30-year regime of President Hosni Mubarak, who resigned 18 days later.  Demands for freedom soon spread to Libya, Bahrain, Syria, Yemen, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco and Oman, with social media playing a key role in organizing and spreading news about the protests.

* The meltdown of Charlie Sheen: TV's highest paid star went on a tirade on the first day of March against his "Two and a Half Men" producer Chuck Lorre, made a series of bizarre pronouncements across mainstream and social media, went on tour and was ultimately fired from his top-rated show.    

* Japan earthquake: It was March 11 when the quake unleashed a giant tsunami that leveled cities and towns in northern Japan. The resulting nuclear disaster, just 170 miles from Tokyo, affected thousands more and rendered large areas uninhabitable for decades to come.

* The Royal Wedding: The fairytale wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton captivated people around the world and boasted the largest ever live online audience.  In the months leading up to April 29, people breathlessly awaited - and debated - details from the guest list to the reception menu to the top-secret wedding gown design.

* Osama bin Laden's death: Following news of the terror leader's death at the hands of Navy Seal Team 6, spontaneous celebrations erupted in New York, Washington and beyond on May 1.  Learning that Bin Laden lived within sight of a key Pakistani military base further undermined U.S. trust in our ally.

* End of the Oprah Winfrey Show: The highest-rated talk show in American history ended its 25-year domination of daytime television.  After decades of influencing and defining culture, Winfrey left her namesake show on May 25 to focus on The Oprah Winfrey Network/OWN.

* Debt ceiling crisis: Washington's inability to provide a long-term resolution to the debt ceiling issue on August 8 contributed to a downgrade of our nation's credit rating, market volatility and the lowest approval rating for the U.S. congress in modern times.

* 10th anniversary of 9/11: America marked the 10th anniversary of our deadliest day, September 11, with respectful ceremonies honoring victims and their families, who are still struggling to recover from their devastating losses.

* The Occupy Movement: In September 2011, the Occupy Movement started on Wall Street and was aimed at the economic disparity and social inequity in the country and quickly spread around the world.

* The death of Steve Jobs: When Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs, one of the greatest innovators and businessmen in history passed away in October, people around the globe mourned the man behind the inventions that changed the world.

Back to top ^