Decade in Review: The 00s Mystery Decade

There's a saying: "Everyone likes a good mystery." Well, does everyone like a decade of mystery?
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Like many others, I'm reviewing the decade that's about to end. I'm doing it in the hopes to understand the history that I'm in the middle of, what it means, and what the future might look like. I'm also using this reflection as the source of new painting ideas.
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	It's hard to define this decade. Looking back for some clues, the 80s seemed to me to be about Excess. Nuclear stockpiling, corporate greed, crack cocaine (because cocaine wasn't addictive enough), huge shoulder pads, baggy pants. Danny Pintauro. All excessive.
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The 90s were a fantastic decade for me. I experienced the freedom of graduating high school and college. I got married. We lived in Hawai'i for a year. I learned how to paint and make Websites. For you guys, the 90s was about Alternatives. Alternative music. Alternative energy. Alternative lifestyles. Alternatives to TV and radio (the internet). It was about the end of a century of amazing progress. It was about possibilities and freedom. Happy, exciting times.
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And the 00s? As I began to try and understand this decade, I found myself with more questions than answers. There are some definite themes: terrorism, fame, superheroes, social media. But there were many questions. This decade is all about unanswered questions. It is the Mystery decade.
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Consider these questions that came up during the decade and remain unanswered as we leave it. These are in semi-chronological order.
Who won the 2000 election? Where’s Bin Laden? Who wants to be a millionaire? Who let the dogs out? What was the X-Files about? Where are the WMDs?
When does Jack Bauer pee? What is Lost about? Why isn't a ban on gay marriage discrimination? Why didn't we hear about the "threat level" after the '04 election? Why is Paris Hilton famous?
What’s wrong with Britney? Why doesn't everyone believe in global warming? Why is country music popular? Will I get SARS? Avian Flu? Swine Flu? Who is Garret Dillahunt?
Sarah Palin? Really? Who killed Amanda Palmer? When’s the economy bouncing back? Where did all that stimulus money go? Who watched Watchmen?
Why are people wearing leggings again? Will we have health care reform? What’s next after capitalism? Who’s the next superpower after the USA? Is there going to be one? What do we even call this decade? What’s going to happen in 2012?
What do you think?
Mysteries. Any questions? See you next year! Steve