2011 - A new year and a new direction ?

As a new year beckons, its often an appropriate time to reflect back on what has transpired over the past twelve months (and in some cases further back than just a year) and formulate resolutions for the next year. Some larger questions to come to mind: will the international financial system experience further 'aftershocks' from the Global Financial Crisis with the US economy still stunted and the European Union bailing out weaker member states ? Shall the war in Afghanistan reach any milestone or achievement progressing to a point where the planned US withdrawal  appears viable? Will there continue to be some intra-state progress with environmental controls and carbon emission reduction ?  And where will technology lead us in the next year with the convergence of communication, media and computing hardware and software. These larger macro questions all have an impact on the micro individual level and even disciples of game theory would find it difficult to accurately predict the year ahead.