NIC HARALAMBOUS

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2009 is changing. The world will never be the same

The end of the year, as always, brings with it end of the year blog posts.I think that this year my blog post is going to be short, sweet and to the point.I loved 2009.It's been a crazy, upside-down and incredibly fruitful year.

The quickshots

I bought a Townhouse.I bought a new car (Honda Civic, 1.8 Exi)I changed jobs to possibly one of the best places I could hope to be working at with thanks to Vincent Maher.

Some of the achievements

I was selected as one GQ's top 30 men in media.I was selected as one of Mail & Guardian's top 300 South Africans to take to lunch.Appeared on an SABC TV Show talking about the youth and politics before the 2009 elections.Interviewed on 702 about the zahell debacle or the "zahellgate" if you will.

The madness

plane crashI was involved in a freak plane crash and managed to assist in helping some people stay alive. That was probably, in hindsight, one of the more dramatic, thought-provoking and gut-wrenching moments of my life as well as one of the proudest, for myself and the friends I was with.Out of that day I also gained some new and true friends.

Here's a list of some of my favourite things that emerged out of 2009

Favourite GameGuitar Hero 5Favourite albumaKing - Against All OddsDefinitive album of 2009Jay-Z - Blueprint 3Favourite SongDavid Ford - State of the nationFavourite TV SeriesThe Big Bang TheoryThe Take (still new but looks promising)Favourite MovieThe HangoverDistrict 9 (local smash)Favourite take outSteersFavourite restaurantBombay Bicycle Club (Cape Town)Fork (Cape Town)Favourite AirlineKulula.comFavourite Day of the weekSundayFavourite thing about JoziThunder storms that attack with vengeance and rage.Favourite Web Application/ServiceBasecampFavourite mobile applicationUbertwitter (I think it would seem a bit bias to say The Grid).Favourite websiteThe Best Article Every DayFavourite Blog/LifestreamBlacknotesFavourite webisodeJake and AmirFavourite online comicCyanide and HappinessFavourite Tech BlogReadWriteWebFavourite Twitter follower@Donpackett - Hilarity at every turn.Favourite Twitter streamShitmydadsaysFavourite hobbiesPokerGolfIt is a bit dramatic to say that after this year the world will never be the same. I think what I actually mean is that my world will never be the same. Which invariably is the whole world if I want to be a bit narcissistic.I have learned that you cannot have everything right now. Time is constant and change is inevitable and sometimes you need to crouch, touch, pause and only then engage. You cannot constantly engage.This year saw the end of manic blogging from me and the increase of twitter activity and listening. I've begun to listen more than I speak which I am sure is a welcome change.Next year is going to be about consolidation, establishing a platform and working off of that platform in my personal life and in my career.The killer concept next year is going to be mobile. There is no doubt about that in my mind. We are going to see some amazing mobile developments emerging out of Africa (I say Africa because the first world still believes that mobile = iPhone).Enjoy the holiday because I know I will.2010 is going to hit us with a bang (not the big bang I hope). My prediction for early 2010 is that we truly have no idea how massive the 2010 World Cup is going to be and South Africans are going to overwhelmed.