As 2011 stumbles toward the finish line, both hope and fear lie ahead on the horizon.
It's been a rough, but interesting, year for "99-percenters" across the globe, to say the least. There is political upheaval in the Middle East, an evolving global Occupy movement, Europe's struggle to avoid economic catastrophe and signs that the dark tide of the U.S. recession may finally be receding.

Whew! And the year isn't even quite over yet.

If there is one thing we learned in 2011, it's that rose-colored glasses may be out of style, but we can still work together to make a better world.

Let's take a look at what we can expect in 2012 -- the good, the bad, and the just plain ugly ...

No. 5: Bizarre branding and 'commercial graffiti'

If you think online ads are annoying, just wait. The year 2012 may usher in an advertising era of unparalleled intrusiveness in the brick-and-mortar realm.

A public school system in Colorado made headlines recently for selling ad space on students' report cards and seven states now permit advertising on school buses. Other states are sure to follow suit in 2012.

As advertisers explore new and invasive ways to cash in on "captive audiences," let's hope city hospitals don't get in on this trend and start selling life insurance ads on medical bills and hospital sheets.

Chicago residents were aghast this November when confronted with large vinyl ads draped along one of their city's iconic bridges. As governments face steep budget cuts, 2012 is sure to also bring more "eyesore advertising" to our architectural landmarks.

No. 4 Flash robs

Group crime, organized through social networks, is on the rise. In 2012, social networking will likely continue to make the individual more informed, influential and potentially devious than ever before.

After the London riots in early August, it emerged that BBM (Blackberry's messenger service), a secure network, was likely used to organize looters and keep them updated on police activity. Police also believe that a slew of mob attacks in Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Philadelphia were organized via email, texting and other social media.

Also in August, at least 28 young people entered a Maryland 7-Eleven, snatched items from shelves and then left -- all in less than one minute. In November, a flash mob of around 50 people ransacked yet another 7-Eleven, stealing snacks and beer.

Police are scrambling to figure out how to deal with social networking-fueled property damage, violence and theft. Until they do, it's a good bet 2012 will bring more "flash robs" with larger numbers of participants.

No. 3: Mainstreaming of medical marijuana

Nowadays it's not just smug college students with cotton mouth who pontificate on the benefits of cannabis.

Medical marijuana is now legal in 16 states and the District of Columbia, and cities like Denver (which has more medical marijuana dispensaries than it does Starbucks stores) are embracing the ensuing jolt to their economies.

In November, the governors of Rhode Island and Washington asked the federal government to classify marijuana as a "drug with legitimate medical uses" to stop the government from hassling dispensaries.

While the government continues to resist attempts to decriminalize marijuana, the drug is making strides in popular culture. The current season of "Survivor" features cast member and medical marijuana dispensary owner Jim Rice (he made it to the jury) and, in November, Discovery Channel aired the first episode of "Weed Wars," a new series about an Oakland dispensary that "helps 95,000 patients heal."

No. 2: 'End of the World' parties

The Mayan calendar ends on Dec. 21, 2012, and while hand-wringing doomsayers foresee a coming cataclysm, New Agers are predicting an evolutionary transformation of the soul.