Winner

Philip Johnson left an indelible mark on EVERYTHING

okay, this year is the first year without the same number repeated in a row since 1989
ie

1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

2010

I think (nerdily enough) that this is cool

Which is why I'm looking forward to:
2013
The first year since the year of my birth that there will be 4 distinct numbers used in a date
ie

1987 no duplicates!

1988 durn 8 domin8s
1989 9 takes up half the space, will continue domination until peaking in 1999 then disappearing, making a cameo this past year
1990-2009 you know the story here, although I'll highlight...
1991 & 2002 when two numbers split the year evenly, as well as...
1999 & 2000 when 9 and 0 control 3/4 of the board respectively
2010 we have the 0s repeating again
2011 1 picks up half the year for the first time since 1991
2012 2s provide bookends to what some believe is the last year of existence...I hope not, because...

2013 no duplicates!

Anyway, you can tell that I am bored now that my plane has been delayed an hour, and my computer is the only useful thing on my personage

enjoy, I'll look for you in 2013