Because the best things in life are free.

 
Predictions Anyone?

The new year allows us to make more than one prediction about the future, and all the exciting (bad) things that are on the way. Cynicism aside, the American public thinks they have it really hard these days. Obviously, no one seemingly remembers the 1970s, but keep in mind the majority of people living in this country had yet to be born or arrive on the golden shores.

• Joe Lieberman ultimately will refrain from running for president. Caught off guard by Al Gore’s remarks, the Democratic pool is now almost full. In addition if Lieberman runs, every state in New England beside Maine and Rhode Island would have a man in the running. And this does not even begin to consider New York, which so far has Al Sharpton and even Hillary Clinton as a possible candidate.

• Evidence of Osama bin Laden’s tutor, Ayman Al-Zawhiri, will surface in Egypt. Unlike Osama Bin Laden, Al-Zawhiri likely is not interested in eating bugs after the Taliban collapsed. He likely returned to Egypt figuring that Cairo is a much more comfortable place to hide. After all, Colin Powell is not likely to attack one of the US’ staunchest allies in the Arab world simply to capture him. Should things get dicey, the borders are very porous for Zawhiri to hide out in Sudan or Libya or the endless expanses of the Sahara Desert.

• Traces of Osama bin Laden will be found in Indonesia that will place him in Indonesia shortly before the attack on the Bali discotheque. It will remain uncertain where he is now.

• The Los Angeles Lakers will not repeat as NBA Champions. During the course of the season, star Kobe Bryant will be traded after his feud with coach Phil Jackson becomes public, and Jackson threatens to leave if Bryant does not.

• Ariel Sharon will win reelection for Prime Minister in Israel. The Middle East will lurch into another turbulent year with continued US military presence there.

• Chief Justice William Rehnquist will step down. George Bush will attempt to please Democrats by suggesting White House Counsel Alberto Gonzalez. Major resistance will come not from the Democrats alone but from Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist who will seek to torpedo the nomination fearing that the GOP will not get a hard-line anti-abortion justice.

• New York City will be awarded the 2012 Summer Olympics while South Africa will once again submit a bid for the 2010 World Cup. However, those wishing to keep the Cup closer to Europe will suggest either Morocco or Egypt as a rival African bid.

• Pope John Paul II will die and the election of a new pope will be a protracted affair. The developing world in particular the Philippines will seek out a candidate from outside the “First World”.

•While Microsoft Xbox will sales will continue to rise in 2003, the plateau is about to be reached still putting the console behind the Sony Play Station 2. Microsoft will try for a universal legal settlement with the remaining states but not until after this year.

• The US Supreme Court will declare the actions of the University of Michigan Law School constitutional in regard to racial considerations for admission but not preferences or quotas.

posted by Thomas at 12:36 AM 0 comments