2011 Predictions (From writers at the National Review)

Mine:

1) Stuxnet will continue to quietly damage Iran. Along with a handful of key assassinations of key military and scientific staff continuing in 2011, the Iranian government will further crack down internally.

2) This move, coupled with the end of price-subsidies earlier this year, will cause the re-emergence of the popular uprisings Iran saw in 2009. And a figurehead for the movement will emerge with international recognition.

3) Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will be found dead of an "overdose". Shortly after announcing he has millions of files on Chinese and/or Russian manipulation of international exchange markets that he will go public with.

3) Kim Jong-Il of North Korea will pass away. Rather anti-climatically, the heir will announce the willingness for further discussions around reforms and possible openness of North Korea. He will be spotted at lavish parties at Cannes, and will seek to emulate the stardom of Gorbachev, but with more of a focus on getting to meet "hot" western starlets.

4)The "sports bubble" of the NFL/NBA/NHL etc will continue to deflate. As families have less money to spend on such events as live entertainment, coupled with a lockout, TV ratings plummet and an NFL season is reduced to 6 games (all inter-divisional) and playoffs. The NBA announces the reduction of 2 teams, and the NHL announces the reduction of 2 teams, plus the move of a franchise back to Quebec.

Player salaries in all major sports begin to decline, and TV viewership recovers, while ticket sales do not for possibly 5+ years.

5) Many 99'er's/baby-boomers who have not been gainfully employed in 2 years will begin to form modest, yet fairly comfortable communities (initially) based around communal sharing of resources. The MSM, rather than pointing to this as a sign of continued economic malaise by the Obama administration, will cast this in a light of "American ingenuity" and harken back to the romanticized hippie communes of the late 60's. All the while continuing to beat the drum on the need for more regulation of all markets in every aspect.

#4 looks to be a certainty.

#3 Sounds like a script from a movie ( but hey, I’m open to that possibility ).

#2 Will be pretty much useless in effect, as Obama remains PASSIVE and won’t do a darn thing.

RE: Kim Jong Il: He and Fidel are both sick and their days are numbered. May 2011 be the year. HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

As I think this through a bit more, let me amend/add the following:

Julian Assange will not "overdose" as a result of going public regarding Russian or Chinese interests. Him having an axe to grind with the West means he will sit on any findings for them. Instead, he threatens to release files regarding Israel's role in Stuxnet, and subsequently expires.

The 99'er/Baby-boom commune idea will gain traction and prestige when a handful of left-leaning corporations donate items such as solar-panels, state of the art "green" appliances, or even a custom-built hybrid powered bus to a high-profile community or two. These communities will come under eventual scrutiny when the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (having donated land, housing, and technology) to launch several other communities nationwide is accused of turning away some families "in need" after they do not answer correctly some key questions on an application regarding political, social, or religious beliefs. Other former members will eventually come out (2013 or so) with stories of enhanced surveillance of members and nightly "teach-in's" on the evils of the Western world as it stands today.

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