Happy New Years!

In a few hours we will have a brand new year to play with. Everyone is making predictions, so I'll make a few.
Life will be good for most of us. You won't hear that on the news. The news by its very nature is devoted to reporting that which is out of the ordinary. It is a good sign if it still makes news when someone does something incredibly stupid to screw up their life.
Things will continue to stabilize in Iraq. Saddam (& cohorts) will be convicted. We will reduce our troop levels and some Dem's will claim it is only because they called for a withdrawal. As things improve, politicians will be quick to assert that they were confident all along. Some like Joe Lieberman will be honest.
There will be hurricanes, but not as many or as destructive as the past year.
Price of gas will remain high and will result in a higher rate of inflation than we've seen in over a decade. Products are brought to market by vehicles which burn gas so the increase will inevitably affect the cost of everything we consume. The Fed will continue to raise interests rates until the second quarter making things worse.
Some stocks will go up and some will go down.
Republicans will retain a majority in both houses of Congress.
Howard Dean will be ousted as Dem party leader.
Judge Alito will be confirmed to the Supreme Court. Within months of Alito being sworn in another opening will emerge. I expect Stevens or Ginsburg will step down for health reasons.
In April the Browns will draft a player destined for a career threatening injury by mid-season of his rookie year.
The Cavaliers will reach the Eastern Conference finals and Lebron James will be league MVP.
The Indians will win less games than in 2005 but will be AL Central champs anyways as the White Sox take a step back to the pack.

Lastly, all of us will experience some grief this year. It happens and whether it is the little stuff like a flat tire or the major life events like the loss of a loved one, we have to accept and deal with what comes our way. I wish you all the best in the New Year, but bear in mind that the Serenity Prayer was written for a reason.