Here’s my review of the predictions I made for 2010. I’ll dust off the crystal ball for the first issue of Kibbles & Bytes in January and make the predictions for 2011.
SPORTS
- MLB Baseball: “I will once again predict that with new ownership will come a new found team spirit and finally a World Series Championship.”
NOT – just wait until next year!
- NBA Basketball: “The Celtics are banged up right now, but if they can get healthy, I think they are the team to beat! Celtics over the Lakers in 7.”
One injury to Kendrick Perkins and the Celtics lost to the Lakers in 7 and I had to wear a Lakers Jersey for a day.
- WNBA: “I see the Phoenix Mercury led by Diana Taurasi (WNBA Player of the Decade) repeating as WNBA Champs!”
Nope—Congrats to the Seattle Storm.
- NFL Football: “The Bears are out of it, so I’m going with the New Orleans Saints for the Superbowl.”
Winner winner, chicken dinner.
- NHL Hockey: I am going back to my standard—who cares?
Blackhawks!!!
WEATHER
- “It will be another warm winter in Vermont with only one day where the temperatures stay below 0 F all day. This year we will have one huge snowfall over 36 inches that will slow things down for a few hours.”
It WAS a warm winter—we did not have a day with temps staying below zero all day but did not get the big dump.
- “It will, however, be an early spring with early April motorcycling.”
YES!
- “This coming summer in Vermont will be one of the best with little rain after June 15th and warm temperatures cooled by mountain breezes.”
Just like every Vermont summer—perfect!
- “The western states will see a very hot and unusually dry summer.”
Hmmm—was it?
POLITICS
- “Health Care reform will pass and both the left and right will howl. States will have some freedom to experiment with other more comprehensive health care reform. Vermont will lead the way with a public option and true universal coverage.”
Health Care reform passed on the national level and Vermont bucked the national trend and elected a Governor who ran on a platform that promised a single-payer universal health care system for Vermont!
- “Afghanistan is not going to work. The new policy of increasing troop levels will need revision in the light of an expanded non-geographically limited war.”
Okay—why are we in that war again?
- “Iran will test a nuclear weapon, triggering ineffective sanctions.”
Not yet, thank you…
- “Relations with Cuba will continue to thaw.”
Minor thaws continue.
- “There will be renewed peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians after Israel signs a peace treaty with Syria and halts settlement construction.”
I am not giving myself the win here. Yes to peace talks; no to peace
- “Global Warming will continue to be talked about but no significant action taken. Cap and trade and carbon trading will get embroiled in partisan politics without any meaningful solution.”
An unfortunate yes for my predictions.
- “Vermont will elect a Democrat as governor.”
Congratulations, Peter Shumlin!
ECONOMY
- “Economic recovery will continue slowly, however, unemployment will significantly lag. More job addition incentives will be created.”
Yes.
- “Consumer Electric vehicles will hit the market with higher efficiency hybrids also becoming available, however, gasoline prices will remain below $4/gallon and that will make electric cars a niche market.”
This one is a push—the electric vehicles are still in the “coming” stage but gasoline will end the year barely under $4/gallon.
- “New incentives for renewable energy sources will be the fastest growing job creation sector.”
Yes.
- “Unemployment will reach 12% nationally before it starts to decline.”
It has not hit that level, thankfully!
- “Chrysler will close its doors.”
Nope, you can still buy a Dodge.
APPLE
- “Apple stock will hit $300/share.”
$325 as of today!
- “Apple will introduce a ‘game changing’ tablet computer.”
Of course, that was too easy.
- “Apple will post record revenues and profits.”
38 quarters of profitable earnings.
- “Steve Jobs will retire from Apple, Tim Cook will be named CEO while Steve becomes Chairman of the Board.”
Nope.
- “Apple will introduce an iPhone nano, basically adding cell phone functions to the iPod nano.”
No.
- “Apple will make remarkable gains in overall market-share for computers.”
Yes.
SMALL DOG ELECTRONICS
- “Small Dog Electronics will finally open its next store!”
YES! Manchester, NH is open for business!
- “Small Dog Electronics eWaste event will again collect over 150 tons of eWaste.”
Yes, we held events in Vermont and New Hampshire this year!
- “Small Dog Electronics will add several products to the Chill Pill Audio and Hammerhead product lines.”
Yes.
- “Small Dog will finally be authorized to sell the iPhone.”
Yes, we are now an AT&T dealer!
MISC.
- “There will be scientifically confirmed evidence of extra-terrestrial life.”
Not yet…
- “There will be a bunch of new stunning 3D movies, 3D television will be the next home entertainment product.”
Yes, with mixed reviews.
- “Cell phones and other portable devices will become mobile payment devices.”
Coming, but not here.
So, My overall grade this year is 17.5 Yes, 10.5NO and 3 ties—could be the best year yet. I’ll have to make the predictions harder for 2011!