But first, did you know that I completed 138 Blogs in 2011? And since the beginning - on July 6, 2009 - I have written 241 of the little devils.
Thought you might find that of interest. I enjoyed every moment.
Now for my prognostications for this year just ending:
Elections -
a) Federal and Ontario Provincial
- I predicted that both Harper and Hudak would win elections this year - Harper with a minority and Hudak with I majority. Wrong on both counts though Harper did win and won by a majority.
- I indicated that the Federal Election would take place this past Spring - which it did. And of note, I had been predicting the Spring 2011 Election Date for the past 2 + years.
correct, +1.5 points wrong, -2 points
b) USA
- I predicted that Mitt Romney would come out of 2011 in the lead for the GOP - and he has. I also predicted that the Tea Party would remain a force in 2011 - which it has.
correct, +2 points
c) Britain
- I said that the Tories would be forced into another Election - I was wrong. wrong, - 1 point
d) Italy
- I predicted that PM Berlusconi would be gone - I was right. correct; 1 point
The Economy
a) USA
- I predicted it would continue to decline due to its horrendous debt - and it has. no brainer - no points
b) Canadian Dollar
- said it would stay above par - and it has not. wrong; -1 point
c) Canadian Economy
- would out perform the US - it did. correct; + 1 point
d) European Contagion
- would continue to spread across Europe and would begin to affect America's ratings - and it has. Plus even our dear Province of Ontario is now on a negative credit watch. correct; + 1 point
e) Interest Rates
- I predicted that 5 year mortgage rates would rise to 5-6%. - wrong - they remained flat; - 1 point
f) Oil
- that it would average $100 a barrel - and it has. correct; + 1 point
g) Gold / Silver / Copper
- that they would reach record levels - and they did albeit are now on a temporary downward trend.
they did reach record levels but are now in decline - no points awarded.
h) China
- will continue to lead the pack - it did no brainer - no points
i) Over Legislation / Regulation
- will begin to slow - it has but remains in its infancy too small to register, no points
j) Number of Civil Servants - salaries
- will begin to reverse - it has but it too remains in its infancy too small to register - no points
k) Social Welfare Programs
- will begin to decline - they have declined big time in Europe and have just begun to decline in North Am. as I did not specify Europe - no points awarded
World Affairs
a) Terrorism will continue with softer targets - it has. correct, but almost a no brainer; +.5 of a point
b) Haiti plus Africa will continue to suffer - they have. no brainer - no points
c) Afghanistan to stalemate - it has. same here - no brainer - no points
d) Iran big story plus no regime change - right on both counts. correct; 1 point
e) North Korea - will continue to be majorly in the news for 2011 - it has been but primarily due to Dear Leader's death which I did not foresee. wrong; 1 point
f) Russia will continue to decline into dictatorship under Putin - it has. no brainer - no points
g) Airport and Border Security will continue to thicken - it has. no brainer - no points
h) Democracies will be upstaged by Communist / Dictatorship Governments - they have not. wrong; - 1 point
i) Immigration Backlash - rise of right wing in Europe to neutralize Muslim effect - it has. no brainer...
j) Persecution against Christians and Jews to accelerate - it has. correct; + 1 point
Generally Speaking
A most difficult year - greater civil unrest - it has been that. all and all 2011 was a most sh..ty year +1 point.
Final Tally: 11 Correct and 7 Wrong. Not So Good.
For Next Year's List, which I will post before Jan, 1, 2012, I will try to do better and I will also try to avoid predicting on the 'no brainers'.
As I see it....
'K.D. Galagher'
