| Since it is still very early in the year, I | | | | overhaul, though. Look for some kind of |
| will use this space to give you my trusty | | | | simplification of the current tax code, along |
| predictions for 2005. While none of these are | | | | with some version of the Lifetime Savings |
| guaranteed and any predictions are always | | | | Account. The Roth 401(k) might finally become |
| fraught with risks, I'm reasonably sure the | | | | a reality as well.(7) VoIP will start to take |
| majority of them will prove to be quite | | | | off. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) |
| accurate. They are based on my analysis of | | | | technology allows consumers to make phone |
| the personalities involved and the outcomes | | | | calls over their broadband internet |
| of similar situations from the past.(1) The | | | | connections. It is much cheaper and less |
| Iraqi elections will go on as scheduled. This | | | | restrictive that standard phone service. Most |
| is the one I'm the most sure of. Barring some | | | | people are still not familiar with it but the |
| kind of cataclysmic event, Iraqis will go to | | | | major phone companies, along with some |
| the polls on January 30. Because of terrorist | | | | smaller companies which specialize in that |
| activity, which will only intensify as that | | | | technology, will start to change that in |
| date draws closer, it is anyone's guess as to | | | | 2005. They are already heavily advertising it |
| how many Iraqis will actually go to the | | | | on the internet. I expect a major TV, radio, |
| polls. However, President Bush is bound and | | | | and newspaper ad blitz to begin in early |
| determined that these elections will take | | | | 2005.(8) The Florida Marlins will stay put, |
| place on schedule, come hell or high water. I | | | | but the Oakland A's and Minnesota Twins will |
| doubt if anyone, other than God Himself, | | | | start looking elsewhere. The Marlins will |
| would be capable of changing the President's | | | | finalize their deal with the city of Miami |
| mind on this issue.(2) Michael Jackson will | | | | for a new baseball stadium. They will then |
| be acquitted. Despite how bad Jackson might | | | | change their name to the Miami Marlins. |
| look, there's just not enough evidence | | | | However, the A's and the Twins won't be so |
| linking him to the crime he's be accused of. | | | | fortunate. The A's will start serious |
| Most of the stuff that makes him look so bad | | | | negotiations with San Jose. The Twins will |
| has nothing to do with this case. If he is | | | | start looking at Las Vegas, Portland, |
| acquitted, he should then do the "moonwalk" | | | | Norfolk, or Monterrey, Mexico as a possible |
| on the courtroom steps to rub Jane | | | | new venue. The Expos' relocation to |
| Velez-Mitchell's nose in it.(3) Gas prices | | | | Washington was Major League Baseball's first |
| will continue to drop. This is simply a | | | | relocation in 33 years. Now that the genie is |
| matter of supply and demand. Oil and gas | | | | out of the bottle, there could be several |
| prices were way too high for way too long. | | | | more in the next five years.(9) The NHL |
| This caused oil producing nations to cheat on | | | | season will be partially saved. There is no |
| their quotas and export more crude. Refiners | | | | way the NHL wants to become the first major |
| increased their output as well to take | | | | North American sports league to lose an |
| advantage of the higher prices. As a result, | | | | entire season due to a labor dispute. |
| there's now an oil glut, despite OPEC's | | | | Commissioner Gary Bettman and the owners will |
| announced cut in production. This will | | | | temporarily drop their demands for a salary |
| continue to put heavy downward pressure on | | | | cap and accept a modified version of the |
| oil prices. I expect the average price of a | | | | players' latest offer. This will allow the |
| gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. to dip | | | | last 35-40% of the season, along with the |
| to $1.30 sometime in 2005 before recovering a | | | | playoffs, to proceed as scheduled. However, |
| little.(4) Al Gore will re-emerge onto the | | | | this will just be a short-term deal that will |
| political scene. He will start making more | | | | only take the league through the end of the |
| high visibility speeches as well as more | | | | 2005-06 season. Then they'll be right back to |
| appearances on the TV talk show circuit, in | | | | the drawing board.(10) Next season's flu shot |
| preparation for his run for the presidency in | | | | supply will be plentiful by October. I expect |
| 2008. Gore will once again become a | | | | that everyone has learned their lesson from |
| formidable candidate for the highest office | | | | this year's fiasco. There will be at least |
| in the land.(5) Progress will be made in the | | | | one company, possibly two, producing the |
| Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel's | | | | vaccine in the United States. Congress will |
| withdrawal from Gaza will go on as planned. | | | | pass legislation to ensure that the |
| The new Palestinian Authority leader not be | | | | production and distribution of the vaccine |
| anywhere near the hard-liner that Arafat was. | | | | will be less risky for American companies. |
| In response, Ariel Sharon will take less of a | | | | Also, the FDA will probably do a better job |
| hard line toward the Palestinians. I'm not | | | | of monitoring worldwide supplies. Enough will |
| saying that 2005 will bring peace between | | | | be available for anyone in the U.S who wants |
| Israel and the PLO, but a step in the right | | | | one.Terry Mitchell is a software engineer, |
| direction will be taken. However, given their | | | | freelance writer, and trivia buff from |
| history, any progress could be just | | | | Hopewell, VA. He also serves as a political |
| temporary.(6) Bush will tackle tax reform, | | | | columnist for American Daily and operates his |
| but chicken out on Social Security reform. | | | | own website - - on which he posts |
| Social Security reform, at least for 2005, | | | | commentaries on various subjects such as |
| will prove to be too much of a hot potato for | | | | politics, technology, religion, health and |
| the President and for Congress. Tax reform, | | | | well-being, personal finance, and sports. His |
| although difficult itself, is the path of | | | | commentaries offer a unique point of view |
| least resistance. I don't foresee a major | | | | that is not often found in mainstream media. |