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