2008 and Beyond

I’m sorry folks but bad news is all I have for the coming year and the years beyond that. Here’s why.

1. Climate change

Rich countries won’t change the way they do business and they certainly can’t sacrifice economic growth for something less important like the Earth’s climate or ecology. So our grandkids are basically stuffed.

2. World poverty

The poor will never catch up with the rich. They might get a bit more aid and who knows! their economy might even grow and improve their quality of life a wee bit. But the poor will stay poor because the rich just won’t give up their new ipods or shiny new cars to help feed some starving kids.

3. Mass Immigration

Poor people want to get rich too and maybe a have decent meal and a shirt to wear. So they’ll want to go to a place where they can work for some proper money. And that would be a rich country like ours. Get ready to be swamped.

4. Oil scarcity

Prices are going through the ceiling. Although supply is reasonably stable just now, demand is going up and up especially from emerging economies like China and India. And as the shortage really hits home sometime this century, it will be tanks and aircraft carriers going through the ceilings too. This is MY oil field so f*ck off.

5. Global terrorism

In general, people are more miserable despite better standards of living. But some people are getting really pissed off and they want to blow things up like there’s no tomorrow. Strap on some U235 to your home-made bomb vest and let’s make half of London radioactive for the next 500 million years.

Happy New Year Everyone.

Wii can be smug again this Xmas

Oh dear! Demand for the Wii Console seems to be seriously outstripping supply again this Christmas. The mad rush for the console in time for Christmas 07 looks like a carbon copy of what happened last year. In fact it’s all gotten so bad that Nintendo are having to pull the adverts for the Wii. The thinking must be that if people don’t see it on TV they might just forget about it and maybe get a PS3 instead!

We have had our Wii since the launch date last year- 8 Dec 06. Pre-ordered it from Amazon and delievered on the very day of release. And hasn’t it been fun? Legend of Zelda- Twilight Princess kept me busy until March. It was a massive game and utterly fantastic. Great visuals and super addictive gameplay. The Wee Lad and Wife were kept highly amused with Wii Sports, Wii Play, Super Monkey Ball .

This Christmas the big one is Super Mario Galaxy- probably the best Wii game so far. The game is currently hiding safely in our wardrobe awaiting its appearance on the 25th courtesy of Mr Claus.

Meanwhile I’ve been listening to harrassed Wii-deficient colleagues and their struggles with Toys R Us and other retailers to secure a console. “We might be getting a delivery next week…”, “We don’t know when we’re getting a delivery…”, “We ‘re getting 10 in a few days time”, ” We can’t take orders”. It’s looking increasingly likely that they’ll have to cough up a big premium on ebay to get one in time for Christmas.

I’m just sitting back calmly and radiating smuggness though all this chaos.