2-double ‘oh seven. The name’s two… two thousand and seven. I’m such a clever bastard.

A spanking new year is upon us giving us the chance to love, hate, work, slack off, eat, shit, smoke, die, drink, piss, get laid, abstain, make babies, lose parents… and everything else afresh. For me, it couldn’t have come soon enough even though it changes nothing with respect to my deadlines, etc.

A few reminders & observations:

Be expecting your W-2 forms so that you can file your taxes and claim your tax return (or if you are unlucky, give mo’ money to the Man). I use TurboTax, its easy, online and their fee is rather fair. You can have your tax return electronically deposited to your US account. Recently the government stipulated that filing your taxes should be free for certain income groups (low-income, students, etc) so be sure to check first. Of course, if you have myriad properties, tax deductibles and generally all manner of complications, you’ll want to use a proper bean counter with experience and a good rate.

James Brown is dead, so it’s on all of us to restore the funk to life in general.

A new James Bond takes over the reins from Pierce Brosnan. And Daniel Craig plays the part to perfection, quite possibly the best Bond ever.

A historic nuclear agreement between the US and India has been approved by all levels of the US government and sets the stage for a new level of cooperation and partnership between the world’s most important democracy and the world’s largest. Indians can thank Mr. Bush, his administration, the influential pro-India caucuses and the growing realization that India makes a good friend for that. Also a courtesy thanks to the Indian government would be nice; it would appear from time to time they actually do something useful (currently a Congress-led coalition).

The aerospace industry is still going strong despite the multi-billion dollar cock-ups by euro-giant Airbus Industries. Boeing, against all odds, is bouncing back and poised to retake the “world’s largest commercial aircraft supplier” mantle from Airbus.

Macworld is just around the corner. It’s traditionally the event at which Apple supremo Steve Jobs unveils the latest and greatest toys. Be sure to tune in if you an Apple fanboy. Possible items that will be presented; the release of OS X 10.5 Leopard, the iTV, new iPods or Mac computers and maybe an Apple phone.

2007 should be the year diesel makes its way into the American consciousness in a good way. If you’re shopping for a new car, don’t write of an engine/manufacturer just because it’s a diesel. In fact, modern diesel engines offer power outputs (especially torque), convenience (ease of maintenance), technology (piezoelectric plugs and direct injection) and noise levels (though they still sound a tad rough) on par with gasoline engines but with the added bonus of phenomenal driving range. Speed freaks should note the most recent Le Mans race series was won by a diesel Audi. Tree-huggers should note modern diesel fuel and engines burn just as clean as regular gasoline engines. Screw hybrids, go diesel.

The recent FDA ruling means cloned food (meat & milk) can make its way onto supermarket shelves without being labeled as such. If possible, DO NOT buy cloned meat and other products. It’s not natural and not nearly enough research has been done on how this whole process will affect us. The idea of cloning inevitably ends in genetic engineering for the custom creation of animals/products etc. As it stands, I want my milk from a cow that was born out of another cow’s slanderous affair with a handsome bull. Not an impotent scientist’s carefully planned splice & dice in some underground lab. Don’t give me shit about cloning being the solution to the world’s food shortage either. There is no food shortage in the world, only an inability to deliver food to where its needed. Europe dumps excess grain in the Mediterranean because its cheaper than shipping it to Africa.

2007 is my year to get out and about. Six years in the States has made me more sedentary than I would like. I want to play more football (both kinds), do more physical activity and generally be outside more than ever before. Of course, I’m now in the wrong bloody country for all that, but its just a minor technicality. I suggest every one else do the same if not already in your plans.

Saddam is dead so a new tyrant has to be found to focus American attention away from the general state of affairs at home. As usual, the rest of the world will also get dragged into the media vortex generated by the next big tyrant. Will it be good ole Kimmie from North Korea, or some as yet unnamed devil incarnate? And where the hell is Osama?

Oil will not retreat from its ridiculously high current market prices even though several more reserves will be found. This will partly be due ever growing demand (and competition for supplies) from emerging markets such as Brasil, China and India. And partly because most first world citizens are puppets that take whatever shit is thrown at them. Third world citizens, however, will riot and generally run amok, burning buses and shutting business if there is a price hike in petrol/diesel. Which is better? You decide.

Tourism to India will start to skyrocket because of the Back Womb’s cultural look-see into the land that spawned the Kama-Sutra, Hinduism, Buddhism, curry, numbers, and 5cents himself.

I’ve got more, but this article is growing way to big. Perhaps I’ll add more later (yeah right).

Popularity: 5% [?]