2008 Fearless Forecasts Results

Here are the results of my fearless forecasts for 2008 to prove psychics have no more power than anyone else to predict the future:
· Ron Paul will shock mainstream media and alarm Republican party activists by a stronger-than-expected showing (around 10%) in many of the primaries. (A tiny bit of truth. Paul did better than expected in several primaries.)
· Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee for President. (Wrong)
· Hillary Clinton will win the Democratic nomination and the Presidency. (Wrong)
· The outcome of the 2008 Presidential election will be strongly influenced by Third Party or independent candidates who will pull votes from both Republicans and Democrats. The winner will have less than 50% of the total vote. (Wrong)
· There will be a mild, not major, tsunami along the Pacific coast triggered by an Alaskan earthquake. (Wrong)
· The Atlantic hurricane season will continue to confound forecasters by being less active than predicted. However, Florida will have at least one category two or three hurricane. It will not affect Jacksonville, except for rain. (Mixed. It was the fourth most active season on record. Florida, but not Jacksonville, was hit by a hurricane. Jacksonville received a direct hit from tropical storm Fay, which dumped a lot of rain.)
· There will be a terrible rafting accident either in Colorado or on the Colorado River. (Correct)
· Housing prices will continue to fall, and the economy will be in full recession after the election and weak all year. The dollar will be weaker, too. (Correct)
· The drought in the Southeast will be broken, and residents will be wishing for less rain due to flooding by year's end. (Mixed. Rain has increased this Fall, but there has not been enough to say the drought is over.)
· The Florida4Marriage amendment will not pass because 60% of voters must approve it. It will get over 50% approval, however. (Wrong – Thank you, God.)
· At least one current or former member of Jacksonville's (FL) City Council will be indicted due to sunshine law violations. (Wrong. The Grand Jury report was very critical of several members, but there were no indictments.)
· Something from or in space will cause a combination of alarm, fear, and wonder. (Wrong. The discovery of a black hole in our galaxy surprised astronomers and might qualify.)

Of the 12 predictions, I was correct on only two (17%), partially correct and partially wrong on three (25%), and dead wrong on 7 (58%). Psychics do no better. Now, feel free to join the fun by posting your own fearless forecasts for 2009.

Garden Ridge Sells Signs "Carolers Will Be Shot"

A church friend advised me on Sunday, November 30, 2008, that she had gone shopping at a local Garden Ridge store on "Black Friday." As she was about to leave, she saw a yard decoration for Christmas on sale that stunned her. It was a sign with lights and caroler figures with the warning "Carolers Will Be Shot." She promptly asked a to see the manager. She asked the manager, "What are we teaching our children? Why would you have a sign like this on sale in a city with a high murder rate?" The manager's response, "I only work here," showed a cowardly refusal to take responsibility for her store.

The Garden Ridge store in question is located at:
201 Monument Road
Jacksonville, FL 32225
Phone: (904) 721-6226

Some buyer thought the signs were cute or funny. However, this crosses the line from humor to threat. It is especially inappropriate during the Christmas season. Carolers are Christian people trying to spread some good cheer and joy in our neighborhoods. In fact, this sign could be interpreted as anti-Christian and bigoted. Can you imagine the uproar if a store sold yard signs that warned "Blacks Will Be Shot" or "Homosexual Couples Will Be Shot"?

Here in Jacksonville, Florida, we are struggling to reduce a murder rate that is the highest in the state. The mayor's program, the Jacksonville Journey, is a joint effort of government leaders, businessmen, educators, ministers, and law enforcement to come together to solve this problem. We do not need a store selling signs that threaten more violence against anyone. If you find this as objectionable as I do, please call the store's manager and complain.

Most likely, these signs are available at other Garden Ridge stores. Stop by or call your local store to see if they are selling them. Let the manager know that you cannot shop at a store that sells items that threaten violence, especially during the season of peace and good will towards all.

Another action strongly recommended is to write Garden Ridge's corporate headquarters as well. Online, they invite email comments and questions to: customercareline@gardenridge.com .

Then, let their President and CEO Albert J. Neupaver know that you do not approve of his company promoting violence. The toll-free phone number is (888) 621-3814 and the Houston headquarters' number is (281) 579-7901. The FAX number is (412) 825-1019. The mailing address is:
Garden Ridge Corporation
19411 Atrium Place, Ste. 170
Houston, TX 77084