Because it's fun

Passing this on from Greta Christina:

Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity Psychic?

Skeptico did this neat thing last year, where he made predictions about events of the year 2007... and then compared his results to that of several famous professional "psychics." (Surprise, surprise -- Skeptico did as well or better.)

Rebecca suggested that we steal this idea and turn it into a contest. And I'm all for stealing other people's good ideas, as long as I give due credit as I run off with the loot. So I hereby present the 2008 "Are You Smarter Than A Celebrity Psychic?" contest, with due credit to Skeptico.

The rules: Make five predictions about world events in 2008: political events, natural disasters, celebrity gossip, etc. Post them in the comments here, no later than January 15, 2008. Predictions should be things that reasonably might or might not happen; totally obvious predictions such as "The sun will continue to rise in the East" and "Saturn will not crash into Jupiter" will not be accepted. However, credit will be given for partially correct answers, since the celebrity psychics do that when they score themselves. Credit will also be given if events can be interpreted to fit the prediction -- ditto.

The winner will be announced on January 1, 2009. The winner will be told, "That's amazing! You must actually be psychic and not be aware of it!" in this blog.

My predictions, to get the crystal ball rolling:

1. John Edwards will get the Democratic nomination for President, and will go on to win the election in November.

2. At least one new atheist book will make the New York Times bestseller list.

3. A new drug will be released treating female sexual dysfunction.

4. Hal Holbrook will be nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Into the Wild." He will not win.

5. Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, and Lindsay Lohan will get into legal trouble for out-of-control behavior related to drugs or alcohol.

So what are your guesses -- excuse me, psychic predictions? 

This is what's wrong with the world today

Well, OK, that's an oversimplification, but it still sucks.

We (as a culture) have a really fucked up view of relationships.  And it's only perpetuated by our popular media.  I have my TV on in the background, as I often do, and the Cosby show just came on.  I remember watching it as a kid, it doesn't annoy me, so I left it on and continued reading my book.

But then the plot caught my attention.

( The plot and the moral of the story )

In short, women are dishonest and cruel and this is right, and men are subservient pigs and always wrong.

In the famous words of Penn and Teller ... Bullshit.