At 2:48 AM -0500 1/1/12, Anne Cuneo wrote:
>I wish you all a good 2012, even though I am worriedŠ
>Is the financial bubble going to explode?

Yes, but don't worry -- the rich will get richer 
through it, just as they did during the recent 
financial crisis and the Grat Depression.

>Is climate going to wreak havoc?

It is already. It is getting worse.

>Is my favourite brand of letter-paper (yes, I 
>still do write letters) going to disappear?

If it can't be commodified and made into a "home 
brand" but some dastardly retail chain, then yes.

>Is my postman going to be «optimized» away?

Certainly Fed Express, DHL, etc., are working on 
this, as they have for years. When the US postal 
service finally collapses under the weight of the 
expectations dumped on it by Reagan, other post 
offices will come under even more pressure.

>Who is going to rule America: Obama? Mitt 
>Romney? Rick Santorum? Is the occupy movement 
>going to be strong enough? etc., etc.

None of the above and none of those in the Oval 
Office, the home of circular arguments, has for a 
long time. Remember Eisenhower's warning about 
the military-industrial complex? Add in the 
financial sector.

>The fireworks the city of Zurich, where I am, 
>offered its citizen last night were absolutely 
>smashing. But I couldn't help thinking of all 
>these things while admiring them.

I have to say, I'm over these organized 
fireworks. Bread and circuses. In the old days, 
we could have our own little celebration with our 
community -- family and friends. Today we are 
told where we can celebrate and we watch the 
preprogrammed "celebration". From my PoV, it 
sucks.

>Is there something wrong with me, doctor?

if you're an optimist, yes, you are living in a dream world!

>Anyway, as I am an optimist, I shall still wish 
>you (and myself) a happy New Year.

Ooops! But many thanks for your kind thought!  :)

>Cheers!
>Anne
>
>PS. This conversation started with a resounding 
>«Guys», so I felt a bit excluded. Please 
>remember me - I don't contribute much, I have 
>been very very busy finishing a book, but I read 
>you faithfully.

I agree -- "everyone" is there to be used. Even 
"friends". People argue that it is gender-free 
now, but you notice from which side of the gender 
line it comes -- it's just an updating of the use 
of the male whatever to allegedly indicate all 
people. You can imagine the howls of indignation 
at any use of "dolls" for all people instead of 
"guys".

Cheers, geoff