2006 Predictions: How'd I Do?

All in all, not too far off; I must say...

The Y1C Crisis – I feel like Peter de Jager…gasoline prices have stayed well below $1.00, fending off the meltdown I anticipated as a result of most gas stations’ limited, sub-one-dollar rate signs.

PIPEDA Bites – I was optimistic in my belief that Canada’s privacy laws would grow teeth; 80% of my email still comprises promotions for penny stocks, penis enlargements and persecuted Nigerian ex-cabinet ministers.

Convergence Resurgence – I was pretty well on here, although consolidation was as prevalent as convergence. Bell Globemedia bought Chum (which I said might happen), Canwest is going to buy Alliance Atlantis, and Telus CEO Darren Entwistle proclaimed that the future of the telco was in television.

The New, New Wireless Wave – Smart phones have in fact become a lot more practical, powerful and, in fact…smarter. Witness the Treo 700, Blackberry Pearl and MotoQ as prime examples. And don’t try and tell me you don’t want an iPhone.

Green: The New Color of Money – Boy was I right here. Not only was it the color of money, but also of power. Stephane Dion’s Liberal leadership victory has been attributed largely to (aside from Gerard Kennedy) his stance on the environment. Everyone from environmentalists to lobbyists is taking credit for it, and Stephen Harper has responded with a big shuffle in cabinet and his top five priorities.

VoIP Goes Mainstream – Vonage may still be losing money, but they can at least sleep well knowing they changed the telco landscape. Beyond the fact that their annoying jingle is stuck in the heads of Canadians from coast to coast, VOIP has got to be one of the top three new technology considerations for large enterprises…which is where the big bucks are.

Judgment Day for Satellite Radio – I’m still not convinced. My dad has one, and I loved playing around with it at first. But the novelty wore off pretty quickly (i.e. by the second or third stoplight) and, judging from the fact that both companies appear to be bleeding money out of every orifice, I don’t think I’m alone. Plus…if not ad-supported radio, where am I going to hear that annoying Vonage jingle?

Taking Responsibility for IT – Well…it’s government; you can’t expect it to happen overnight. What’s actually quite interesting is that – I’ve attended a number of CIO roundtable discussions on the topic – people in or experts on the IT industry have been saying the same thing for years…even decades. I wonder if there will in fact be one event (or series) that precipitates regulatory action a la SOX and Bill198.

I Won’t Shoot Another Eagle – Spot on. I really should have put money on this one.

And last but not least...More Reality TV! Skating, dancing and now enforcing the law with celebrities. Another Survivor, Amazing Race and American Idol. The Biggest Loser, My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancé and Who’s Your Daddy? On the sad front, we lost Croc Hunter Steve Erwin, and Dog the Bounty Hunter was arrested. On the plus side, Poncherello’s going to be busting real bad guys!

What’s next? Check out my 2007 predictions…due out soon!

All Irish are Drunks

Lately I've found a source of daily amusement in the letters to the editor of the Toronto Sun. Writes one Sun reader - Domenic Faragalli of Welland - to the editor in today's paper:

"Just because a person is a politician doesn't mean he/she is a hero. Canadians are sick and tired of the dog and pony shows at all levels of govt. We are tired of self-serving, rich politicians who think they are better than those they serve. To say they are heroes is a joke. "

What bothers me about Mr. Faragalli's comments isn't that they're rife with ignorant cliches borne of apathy and uninformed disdain, but that I know he is far from alone in his opinions.

Adding frustration to bother is that, at least in my experience, those who share his sentiment - who label all politicians as corrupt, self serving crooks - almost never vote, never read a newspaper (beyond the Sunshine Girl), never know the state of current national or political affairs...they rarely even know who their local city councillor, MP or MPP is. What's more - again, in my experience - it's usually the same people that say all Irish are drunks, all Jews are cheap and all Arabs are thieves. After a while, it all begins to sound the same.

Now I'm not saying that Mr. Faragalli is a racist, a fool or uneducated. I'm not suggesting he's totally ignorant or apathetic. But what I do say to him is that, if he's truly informed, if he's truly engaged, if he's really serious about principles of good government, there's a simple solution to his pain: run for office!