Predictions for 2008 (Load #3)...

Environmental issues:

"Green" Continues to Grow: Public health and environmental concerns will remain a major issue. Continued attention on global warming, lead-based paints and the contamination of goods will drive businesses toward environmentally friendly packaging, recyclable products and the enforcement of trade regulations pertaining to the use of toxic electrical and electronic components. The concept of having a green supply chain will move from being a public relations strategy to a necessary means of deriving real economic value and improving compliance. As companies focus on supply chain and product lifecycle management initiatives in this environmental light, concepts that will be embraced include the designing of products derived from recycled materials; striving for "zero waste" from a product at end-of-life; and employing sourcing and fulfillment strategies based on less fuel consumption and the environmental practices of supply chain partners. [More]

Movies:

June 20: Myers is back with "The Love Guru," his first grown-up comedy since 2002's "Austin Powers in Goldmember." But he must topple Carell in Warner Bros. adaptation of "Get Smart." Advantage: "The Love Guru." [More]

Technology (IT):

Windows XP's Reprieve

Microsoft will announce an extension until the end of 2008 for Windows XP availability, instead of cutting it off on June 30.

In September '07, the company pushed the extension from the end of January until June after corporate users complained. Not to mention that many companies had decided to put off moving to Vista. The migration will continue to be slow for at least the first half of 2008. [More]

[Many more tech predictions here]

Which party will take the White House?

From the Iowa Electronic Markets (which has been shown to be remarkably accurate)




The Top 8 Health Issues

6. Michael Pollan It was difficult to discuss food this year without bringing up Michael Pollan, whose bestselling book "The Omnivore's Dilemma" hit a nerve in the debate about our food system. By the end of 2008, we could be saying the same of "In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto". Set for release on Jan. 1, Pollan's newest book follows up on a New York Magazine article from 2007 and argues that we're focusing too much on individual nutrients and losing site of the value of -- and delight in -- real food. Pollan's American paradox -- "the more we worry about nutrition, the less healthy we seem to become" -- is made all the more interesting by the increasing popularity of functional foods, or foods that are said to have added health benefits, with consumers and the food industry. [More]