I have to admit to a guilty pleasure: I love listening to the late night/early morning AM radio show “Coast to Coast AM.” Because it airs so late (midnight here), I don’t get many opportunities to listen to the show, which covers fantastical topics like government conspiracies, ghost stories, technology and even aliens. There is one time a year I’m guaranteed to get a listen—New Year’s Eve. It’s a good night to catch, too, because each year they open the phone lines for listeners to call in their predictions for the upcoming year.
It’s an interesting tradition the show has created. Listeners look forward to it each year, and many track the predictions throughout the year. There are two main reasons why this predictions show has been so successful. For one, it’s a way to look to the future, to the whole “new beginnings thing” that New Year’s represents. On the other hand, it’s also a way to let go of the previous year and move on...kind of similar to number one, but with a more backward-looking feel.
To appreciate the generally far-fetched predictions that are called in each year, you have to understand the audience. They crave fantastic stories and buy into conspiracies. They also tend to be up at 2 a.m. Some of the predictions from this year’s show include: President Obama announcing that aliens exist and an actual alien would appear on TV; the first-ever double hand transplant; and that the Hall of Records will be found in the Grand Canyon. What an interesting 2010 it would be!
As the year is still young, I thought it would be fun to get some reader predictions from all of you. But I’m going to take it a step further. Not only do I want to hear what you predict, I want to know what you want out of the following year? What do you want to see happen, or not happen? (it should go without saying, but please keep comments clean and fun!)
So, what do you foresee for yourself or for all of us in the coming days, weeks and months? Are you finally going to make good on your New Year’s Resolution? What do you really want?
Here’s my list of wants and predictions to get things started:
- I predict our Swanson Facebook Fan Page will attract 5,000 more fans in 2010
- I predict a surge of runners, joggers and walkers to attend the annual Fargo Marathon and the Swanson Health Products Health & Fitness Expo
- I want AND predict that I will be in shape and ready to go mountain climbing by July
- I want the Vikings to win the Superbowl!!!
- I want a Spring without a record-setting flood up here in Fargo, ND
- I would also like someone to invent a self-cleaning toilet
Posted by Ben
P.S. There's a giveaway of Ultimate Probiotic Formula from the Lee Swanson Signature Line going on at dearthyroid.org--a blog written for and by people living with thyroid disorders. Check it out if you'd like to get a chance at winning a bottle of probiotics (or if you are dealing with thyroid issues and want to become a part of a welcoming community). Hint: you need to scroll down to find the giveaway details.
Follow the Swanson Vitamins Blog on Twitter