2017

It's time for my annual review of the list of things I wanted to happen the prior 12 months, and give my list of things I want to occur in the next 12 months.  Here's the 2016 list, with comments in ALL CAPS:

-At least some progress, not regress, on medicinal marijuana legalization in Iowa.
NOPE TO DOPE AGAIN, BUT AT LEAST THERE WAS A BILL ON WHICH TO VOTE.

-Chris Christie versus Hillary Clinton for president, with ? winning.
HILLARY LOST THE PRESIDENCY, WHILE CHRISTIE LOST HIS POLITICAL CAREER.

-A higher stock market.
AFFIRMATIVE, BUT IT DIDN'T LOOK GOOD ON FEBRUARY 1ST.

-Just one actual, even very minor piece of legislation to make it slightly more difficult to buy a gun.
DESPITE MORE VIOLENCE, WE'VE NEVER BEEN FARTHER FROM THIS HAPPENING.

-The personal, financial, and political implosion of Donald Trump.
THE OPPOSITE HAPPENED THIS YEAR, BUT IT WILL EVENTUALLY HAPPEN.

-A way to charge devices without a wire.
NO, BUT WIRELESS HEADPHONE HAVE GONE MAINSTREAM.

-An à la carte option for cable and satellite TV channels.
THANKS TO PRESSURE FROM STREAMING SERVICES, SEEING SMALL PROGRESS.

-More time for eating right, less time for exercise.
ENDED UP DOING MORE OF BOTH, WHICH WAS A GOOD THING.

For 2017 I'd like to see:

Again:  At least some progress on medical marijuana in Iowa,

Some type of institutional or legal control over fake news / social media.

Related to the above, more critical thinkers, fewer idiots who believe everything they hear.

GPS technology used in major sporting events, e.g. to mark the ball in football games, and for the strike zone in baseball games.

More working from home by me.

The return of popular mainstream rock bands and rock music.

Implementation of the fiduciary rule, and the demise of commission-based financial advice.

The resignation or impeachment of an unqualified president -- no names, any one will do.

The Graduating Hangover of 2011

Over the past week, I've been planning and attending events related to a child's high school graduation. My observations:

* High school graduation is second only to weddings when it comes to transferring wealth from middle-aged people to the younger generation, roughly twenty dollars at a time.

* The graduation cermony is too long. In this age of technology, we still haven't come up with a better method than waiting an hour while hundreds of kids listen to speeches and then walk across a stage for a fleeting five seconds of attention? There has to be an app to speed this up.

* After attending multiple graduation parties with the same invited guests, it's a challege to come up with new discussion topics. Did we comment on college plans? Check. Food served? Check. Venue? Check. Well, let's go to the next party and do that again!

* When all is said and done, high school graduation equalizes things. Everybody has the same piece of parchment, the high school diploma, and the best student is effectively no better off than the worst. It's really a minor step for most. As I've often told my kids, only now will knowledge and effort really matter.