Jan 1st 2012, 16:08 by J.A.
WELCOME to the new year (at least according to the Gregorian calendar—Cassandra notes that the Chinese New Year, the auspicious year of the dragon, will begin on January 23rd). Two of our distinguished editors, Daniel Franklin and Tom Standage, have already given us their predictions for the politics of 2012, but what do they foresee for business, economics and sport? Well, in some aspects they are (predictably) a little gloomy. How else could they be when talking of euro-zone economics? But Cassandra was rather impressed by Tom’s talk of the imperial ambitions of GAFA. If you want to know what that acronym stands for, just click here…and begin 2012 with some instructive viewing!
This blog accompanies The World in 2012, our almanac of predictions for the year ahead. The blog is named after the mythological Cassandra, who was cursed by Apollo to make prophecies that were accurate, but disbelieved
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One major cause of Greek Debt was the high expense of putting on the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Today Athens resembles a war zone threatened by anarchy, angry citizens and brain drain of its youth.
These Olympics may have single handedly lead to the Fall of the Euro in 2011.
Sarajevo hosted the 1984 Olympics and within a decade was an actual War Zone with snipers, genocide and artillery.
London can plunge into anarchy and riot at the drop of a hat as this past summer demonstrated.
And the newest major Olympic endeavor is counterterrorism. It is a magnet for the most ambitious blood thirsty terror cells--kind of like their Olympic games.
"London Calling" with its edgy lyrics by the Clash may prove prescient:
"London calling to the faraway towns
Now war is declared, and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls
London calling, now don't look to us
Phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning, and I live by the river
London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it, brother, you can go it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out, and draw another breath
London calling, and I don't wanna shout
But while we were talking, I saw you nodding out
London calling, see we ain't got no high
Except for that one with the yellowy eyes"
The Olympics may not prove to be a universal panacea. At best it is a mixed blessing. Good luck!
quote; "London Calling" with its edgy lyrics by the Clash may prove prescient:"
Or they may not?