Predictions for 2010

Once again, this journal begins the year with a handful of prediction for the coming 12 months. Last year's record of 8 right out of 11 will take some effort to beat. The house policy here is to make predictions that are empirically verifiable -- no quatrains, no obscure language, nothing that can be misinterpreted. After all, what good is a prediction that means whatever one wants it to mean? So, during 2010, the Kensington Review predicts:

• The Democratic Party will retain control of both the US Senate and House of Representatives with smaller majorities;
• The British general election this year will result in hung parliament;
• Spain will win the World Cup;
• The US will lose more personnel in Afghanistan in 2010 than in 2009, when 319 patriots died;
• Spot gold will close out the year below US$1,100 per ounce;
• The current unrest in Iran will continue but fail to remove the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei;
• The hapless New Jersey Nets of the NBA will win no more than 12 games before the end of the 2009-2010 season;
• James Cameron's "Avatar" will not get a nomination for any of the Oscar's acting categories;
• Apple's fabled Tablet will appear but not as the "iSlate" as currently rumored;
• Israel will not engage in any direct talks with the Palestinian authority;
• Tiger Woods will win a tournament on the PGA Tour.