A look back at 2007

By Dan Hamblin

*Stock market headed for a possible recession. - The market has been on pins and needles all year and it doesn't look like things are going to get any better for next year. The housing market is a real drain on the entire market with it's sub-prime mortgages really hurting the economy.

*Dollar is at an all time low. - the US dollar is at an all time low!! Many countries such as Russia, China and Iran are considering dropping the US dollar completely due to its declining value.

*Russian president is dead set on keeping power and its military is more active than ever. - Russia has resumed daily bomber and warship activity. It has withdrawn itself from a treaty that had certain restrictions on the amount of artillery, tanks and combat planes it could possess in certain parts of the country.

*Israel is in negotiations with Palestine, not sure how far that will go. - George W. Bush hosted a meeting in Annapolis, MD last November to initiate peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis. These peace talks were hopeful at first but now seem to have multiple road blocks coming up, either side seems to be giving in to the other side for the sake of peace.

*EU is the revived Roman Empire with Sarkozy looking to take the lead. – The revived Roman Empire (EU – European Union) is really making progress. The EU will have a president and an even more powerful foreign minister. It looks like Sarkozy may take one of those positions. The EU is made up of 27 countries and is looking to expand.

*Iran is enriching uranium, wants to waste Israel. – Iran is enriching uranium and there is no sign of them slowing down anytime soon, even with current imposed sanctions. Currently Russia is providing fuel for their nuclear reactors. It has been said that by 2009 Iran could have enough uranium to build a nuclear weapon. Why not, they already have the warheads!! This makes Israel very nervous since Iran has vowed to "wipe Israel off the map."

*China's growing economic and military might. – China was the first to announce their economy didn't need the US dollar, their economy is booming and their military is larger than ever.

*Nation ID initiatives. – Currently the UK is in the process of initiating a "National ID card" program. Many countries are looking at this idea and many are resistant to it. I know I am. If it's not an ID card it would be a computer chip that would be implanted in the right hand. This would be necessary to buy/sell or even have a job!
*Global weather changes Earthquakes, too many to count. – There is no questioning this one, this past year we have seem record tsunamis, typhoons, hurricanes and earthquakes.