If you are geeky enough to remember Peter Hyams' 1984 Sci-Fi, 2010 The Year We Make Contact then you may remember indeed how bleak the future was.  The Cold War was raging full force with Soviets and Americans racing to get to the Discovery first.  Tensions ran high as the US Navy was blockading Soviet ships, Stanley Kubrick's likeness was on the cover or Time.  OK, so maybe Kubrick on the cover of Time was the least of their troubles but regardless things didn't look good for mankind.  Fortunately something "wonderful" was about to happen to humanity and there was a shred of hope yet.

It seems to me that 2008 is the year of all time lows for the world.  The US is still at war, a war that began in 2003.  I still don't see what has yet been accomplished other than capturing the majority of the Baath party and executing the head of their organization.  The regions affected are more unstable than they have been in decades.  The American spirit is limping off the field like an injured NFL player.  Gas costs more than 4 bucks a gallon with no end in sight to it's increase, food costs are rising as well.  We have Vietnam war hero running for president against a former Civil Rights Attorney, neither of which overly impress me as genuine leaders.

Nevada is in trouble as well.  Our budget is in shambles, the state economy is in jeopardy.  On a personal note, I have friends and family who are sick with medical issues that could very well be serious in the near future.  Nevada's Special Legislative Session wrestling match is in full force between Gov. Gibbons and the Democrats in the Senate and Assembly.  Gov. Gibbons has his own personal issues that seem to outweigh the rest of the state's woes (according to local news tabloids media).

 I guess in short, this is a depressing, down-and-out year for a lot of reasons.  I should be fortunate that I have my health, a roof over my head, a pretty swell wife and a couple of good-strong kids (<---spoken in a Soviet-Era Russian accent)...

and i have:

LOTRO

Life is good...