Today, I bring you up to date on what is happening around our world.  First, did you know that  our world population reached 8 billion  on November 15?  Historically and into the future: Population Milestone Year Reached 1 Billion 1804 2 Billion 1927 3 Billion 1960 4 Billion 1974 5 Billion 1987 6 Billion 1998 7 Billion 2010 8 Billion 2022 9 Billion 2037 10 Billion 2058 Other facts: Notice that it took 12 years from 2010 to reach 8 billion. However, growth is slowing, and the expectation is 15 years to get to 9 billion and another 19 years to attain 10 billion.  Certainly too many people for the available resources and the threat of global warming. Worrisomely, 96% of the global population growth since 2010 has occurred in less developed countries. Our exponential growth could, though, before 2100 begin declining; The World Cup begins tonight at 7PM in Doha, Qatar, and we board the Regent Seven Seas Explorer in Dubai for Qatar tomorrow.  Well, no, because the country cannot accept any m

Around this time of the year I in the past proved to the world that I'm a terrible prognosticator of things to come in the next year.  So much so that two years ago, as a joke, I only predicted what was sure to happen.  I still missed three, for the Summer Olympics were delayed to the following year, the cricket version of the World Cup was not held in Australia and the Dubai World Expo was moved into 2021.   So a  year ago I tried to pull off the same stunt, and here is what happened: 2021 will be better than 2020.   I think I was more right than wrong.   Sure, more people died from this present pandemic in 2021 than 2020.  However, vaccines and the Omicron variant are indicators that the pandemic will end at some point later this year.  Omicron is good?  Yes, for it's very contagious, but the death rate ( with vaccinations ) is not much worse than the seasonal flu.  Those anti-vaxxers will still suffer, but stupidity shouldn't be rewarded. The January 6 coup attempt of Do