Gene Edward Veith Jr.'s Blog, page 362

Will Pope Francis be the last pope?

In checking out the predictions for last year, I came across a post I wrote with this lede: More doomsday predictions, this time from the Roman Catholic side! According to writings attributed to St. Malachy in 1139, pope #112 will be the last one, and then Jesus will return. That would be the successor to [Read More...]

Justice halts birth control mandate

Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor has issued an order blocking the implementation of Obamacare’s requirement that employers–even those with religious objections–must provide their employees insurance that covers birth control and morning after pills.  The stay is temporary, but it’s an important development. Some will be surprised that Justice Sotomayor made this move.  “Isn’t she one of [Read More...]

Reading a novel is good for your brain

The kind of research that we literature professors appreciate: Being pulled into the world of a gripping novel can trigger actual, measurable changes in the brain that linger for at least five days after reading, scientists have said. The new research, carried out at Emory University in the US, found that reading a good book [Read More...]

Your predictions for 2014

Happy New Year’s!  It’s time to look ahead on the year to come and to make our annual predictions about what we expect to happen in the new year.  We will then review those predictions on December 31, as we did yesterday, heaping honors upon the best prognosticators.  So predict away!  After the jump, some [Read More...]

The snarky year in review

One of my solemn customs for New Year’s Eve is reviewing the events of the past year by reading satirist Dave Barry’s month-by-month lampoon.  I invite you to join me by clicking  Dave Barry’s Review of 2013, the Year of the Zombies – The Washington Post. I invite you to respond in kind with your [Read More...]

What’s out and what’s in

The Washington Post has an annual New Year’s feature listing what’s “out” from the previous year and what’s “in” for the year to come.  Many of us are so removed from fashion that we have no idea what the style mavens are talking about for either year.  Here is the list for 2013/2014 (you can [Read More...]

Marijuana shops to open in Colorado

Colorado legalized the possession of recreational marijuana last year, but as of today, you can buy it openly in retail shops.  Regulations that go into effect today will, in effect, create a legal marijuana industry in the state.  How do you think that will go? From Colorado Readies For ‘Green Wednesday’ Pot Sales « CBS [Read More...]

New Year’s resolutions for this blog

I haven’t had time to monitor comments very closely, but I resolve to do so.  I also resolve to bring back this blog’s reputation for friendly, thoughtful, and welcoming discussions.  I resolve to delete comments that are off topic.  I resolve to delete personal attacks, mean-spirited cuts, and vicious asides.   If you find a comment [Read More...]

The best predictions for 2013

It’s New Year’s Eve, time for our annual review of the predictions made by the readers of this blog back on the last New Year’s Day.  Check them yourself here.  Though they were mostly wrong, there were some good guesses and some that were right on target.  No one will get stoned for making a [Read More...]

How other predictions for 2013 fared

You Cranach readers did much better in your predictions for 2013 than the professionals did.  After the jump, links to what the psychics and the pundits predicted. Leading psychics give their predictions for 2013. Economists’ predictions Political predictions Technology predictions Astrological predictions Sports predictions