The Spectator

Barometer | 8 December 2016

Also in our Christmas Barometer: duff predictions, dull celebrations, and early Christmas posting dates

Forgotten anniversaries

2017 is the 100th anniversary of the Russian revolution. Other anniversaries:
50 years Radio 1; first North Sea gas pumped ashore in County Durham; first cash dispenser (at Barclays in Enfield)
100 years First international airmail service (between Brindisi in Italy and Valona, Albania); first use of air raid siren in UK; first sex education film (in the US)
200 years First municipal gasworks, Manchester; Fahrenheit scale; display of Elgin marbles at the British Museum
300 years First druid-revival ceremony, at Primrose Hill at the autumn equinox
400 years Britain’s first one-way street (Pudding Lane, in the City of London)




Things to crow about

Some things 2017 is meant to be year of:
Year of the Rooster (China)
International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development (UN)
Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology (Visit Scotland)
UK-Indian Year of Culture (Government)
Year of Walking (Suffolk County Council)
Year of Risk (Geological Society of London)





Predictable results

Some rubbish predictions made for 2016:
Nikki, ‘psychic to the stars’: ‘Huge crash at Formula 1 race, killing many; Scottish riots; helicopter will crash into Empire State Building; earthquake in Denmark’.
Simon Reich, ‘the man who got almost everything right about the year before’: ‘Donald Trump will not be republican candidate, but yes, Hillary will be Democratic candidate — and will be elected president’.
Baba Vanga, blind Bulgarian billed as ‘Nostradamus of the Balkans’, who made her prediction before she died 20 years ago: ‘Europe will cease to exist by 2016 — will be empty spaces and wasteland’.
Did anyone get anything right? Da Juana Byrd, ‘psychic and medium’, said: ‘Unless something severe happens Donald Trump will be your new president.’ Best ignore the mudslides in Australia and uprising in Angola which she also predicted.



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