A very Happy New Year to you all. Hopefully it is an improvement over the last. There is always hope, but here is the sad and hope for a wise man of the New Year.
Hopefully, for example, no semi-slavery state receives the right to host a major international sporting event this year.
Hope that the weapons that should not exist at all not to fall into the hands of madmen who should not rule at all.

Let us hope that 2009 is the year that the sad irony of a man to pay 10 million dollars a year to catch a ball and pay a sergeant with six years of service for a base salary of $ 31,000 is finally done. Does the soldier need a million? No, but neither do jock strap.
We hope that somewhere along the line with those of some items that this year is not wise to try to sell a seat on the United States Senate to the highest bidder. Of course, there is always the sad fact that most elections are in fact little removed from the same thing.
Hopefully, in 2009 when some leadership needs a document, they come not to seek a way befitting the king of Saudi Arabia. And should they get the document we hope they do not spend as if they were the king of Saudi Arabia.
Hope (against all odds), which in 2009, Joe Snodgrass walk in a shopping center in America went for the first time (perhaps in his life) should not buy what he did especially not need the money, he did not promise he can not keep.
Hopefully, for the first time in many years, we realize the value of a friend, a neighbor, an opportunity, a wise adviser and all the other things that the recession can not devalue and boom can replace.
Hope that those who blindly followed a credo for change are not saddled us with a change that our children and grandchildren curse for us.
Hopefully, most of all for a world that is slowing a bit. For a people that there are two ways to have enough. One is to do, the other is less than desire.
May God bless you all this year. I hope to be able to drift with you as often as I can to cheer, jeer and point you in joy for some things and a blind rage for others. Your rum May last year.