Someday, time will pass so swiftly that a century’s bulk will seem slight as a day’s. On a nearer horizon (200 years) linear thought, “language,” and word-based religions such as Christianity and Islam will disappear. We’ll use hieroglyphics (look at your computer screen) and experience fluid, mobile “spiritualism.”

2010 takes a giant step in these directions. Spiritual communications expand. New waves of seekers will travel to India or Mecca or Jerusalem. Big films, ocean voyages, big boats, UFO stories and New Age nostalgia will proliferate. Many films and books will have little plot, much nuance. (A wee step in the disintegration of linear thought.) Nursing schools fill to capacity. Compassion becomes a media catch phrase: donors give big. Optical advances, new death row techniques and Pentagon war machines arrive.

Obama’s Afghan surge (predicted here, folks) will bring intense war to June. Then the question will arise: quit, or start a full-scale war? If Obama (or anyone) starts another surge June 5/6, he’ll win. But martial resolve sputters. It will return in 2011, in full body armour.

2010 through 2012 will be known as the time of liberal ascension and statesmanship, of May-December marriages, and of another economic dislocation similar to the 9/11 and 07/08 ones. The looming crisis (hey, when isn’t there a crisis?) brings a re-structuring of government, medicine, health care (old news) research, atomic and germ/chemical warfare issues, and sexual politics. Men and women face a new relationship paradigm. Sex becomes practical, sweet, and respectful. Hmm – might work.