NPR: Predictions, Right and Wrong

Predictions, Right and Wrong

Here are the predictions I promised on the show today, one mind blowingly bad, one eerily right. The bad one comes from Dick Morris.

The accurate one, written in 1988 was by . . . I won???t tell you just yet. Guess. Hint -- it???s a guy known for his contribution to the field of perception.

From Dick Morris, a week after Hurricane Katrina wrecked New Orleans:

But make no mistake about it: Every day for the next year, voters will see nonstop scenes of federal relief, rebuilding, renovation and reconstruction along with the empathy, sympathy and compassion these efforts imply in the heart of George W. Bush. He may have had a terrible first week, but he will rebound big time in the months to come. The aid an administration gives in the aftermath of a momentous disaster will be covered continuously by the media. Every relief convoy will get a wide slice of publicity. As the pumps run and the city and the gulf region drain, the nation will feel a surge of heady optimism at our ability to bounce back from disaster. Happy visuals will replace tragic ones, and interviews with homeowners joyously moving back in will run instead of the tearful stories of refugees.

After the jump, the anonymous prediction:

From the mystery man:

I suggest that by 2008 A.D. most humans living in post-industrial habitats will be spending as much time "jacked-in" to infoworlds on the other side of the screen as they spend in the material world. In 20 years we will spend 7 hours a day actively (rather than passively) navigating, exploring and colonizing the oceans and continents of digital data. Interscreening -- creating mutual digital-realities -- will be the most popular and growthful form of human communication. Interscreening does not imply a derogation or neglect of flesh-interactions. Intimacy at the digital level enriches exchanges in the warm-skin levels. You do not lessen the richness of your murmur-touch contact with your lover because you can also communicate by phone, fax and hand-scrawled notes. Warm-breath interactions with your touch-friends will be more elegant and pleasant with the digital reality option added.

Mike Pesca

1:04 PM ET | 01- 3-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Dick Morris was being satirical, right? I can't imagine that anyone thought the government's reaction to Katrina would ever be as pretty as the picture he paints. Reading his prediction reminded me of being in elementary school when someone would say something outrageous, and then someone else would shout "NOT!"

Sent by G | 1:23 PM ET | 01-03-2008

I have to hand it to Mr. Morris, at least he did not equivocate.

Sent by Will G | 2:03 PM ET | 01-03-2008

Given the overall breathlessness of the prose and the use of terms like "growthful" and "touch-friends" (gack...), I'm assuming hippie. I'm gonna say either Timothy Leary or that guy who used to write lyrics for the Dead who started the EFF.

Sent by Stewart | 3:01 PM ET | 01-03-2008

I suppose it's cheating to use interscreening... but I can tell Stewart that he's hot, hot, burning up.

Sent by MarcParis | 9:25 PM ET | 01-05-2008

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Host

Alison Stewart

Welcome to 'The Bryant Park Project'

The Bryant Park Project started as a blog in the summer of 2007 and ended as a radio show and online community in July 2008. Read our frequently asked questions and discussion rules.