Over the last 13 years or so I’ve been making lists of predictions, and then acting like I’m Oldham’s answer to Nostradamus whenever one vaguely correlates with current events. Here are the first, second and third posts. I think my hit rate is about 2 out of 30.
That’s no reason not to dish out further prophecies, though, so have these.
1. Instagram updates.
Accounts should display a ‘follows you’ sign, if they do, like Twitter accounts do. Similarly, when searching for accounts, lists of these should show which follow you, and which ones you follow. There should also be the introduction of the option to unfollow an account from their story, not just their profile or post. We also need a search function that allows us to find content written in comments, either in our own or in other people’s public comments. Another tweak: when one person finishes a live, Insta frequently offers an opportunity to watch other people’s current live broadcasts, including people we don’t know. I’d like to see who’s going live right now, in terms of who is geographically closest to me, regardless of whether I’ve just been watching a live broadcast or not.
2. Phone footage and the internet minimises arguments.
Arguments will phase out, particularly on objective issues, as facts are more readily available. Disputes over what this person said or that person exactly did will be minimised, meaning arguments are less about what the objective circumstances are and more what the subjective thoughts and feelings are surrounding it. There will, of course, be people who refuse to accept facts. Fewer and fewer people will tolerate them.
3. A divide between vaccinated / unvaccinated people
On that issue, people who have a basic grasp of virology will have less and less patience for those who don’t. Specifically, those who, for whatever reason, think they know better than the world’s leading scientists and refuse to take the COVID vaccines. Many friendships are already falling apart due to this, many more will. If you have to ask why, you’re part of the problem.
4. A bigger divide between left and right wing voters
Tolerating and accepting people with different perspectives is fundamental to any democracy. This comes under strain, though, when people are accepting of bad behaviour that others are not. Like, for example, a British Prime Minister refusing to go to COBRA meetings then leaving 200K dead. Or making a plethora of racist, homophobic, Islamophobic and chauvinist comments. Or cutting the money that goes into the NHS, resulting in bigger wait lists and more excess deaths. Or cutting the money that goes into disability, and subjecting disabled people to humiliating private assessments to gauge whether they’re lying about the lifelong conditions they have. Or leaving schools and the NHS dangerously understaffed. Then banning protest when people speak up about it. Or employing a chancellor who laughs hysterically during the Queen’s funeral. Etc. etc.
Tories are fundamentally bad people. They will, of course, always be bemused when non-Tories shun them, and this bemusement will be either through genuine delusion or complete naivete over the decisions their party makes. More and more people are coming to the conclusion that quality, in friends, is more important than quality, and that many people would rather have fewer friends than substandard ones who vote to harm the people around them. Smaller parties will be abandoned in tactical voters’ attempts to oust the current party.
5. Caitlyn Jenner becomes Republican President
In 2021, Transgender reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner made an ill-fated attempt to run for California Governor. She bombed, not even making the top 10 candidates. Doesn’t sound promising, does it? Well, Hitler failed in his Beer Hall Putsch that landed him in prison, and he was still democratically elected after that. The rest, as they say, is history. Caitlyn is 73 currently. Donald Trump (also a reality TV star with no political experience) was 70 when elected. Joe Biden was 78. Don’t underestimate Americans’ (or Brits,’ to be fair) ability to make the same dreadful mistakes over and over. Huge swathes of the population fall foul of Freud’s theory of repetition. If the conservatives of Britain can have 3 female (and coincidentally terrible) leaders, USA can too.
But then…
6. Webcams in Fridges Bear with me here. Food waste is becoming more of an issue in a society where sell-by dates dictate our eating habits. Do you honestly have the capacity to remember everything that’s in your fridge? I doubt it. Everyone overbuys or underbuys at some point.
I would hugely benefit from something that tells me, ‘you’ve ran out of this, but you have plenty of this, so don’t buy any more.’ Would a camera system work? Or something that registers what goes in and out of your fridge? And what’s about to run out, so you can restock before it does?
That said, an even bigger benefit would be something we already have available: supermarket delivery service. That way, you can write your order in whilst looking into your fridge and cupboards, and receive reminders on previous orders. That way you’d be unlikely to forget to order something on account of it being out of sight, out of mind.
You’re also less likely to order junk food. If you’re not searching for chocolate or crisps, you won’t see any adverts suggesting you add them to your basket.
7. Joe Biden Steps Down US President Joe Biden, 80, I would say is doing a competent job for an octogenarian – certainly better than The Former Guy, not that that’s a high benchmark. But the odd slip when speaking – or walking — is nodding towards a mild dementia issue. You tell me of a guy his age who hasn’t seen any mental deterioration. He’ll concede his age is a problem, and step down.
This will push Kamala Harris – still embattled due to her ‘don’t come’ comments re illegal immigration – into the top job, resulting in The USA’s first female and first Asian president. This will displease a lot of people, based on recent approval ratings.
I wouldn’t jump to the conclusion, though, that she’d be particularly unpopular with certain far-right groups. Look at these responses to Obama’s election in 2008.
8. King Charles Abdicates
Refuted 16th century seer Nostradamus predicted (if you believe the translations) many key moments in history since his lifetime to ours, and beyond. Most currently relevant was quatrain 6/72, which I noted in September related to Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.
Through the pretend fury of divine emotion The wife of the great one will be badly wronged Judges wish to condemn such doctrine The victim will be sacrificed to the ignorant people. Because they disapproved of his divorce A man who later they considered unworthy The people will force out the King of the Islands A man will replace him who never expected to become king.
In his 2006 book Nostradamus: The Complete Prophecies for the Future, historian Mario Reading suggests that Harry will be crowned. It’s still possible, but William and his children will all have to either abdicate or die, so that’s unlikely.
Another, closely related, quatrain is 10/22, detailing King Charles II’s abdication and passing to his son.
Because they disapprove of his divorce A man who later they considered unworthy The people will force out the King of the Islands A man will replace him who never expected to become king.
But which son?
I think Charles’ abdication is a high likelihood due to age and disillusionment. He’s tired. Anti-monarchist sentiment is growing (Camilla having an affair with Charles while he was still married to Diana, someone not wanting Diana’s then-boyfriend, Muslim Dodi Al-Fayed, to join the Royal Family, and of course more people being educated that Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were third cousins, which explains a lot).
William takes the throne after Charles steps down, before the monarchy can be abolished – an upheaval that William suspected would happen.
9. Sphagnum Moss and Lichen Use
Climate change is becoming a more serious and noticeable issue as scientist attempt to stave off rising temperatures and sea levels. Numerous attempts to combat this are under way, including the planting of flora – plants and other greenery – to offset carbon emissions. To recap high school science – flora breathe in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen. Fauna – animals like humans – breathe in oxygen and breathe out a range of elements and compounds including carbon dioxide.
As the rainforests are sadly being demolished and carbon (and sea levels) are rising, tree planting projects around the globe have popped up, with some success. Ecologists, however, have recognised a huge advantage in the use of sphagnum moss and lichen.
WildlifeTrusts.org explain ‘sphagnum mosses play a vital role in the creation of peat bogs. By storing water in their spongy forms, they prevent the decay of dead plant material and eventually form peat.’
This in turn absorbs Co2 levels.
Another method of absorbing CO2 is lichen. These are also plants, normally associated with rot and decay. USADA.gov explains: ‘Because lichens enable algae to live all over the world in many different climates, they also provide a means to convert carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through photosynthesis into oxygen, which we all need to survive.’
Hence, we can expect fewer glassy buildings in our cities and more rock-based buildings, like we used to build, except this stone – whatever we use – will be infused with lichen, adding colour to the city and offsetting carbon emissions exactly where they are occurring the most.
10. Basic psychology lessons on the National Curriculum
Yes, I know, teachers are massively overworked. They don’t need more stress and extra work on top of what they do. What I’m suggesting is we ditch History and Geography, replacing them with more IT classes, through which people can research these subjects should they wish to online.
Additionally, we install psychology classes in which pupils are taught the basics of how the mind works. Here’s your prefrontal cortex; here’s where you learn things. Here’s your hippocampus; here’s where you remember things. Here are the key findings about the nature of learning. Here’s how you absorb information and problem solve. This is why you feel anger, sadness, happiness, amusement.
The purpose of this: if a school pupil can grasp even the most basic of psychological principles, they can understand how to learn in the first place. They can pin down why they might be having a problem. Are they really not understanding something, or are they just not able to remember it? Are there external factors influencing their learning? Stress? Tiredness? Are there symptoms of a condition? And more to the point, what can be done to overcome problems with learning itself?
If a school pupil can analyse the facts, gauge the veracity of a piece of information on the internet, look at the evidence and make conclusions based on these, we wouldn’t have so many conspiracy theory nutters and we wouldn’t be letting shady politicians get away with corruption. And, if you’ve been paying attention to the news recently, you’ll have seen the COVID fraud stories, the cost of Brexit and who has profited off it (The EU wasn’t even mentioned in my time at school), the proven lies (where’s the weekly £350 million for the NHS now we’ve left the EU?) you'll agree there is enough reason to suggest that Joe Public really can’t interpret the news accurately and are left with spurious beliefs.
It would take decades of proper education, but stamping out those beliefs should be a priority.
I’d love to know what predictions you have for the country and the world.
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