http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061231/ap_on_re_us/2007_predictions_ap_poll WASHINGTON - Another terrorist attack, a warmer planet, death and destruction from a natural disaster. These are among Americans' grim predictions for the United States in 2007. Only a minority of people think the U.S. will go to war with Iran or North Korea over those countries' nuclear ambitions. An overwhelming majority of those surveyed think Congress will raise the federal minimum wage. One-third see hope for a cure to cancer. Only a minority of people think the U.S. will go to war with Iran or North Korea over those countries' nuclear ambitions. An overwhelming majority of those surveyed think Congress will raise the federal minimum wage. One-third see hope for a cure to cancer. North Korea over those countries' nuclear ambitions. An overwhelming majority of those surveyed think Congress will raise the federal minimum wage. One-third see hope for a cure to cancer. These are among the findings of an Associated Press-AOL News poll that asked people in the U.S. to contemplate what 2007 holds for the country. Six in 10 people think the U.S. will be the victim of a terrorist attack. An identical percentage thinks it likely that a biological or nuclear weapon will be unleashed somewhere else in the world. Seventy percent of people in the U.S. predict a major natural disaster in the country and an equal percentage expects worsening global warming. Also, 29 percent think it likely that the U.S. will withdraw its troops from Iraq. Among other predictions for the U.S. in 2007: _35 percent predict the military draft will be reinstated. _35 percent predict a cure for cancer will be found. _25 percent anticipate the second coming of Jesus Christ. _19 percent think scientists are likely to find evidence of extraterrestrial life. With Democrats poised to take control of Congress this week, eight in 10 people predict lawmakers will raise the $5.15-an-hour federal minimum wage. It would be the first increase since 1997.Democratic leaders have proposed raising it in stages to $7.25 an hour. <FORM class=yqin action=http://yq.search.yahoo.com/search method=post> </FORM>President Bush has said he supports the idea, with some protections for small businesses. Fewer than half the public think it likely the U.S. will go to war with Iran or North Korea. Should it come down to that, 40 percent think the battle will be with Iran while 26 percent said North Korea. Higher gas prices, legalized gay marriage and the possible arrival of bird flu also are seen as being in the cards. More than 90 percent of people think higher gas prices are likely. A gallon of self-serve regular gasoline averaged $2.29 last week, compared with $3 over the summer. Also, 57 percent said it is likely that another state will legalize gay marriage. Same-sex marriage is legal in Massachusetts; four other states offer civil unions or domestic partnerships. People were split on whether 2007 will bring the U.S. its first bird flu case. More than 150 people worldwide have died from the disease. Health officials fear a pandemic if the virus mutates into a form easily passed from person to person. Women generally were more likely than men to expect some of the more dire predictions to come true, such as a worldwide terrorist attack and war with Iran or North Korea. Democrats and people under 35 were more likely than Republicans and older people to say global warming will worsen in 2007. The telephone poll of 1,000 adults was conducted Dec. 12-14 by Ipsos, an international polling firm. The margin of sampling error was plus or minus 3 percentage points. ___ 1 in 4 people believe Jesus Christ will be resurrected this year? Looks like South Park was right. What are your predictions for 2007? I will open this thread back up in 2008 (if it doesn't get deleted or disappear) to see who here is a prophet.
leave it to someone in my area to start off the new year w/ a murder.. Woman Dies After Being Shot On Her Doorstep Monday January 1, 2007 The New Year is off to a violent start after a woman was fatally shot on her doorstep. The victim, believed to be in her 50s, was struck in the head Monday afternoon after opening the door to her home on Snowball Cres., near Sheppard Ave. and Markham Rd. Paramedics rushed her to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre just before 3pm, but it was too late to save her. "She was rushed to Sunnybrook Hospital where she was attended to and subsequently she was pronounced (dead)," said Toronto Police Insp. Peter Yuen. Investigators aren't providing many details at this point but it's thought the woman answered a knock at the door before the deadly shot was fired. Her family was inside the house at the time. Though police weren't releasing her name, friends said she was known in the area as 'Auntie Jean.' "She was a community activist but her arena she chose to be involved with the community was through the church," said Vilma, a friend of the victim. "This is not the kind of woman who would be involved in something violent." There was widespread disbelief that a woman who did so much for her community would die such a horrible death on the first day of 2007. "When I hear something like this, you know, it's really a big hit to me," said distraught friend Joe Henry. "Because, you know, to me it's like my sister got shot, or my mother. "It's painful. Really painful." Police aren't speculating yet on a motive for the unthinkable crime. But there are several undercover officers on the scene, which may suggest that investigators know who they're looking for. Mayor David Miller was saddened to hear of the murder. He won re-election on a campaign that included a vow to devote resources to at-risk communities. "It's a very sobering reminder (that) we simply have to get the guns off our streets," he said. Anyone with information for police in the murder case can contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).