Welcome to 2009 - doesn't it seem weird?

I mean 2009??? That’s 8 years after 2001: A Space Odyssey! Next year will be 2010.  How’s that for a title out of Isaac Asimov or Ray Bradbury?  The future of our childhoods is here.  And yet how different it is.  For most of us space travel remains a vague dream, not some routine jaunt on Panamerican, Kubrick’s choice, an airline which no longer exists.  On the other hand, there is this bizarre means of communications we are all playing with now – the Internet.  Who would have thought it would be such an… again routine… part of our lives?  Instant communication has become a cliche and an addiction.  Anyway Happy New Year to all! Predictions for the new year have been dire, which probably means it won’t be so bad.