It's a bit late getting out due to editorial problems. Send in your entries from far and wide by 11:59:59 PST, Sunday January 30th. You only have to predict the events of the last 11 months of 2011...
Monday, January 24, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Congratulations to the 2010 Winner
Chris Fitzgerald
He wins his second consecutive title thanks to a correct prediction of the Call of Duty: Black Ops as the top-selling video game.
Congratulations are also due to Sam Barer, who was narrowly edged (1 point) for this year's crown.
Category Winners
Politics: Sam Barer
Economy: Eric Roston
Sports: Chris Fitzgerald
Entertainment & Media: Three way tie: Chris Fitzgerald, Wendy Fordyce, Phil Kasin
Past Winners:
He wins his second consecutive title thanks to a correct prediction of the Call of Duty: Black Ops as the top-selling video game.
Congratulations are also due to Sam Barer, who was narrowly edged (1 point) for this year's crown.
Category Winners
Politics: Sam Barer
Economy: Eric Roston
Sports: Chris Fitzgerald
Entertainment & Media: Three way tie: Chris Fitzgerald, Wendy Fordyce, Phil Kasin
Past Winners:
2009: Chris Fitzgerald
2008: David Herberich
2007: Andrew Everett
Saturday, January 1, 2011
2010 Year in Preview Answers
NEWS
Where will Osama bin Laden be at the end of 2010? At large and presumed alive
True or False: There will be a successful major terrorist attack on American soil in 2010. FALSE True or False: There will be a successful major terrorist attack in Western Europe in 2010. FALSE
US forces will attack and sink a pirate vessel in the waters near the Horn of Africa in 2010. TRUE
True or False: US combat troop levels in Iraq will be lower than those in Afghanistan at year end. TRUE
True or False: Gaza will formally separate from the West Bank in 2010. FALSE
True or False: Iran will test a nuclear weapon in 2010. FALSE
True or False: The US will request additional troops for deployment in Afghanistan (beyond those announced in December 2009). FALSE
The current leaders of which of these countries will be alive and in power at the end of 2010? All
Name another country that will see an unscheduled change in power in 2010. Kyrgyzstan, Niger, Ukraine, Poland, Nigeria, United Kingdom, Haiti
How many named tropical storms or hurricanes will form during the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season? 19
True or False: 2010 will set a record for the smallest summer Arctic ice pack. FALSE
True or False: The US President will sign into law legislation establishing a carbon cap-and-trade program in 2010. FALSE
True or False: The US President will sign into law legislation imposing a federal carbon tax in 2010. FALSE
True or False: Radiation will accidentally be released from a nuclear power plant. FALSE
Which houses of Congress will be controlled by the Republicans as a result of the 2010 elections? House of Representatives
How many Senate seats will remain in the Democratic caucus after the 2010 elections? 53
How many seats in the House of Representatives will remain in the Democratic caucus after the 2010 elections? (435 seats total) 242
How many US Supreme Court vacancies will open in 2010? One
Bonus: If you expect vacancies to open, for which justices? Stevens
By how much will Barack Obama's approval rating change by the end of 2010, i.e., +/- how many points? -6
How many times will President Obama veto legislation in 2010? 0
True or False: An original Obama appointee will depart the Cabinet in 2010. TRUE
Bonus: Name the Cabinet member(s). Orzag, Romer, Emanuel
Name the number of declared candidates for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination at the end of 2010. 0
True or False: A US state will default on debt during 2010. FALSE
How many US states will newly suspend capital punishment in 2010? 0
How many national-profile religious leaders will resign in 2010 amid charges of ethical lapses? 0
Who will win the 2010 Nobel Prize in Economics? Peter Diamond, Dale Mortensen, Christopher Pissarides
ECONOMICS
How many quarters of positive GDP growth will the US see in 2010? 4
Predict the US unemployment rate at the end of 2010. 9.8
Predict what the Fed discount rate will be at the end of 2010. 0.75
Predict the percentage change in the Case Shiller House Price Index in 2010. -0.3%
True or False: The US government will approve new bailout programs for distressed "jumbo" mortgages in 2010. FALSE
Will the dollar rise or fall against the euro? Rise
What will the dollar-euro exchange rate be at the end of 2010? 1.3384:1
Will the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise or fall in 2010? (Note: the DJIA opened the year at 10,428.) Rise
Predict the percentage change in the Dow's closing value in 2010. 11.02
Name the best-performing Dow component stock in 2010. Caterpillar (CAT)
Name the worst-performing Dow component stock in 2010. Hewlett Packard (HPQ)
Name exiting Dow components in 2010. None
Name the replacements for any exiting Dow stocks you listed.
In percentage terms, which major index will perform BEST in 2010? S&P 500
In percentage terms, which major index will perform WORST in 2010? Shanghai Composite
Name the price of a single EU-ETS carbon emission allowance at year end. 14.24
Will the spot price of West Texas (WTI) crude oil in Cushing, OK rise or fall in 2010? Rise
Predict the spot price of West Texas (WTI) crude oil in Cushing, OK at the end of 2010. 91.13
Will the Henry Hub spot price of natural gas rise or fall in 2010? Fall
Predict the Henry Hub spot price of natural gas at the end of 2010. 4.19
Predict the price of an ounce of gold at the end of 2010. 1421.4
SPORTS
Name the NFC representative in Super Bowl XLIV (Feb '10) New Orleans Saints
Name the AFC representative in Super Bowl XLIV (Feb '10) Indianpolis Colts
Which of the two teams will win Super Bowl XLIV? (As a tiebreaker, predict the final score, e.g., Eagles 13-10) Saints 31-17
Predict the two opponents in the 2011 BCS college football championship game. Oregon, Auburn
Name the two opponents in the 2010 World Cup Final. (For the uninitiated, this is between national teams, i.e., Slovenia or Chile are valid answers, while Real Madrid or Chelsea are not) Netherlands, Spain
Which of the two teams will win the World Cup? Spain
True or False: The US national team will advance to the second round of the World Cup. TRUE
Who will be the Eastern Conference representative in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals? Philadelphia Flyers
Who will be the Western Conference representative in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals? Chicgao Blackhawks
Which of the two teams will win the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals? Chicago Blackhawks
Name the 2010 NCAA Division I men's lacrosse champion. (For the uninitiated, like the World Cup only seven teams have ever won, so the pool of viable candidates is fairly limited.) Duke
Who will be the National League champion playing in the 2010 World Series? San Francisco Giants
Who will be the American League champion playing in the 2010 World Series? Texas Rangers
Which of the two teams will win the 2010 World Series? San Francisco Giants
Who will be the Eastern Conference representative in the 2010 NBA Finals? Boston Celtics
Who will be the Western Conference representative in the 2010 NBA Finals? Los Angeles Lakers
Which of the two teams will win the NBA Finals? Los Angeles Lakers
How many golf tournaments will wayward superstar Tiger Woods will win in 2010? (Note: includes all tournaments, not just Grand Slam events) 0
Which country will win the most total medals at the Winter Games? USA
Which country will win the Olympic gold medal in men's ice hockey? Canada
True or False: Jimmie Johnson will repeat as NASCAR champion. TRUE
ENTERTAINMENT
Name the winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Picture. The Hurt Locker
Name the winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Actor. Jeff Bridges
Name the winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Actress. Sandra Bullock
Name the winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Mo'Nique
Name the winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Christopher Waltz
Name the winner of the 2010 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Name the winner of the 2010 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor. Jonas Brothers
Name the winner of the 2010 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress. Sandra Bullock
Which will have higher gross revenues, the biggest movie of 2010 or the biggest-selling video game? Video Game
Bonus: Name the movie and the game. Call of Duty Black Ops, Toy Story 3
True or False: a US newspaper will win a 2010 Pulitzer Prize, and enter bankruptcy/cease publication by the end of the year. FALSE
BONUS: Tiger Bingo! Name a high-profile athlete, entertainer, or politician whose marital infidelities will be exposed in lascivious detail by the 24-hour media cycle. Lawrence Taylor
Where will Osama bin Laden be at the end of 2010? At large and presumed alive
True or False: There will be a successful major terrorist attack on American soil in 2010. FALSE True or False: There will be a successful major terrorist attack in Western Europe in 2010. FALSE
US forces will attack and sink a pirate vessel in the waters near the Horn of Africa in 2010. TRUE
True or False: US combat troop levels in Iraq will be lower than those in Afghanistan at year end. TRUE
True or False: Gaza will formally separate from the West Bank in 2010. FALSE
True or False: Iran will test a nuclear weapon in 2010. FALSE
True or False: The US will request additional troops for deployment in Afghanistan (beyond those announced in December 2009). FALSE
The current leaders of which of these countries will be alive and in power at the end of 2010? All
Name another country that will see an unscheduled change in power in 2010. Kyrgyzstan, Niger, Ukraine, Poland, Nigeria, United Kingdom, Haiti
How many named tropical storms or hurricanes will form during the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season? 19
True or False: 2010 will set a record for the smallest summer Arctic ice pack. FALSE
True or False: The US President will sign into law legislation establishing a carbon cap-and-trade program in 2010. FALSE
True or False: The US President will sign into law legislation imposing a federal carbon tax in 2010. FALSE
True or False: Radiation will accidentally be released from a nuclear power plant. FALSE
Which houses of Congress will be controlled by the Republicans as a result of the 2010 elections? House of Representatives
How many Senate seats will remain in the Democratic caucus after the 2010 elections? 53
How many seats in the House of Representatives will remain in the Democratic caucus after the 2010 elections? (435 seats total) 242
How many US Supreme Court vacancies will open in 2010? One
Bonus: If you expect vacancies to open, for which justices? Stevens
By how much will Barack Obama's approval rating change by the end of 2010, i.e., +/- how many points? -6
How many times will President Obama veto legislation in 2010? 0
True or False: An original Obama appointee will depart the Cabinet in 2010. TRUE
Bonus: Name the Cabinet member(s). Orzag, Romer, Emanuel
Name the number of declared candidates for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination at the end of 2010. 0
True or False: A US state will default on debt during 2010. FALSE
How many US states will newly suspend capital punishment in 2010? 0
How many national-profile religious leaders will resign in 2010 amid charges of ethical lapses? 0
Who will win the 2010 Nobel Prize in Economics? Peter Diamond, Dale Mortensen, Christopher Pissarides
ECONOMICS
How many quarters of positive GDP growth will the US see in 2010? 4
Predict the US unemployment rate at the end of 2010. 9.8
Predict what the Fed discount rate will be at the end of 2010. 0.75
Predict the percentage change in the Case Shiller House Price Index in 2010. -0.3%
True or False: The US government will approve new bailout programs for distressed "jumbo" mortgages in 2010. FALSE
Will the dollar rise or fall against the euro? Rise
What will the dollar-euro exchange rate be at the end of 2010? 1.3384:1
Will the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise or fall in 2010? (Note: the DJIA opened the year at 10,428.) Rise
Predict the percentage change in the Dow's closing value in 2010. 11.02
Name the best-performing Dow component stock in 2010. Caterpillar (CAT)
Name the worst-performing Dow component stock in 2010. Hewlett Packard (HPQ)
Name exiting Dow components in 2010. None
Name the replacements for any exiting Dow stocks you listed.
In percentage terms, which major index will perform BEST in 2010? S&P 500
In percentage terms, which major index will perform WORST in 2010? Shanghai Composite
Name the price of a single EU-ETS carbon emission allowance at year end. 14.24
Will the spot price of West Texas (WTI) crude oil in Cushing, OK rise or fall in 2010? Rise
Predict the spot price of West Texas (WTI) crude oil in Cushing, OK at the end of 2010. 91.13
Will the Henry Hub spot price of natural gas rise or fall in 2010? Fall
Predict the Henry Hub spot price of natural gas at the end of 2010. 4.19
Predict the price of an ounce of gold at the end of 2010. 1421.4
SPORTS
Name the NFC representative in Super Bowl XLIV (Feb '10) New Orleans Saints
Name the AFC representative in Super Bowl XLIV (Feb '10) Indianpolis Colts
Which of the two teams will win Super Bowl XLIV? (As a tiebreaker, predict the final score, e.g., Eagles 13-10) Saints 31-17
Predict the two opponents in the 2011 BCS college football championship game. Oregon, Auburn
Name the two opponents in the 2010 World Cup Final. (For the uninitiated, this is between national teams, i.e., Slovenia or Chile are valid answers, while Real Madrid or Chelsea are not) Netherlands, Spain
Which of the two teams will win the World Cup? Spain
True or False: The US national team will advance to the second round of the World Cup. TRUE
Who will be the Eastern Conference representative in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals? Philadelphia Flyers
Who will be the Western Conference representative in the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals? Chicgao Blackhawks
Which of the two teams will win the 2010 Stanley Cup Finals? Chicago Blackhawks
Name the 2010 NCAA Division I men's lacrosse champion. (For the uninitiated, like the World Cup only seven teams have ever won, so the pool of viable candidates is fairly limited.) Duke
Who will be the National League champion playing in the 2010 World Series? San Francisco Giants
Who will be the American League champion playing in the 2010 World Series? Texas Rangers
Which of the two teams will win the 2010 World Series? San Francisco Giants
Who will be the Eastern Conference representative in the 2010 NBA Finals? Boston Celtics
Who will be the Western Conference representative in the 2010 NBA Finals? Los Angeles Lakers
Which of the two teams will win the NBA Finals? Los Angeles Lakers
How many golf tournaments will wayward superstar Tiger Woods will win in 2010? (Note: includes all tournaments, not just Grand Slam events) 0
Which country will win the most total medals at the Winter Games? USA
Which country will win the Olympic gold medal in men's ice hockey? Canada
True or False: Jimmie Johnson will repeat as NASCAR champion. TRUE
ENTERTAINMENT
Name the winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Picture. The Hurt Locker
Name the winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Actor. Jeff Bridges
Name the winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Actress. Sandra Bullock
Name the winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Mo'Nique
Name the winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Christopher Waltz
Name the winner of the 2010 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Name the winner of the 2010 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor. Jonas Brothers
Name the winner of the 2010 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress. Sandra Bullock
Which will have higher gross revenues, the biggest movie of 2010 or the biggest-selling video game? Video Game
Bonus: Name the movie and the game. Call of Duty Black Ops, Toy Story 3
True or False: a US newspaper will win a 2010 Pulitzer Prize, and enter bankruptcy/cease publication by the end of the year. FALSE
BONUS: Tiger Bingo! Name a high-profile athlete, entertainer, or politician whose marital infidelities will be exposed in lascivious detail by the 24-hour media cycle. Lawrence Taylor
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