What to Look for in 2013

California Governor Jerry Brown

My 2013 political preview article from the new edition of the Marina Times:

COMMENTARY | Zippy
What to Look for in 2013By John Zipperer 

At the beginning of every year, millions of Americans try to estimate how the new year will shape their lives. Psychics have their brief annual moments in the media spotlight as they’re asked to make claims of significant events in the coming year. They’re usually wrong, but it amuses people to think the future is predictable.  

I’m not a psychic, so I will not try to tell you the change in GDP or the Super Bowl final score. But for everyone who follows the news and ...

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2012 Predictions: My Latest Northside San Francisco Column

Here is my column in the January 2012 edition of Northside San Francisco magazine, available online and in print across San Francisco.

Common KnowledgeSurprise Me in 2012
By John Zipperer 

A few decades ago The Commonwealth Club began each year by hosting a local psychic, who would make predictions about world events in the year ahead. For example, psychic Barbara Mousalam’s forecast for 1984 included the prediction that Soviet leader Yuri Andropov “will pull some dramatic antics during the first part of 1984, but he will settle down.” True enough; he died in early 1984 and settled down permanently.  

For 1985 Mousalam predicted further change ...

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Robert Reich on the "Failed" Bailout

Economist (and former U.S. Sec. of Labor) Robert Reich says the federal bailout of Wall street so far has been a failure, with the money wasted and spent in unaccounted ways. He spoke at The Commonwealth Club's annual economic forecast on January 14, 2009, in San Francisco.
Above is a short (and, I know, not high quality) video excerpt from the event.