Houston, 2030: With Proper Legwork

Back in 2009, the beta-readersof The Year Zeroasked me: are you sure thisMeltdown thingyof yours is going to happen? This year, two beta-readers askedindependently: how do you know it will be called theMeltdown? I haveto admit, I have no idea how ‘this thingy’ is going to be called.It could be called GFC-3. Or the Great Depression-2.Or PeakEverything. Or ‘Holy crap! This thingy is here!’ Further on, I have no idea if the ‘Holy crap! This thingy is here!’event is going to happen exactly in 2016. In Eastern and SouthernEurope, the energy crisis is presently on-going (myHouston, 2030: The Year Zerohas placed these events in 2014!) If we are verylucky, the collapse in the United States will be delayed till themid-twenties. Or it may come in 2015. How abouttomorrow?

I am not in the business of makingprophecies, because I am not qualified. Can I predict that Ebolavirus not only finds its way to Europe and America, but also learnshow to defeat the WHO protective suite protocols? Hey, who caresabout Ebola? I fail to foresee that our Commander-in-Chief is goingto introduce those new coffee-cup military salutes! I don't believein divination. I believe in geology and physics. You may dream allyou want about fitting the present opulent lifestyle on the finiteplanet. The Mother-Earth knows better. It will take care of yourambitions. The Peak Oil is just a starter.

But wait! The Peak Oil is a myth!The latest BP World EnergyReport says… Dear reader, may I remindyou that the Enron's Year-2000Report told the investors that thecompany with twenty thousand employees, 68-year history and thea

Perhaps, you are telling yourselfthe author is paranoid. Perhaps, I am. In such case, dear reader,pick a nice fantasy novel, with elves and goblins (yes, I likethose too!) Your sword will be sharp and quick, your arrows willfly true and strong! And the Meltdown – Oh, holy crap! – willcome totally unexpected.

May the future be kind to you andto all you love.

Mike McKay, author.

2014

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Contents

Katherine Bowen, Records Clerk, FormerMermaid.

Kim Den Gir, Deputy, Harris CountySheriff’s Office.

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Footnotes

[1] “Order though Law, Justice with Mercy.” The HoustonPolice Department motto.

[2] A personal stamp, used in China, Korea, and Japan insteadof or together with the person's signature.