What's new in 2011?

1) Many of the old monarchs and dictators still clinging to power will finally croak, creating massive opportunity and instability.

Just look at how many octogenarians are still in positions of tremendous power and influence, either de facto or de jure:

King Abdullah- Saudi Arabia (86)
Crown Prince Sultan- Saudi Arabia (82)
King Bhumipol- Thailand (83)
Robert Mugabe- Zimbabwe (86)
Fidel Castro- Cuba (84)
Raul Castro- Cuba (79)
Emir Jaber- Kuwait (81)
Pope Benedict XVI (83)
Hosni Mubarak- Egypt (82)
Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah- Malaysia (83)
Manmohan Singh- India (78)
Than Shwe- Burma (77)
Mahmoud Abbas- Palestine (75)

2) Massive property bubble bursts in Thailand.

Because of the relative size of its economy, low prices, significant population, agricultural wealth, and manufacturing base, a lot of western funny money that's been printed has ended up looking for a home in Thailand.

In its efforts to thwart rapid currency appreciation, the Thai central bank has matched its western counterparts in polluting the money supply. It's no wonder that Thailand's stock exchange rang up a 40.6% return in 2010, the 4th best performing index in the world after Peru, Argentina, and Indonesia.

The other place where the money ended up is in the Thai housing market, which is just bursting at the seams with new supply and rising prices fueled by speculators as opposed to demographic fundamentals.

3) Chinese street inflation exceeds real GDP growth

How can you tell when a politician's lying? Watch for his lips moving. This goes doubly in China where inflation and growth statistics in China are massaged vigorously.

The government's efforts to maintain a currency peg have created troubling inflation in the country, and 2011 may be the year when the economic engine runs out of steam.

4) Several major American cities go bankrupt. This has been a long time coming, but it may prove to be the powder keg that sparks the financial mushroom cloud.

5) Julian Assange has an 'accident'. I sincerely hope it won't happen, but I won't be surprised.

6) It becomes illegal to record the police in several US states, Canada, or the UK. You know, we used to be able to rely on the mainstream media to keep governments in check... but these days they're just petty hacks and cheerleaders.

7) (Mike's addtion: Several states including Texas now allow police to take your blood by force should you refuse to submit to a breath-test for suspected DUI. This insane policy was being utilized during New Year's. This infringement on personal freedom is a MAJOR sign that we're a country entering Stage 7 in collapse.Why? Because once the people become the enemy of the state, it's game over. Smells like Germany to me...

8) The pass of an era for KodakChrome - based on the idea of pre-paid processing. 2011 signal the end of life of KodakChrome fans.