Christmas is just around the corner, and in keeping with my usual spirit of the season I am appalled with humanity and unsurprised by the hatred that still exists. Parents, let your children grow up to be cowboys, but DO NOT let them read science fiction! They will not be prepared for the "future" if they base their hopes and dreams on speculative fiction.

By the year 2000 we should have had flying cars, free energy, peace, insterstellar travel, multi-species cities, anti-gravity belts, alien planets to explore, robot friends, neural links, psionics or super noetic abilities, cloning, ample food, end of disease, longevity, teleportation, buff bodies and clothing with rings.

We have the internet, soaring fuel costs, wars and our attempts at AI landed an idiot in the White House.

So Merry Christmas, Happy Winter's Solstice, Happy Hannukah. Destroy your children's dreams early. Void them of hope. Teach them the truth. Turn on Jerry Springer and tell them that is their future.