Adolescence

As a teenager, having people like you is paramount. Everybody needs somebody, and that doesn't change. But when you're 13 or even 19 you haven't quite gotten used to your new adult size shoes. You make mistakes, and those mistakes have consequences. We've all heard stories of a young life, caught up in something, and extinguished forever. There are consequences worse than death.

There are other feelings that accompany that time in all our lives, some long forgotten in adulthood, but seemed our only reason to live. Perhaps they were, at the time. However much or little a person goes through in that time, greatly effects the entire outcome of their life, though nothing is permanent.

In today's world, there is an Internet revolution happening. The young are a part of it, but they had no choice. Those who did have a choice, but lagged behind, struggle to adopt the latest in powerful information tools. With all that going on in this new evolution, the technology revolution of the last 100 years or so, the outcome is unpredictable because of the amount of variables.

The complexity of this futuretime blinds today's human's capacity for understanding. It's a simulation in size that dwarfs anything we've invented yet, though nothing stays the same forever.

Knowing all that, there are certain assumptions according to convention that are refereed to as "safe." The first is following a global trend towards democracy and globalization. The second is the global trend towards educating (and hopefully feeding) every child.

Third, arts and media will continue to change slowly, held back from it's natural pace because of being locked up in court too often. There is quite a lot of evidence out there to back this up. Success comes with sharing, not limiting, media in every art. In order to get a statue, somebody must buy the clay and copper. Material goods don't apply as much to this point. Licensing laws are going to be hard to change, but bit by bit, word is getting out that there are already legal alternatives to protecting (and growing) reputations. Copy-left, Creative Commons, GNU, and so on.

Four. When the time comes, pick up your heels and run. There may not be an apocalypse, as in the end of times, but the seeds have already been planted and sprouted for what is going to grow out of the current climate. As with anything unfamiliar, it will frightened many, many people.

Five. Expect casualties.

Six. Hope for the truly unexpected.

Seven. Water is the new oil. Water is not just business, it's life. It's been abused so much. There are some good fighters still out there. Sign up for the Council of Canadians e-newletter.

Eight. Certain things will seem like they will never change.

Nine. The future is coming sooner than you think.