Janus: Sucky Funds, Sucky Symbolism

I always hated those Janus ads. Here was this huge, if slightly over-exposed to tech, mutual fund manager warbling about how it went behind the back of the companies it invested in, rather than, you know, telling them where to get off, like any decent major shareholder should. The whole thing reeked of material non-public information wheedling, and that sort of thing is now very forbidden.

Plus, I hated their logo. I know the idea was that as investment managers they should be both forward and backward-looking. I just remember thinking that it was a quite brazen way of saying how two-faced they were. Still, I also hate the concept when applied to calendar years, if only because there's often so little to be gained from dwelling on my recent experieince.

2007 was a slightly disappointing year, if only because I let posting volumes slip quite dramatically, and failed in my long-held goal of finding a new job. Next year, I think, will be better. On to some predictions and resolutions.

First, the resolutions, in no particular order:

1) Obtain the piece of high-end audio equipment that has been the locus of several obsessions and the cause of at least two questionable freelance engagements.
2) Find more varied and stimulating freelance engagements, especially if I cannot;
3) Get a new job.
4) Get the constitutionals back to thrice weekly
5) cut down on the porklife
6) Be nicer to colleagues.
7) Stop buying records first hand, without resorting to piracy
8) Cure the cat
9) Deal with a life-changing event in an elegant fashion
10) Oh crap, renew the domain name.
11) Call the bluddy plumber already.

Now the predictions

1) Industrial music will make a strong comeback. The last Ministry album was good, Trent Reznor is now sober enough to serve as an elder statesman, and the economy and technology are now in its favour. There are now no bands available, but there will be, possibly repurposed emo crews.
2) US House prices will decline. There is simply too much land, and too little wages.
3) The UK pound will decline, possibly by as much as the dollar. This is a combined prayer and prediction.
4) Sovereign wealth funds will face as much criticism at home as from their investment targets.
5) Obama has it. The VP is Kerry
6) Clive Owen and Damon Albarn will both experience re-backlashes
7) Finch from American Pie will make an indie classic (he's the new Andrew McCarthy, but with a better shot at redemption)
8) I will not move house. But my living space will undergo several radical reconfigurations.
9) Blu-Ray
10) There will be no Brooklyn Whole Foods unless a condo building rescues the concept.
11) Mrs. Cutesome gets prettier.

Seriously, here's a fervent prayer to 2008 not being too sucky.