[A prediction made in November 2000, Bush v. Gore and Florida recount]: Even if [George W.] Bush is installed as our next president, the struggle will continue among the corporate leaders for control of the executive committee of the ruling class. And the New Economy people will demand some participation (and very likely will succeed in making their own candidate our next president, in 2004). [Nov. 2017 correction: No, it didn’t happen in 2004, but in 2008, in part for the reasons I anticipated.]

The explosion of painterly talent in Delft began then with attempts to reproduce Italian effects (especially the bright sunlight) with the Dutch subject matter that appealed to local patrons. Rivalry among these artists, and knowledge of new inventions such as the camera obscura, spurred innovation in both themes and techniques. It was a glorious moment, which ended when that particular generation died (Vermeer in 1676) and their successors, competing now for a diminishing clientele, became more cautiously repetitive of what had worked in the past. (2001-6-6)