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It is that time of year again, where friends and strangers alike are all saying, “I can’t believe that it is already 2008”. And you know after hearing the same thing said last year when it was unbelievable for it to be 2007, I am actually wondering what the big deal is? If you think about it we have crossed into the 21^st century and what have we really got to show for it!

I want to take this opportunity to reference a favorite book of mine, “2001: A Space Odyssey”, when it was written the content was considered futuristic in its subject matter and beyond the realm of possibilities at that moment in time. What I am getting at here is that it is going to be 2008 in a minute people, and arguably we have achieved none of the futuristic capabilities dreamed up in the book. Just about the only thing that we have done is evolve from the half-ape creatures that encounter the monolith. But evolution is not a can of worms I want to get into today. What I really want to discuss is the present and the near future, and how we could possibly achieve more of the futurism described in the book that we missed out on when it actually became 2001.

Back to my first statement, you know the first sentence, where I talked about it being almost 2008. We have developed many innovative and great things, but I argue that we haven’t taken that leap that would put

us in the realm Arthur C. Clarke science fiction series.

One event that brings all the bragging rights for at least four years is the Olympics. Every four years a host city that has won a worldwide competition held at least six to eight years in advance, gets its chance to show off some new sporting facilities that were commission specifically for the forthcoming games. This is generally a great time for architects and the cities that are home to the Olympic Games they are host too. But the shocking thing here is that the city and all the new architectural masterpieces are decided upon up to two summer games ahead of when they are to be held. For example, the current bid being decided being the 2016 Games which will be comes on October 2, 2009.

Imagine going to a worldwide event that always exemplifies and showcases the facilities as being the most advanced in the world and they were designed almost a decade ago! What I would like to see happen is to imagine we are writing a new version of 2001: A Space Odyssey, and think about the year 2016 and actually have something to really brag about in the upcoming Olympic village. I don’t even want to list anything down because in eight years it either will A: not happen or B: already be obsolete, the latter being the most likely outcome.

For now I guess I go back to the simpler task of anticipating the 2008^th year of our modern calendar. I promise to let you know if anything happens in the New Year that is truly revolutionary.