December 27, 2001: Predictions for 2002
The predictions rolling in reflect a nation still reeling from September 11th. Callers forecast suicide bombers in Times Square on New Year's Eve, a biological attack at the Winter Olympics, and China invading Taiwan by July 4th. A 13-year-old from Oregon predicts terrorists will release smallpox on American soil. Among the few optimistic voices, callers predict a great spiritual revival, increasing appearances of angels, and the merging of alternative medicine with mainstream practice.
Art intersperses the predictions with news of the growing India-Pakistan nuclear standoff, a record seven feet of snow burying Buffalo, extreme weather events across the globe, and the bizarre story of a pilotless airplane that flew for two hours over Sonoma County after its owner accidentally left the throttle forward. He also takes a call from a professional asteroid hunter who predicts 2002 will bring the discovery of a near-Earth object requiring active mitigation.
Key Moments
Climate catastrophe sweep: Art reads a worldwide weather roundup, paralyzing cold in Buffalo, Poland and Russia, mudslides in Rio, drought-prayer in Saudi Arabia, bushfires in Australia, framing it as evidence the climate is in mid-shift, regardless of cause.
Bell Family Vault rules: Art explains his predictions tradition, numbered, archived in the 'Bell Family Vault,' scored a year later, and asks callers to reach into their psychic center rather than just guess.
Scoring last year's vault: Art rates 2001 predictions, calling 'JC will return to the show' a ding-ding-ding hit, ETs landing on the White House lawn a bonk, and scoring people becoming more aware of communication with the dead a hit thanks to John Edward and EVP.
Bio-attack at Salt Lake Olympics: An Indianapolis caller predicts a biological attack on opening ceremonies of the Salt Lake Winter Olympics, calling 9/11 only the first punch thrown. Art recommends watching CBC and BBC because U.S. coverage is partly propaganda.
One government airline by October: A South Carolina trucker predicts that by October 2002 only one government-controlled airline will remain, with flying restricted to VIPs. The next caller predicts humans will start communicating back to whoever makes crop circles by making our own.