Food Friendly

They have become a familiar tool for people everywhere where at some time in the past, these could have only been a dream. In 2057 stores started selling the compact heating gadget, called Heat Wave, which we use to bring our foods to the perfect taste and temperature. Previously, people had still cooked all of their foods in contraptions called “ovens,” “stoves,” and “microwaves.” Sometimes the food came out burned or undercooked. It was a disaster. But who would have thought that the world would never have to manually cook again?
The idea came from two bachelors who were tired of having to make their own food and spending too much money in restaurants (dining halls where people called ‘chefs’ would make the meals). They used the solar power to generate the Heat Wave. The reason for the Heat Wave beginning by being suctioned to the food is to understand the texture of the food and then heat it to perfection. The silicon in the machine can detect what food group the meal is from and can adjust the temperatures.
The miracles the Heat Wave can do are numerous. It can prepare enough food for a dinner party within minutes. It can also add sauces and flavors for an extra taste. Most importantly though, once you finish, the Heat Wave can preserve your food in perfect condition for the next meal.
The Heat Wave is ordered online for a small price of $100,000. The food is sold in grocery stores everywhere. Refrain from cooking popcorn, ice cream, and buffalo wings.If you order before Friday, you will receive a complimentary serving tray, a spatula, and two pairs of plastics forks and knives for free!

Trips to the moon aren't exciting anymore, billionares say

What used to be revolutionary and exciting has become mundane for elite billionares such as Claire Macarthy and Derek Worths. Macarthy, Worths and thousands of others who can afford the $8,950,000 tickets to Moon Base 1 are growing tired of week-long transports. "It's not as thrilling anymore," Macarthy says. "We've been there, done that."

Several companies such as LaxAir, Mojave Aerospace Ventures and Virgin Galactic have dominated the space-trip market for decades. Prices have gradually gotten cheaper for trips into orbit or to the moon, since equipment has become more efficient and designed specifically to take several people into space at once. More and more people have been able to make the incredible journey into the final frontier; by the end of the last century about half a million people had paid the slowly decreasing ticket price for the journey of a lifetime.

Moon Base 1 has only been visited by a fourth of space-adventurers; however, Worths states that "the base doesn't feel as exclusive now". Approximately five hundred people occupy the station at any given time, but that number is growing. LaxAir has attempted to create a "VIP Only" entertainment zone that can be accessed with additional cost, but that still does not cut it with the adventure-seeking Worths.

When asked what should be the next step in space tourism, Claire Macarthy thought a moment and said, "Someday I would love to see the sandy landscape of Mars in person." Maybe someday she will, but then even Mars might become less exclusive, and what then?

-Your News correspondent Robert C. - January 16, 2110

"People Cars" successfully tested in Missouri

The much anticipated Personal Transportation Vehicles (or "People Cars", as they have been nicknamed by the general public) have proved to be a successful and truly efficient transportation system in western Missouri. When the idea of personal computer-controlled rail transport was introduced, towns across the US applied to be the first to test out the new system; however, Daveston, Missouri was selected due to its small population of 2,800 people. "It was such a relaxed town that if anything with PTVs went wrong, it wouldn't be too much of a problem since it's possible to walk from one end of the town to the other in a few minutes," says Kendra Hopkins, a member of the search committee that chose Daveston.

The purpose of the PTV system is to create safe and speedy transportation that can totally replace cars. Eric Fosterman described the vehicles to Your News: "Every person has their own, individual rail car that is about seven feet in length. Once he or she sits down, there is a lap bar and a plexiglass sheild that come down to ensure that the rider stays in place. There's a touch screen in front of the seat, and that's the only control that the rider uses; he or she selects her destination by either selecting a point on the map or using voice control to give an address. That's all that the rider has to do; the vehicle does the rest."

Once the vehicle has been programmed, it sends its route request to the central server. The server compares this route with the requests from other PTVs and lays out a schedule so that the vehicle does not collide with any others.

The rail system itself is simple: rollercoaster-like tracks are built along streets and employ switches to direct cars from one track to another. On main streets there are two tracks for each direction of travel, while on residential-access paths only one track is needed. Four-way switches are placed at intersections, while three-way switches access residences and stores. Some curves that are often travelled have an auto-bank feature: using the oncoming vehicle's speed, air-pressured pumps adjust the flexible but rigid track appropriately.

The vehicles are propelled using LIMs, or Linear Induction Motors, which have been used for over a century but never been practically applied to transportation. Properly timed magnetic fields can make a vehicle travel at anywhere from five to fifty miles an hour.

The citizens of Daveston have recieved the PTVs with great enthusiasm. "It's incredibly quiet, yet extremely effecient and fast. I don't know why the rest of America hasn't already made the switch from cars to PTVs. We should have done this fifty years ago," mayor Karl Preston states. Younger kids love it too. "It's so awesome riding a roller coaster to school every day. I love putting my Vehicle Speed and Ride Intensity on the highest they can go," middle-schooler Daniel Langston blogs. "We've totally eliminated all risk of car crashes or mechanical failures," teen Kinsey Jones comments, "or at least I hope we have."

-Your News correspondent Robert C. - January 16, 2110

New engineered material for tunnel to China

All skepticism put aside, the TECH (Tunnel Engineering Co. Headquarters) revealed an astounding discovery: a synthetic material that is resistant to both heat and pressure. The scientists at TECH state that development of a material sturdy enough to survive the Earth's core has been in development ever since serious consideration was taken to such a project. When asked to describe this material, spokesman Eric Hayston said that "it's not unlike plexiglass or Kelvar; in fact, it uses the same materials but in a much tighter and more supportive formation." Some people around the world are beginning to see the advantages of a direct line from Kansas to Hong Kong. Expensive aircraft could be replaced with high speed elevators, says Hayston. "The real challenge for us has been dealing with the pressure that would still be present in the tunnel, regardless of the fortifications that we surround the tunnel with. However, our development team is modifying an airlock system that would keep pressure constant throughout the tunnel." However, the Your News website has accumulated more than one million skeptical comments on the subject. SpaceAce2985 points out that "the entire balance of Earth's geological core could be thrown off". RUdaCOOLEST537.2 asks "how r dey sposed to get cunstructun stuff thru all that magma thats like 100000 degrees", and 3BluePandas ponders "how much would this cost? and is it worth it since we can visit china using the internet?" Thousands of other questions much like these oppose the entire project, and remain unanswered by the TECH committee. Only time will tell if such an undertaking will ever take place.

Pencil or Paper?

Schools used to be filled with pens, notebooks, and erasers; now it is changing to be anything but that. It has progressed from teachers to robots and chalkboards to electronic desks. The change began 50 years ago with the completion and production of the first self-working robot. Instead of “artificial intelligence” (as predicted in the past), the robots are programmed with lesson plans and a copious amount of information. These robots teach the class what they need to know and the human supervisors are there to control the class if it gets out of hand. Eventually, the supervisors will be phased out with the enhancement of these robots. The robots are transfer the maximum amount of information into the minds of the children in the least amount of time. It is assumed that robots will end up taking full control of the classroom in about fifteen years.
The schooling should completed in seven years so the students could be trained to take control of the country. The students start when they are eight years old because their brain will be developed enough to absorb everything quickly. In the earlier years, child care will focus on having the children follow instructions and sit quietly. After the schooling though, students will be proficient in even the hardest subjects such as calculus and organic chemistry. Within five years of that, they will hopefully control some the world's strongest industries such as steel, silicon, and nuclear weapons.
The students too, are starting a new routine in the classroom. Each of the eight hours they will work on a new subject and incorporate the touch-screen, three-dimensional projecting desks into activities to understand the information more thoroughly. The desks can reenact history, calculate math, and perfect writing and spelling. These devices will help the students focus their full attention on the lessons rather than one another. Plus, the desks are controlled by the robots in order to keep the focus on the subjects rather than the matter.
The goal of this new routine will be to prepare the future for the world and teach them to adapt to the numerous changes. The one thing to consider is whether in another hundred years humans will still be in control or if technology will take over. Education would become irrevelant. Is this possible?

Sports of the Future: From "Digital Dodgeball" to "Synthetic Soccer"

After fighting between the ideas of playing physical sports against one another (which has proved to be very expensive and has put people more at risk of injury) or virtually playing the sports we all love, a consensus from the Sports Bureau has announced that starting on February 1, 2110, all sports will be played through the “Sports-Centered” system. "Sports-Centered" is a new invention and for those who are unfamiliar, here's the brief description the company let out to the media:

The “Sports-Centered” system is composed of a motion detecting platform in front of a 100x200 inch screen. The platform itself detects what direction in which you want to run, jog, or walk. You can run for a touchdown without leaving the comfort of your own living room. The screen in front of you will not only show the game as you interact in it, but it detects the movement of your entire body in accordance to the game. In sports that deal with equipment, such as lacrosse sticks and tennis rackets, those will need to be bought separately in the “Sports-Centered” line. In sports, such as basketball, baseball, or football, where balls are used and passed between players, virtual balls will be put into three-dimensions to see the ball in your hands. These games can be watched on the Sports-Centered channel (Channel 1,024) at any time of the day for a small fee of $200 per game.

What is hoped to be prevented with this new system is mainly the injuries, the hardhsips of traveling across the world, and the exclusions of various players. Players cannot hurt one another in the game and Sports-Centered Inc. has a contract with the sports leagues stating that the company is not responsible for any injuries occuring during use. By having one of the systems, people can spend more time at home and with their families. There will be no costs for hotels and meals, saving the teams millions of dollars a year. Most importantly though, buying this system and participating on the team will allow more people to have an opportunity to do what they enjoy.

In order to be able to try out for one of the sports, one has to buy a “Sports-Centered” system and complete a week of training and drills. Anybody can try out across the world. The coaches of the teams pick players by taking turns and can ask for a trade any time they want. The one-year contracts will vary, but they start at a minimum of $100 million per year and will be paid by the sports league, not necessarily the team itself. By choosing teams this way, there are more opportunities for people to play and it will enhance the intensity. Overall though, it will ensure that there remains an interest in sports with a change of competition and more availability.

Political Controversy in the New Decade

Because everyone who taps in to World News needs to know that nothing has changed from the old decade to the new, we have for you the first political scandal of the new decade. The vice-minister of the Russian Federation has been caught with his hand in the cookie jar, again. In a vice-ministership already tainted by scandal, the world at large was convinced that nothing Vice-minister Borgyron could do might top his antics at the latest 2109 meeting of the L5. But Vice-minister Borgyron has outdone himself lately. But after a long line of scandals ranging from kickbacks to alleged conduct inappropriate for a public official with women (not Mrs. Borgyron), going corporate was probably the Vice-minister's most logical next step. Gazprom, the native Russian energy giant was just yesterday alleged to have been making deals with Borgyron to increase government contracting for Gazprom whose overreaching goal was a nationally supported monopoly of the enormous energy industry. Beside the fact that this kind of monopoly became illegal international after the 2074 Conference and Treaty of Stuttgart, this conduct runs contrary to what Borgyron has said should be the Federation's economic policy. Public outcry against both Gazprom and Borgyron has reached a fevered pitch within the Federation, with international bodies of law and justice unwilling to become entangled in a confrontation as controversial as this showdown is bound to be. As a result, international observers believe, Borgyron has finally lost his golden ticket to re-election and will probably fail to be re-elected next year for the first time in 25 years. The Prime Minister stands by his long-time number two man but is already distancing himself from the whole affair. Borgyron claims that the allegations are false and that he will seek re-election again next year. But whether or not he regains his office will now be up to the electorate in 2111. Gazprom, the energy giant that began in Russia over a century ago as primarily a gas and petroleum producer; but who now produces a majority of the Russian Federation and the Eastern EU's energy seems as though it will take little in the way of a setback publicly due to the crisis. Stock shares dipped slightly after the announcement as fears of public backlash stifled trading in the giant's stock but rebounded when it was clear that additional publicity would help Gazprom more than an alleged scandal would. For it's part, Gazprom denies any official wrongdoing and is investigating to see if any corporate officials were involved in under the table negotiations.

Letters from the African Heartland: A Peacekeeper's Message.

Since the 2050's, the fight for who will control Uganda's primary export, coffee, has been quietly simmering under the surface of an emerging economy. However, with recent events in Uganda, primarily concerning the fall of the market value of coffee, the fight for who will control a majority of Uganda's prized crop has grown vicious. Three years ago, at the 2107 meeting of the L5 (The 5 leading nations in the world: USA, EU, India, China, Russian Federation) it was decided that a peacekeeping force would be sent to Uganda to assist in the re-stabilizing of a region that has seen so much violence since open battle commenced in 2102. When my international force arrived on the ground here, we were shocked how much the coffee crop meant to the people living with the frightening situation here and just how desperate everyone was for a workable compromise. Between the outbreak of conflict here and today, three main sides have developed in the fight for this precious natural resource. The Ugandan Coffee Alliance (UCA) has massive crops in the south and west of the country and their stocks of coffee have been largely unharmed by the conflict because of the ability of the UCA to hire protection services. The second group, the African Coffee Interests Coalition (ACIC) controls coffee harvests in the north f the nation and has had their interests only moderately harmed by the turmoil in the industry. The third group, the Ugandan Free Growers of Coffee Association (UFGCA) supports independent growers with a fair trade and human rights focus to the work done on their plantations in the center of the nation. While the UCA and ACIC can both afford to hire professionals to protect their crops and are suspected of hiring mercenaries to destroy the competition's crop, the UFGCA is left to its own devices and has had much difficulty in raising any good coffee or even keeping their plantations open so harsh have been the retaliations against these individual growers by their multinational opponents. The International Peacekeeping Force (IPF) has accomplished much since arriving, but the goal of Ugandan stability hasn't yet been achieved. My message to all citizens of the civilized world is: don't let the politicians remove the IPF from Uganda and destroy what stability and human rights they have now.

Opening the Time Capsule: 2010

As the second decade of the twenty-second century opens, we would like to take a look back at just what was going on in our world 100 years ago. Just as now, the opening of a new decade was an exciting event and brought hope about better years to come. 100 years ago the world was in the clutch of various conflicts, from political to religious in nature. Many hoped that the new decade might herald the coming of a greater age of humanitarianism. However, this hope was not to be achieved in the year 2010, much to the chagrin of the "Western World". At this time, remember, the "Western World" was in control of a majority of Earth's resources and held a great deal of political and military sway of the rest of the globe. China and India were still only beginning their ascension to the current level of power they hold. The result of this Western hegemony caused much anger and resentment in the Middle East and other regions. However, even this major political trend wasn't the defining factor of the year 2010. The European Union, after many years of regimented progress and expansion, made it self a world power of August 14th, 2010. Allowing each member state to maintain its self identity and a small national guard, the EU was transformed from a economic and political entity made of some 27 members to a single nation of 27 departments. This stunning transformation threw governments worldwide into heightened activity through the beginning of 2011. The issue that was to rule the public mind from the end of 2010 to the beginning of 2013 began to ramp up real attention in the closing months of 2010: the supposed future disaster of 2012.