1)The success of Rock Band inspires a number of imitation group-effort games, including Improv Troupe, Support Group, Rowing Team and Philharmonic Orchestra. That last comes with 30 electronic instrument controllers and costs more than $1,200, but gets a perfect 10 from Official Xbox Magazine, which describes it as "a game that finally captures the erotic, dangerous mystique of playing viola in a local symphony."
2)The One Laptop Per Child initiative is followed up by the No More Than One Laptop Per Adult initiative. Adults who are found in possession of more than one laptop, cellphone, MP3 player or portable videogame system have the extras forcibly taken from them and sold to raise funds to vaccinate orphans. I, personally, have my PSP taken from me and don't notice for eight months.
3)The housing market and subprime mortgage industries continue in their free fall, leading to widespread despair and a harsh recession. However, Beanie Babies, "Death of Superman" comic books and Dutch tulips suddenly skyrocket in value, leading to a new ruling class of people who are insufferable know-it-alls.
4)The Wikipedia community, faced with competition from Google's Knol project, decides as a group that the only chance for survival is to appeal to the lowest common denominator, and the policy "Wikipedia:Jessica_Alba's_Breasts" is instituted. It requires every article on Wikipedia to contain a picture of, reference to or citation of one or both of Jessica Alba's breasts. This approach is so successful that the rest of the internet just gives the hell up.
