Further to Cardinal's history lesson, I've started predicting the future.

2005: Claire becomes youngest ever President of the World Bank. Debt relief in Sub-Saharan Africa suddenly becomes top priority.
Scientists worldwide suddenly realise the stupidity of devoting time and resources to creating pills that make fat people skinny (stop eating!!)and old men hard (its a sign that you are, in fact, past it), and all band together to create low cost safe child immunisations, a reliable contraceptive pill and both a cure and vaccination for the Aids virus. Much joy ensues.
2006: Aliens visit earth to reclaim their emissaries: Jerry Springer, Michael Jackson, Paris Hilton, Paul Holmes, the Bush family and the guy that writes American sitcoms. (except for Scrubs, cos thats cool)
2007: Claire finally figures out how to work her laptop, just in time for it to become obsolete.
2008: Federated States of Micronesia Idol winner Jumbalumba Higolpragopy's version of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" is voted Worst Ever Song in the History of Songs Ever, Yes Including That One About the G-String.
Franchise declared officially bankrupt.

I could go on, in fact I probably will, but there's that pesky work thing to take care of right now.