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To The Future And Beyond!

By JuWan Graham
CBS 62/CW50 Intern

Typically, the last few weeks of the calendar year are the times where you see articles like "how to set better goals for 2017" or "2016: year in review." I'm not going to do that. Instead, let's forecast what's going to happen in 2017 and beyond. So here are a few parameters that we'll go by:

1.) No politics or race. It's a conversation that can go on for days.

2.) The prediction can't be more than three years down the line. Meaning you can't predict something in 2030.

3.) No personal goals. So, without further ado…

  • Matthew Stafford will win the 2016-2017 MVP
Detroit Lions v New York Giants
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 18: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions passes against the New York Giants during their game at MetLife Stadium on December 18, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Matthew Stafford has been amazingly consistent since the departure of Megatron (aka Calvin Johnson). His dismantling of the Saints in week 13 maybe the catalyst for talks about him winning MVP. For my football fanatics out there, he is sixth in total QBR (explanation of it here). He also has far more responsibility than last year, toting an offensive with the 29th ranked rushing offense in the league. More importantly, he has eight 4-quarter comeback wins. Which is the most in history. You call it luck, I call it clutch.

  •  There will be some sort of major public backlash against the killings of dogs by the police

I'm not going to go at length on this issue, but it's a little surprising that there hasn't been any large uproar within animal rights communities about this issue. Even though it's not heavily tracked, some estimate that police kill 25 pups/year. If a prominent organization, such as PETA, gets wind of this, who knows what'll happen.

  • The Walking Dead will be no more before 2020

Now mind you, I've never seen an episode of this show. So in many respects, I can't talk about it. But at the same token, this is its seventh season. You can bet every nickel you have that AMC will put up a fight to keep its most popular show ever on the air. But at some point, killing zombies has to get old, right?

  • Bluetooth speakers will decline in 2018
Latest Consumer Technology Products On Display At CES 2016
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 07: The Amazon Echo is displayed at the Vivint booth at CES 2016 at the Sands Expo and Convention Center on January 7, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Vivint Smart Home announced it was working with Amazon to connect its Vivint Sky smart home platform with the Echo, enabling customers to use a voice-enabled device to control their smart home for the first time. CES, the world's largest annual consumer technology trade show, runs through January 9 and features 3,600 exhibitors showing off their latest products and services to more than 150,000 attendees. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

We're in the renaissance period of Bluetooth speakers. The Amazon Echo and Google Home are literally changing the game right now. Speakers that can play music, search for items online, and give you random facts are in high demand right now. Unfortunately, I believe that in a year or two, it'll be something else that will grab our attention (remember Google glass). The tech world is such a trendy industry and these speakers will suffer its fate soon enough.

  • Autonomous cars will be selling by the end of 2019
L.A. Auto Show Showcases Latest Car Models
(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)

Out of everything on this list, this is the most inevitable. Now it may not be here within the three years , but better believe that companies like GM and Chrysler will be working day and night to get these cars on the road before sooner rather than later.

I wonder if three years down the road, any of these predictions will be accurate. Who knows. But one thing is for sure, there will be great things, and some not so great things, in store for 2017 and beyond.

JuWan Graham is an aspiring public relations practitioner with a passion for writing and sports, and currently interning at CBS62 and CW50.  He is a senior attending Eastern Michigan University, majoring in Public Relations while minoring in Marketing.

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