The Final Word by Jim Thompson Prognosticators are predicting a soft year in pulp and paper for 2012. We tend to agree, but suggest the second half may be better -- the U.S. administration is going to be pulling out all stops in an attempt to be reelected. No telling what schemes they may come up with by summer. It is going to be a wild ride. Matters a bit unpredictable:  our own Wesley Naicker is reporting that it looks like pulpwood is going to become less expensive in Finland if Russia joins the WTO (World Trade Organization).  Also, on a grander scale, China may be headed for a bumpy landing of their overblown economy.  Wild ride, indeed.