AS THE GREAT PHILOSOPHER-MYSTIC DONALD RUMSFELD once said, the world presents many “known unknowns” — “things that we now know we don’t know.” That’s certainly true of 2013, most of which, in the Chinese calendar, will be the Year of the Snake. But I think it’s looking more like the Year of the Alternate Universe.

Medical marijuana will be legal in once-Puritan Massachusetts come January 1. Someone not named Tom Menino might become mayor of Boston for the first time since Jurassic Park. People will flock to cheer a winning Mormon campaign on the big stage. Country music will be the hottest ticket in town.