Comments on: Worst Predictions of the Year http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/ Random samplings from a universe of ideas. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:05:20 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Kappatoo http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-52679 Kappatoo Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:43:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/#comment-52679 “There is a real possibility of creating destructive theoretical anomalies such as miniature black holes, strangelets and deSitter space transitions. These events have the potential to fundamentally alter matter and destroy our planet.” —Walter Wagner, LHCDefense.org Sorry for pointing this out. It's not that I agree with that quote, but it is silly to include this in a list of bad predictions. Aside from what you have already pointed out, what this guy said isn't even a prediction. He just said "there is a real possibility". “There is a real possibility of creating destructive theoretical anomalies such as miniature black holes, strangelets and deSitter space transitions. These events have the potential to fundamentally alter matter and destroy our planet.” —Walter Wagner, LHCDefense.org

Sorry for pointing this out. It’s not that I agree with that quote, but it is silly to include this in a list of bad predictions. Aside from what you have already pointed out, what this guy said isn’t even a prediction. He just said “there is a real possibility”.

]]> By: Larian LeQuella http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-52675 Larian LeQuella Tue, 16 Dec 2008 15:56:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/#comment-52675 Here are some more fun predictions: http://www.religioustolerance.org/endwrl14.htm Here are some more fun predictions: http://www.religioustolerance.org/endwrl14.htm

]]> By: The Ridger http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-52303 The Ridger Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:17:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/#comment-52303 Seriously. Has Kristol ever been right? Seriously. Has Kristol ever been right?

]]> By: Chris http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-51965 Chris Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:41:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/#comment-51965 By 'this year' I hope you mean 'next year'. The beam schedule has the beam turning on in July. Also, first collisions aren't the unexplored territory: first collisions are at 900 GeV (2 x SPS energy), below Tevatron. Minor points, just clarifying. By ‘this year’ I hope you mean ‘next year’. The beam schedule has the beam turning on in July.

Also, first collisions aren’t the unexplored territory: first collisions are at 900 GeV (2 x SPS energy), below Tevatron.

Minor points, just clarifying.

]]> By: Troublemaker http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-51955 Troublemaker Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:06:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/#comment-51955 <i>it’s something of an exaggeration to say that the LHC was “turned on in September.”</i> It's also something of an exaggeration to call Walter Wagner a "scientist." it’s something of an exaggeration to say that the LHC was “turned on in September.”

It’s also something of an exaggeration to call Walter Wagner a “scientist.”

]]> By: Elliot http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-51936 Elliot Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:05:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/#comment-51936 We should remember the Kristol is not just the harmless buffoon he now may appear to be. As Chairman of PNAC (project for the new american century) he was actively involved in the megalomania that provided the theoretical underpinnings for the invasion of Iraq. Not sure he can be put on trial for war crimes but he certainly bears some personal responsibility for billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives being expended on this illegal and immoral activity. e. We should remember the Kristol is not just the harmless buffoon he now may appear to be. As Chairman of PNAC (project for the new american century) he was actively involved in the megalomania that provided the theoretical underpinnings for the invasion of Iraq.

Not sure he can be put on trial for war crimes but he certainly bears some personal responsibility for billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of lives being expended on this illegal and immoral activity.

e.

]]> By: Matt http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-51867 Matt Fri, 12 Dec 2008 04:43:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/#comment-51867 I secretly suspect that Kristol hates his job and just wants to see what it will take for all his employers to can him and all his customers to dump him. Then again, nobody when broke underestimating the taste of the American public. I guess my question is, why, why, with so many good, hard-working people with families to support losing their jobs all around the country, is this man, who is so consistently and hilariously and publicly bad at his job, still getting a paycheck? What will it really take? I secretly suspect that Kristol hates his job and just wants to see what it will take for all his employers to can him and all his customers to dump him. Then again, nobody when broke underestimating the taste of the American public.

I guess my question is, why, why, with so many good, hard-working people with families to support losing their jobs all around the country, is this man, who is so consistently and hilariously and publicly bad at his job, still getting a paycheck?

What will it really take?

]]> By: changcho http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-51840 changcho Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:57:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/#comment-51840 "Here’s my prediction: Kristol will continue to say dumb things, next year and far into the future. And get paid handsomely for doing so." Now, I certainly agree with your prediction, but what I cannot understand is how is it that some people (who are these people?) take anything Kristol says seriously. Now, that's a puzzle... “Here’s my prediction: Kristol will continue to say dumb things, next year and far into the future. And get paid handsomely for doing so.”

Now, I certainly agree with your prediction, but what I cannot understand is how is it that some people (who are these people?) take anything Kristol says seriously. Now, that’s a puzzle…

]]> By: Lawrence Crowell http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-51781 Lawrence Crowell Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:04:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/#comment-51781 Hillary's victory got sucked up by a black hole created by the LHC, which went back into the vacuum. L. C. Hillary’s victory got sucked up by a black hole created by the LHC, which went back into the vacuum.

L. C.

]]> By: Low Math, Meekly Interacting http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/comment-page-1/#comment-51735 Low Math, Meekly Interacting Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:59:12 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2008/12/11/worst-predictions-of-the-year/#comment-51735 I think that's a very interesting observation, if true. It'd be fascinating to take each pundit, catalog their predictions, compare them to what actually happened, and see if there's a significant trend, either toward accuracy or inaccuracy. Either way, anything other than random says something about that pundit in particular, and, if most pundits are non-random in a consistent way, punditry in general. I think that’s a very interesting observation, if true. It’d be fascinating to take each pundit, catalog their predictions, compare them to what actually happened, and see if there’s a significant trend, either toward accuracy or inaccuracy. Either way, anything other than random says something about that pundit in particular, and, if most pundits are non-random in a consistent way, punditry in general.

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