Predicting the future

[Banh Mi]

So I'm reading Douglas Adam's The Salmon of Doubt. And like anything by Douglas Adams, it is thought provoking. This one chapter got me thinking.

We've heard experts make authoritative statements that were dead wrong. Douglas Adams' verbatim examples are as follows

-Irving Fisher, professor of economics at Yale University, said on October 17, 1929, that "stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau.

- The Decca record executive who said of the Beatles in 1962, "We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out,"
- "Bill Clinton will lose to any Republican who doesn't drool on stage," said The Wall Street Journal, in 1995.
-Lord Kelvin said in 1897, "Radio has no future."
- Ken Olsen, the president of the Digital Equipment Corporation, said in 1977, "There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home."
- Even Bull Gates, who specifically set out to prove him completely and utterly wrong, famously said that he couldn't conceive anybody needing more than 640k of memory in their computers. Try running word in even twenty times that.

Adams caps it off with keeping societies predictions and arguments for the short term and track them against what actually happens. "Predicting the future is a mug's game, but any game is improved when you can actually keep the score."

In keeping with that. What are your predictions for ANYTHING that comes to pass:
-At the end of this year? What will happen by 2011 for yourself, in technology, or the world, or your country?
- In 5 years?
- What other famous predictions by experts do you know that are embarrassingly wrong?

Let it all out, it's ok to be wrong, especially when you don't know it yet.

[Banh Mi]

No love for my thread?

I predict that
-Google Wave will change the internet in the coming year when it's released

- Starcraft 2 will be a hit game

- I will get my Jiujitsu purple belt in the next 5 years

- I will lose horribly at jiujitsu tournaments this year

- I will still be single by the end of this year

- Here's to hoping but, a new hit wuxia novel will be released to spark discussions

- Brock Lesnar will get smashed and put back in his place

- In 5 years time, we might see the emergence of cubesats for personal use

- We will still all be live by 2012, nothing stupid will happen

- Petrol will still cost alot

- Jaded will get married to her boyfriend in the next 5 years

[Candide]

Is this a subtle way to say you're single and need a date for Vagina Day?

[wkeej]

I predict I will be richer by US$350,000 by end of this weekend.

[Extremer88]

No love for my thread?

I predict that
-Google Wave will change the internet in the coming year when it's released

It's possible considering that it's open-source, and free as well.

- Starcraft 2 will be a hit game

Definitely. JIM RAYNOR AND KERRIGAN, YEAH! I MISS THOSE PROTOSS CANONS AND ZERGLINGS!!!

- I will get my Jiujitsu purple belt in the next 5 years

Good luck.

- I will lose horribly at jiujitsu tournaments this year

You can do it.

- I will still be single by the end of this year

People say ~LOVE~ comes when you least expect it. LOL.

- Here's to hoping but, a new hit wuxia novel will be released to spark discussions

Perhaps a new Jin Yong novel?

- Brock Lesnar will get smashed and put back in his place

Haven't watch wrestling for many years.

- In 5 years time, we might see the emergence of cubesats for personal use

Interesting.

- We will still all be live by 2012, nothing stupid will happen

As long as our collective will to live are strong, we should be fine.

- Petrol will still cost alot

Along with cars, the price will keep rising.

- Jaded will get married to her boyfriend in the next 5 years

Wish her getting a nice guy.

[Banh Mi]

Is this a subtle way to say you're single and need a date for Vagina Day?

Nah, Valentines is stupid and meaningless, actively trying to conform to it even more so. I thought you would give me more credit than that.

I predict I will be richer by US$350,000 by end of this weekend.

Are you robbing a bank by any chance?

[Extremer88]

Nah, Valentines is stupid and meaningless, actively trying to conform to it even more so. I thought you would give me more credit than that.


Are you robbing a bank by any chance?

Nah, maybe appearing on the cover and inside of play...... lol.

[Candide]

Nah, Valentines is stupid and meaningless, actively trying to conform to it even more so. I thought you would give me more credit than that.

Oh is it so?

Let me tell you something. On V-Day, there are groups of desperate single lonely hot girls out & about pretending they don't need a man. It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

[Banh Mi]

Oh is it so?

Let me tell you something. On V-Day, there are groups of desperate single lonely hot girls out & about pretending they don't need a man. It's like shooting fish in a barrel.

Ah, is that the case? You must enlighten me one day.

[wkeej]

Are you robbing a bank by any chance?

No, there is an easier way and more importantly, legal way. Strike lottery