Hi 2 Cents,

I think the Nature Debates were a true view of how scientists around the world viewed prediction at that time. I've had the good fortune of meeting more than half of the debaters and got a little more mileage out of this than the average person who only reads the debates.

Wanna know something really interesting, "in my most humble opinion" for the most part what you see is tunnel vision. There is an attitude problem on behalf of a few of them and that "it can be done" thought process is a very dim light at the end of the tunnel.

Life does not occur in a Pietrie Dish, or do earthquakes. But expanded awareness is difficult in the scientific realm. Its a loooooooog slow process, which only means that a lottttt of people are going to die before the "all hands on the wheel approach" is attempted.

But who has the greatest sign of intelligence of those I've met? Curious? You should be. Now I do not mean to insult the rest of the group, but I have a valid point of view, because I got to know them, listened to what they had to say and watched the little gray cells in action. Again, (IMHO) Andy Michael has them all beat, hands down.

This man thinks on all brain cells at once. He is a whiz at this stuff and though he's not personally into prediction, he knows the material very well. He's young, enthusiastic and I believe has a very inspiring career ahead of him. He also has a keen sense of business administration and is well aware of the pitfalls in a private attempt at prediction. They are to numerous to mention, but the leader of course is money. Next to that comes the greatest risk factor. How can you lure away a person who has a good steady job and knows he/she cannot risk going out on a limb with a firm that has no track record. Longevity and benefits are the same for a scientist as they are for the rest of us.

The answer to prediction lies not in what you think, but how you think. Does one examine every single aspect, or are they stuck in the mud on one facet? This matter will in the end I believe be solved in a group effort; with people who are willing to go the distance, but do it part-time. The cost factors are greatly reduced, but with a willingness to work together and an open mind, believe me, this matter can be solved.

Let us not forget our own Don from Hollister's record and he isn't a scientist. So far he's got all of them beat and he's been right here in the public eye for years. If he can do so well eating onion and garlic sandwiches, maybe we should send a party pack to those most interested and see if they have any better results.

Most likely it would lead to isolation if not hospitalization for some. LOL

Oh well.....Petra