We had a guy on one of my regular spooks websites who was posting links, referring to scientific sources, predicting all manner of catastrophes as a direct outcome of the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Others did the same after the Eyjafjallajökull volcano did its thing in Spring. Here, at Christmas, we've seen not one of the predicted outcomes for this year. The volcano is doing what volcanoes do. The oil spill likely will cause huge problems for the gulf. The fracturing of the sea bed and emissions of monstrous gas bubbles didn't happen. Most such claims for prediction quickly get forgotten as humankind moves on to the current problems.

Eventually, statistically, one of these numerous predictions about disaster will come about and there will be marvelling at the accuracy of that particular prediction, totally ignoring or simply forgetting all the others that didn't come to pass...

Let's not be silly about this all though. The earth isn't "striking back" as Neville provocatively titled his posting. Chances are if he's done his research well he stands as much, or as little, chance of being right as other well-researched pieces. One outcome, by one or more individuals, may eventually match one of the many claims which may be found littering cyber space.

I hardly need to wonder how folks will react. It's depressingly predictable...