Forgot your password?
typodupeerror

Comment Re:Beware of fortune tellers and computer models. (Score 0) 72

It's a matter of degree. You want to do at least some preparation, because you're better off with that than with none at all when the situation does occur. On the prediction end, when you give a lot of warnings and the situation does not occur, it damages credibility. I know you excluded an evacuation, but let me take it up. In the cases of evacuation or other extreme measures, they have an economic impact even if the storm does not occur. Businesses lose income, individuals lose wages, but mortgage and loan payments and rent still have to be on time, contracts have to be met, a family still has to be fed, etc. All of that must be taken into account.

Comment Re:Google just fell prey to a common phenomenon (Score 0) 72

Modern epidemics and pandemics are almost ALWAYS overestimated by those predicting them. In part, this is because those predicting them often have a vested interest in making them sound a scarier than they actually are.

I'm no apologist for doom-sayers, but there's also the case for not wanting to lull people into a false sense of security. In 2006 the flu looked like high transmissibility AND high mortality. I never get the flu, and I hadn't gotten the vaccine for decades, but that year I did get a shot. The US government gave out lots of warnings. The season wasn't nearly as bad as warnings said. Were the warnings justified? As a precaution, I think so.

Slashdot Top Deals

"Time is money and money can't buy you love and I love your outfit" - T.H.U.N.D.E.R. #1

Working...