“It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.

― Yogi Berra

Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra was an American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career (1946–1965) for the New York Yankees. Berra was one of only four players to be named the Most Valuable Player of the American League three times and is one of only six managers to lead both American and National League teams to the World Series. As a player, coach, or manager, Berra appeared in 21 World Series. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.

Berra quit school after the eighth grade. He was known for his malapropisms as well as pithy and paradoxical statements, such as "It ain't over 'til it's over", while speaking to reporters. He once simultaneously denied and confirmed his reputation by stating, "I really didn't say everything I said."

Berra’s comment on predictions is as relevant today as it ever was.

Let’s get some some perspective:

1966: Oil gone in 10 years. 1967: Dire famine by 1975. 

1968: Overpopulation. 

1970: World will use up all its natural resources by 2000. 

1970: Gas masks will be required in all cities by 1985. 

1970: Decaying pollution will kill all fish. 

1970: Killer Bees! 

1970: Ice Age by 2000. 

1970: US subject to water rationing by 1974 and food rationing by 1980. 

1972: Oil depleted in 20 years. 

1974: Ozone depletion a great peril to life. 

1976: Scientific consensus: earth is cooling, famines imminent. 

1977: US Dept of Energy says oil will peak in the 90’s. 

1980: Peak oil in 2000. 

1988: Maldives will be underwater by 2018 (they’re not). 

1989: Rising sea levels will obliterate nations if nothing is done by 2000. 

1996: Peak oil in 2010. 

2000: Children won’t know what snow is. 

2002: Famine in 10 years unless we give up eating . 

2002: Peak oil in 2010. 

2004: Britain will be Siberia by 2024. 

2005: Manhattan underwater by 2015. 

2006: Super Hurricanes. 

2007: Climate Genius Tim Flannery: “Even the rain that falls isn’t actually going to fill our dams and river systems” 

2008: Arctic will be Ice-Free by 2018. 

2008: Climate Genius Al Gore predicts Ice-Free Arctic by 2013. 

2009: Climate Genius Prince Charles says we have 96 months to save the world. 

2009: Climate Genius Al Gore moves 2013 prediction of Ice-Free Arctic to 2014. 

2013: Arctic Ice-Free by 2015 

Predictions?  The gift that keeps on giving!