Good morning, Whitewater
In Wisconsin history today, in 1956, the 35th million car was produced at the GM plan in Janesville. That’s roughly six times as many cars as the current population of Wisconsin.
The National Weather Service predicts a probability of thunderstorms, with a high of 74 degrees. The Farmers’ Almanac predicts showers, followed by clearing. In a way, only half of the Farmers’ Almanac prediction of showers, then clearing is a true prediction. Starting out by predicting showers is a possibility, as against sunny skies, or light snow. But the second half, predicting clearing, is almost certain, sooner or later, following the original prediction.
It’s almost like a horoscope that says you’ll meet someone new — sooner or later, you will.
I’ve mentioned before that I think that the Farmers’ Almanac, although a private concern, operates more like a planning agency, by trying to forecast complex events like the weather up to a year in advance. One challenge with that kind of planning is the need to supply information for events far away in time.
That need leads to an appearance of specificity and precision (‘followed by clearing’) that’s both inevitable and banal. The first part of the prediction might be right, but the second part’s just an obvious consequence of the first.
In our school district today, there will be senior awards in the high school auditorium this evening.