Rudolph_X wrote in news:4aVWc.8723$VY.1244@trndny09:

Many scientists, with 'credentials', like to act as if they know what
they are talking about, when actually they are more like folks talking
about the weather. "Looks like it is going to rain tomorrow." But,
then you get a sunny day. Just look at the recent debacle with
hurricane Charley. The 'experts' told the folks not to worry, "You are
not in the direct path of the hurricane. Relax." But, then they were
proven wrong, and hundreds of people died because they believed what
they were told by the 'experts'.

Like weathermen, scientists are often wrong, as well. The scientists
say, "We can tell you the exact path of the orbit of the asteroid
Toutatis." Do you trust them? "Don't worry, it is not going to hit
Earth," is what they say. But can you be certain?

Yes... astronomy is not metorology. Any meterologist will tell you that
they deal in a VERY inexact science. That is not true for astronomers.

In the quote that I gave above, preceeding the link to the artilce,
the scientists says, "...the orbital change was quite extraordinary.
2004 FU162 was deflected by about 20 degrees because of the Earth's
gravity. I've never seen anything like that before." He didn't give
an explanation of why the asteroid appeared to have changed the
'predicted' course.

Would you like one? 2004 FU162 was very, very small compared to
Toutalis.

A little while ago we were discussing Toutatis in a different thread,
which is due on the 29th, in another thread, and I was making some
comments that were called 'wild speculations'. I made this post for
those who were following that thread, just to illustrate that the so
called 'experts' are not always correct. The folks who were following
that tread can grok the point I was making. You were not a part of
that discussion, so of course, being an ignoramus, you assumed that
there was no point to my post.

Ahhh... but I WAS part of the discussion. Thanks for the ad hominem
attack. I didn't know until now that I was an ignoramus. Oh, and
without any evidence (and no, your weatherman analogy does not
constitute evidence) your speculation remains wild.

--
"I argue very well. Ask any of my remaining friends. I can win an
argument on any topic, against any opponent. People know this, and steer
clear of me at parties. Often, as a sign of their great respect, they
don't even invite me." -Dave Barry