Nostradamus' predictions?

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 12:56 PM

Hehehehe....I didnt check Snopes Urban Legends for this, even though I've 'subscribed' to it for a year or so, but I was pretty sure someone with more knowledge or more access to information than me would be able to bebunk this nonsense.

I just wonder at the mindset of those that 'create' this sort of thing...but wonder MORE at that of those that blithely post it on, whatever kind of email 'chain letter' it is....

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Nemesis
Date: 21 Sep 01 - 12:37 PM

Well, I can confidently predict that most of the TV listings tonight will contain programmes that I will have "seen" before and (hey, spooky) I predict that in a few months time I'll also being watching something I've "seen" before (Or more probably, reading a good book instead!)

Hille

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 10:02 PM

you mean my 11:11s on the clock might have had prophetic portent??? and I ignored them?...wow.....

(oohhh I like that prophetic portent I may use that again!)

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Sourdough
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 04:55 PM

Here is what the Urban legend site has to say about the "significance of "11". Also, towards the end of this post is my on take on coincidences and their meaning.

The telephone country code of 119 is used for neither Iran nor Iraq -- Iran's country code is 98, Iraq's is 964, and 119 is unassigned. Also, American Airlines Flight 77 carried 64 people (58 passengers and 6 crew members), not 65.]

As for an explanation of the other "11"s., trhey say something that Wolfgang and others have been saying in different forms.

"It is but human nature to search for patterns even where none exist. We attempt to impose a gestalt on randomness because chaos is impossible to comprehend, hence our fascination with recurrent themes. We feel something of great import is going on if a particular number comes up time and again, and we are unsettled by it.

"And yet, it's all randomness. That is not to say that at times any number plucked from the air will not appear more often than is the norm because such clumpings are only an expected part of the process of random distribution. Even though a flipped coin comes up heads five hundred times out of a thousand, it does not follow that each 'head' occurrence is immediately followed by a 'tails' -- inevitably during a run of a thousand trials, there will be moments wherein the 'tails' tally varies significantly from the 'heads' count. Clumping can and does occur, and random numbers seemingly appear more often at various moments in time. Over the long run, of course, everything evens out. But at the moment when 13 comes up four times in a row on a roulette wheel, or 11 seems to jump off the page at one, it all seems so very eerie.

"There is nothing inherently portentious about the number 11. Other numbers such as 13, 7, 4, and 3 are strongly tied to a number of supersitions, both good and bad. But 11 is as innocuous a number as there could be.

"Another way of looking at the seemingly impressive array of 11s showcased in the widely circulated e-mail is:

"Date of the attack: 11/9 11 - 9 = 2 Date of the attack: September 11 = 1 + 1 = 2 Year of the attack: 2001 = 2 + (0*0*1) = 2 + 0 = 2 September 11th is the 254th day of the year: 2 + 5 + 4 = 11 = 1 + 1 = 2 Telephone country code for Afghanistan: 93 9 * 3 = 27 93 - 27 = 56 = 5 + 6 = 11 = 1 + 1 = 2 World Trade Center: 2 towers World Trade Center attacked by: 2 airplanes Each airplane: 2 wings The first plane to hit the towers was Flight 11: 1 + 1 = 2 New York = 2 words The Pentagon = 2 words Ramzi Yousef = 2 words"

The above was taken from the URban Legends site - the following is my contribution:

A very effective scam run at race tracks is for a tout to go around telling people, "confidentially", the name of the winning horse in the next race. However, gives different names to each person so that he has small groups of people who had been told by him that a particular horse would win. Of course, he did not expect them to place any money on his recommendation, he has first to build up their trust. However, one of the horses wins the race but it does not matter which one. He now has the attention of that group whom he had advised to place their money on the winning mount. They take him seriously but realize that it might have been just a lucky guess. He next tells each of them in this smaller group the name of the horse that will win the next race. Again, though, he gives each bettor each a different name. Again, a horse wins the horse race - nothing remarkable in that but the bettor who happened to have been given what turned out to be the second winning tip is now sure that the tout has great instincts or information and will place a large bet with him on the next "sure thing". After all, his equine advisor proven himself, he had come through twice with winners! And what are the odds of that!!?

Of course, this scam be run through several more layers by starting out with a bigger initial group making the psychic or handicapping abilities of the tout seem even more paranormal to the "wining" bettor but to someone looking at the entire system, it is just the working out of the inevitable.

Through no fault of our own, we often are in the position of the bettor. It is hard, as well as counter-intuitive, to step back and see the inevitability of entire system but that is what Wolfgang and others here are asking us "bettors" to do. It makes more sense to me than hypothesising tha tthere are unseen forces in a web of which Man is a part and that Man has the ability to interpret and control them. To me, that seems to be hubris.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Donuel
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:42 PM

There are predictions then there prophesy that is a prediction tainted with religion. THe more generalized the more "accurate " to the believer. However:::: When it comes to translations of old French ,such as Nostrodamus, a GOOD translation makes a big difference.

If done well it sounds like this; To the east of the salty river Shiites full of hate send messages by lightening Pirates ram the great ship of state The great treasure sinks

If translated poorly;

In the Great Salt Lake Full of hateful electric turds Large or'deurves float meeting the shore The great memorabillia stinks

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: GUEST,Optimistic
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 02:33 PM

I certainly hope that old "Nosty's" predictions are correct because according to my reading of him, my wife is actually going to have sex with me this month.

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 11:47 AM

'spaw...since it was MY idea that sparked them cards in the first place, I think I should get a free set! But I see by my tea leaves this morning that I should not sit by the mailbox waiting.

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Kim C
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 10:21 AM

I don't myself need explanations for things like that. Sometimes the coincidences, or even a string of them, seem very, very strange. That's all. Synchronicity.

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Crazy Eddie
Date: 20 Sep 01 - 08:51 AM

Spaw,
How much does a deck of them there Scatalogical Cards cost? I reckon I'd best order two sets. I seem to have a habit of losing cards, leastwise I'm often told that I'm not playing with a full deck.

Do you supply an instruction book with 'em?
I had a dream last night that I was using the Cards, and got a strange combination.
It's got to mean something; any ideas on interpreting it?

Tin of Curried Beanz (sorry, that should read TEN, not TIN)
Ace of Stink
King of Crap
Knave of Farts
Seven of Flames

I'd sure appreciate if you can shed any light on it!
Your devoted diciple, Eddie

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Sep 01 - 10:12 PM

I always figure I have about the same chances of winning whether I play or not.

Spaw

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 19 Sep 01 - 10:07 PM

Anyone who reads the book by Dr Levinson which I mentioned above will no longer be surprised or amazed by coincidences. He demonstrates statstically (with easy to understand mathematics) why coincidences are bound to happen, and that it would indeed be remarkable if they didn't happen.

But coincidences is what they are, nothing less, nothing more, no matter how shaken or impressed you were at the time. Remember,as a parallel, even though the likelihood of you winning the State lottery is astronomically small, the probability that someone will win it on any given occasion is quite high.

Murray

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Sep 01 - 10:03 PM

Ah geez Bill.....What YOU need is a deck of these Catspaw Scatology Cards!!! They really do work man!!!

I just dealt out an array and with my newly acquired reading skills, I saw clearly that not only is Dizzy Gillespie still dead, but John Coltrane is too!

Ya' gotta' order a set Bill......They'll make you a believer!

Spaw

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Bill D
Date: 19 Sep 01 - 09:44 PM

Kim C...(I have been busy for a couple of days)."Okay, BillD, explain me this. "

...well, I don't need it explained. It is interesting, that's all. I have picked up the phone to call someone and found them already on the line, calling me...strange, but *shrug*.

Once, I looked at a digital watch, and it was 11:11 on Nov. 11...and off & on for years, I tended to notice myself looking at the clock at 11:11...and then it seemed to stop..mostly. Silly...strange...but as far as I can tell, IT MEANT NOTHING: and I have had other events of the same nature....and deja vu and scary dreams...so far, I am batting about .000 in my ability to predict. Your mileage differs? Fine..*grin*..play the stock market!

Do people really read minds and 'see' the future? Let me know when you have something more than temporary statistical anomolies. I just don't **need** such things explained. Some people just seem to be psychologically constituted to want explanations for phenomena like simultaneous singing, but cause & effect rules are a bit more stringent than that.

Try an experiment where you agree to call your husband every day for several months and ask each other what songs you just sang....when you get up to 5%...call me, and I'll be awed!

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Gloredhel
Date: 19 Sep 01 - 07:53 PM

Paul from Hull--

Yeah, number stuff is easy to do. When we read War and Peace in my sophomore lit. class (a character does this in the book) my teacher had us all use number systems to make the letters in our names add up to 666, proving that each of us was the anti-Christ. I don't know anyone who couldn't do it, although the fact that one guy has 6 letters in each of his names is a little wierd.

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 19 Sep 01 - 07:14 PM

One of Nostradamus lesser known quatrains:

Quand le nombre des postes devient trop Alors, il faut que le main du chat quarante-neuf Fait un cliquie bleu Et aborde un discussion nouveau.

Just wish I knew what it all meant.

Murray

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Kim C
Date: 19 Sep 01 - 01:04 PM

Some people believe in stuff, some people don't. 'Sokay. I have had fun learning about tarot cards. It's an interesting process.

Many years ago, my mother and some of her gal pals went to a fortune teller just for the heck of it. The lady told her that she would marry again, a man with white hair.

Mom probably forgot all about this; I don't know, she never mentioned it again. But my stepfather has white hair. Probably a lucky guess.

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 19 Sep 01 - 11:14 AM

Why have they left out George W. Bush, 11 letters?

It reminds me of a very old political joke in Germany before the 1965 election. The then very old (89 years) Konrad Adenauer was chancellor for the CDU, then still young Willy Brandt was the contender for the SPD.

The joke: Brandt and Adenauer meet and Brandt says to Adenauer: "I have detected a hidden numerological political law for this century in Germany. I'll write it down for you.
The first eighteen years until 1918 saw (emperor) Friedrich Wilhelm II in power. Eighteen years, eighteen letters.
The next was (president) Ebert from 1918 to 1923, five years, five letters.
Then came v. Hindenburg, 11 letters, for the 11 years from 1923 until 1934 (Hitler came into power in 1933, but very old v. Hindenburg remained president until his death in 1934).
Then came Adolf Hitler as chancellor and president, 11 letters, for the 11 years from 1934 to 1945.
Then came the four allied powers for the four years from 1945 to 1949.
And now it is you, Dr. Konrad Adenauer, 16 letters for the sixteen years from 1949 until now, 1965. Your time is up according to the numerological law."

Adenauer looked long at the figures and said: "My young colleague, you have forgotten my 14 honorary doctorates."

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 19 Sep 01 - 09:34 AM

Somebody has WAY too much time on their hands....

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 06:09 PM

More contrived nonsense (to my mind, anyway)

Sent to me by a British-born friend who lived in America for 25 years, & got it sent to her by someone in the States.

The date of the attack: 9/11 - 9 + 1 + 1 = 11

9/11 = 911 Emergency's Phone number

September 11th is the 254th day of the year: 2 + 5 + 4 = 11

After September 11th there are 111 days left to the end of the year.

119 is the area code to Iraq/Iran. 1 + 1 + 9 = 11

Twin Towers - standing side by side, looks like the number 11

The first plane to hit the towers was Flight 11

there's more ..........

State of New York - The 11 State added to the Union

New York City - 11 Letters

Afghanistan - 11 Letters

The Pentagon - 11 Letters

Ramzi Yousef - 11 Letters (convicted or orchestrating the attack on the WTC in 1993)

Flight 11 - 92 on board - 9 + 2 = 11

Flight 77 - 65 on board - 6 + 5 = 11

At least Nostrodamus got PAID to do this kind of thing....

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 01:13 PM

Frankly Eddie, I'd just as soon he licked my balls, but then again.........

Don't forget to order your "Catspaw Scatology Cards" folks. I messed up the horse race because I didn't read them properly. Practice DOES make perfect and I'm getting better. Again this morning I consulted them and found that Dizzy Gillespie is still dead. Far out huh?

I did a second reading and was mystified at the accuracy which can be attained through proper interpretation! The cards before me said that I "would be overcome by the fumes of rotting vegetation in a wet and humid place." Well last night I had sauerkraut and this morning I farted in the shower! Simply amazing isn't it? Order yours TODAY!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 11:03 AM

That is -absolutely- a coincidence...

murry... sounds like a damn good read that...

I'll keep an eye out fer it...

.-)

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Crazy Eddie
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 06:16 AM

Reference : Spaw, catspaw49 Date: 14-Sep-01 - 08:02 AM

Murray, regarding my Weimaraner, he licked his own balls. I think he does this because he can......

Spaw, do you wish you could do that?.............
Give him a biscuit, and maybe he'll let you!

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 18 Sep 01 - 06:09 AM

John in Hull,

if too many believe you the horse will become favourite

Peg,

that could also be cryptomnesia

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Peg
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 11:13 PM

Clinton wrote:

"I had a pre-cognitive dream about the death of Dizzy Gillespie" That's not pre cognition... that's coincidence... I've had it happen to me too...>>>>

Do tell.

I dreamed of his death *the night before* I learned it had happened in fact (I saw the news the following morning). Is that still a coincidence?

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 10:21 PM

I visited the site, I think Nostradamus is a bunch ot crap I have had the occasional premonition though as I said in an earlier thread, I had a dream about a certain horse (Kings Best) winning a race, it then went on to win that reace 8/1, it was not the favourite, anyone can predict a favourite will win and 1/3rd of the time they will be right.If I ever dream of a hose winning a race again I willpost it here, before the race, so anyone intersted can get their money on.

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Sourdough
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 09:33 PM

Murray MacLeod:

Thanks for making the blue clicker to Urban Legends. I hope that some will take a look at it. It is a fine site run as a labor of love, I believe.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 06:21 AM

The most influential book I ever read during my formative years was "The Science of Chance" by Dr Horace Levinson. This book was an eye-opener to me, and if you have any predisposition to believe in premonitions, miracles, or any such like, for the sake of rationalism you owe it to yourself to read this book.

The book was originally published by Faber & Faber and is, I suppose, out or print by now. However your local library will be able to get a copy.

Read it and get your Weltanschauung updated !

Rationally

Murray

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 05:51 AM

Click here for the Urban Legends Site referred to by Sourdough above.

Murray

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: KitKat
Date: 17 Sep 01 - 05:33 AM

Dear Kris & Kim C. Sorry I have been slow responding to your comments on my tarot reading but I did not log on over the weekend. I have been using the cards for over 20 years now for my own and my friends readings. In my experience, the cards generally reflect the issues and concerns going on in the questioners own life - pentacles for a career/money issue, cups for relationships and so on. The only few occasions where the reading has seemed meaningless is where the questioner has not concentrated whilst shuffling the cards - or actually is afraid of the result and so fights against any kind of empathy with me or the cards. In my view, they do not generally predict the future, but the likely outcome of your situation, givenm how the cards say you are reacting to it. That's why I was so amazed to see the Tower and the 10 of Swords - precisely because it seemed nothing to do with me. Yes, it could be sheer co-incidence - it's just that it has never happened before.

I don't seek to force my views on anyone else and I don't expect other people to do likewise. I think there is a little too much ridicule going on in this thread though. Just because we don't know how something happens doesn't mean it's rubbish. I'm keeping on open mind.

Pat

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Sourdough
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 10:33 PM

There is a site on the internet that I automatically turn to whenever there is a stunning story moving on the Internet. It is called Urban Legends and it has been amazingly helpful at getting at the truth and falsity of a claim. Not only does the site give their opinion, it offers the sources, background and context so you can check their conclusions out yourself.

I wondered if they had yet had a chance to look up the Nostradamus claim and was surprised to see that they had. I think you will find the story very interesting.

I bookmarked this site a couple of years ago and find that I go there a lot,sometimes just to browse. I have learned from them that a number of my favorite tales turn out to be false or exaggerations of reality but there are a number of things documented there that are truly stranger than fiction. If you want to look it up the Nostradamus story for yourself, go to:

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/hoaxes/predict.htm

Unless or until a Joseph Clone transforms the earl above to a blue clicky, you will have to cut and paste this address into your browser. I recommend the site heartily. It really is interesting, and responsible.

Sourdough

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 16 Sep 01 - 10:03 PM

My prediction was right, the favourite won the St Leger Milan 13/8F.

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 05:13 PM

This interpretation is fragmentary Mmario, but I believe that the "King of Flatulence" may refer to Louis IV, who was called "gassy" or "lighter-than-air" by the Prussians. The significance of "the banks of Ohio" is puzzling, since Nostradamus wasn't familiar with the American River. Perhaps it is an anagram for "oiseau", strengthening the "lighter-than-air" quality of Louis. The children who flee the living-room may refer to the twin sons of Junius of Hapsberg, who fell under Louis' sway. The cat is certainly Catherine de Medici who hides in "dans la cour", or near the "couer" or heart of Italy. Louis' Queen would certainly not have allowed the ordering of "pizza" since that dish did not exist. She did, however, block the demolition of the Tower of Pisa!

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Kim C
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 04:46 PM

Okay, BillD, explain me this.

I was driving home from work one night, like I always do, singing in the car. As I pulled into the driveway I was singing Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy. I walked into the house and heard my husband in the back hallway singing the same song.

We were singing the same song at the same time, one with no knowledge of the other.

These things happen with such startling regularity it is no longer startling in our house. Maybe that's the mind-meld that happens after many years together, but it's happened ever since we met.

Now, as far as Nostradamus is concerned, it's intriguing, but I don't put much stock in it. The predictions are too old and by now can apply to too many things, as others have mentioned. It's a fun puzzle for those who wish to piece it together.

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: MMario
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 04:39 PM

after which one should translate back and forth betweenvarious languages - consulting the spanish, french, german, and cockney experts - resulting in:

Le roi fleurissant de flatuleszenz se lève des banques bloomin de l'Ohio.
En grande partie c'est l'horreur et la crainte les enfants devraient éviter la pièce(chambre) d'être.
Même on fait rétrécir(contracte) le Joueur aux boules Hat dans la cour.
Nellie Dean pousse le Marteau et le Clou à tête à tous à donner la

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: MMario
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 04:25 PM

of course one must first examine the quatrain in the french:

Le Roi de Flatulence surgit par les Banques de l'Ohio.
Grand est la terreur et tous les enfants doivent fuir la salle de séjour.
Même le chat se recroqueville dans l'arrière-cour(le jardin).
La Reine refuse de faire livrer la pizza.

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 04:14 PM

I discovered this quattrain last night.

The King of Flatulence arises by the Banks of the Ohio. Great is the terror and all children must flee the living room. Even the cat cowers in the backyard. The Queen refuses to have pizza delivered.

So far, I have been unable to decipher it.

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 03:42 PM

He may have ate someone's Hamster - but he puked the hairball on my porch - I need a set of those cards spaw. Peace - Steve

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 12:41 PM

MURRAY!!!! DON'T BET YET!!!!

READ THIS FIRST............

I am new at this and I think I misread the cards. Ya' see the third card from the King of Crap was the Nine of Trots with the picture of Cletus running for the bathroom and grabbing his ass. I asssumed this meant something that it did not and further review makes it clear that you need to bet on "Storming Home" at 16-1. Go for it!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 11:51 AM

Once again, these cards are amazing!!! I dealt out a few from the "Catspaw Scatology Deck" and when the 9 of Cheeks appeared directly below the Jack of Toots, I could see it right away....................Dizzy Gilespie IS dead!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 11:46 AM

Murray- I predict that the favourite will win the St Leger , it did last year at 3/1, I know, I was there! :-)
Favourites have a very good record in the classics, they seem to win at least one of them every year.

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 11:44 AM

"I had a pre-cognitive dream about the death of Dizzy Gillespie"

That's not pre cognition... that's coincidence... I've had it happen to me too...

"The burden of proof is on the asserter."

thanks BillD...

I will also reiterate... I -WANT- to believe... but for now, there's no proof...

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 11:25 AM

"Just because some phenomenon is not recorded with "empirical data" (whatever you mean by that) does not mean it does NOT Happen either."...

The burden of proof is on the asserter.

If you have an 'experience' that can't be recorded or measured , all you can say is that some activity happened IN **YOUR** HEAD.... The human nind is an amazing, complex organ that can be tricked into feeling pain that isn't there...or ignoring pain that should be felt. The electrical activity OF the brain during dreaming can be recorded, but stuff the brain/mind thinks it sees (ghosts, premonitions, auras, deja vus...etc.) cannot be 'recorded'...it doesn't mean YOU didn't have the experience, it just means there is no evidence that the origin OF that experience is anything but your own mind re-arranging it's own memories as little neurons fire off with no obvious guidance.

If, someday, someone CAN show 'proof' of paranormal phenomena, I'll be the first to say WOW!.....but unrtil then, I repeat.....

**The burden of proof is on the asserter**

(what, ME? opinionated?....naawwwwwww)

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 08:31 AM

That was way too convincing, Wolfgang... Ever thought of writing a book? (I know, I know)

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Whistleworks
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 08:05 AM

I doubt if anyone with good sense would actually scroll to the bottom of this thread, but if so, the quotes from Nostradamus are TRUE. And he is very REAL. Ralph Nostradamus lives in Briar Hill, Pennsylvania and everything he says comes true. No matter what.

Now, for my next impersonation.....

Geez,

Bob Pegritz

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 08:02 AM

Last night I consulted the "Catspaw Scatology Cards" and the juxtaposition of the 3 of Beans and the 6 of Condoms directly below the King of Crap told me that Wolfgang would crap a quatrain within 24 hours.

Murray, regarding my Weimaraner, he licked his own balls. I think he does this because he can.....

Spaw

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 07:38 AM

How dare you suggest, Wolfgang, that Her Majesty is in any way related the the French? The Germans, yes (through the Hanovers); but the last French connection was .. er .. the Plantagenets. Mind you , when it comes to idiot heirs, she's got more than her fair share.

Steve

P.S. And don't take any notice of that Dai, he's Welsh, and they haven't had a Royal since the last Elizabeth!

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 07:08 AM

Ah, Dai, that's a letdown when the idea is only to cite what seems fitting. But I'll try it the Nostradamus scholars' way:

The first two lines are obvious. The third line only seems to be a puzzle at the first glance. But wait: The sister of the leader of France obviously means the USA. 'Sister' is 'soeur' in French and the statue of liberty which in Europe stand pars pro toto for the USA was transported from France to the USA by a ship called 'Isere' which sounds similar to 'soeur' which only shows how cleverly Nostradamus disguised his prophecies. And the USA fear that as so often in former times common Nato action will be prevented or made difficult by France.

Line four: The fight will be on several battlefields and the 'Idiot heir' is a weak leader conceding the real decisions to his generals.

Or of course the sister of the leader of France means the English queen (thinking back at the entente cordiale) and this line predicts a future terror attack on Britain by Arabs coming over from France.

But then lets not come to hasty conclusions: in the French original it is 'le chef de France' and that could mean that a French cook will try poison the leader ('soeur' = Sire = leader) of the Western world.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 06:59 AM

If you disregard the fact that "Hister" is an old name for the Danube, it makes it much easier to make it into a "hidden" reference to Hitler. In fact, if you have very little or no actual knowledge of Nostradamus' times, you have little choice but to make (un-)educated guesses as to what he was talking about. A number of people have made historically-informed interpretations of N's predictions, and they can all (I'm told; I haven't read many of them!) be attributed to things that happened, or didn't happen, in his lifetime. My bible study has lapsed somewhat over the last thirty years, but doesn't it warn us about false prohets?

Steve

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: The_one_and_only_Dai
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 05:55 AM

The whole quatrain being:

To an old leader will be born an idiot heir,
weak both in knowledge and in war.
The leader of France is feared by his sister,
battlefields divided, conceded to the soldiers


So, what's all that about?

Subject: RE: NOSTRADAMUS' Predictions?
From: Wolfgang
Date: 14 Sep 01 - 05:49 AM

Murray,

I had not the slightest idea until you asked. Now I know more: Yes, latitude in degrees has first been used during Nostradamus' time (but barely so; if Nostradamus himself knew who can tell?), but the zero point was somewhere else (Madeira), so if you want to read it as latitude you come to a completely different place than today.

Rational arguments of this kind never have deterred Nostradamus scholars. They took words, part of words letters and turned and twisted them until there was a fit. 'Hadrie' became 'Hitler', 'Hister' became 'Hitler' and so on. The 'reasoning' was that Nostradamus made his prophecies deliberately unclear.

With so many liberties in interpretation and so many events to choose from it is no wonder that people have convinced themselves that there are matches between events and quatrains. This is a general tendency in humans (finding patterns in nonsense) and the explaining power of such an observation goes well beyond Nostradamus (but I'd prefer to stay focused on him).

You might have gathered that I am kind of skeptical about Nostradamus, but sometimes when I read a quatrain I really get a feeling of his power being more than I'd like to admit.

Take quatrain I:78,
To an old leader will be born an idiot heir,
weak both in knowledge and in war.

Now I have a feeling that this reminds me of something, someone, somewhere, but my recollection is weak. I'm better off to todays threads about American politics.

Wolfgang