Should we really get all paranoid about Swine Flu? Well….
There’s a 54% chance swine flu grows into a pandemic in 2009
62% chance swine flu is confirmed on every continent by July.
And if you weren’t freaking out by now, there’s a 64% chance swine flu will be present in more than 31 US states by May
I think it’s time to stock up on supplies and board up all the doors!
Hubdub’s Hot Predictions this week, as decided by Hubdub users and staff, are selected based on their newsworthiness for the week. These stories are bound to be big news this week - and we have forecasts on how they’re likely to turn out.
Science
As if the economic meltdown wasn’t enough, now we have swine flu. The outbreak started in Mexico but in a matter of days cases in places as far away as New Zealand have popped up. The Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization haven’t yet referred to the outbreak as a pandemic, but before 2010 the chances of swine flu developing into a pandemic are a worrying 23%.
Entertainment
Sean Hannity is on the record saying he’d be water boarded for charity. Therefore Keith Olbermann’s offer to give $1,000 per second to charity for as long as Hannity stays under seems fair. The question is will Hannity chicken out?
It’s TV show culling time again! Although some entertainment pundits have doubts about Chuck returning for another season, Hubdubbers seem to categorically agree with Deadline Hollywood Daily forecasting Chuck has a 71% chance of renewal.
Politics
This week President Barack Obama has his third prime time press conference, with so many issues on his plate though mentions of Obama’s former rival John McCain seem unlikely.
Sports
“The fastest Two Minutes in Sports,” better known as the Kentucky Derby is this week and Hubdub has forecasts on which horse is most likely to win. Pioneer of the Nile with a 29% chance is the front runner followed by I Want Revenge and Quality Road with 25% and 18% chances of winning respectively.
Trading percentages given are at time of posting and may not match up with markets after the fact due to Hubdub users forecasting on said markets.
Hubdub’s Hot Predictions this week, as decided by Hubdub users and staff, are selected based on their newsworthiness for the week. These stories are bound to be big news this week - and we have forecasts on how they’re likely to turn out.
World
Roxana Saberi the Iranian-American journalist convicted in Iran of espionage has launched an appeal in a last ditch effort to get out of an 8 year sentence handed down last week. Although the trial and conviction are seen as a farce by many in the West, Hubdubbers doubt Saberi’s appeal will work, only giving it a 36% chance of success.
Politics
Cuba has been dominating the news these past few weeks, but how can we measure a softening in Cuban-American relations? One thing observers and the Obama administration are looking at is whether Cuba will release any political prisoners. Hubdub forecasts by July 1st there’s a 66% chance no political prisoners have yet been released.
Business
At the start of the auto bailout a merger between Italian Fiat and American Chrysler looked like a no-brainer. Recent problems with debt though have left the prospects of a merger in murky waters. Now there’s only a 50% chance the merger goes through before the start of June.
Sports
The NBA playoffs have arrived, and next week in the first round the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat face off. In the seven game series Miami currently has the highest chances of pulling off a win, but the margins are very, very close!
Entertainment
In May flurries of Blockbuster movies start hitting theaters. Unfortunately my hopes that the new Star Trek would crush any competition seem to have been dashed. Hubdub gives X-Men Origins: Wolverine a 68% chance of having the highest grossing open weekend. Honestly Spock is so much more of a money maker than Wolverine…
Trading percentages given are at time of posting and may not match up with markets after the fact due to Hubdub users forecasting on said markets.
Politics
In the Minnesota Senate race the legal battling between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken doesn’t seem to have an end in sight. Coleman again plans to appeal a court decision granting Franken the senate seat, but when does Hubdub think Minnesota will finally have its result? Hubdubbers think the new Minnesota Senator will most likely take his seat this month or next.
World
Stepped up Naval patrols in the waters off Somalia haven’t done enough to deter pirates from attempting piracy in the Gulf of Aden, but what will? Some suggest military operations against pirate land bases, but those types of operations could be costly, and for now there’s only a 29% that Somali land bases may be attacked by June 1st.
Technology
First it was using Facebook to show you had thousands of ‘friends,’ by adding as many people to your friends list. Now though it’s followers on Twitter instead of friends on Facebook. So far CNN has the most followers followed closely by Britney Spears. Britney though is most likely to get a million followers first with a 49% chance of getting to a million compared to CNN’s 32% chance.
General
The Big One is coming! Or is it? Every year we hear about how this might be the year for San Francisco’s big quake, and every year it doesn’t happen causing millions to become more complacent with living on a ticking time bomb. Will it happen anytime soon? Nope says Hubdub forecasting it’s 56% likely only something weaker than a 5 on the Richter scale happens anytime soon.
Sports
The NFL draft is coming and the first picks for running back are most likely to be Knowshon Moreno or Chris Wells. Hubdubbers though are putting their bets on Moreno as the first running back to be picked. He has a pretty high chance of 60% according to Hubdub right now.
Trading percentages given are at time of posting and may not match up with markets after the fact due to Hubdub users forecasting on said markets.
Hubdub’s Hot Predictions this week, as decided by Hubdub users and staff, are selected based on their newsworthiness for the week. These stories are bound to be big news this week - and we have forecasts on how they’re likely to turn out.
Politics
With the recent forcing out of GM´s CEO Richard Wagoner by the Obama administration, users on Hubdub have begun asking who´s next? The banks haven´t been behaving well, so how about ousting a Bank of America CEO? Hubdubbers give the chance of that happening 51%.
Entertainment
Many want the source of the new Wolverine X-Men movie internet leak arrested and convicted, but that doesn´t mean it´s going to happen. First they´ll likely have to identify exactly who leaked the movie, and the chance of that happening in the next 3 weeks is only 44%.
World
Even with some new found European love for America following Barack Obama´s visit, old habits die hard. Spanish judge Balthazar Garzon, famous for arresting Chilean Dictator Pinochet now has a new target, the Bush administration. Six officials are under investigation, including Alberto Gonzalez and Hubdub forecasts at least two will be ordered arrested by Garzon.
Sports
The 2009 Masters is around the corner. Who will be the champion this year? Hubdub forecasts Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker or Stewart Cink have a 38% chance of wearing the green jacket this Sunday when the competition ends.
Business
Is a new gas prices spike in our near, near future? Although some analysts are predicting a new surge in oil prices, for the immediate future Hubdub sees only a moderate rise in prices. Forecasting it´s most likely by April 12th the national average for a gallon of regular unleaded will be $2.050 - $2.074.
Trading percentages given are at time of posting and may not match up with markets after the fact due to Hubdub users forecasting on said markets.
