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.

Entertainment
Michael Jackson’s untimely death last week left the world in mourning or at least most of it. Bin Laden wasn’t a fan. Despite countless plastic surgery operations and possible underlying health conditions his death at 50 is still a mystery, especially to his family. Hubdubbers are predicting there’s a 42% chance Jackon’s death was due to drug use.

What was the underlying cause of Michael Jackson’s cardiac arrest?

Jackson was somewhat eccentric to say the least, so it’s quite a surprise to see Hubdub forecasting Jackson is most likely to be laid to rest the old fashion way. Although there still is a 8% chance he’s put in Cryogenic Suspension and a 3% chance he’s displayed in the same way Lenin is.

How will Michael Jackson be laid to rest?

The initial conspiratorial reports citing Michael Jackson’s doctor as a possible suspect seem to have dissipated, as there’s now only a 8% chance the doctor will be charged in relation to Jackson’s death.

Will Michael Jackson’s doctor be charged?

Business
Not much of a surprise here, but the forecast is worth a notice. International oil companies from the United States are 93% likely to be majority share holders in Iraqi oil fields. War for oil anyone?

Who will get most of the Oil fields in Iraq?

Politics

Wives of unfaithful politicians often seem to enter the same profession of their unfaithful husbands. Hillary Clinton? Despite that, don’t bet on Mark Sanford’s wife entering politics anytime soon.

Will Jenny Sanford run for public office?

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.

Uncategorized affair, america, cardiac arrest, cause, charged, death, divorce, doctor, funeral, iraq, jenny sanford, mark sanford, michael jackson, oil companies, oil fields, united states

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.

Will journalist Roxana Saberi’s appeal of spying on Iran succeed?

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.

Will Cuba release any political prisoners before July 1st 2009?

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.

Will Chrysler and Fiat enter into any type of merger prior to 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!

NBA Playoffs, Atlanta Hawks - Miami Heat, series outcome?

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…

Which movie will own the highest opening gross during its first weekend release in May 2009?

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.

Uncategorized america, Atlanta Hawks, barack obama, chrysler, cuba, espionage, fiat, iran, merger, Miami Heat, national basketball association, nba, nba playoffs, political prisoners, Roxana Saberi, summer blockbusters, united states, X-Men Origins: Wolverine