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Inaccurate predictions

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In April's At Work newsletter, I ran a competition asking readers to provide their favourite inaccurate predictions.

I had a lot of fun going through the answers and double-checking the accuracy of the inaccurate prediction. Several appeared more than once (most notably the allegedly misattributed quotes by Bill Gates and Thomas J Watson) and I share the frustration of many entrants that the prediction that computers would mean we only worked three days a week has not come to pass!

So on to our five winners who each receive a copy of Microsoft Office Home & Student 2007. Congratulations to:

Steven Fisher, who nominated Arthur C Clarke's 1966 prediction:

"Houses will be able to fly [by the year 2000] The time may come when whole communities may migrate south in the winter, or move to new lands whenever they feel the need for a change of scenery."

Duncan Nagle, who nominated Margaret Thatcher's 1973 statement:

"I don't think there will be a woman Prime Minister in my lifetime." [Although she did add: "And it's very difficult to foresee what may happen many, many years ahead." ]

Josey Evans, who nominated Alan Hansen:

"You'll never win anything with kids" [referring to the youth team players promoted to the first team at Manchester United in 1995/96 -- the year they went on to win the Premiership and FA Cup]

Kate Phillips, who nominated Wilbur Wright:

"Man will not fly for 50 years." [He and his brother Orville successfully flew two years later.]

Graeme Denman, who nominated David Steel's quote from 1981:

"Go back to your constituencies and prepare for government."

Thanks to everyone who took part and congratulations also to the 10 winners of our "random draw" prize: Andrew Beasley, Mike Johnson, David Brooks, Stephen Mitchem, Lorrie Farrall, Bobbie Ingram, Erik Morley, Chris Warren, Bob Eadie and Iain Butcher.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    June 05, 2008
    What a great surprise; unless someone shares my name and sent in the same quotation, the Duncan Nagle in question was me.I am really grateful, and look forward to the sound of Office coming though my letterbox.