One of the leading Croatian newspapers warns today that scientists are saying that we are at the threshold of the harshest winter in a century. Scientists, what scientists? Who in his or her right mind would come up with such a pronouncement? All things considered, it smacks of witchcraft rather than science. Besides, a century as a unit of time immediately invokes my suspicion. Although the article made me smile at first sight, it also started worrying me. News such as these will proliferate in the years to come. And so-called scientists will make their fame by making ever-wilder predictions about horrors to come. Equipped with a bunch of diplomas, for a scientist without a diploma is a contradiction in terms, they will engage in witchcraft for the sake of their greater glory. It did not take me long to remember that the last summer was supposed to be one of the hottest on record. Instead, it rained for three months straight. Would that scientists paid more attention to next week’s weather. Or tomorrow’s, for that matter. That would be enough of a challenge, no doubt. The harshest winter in a century is squarely beyond their reach in spite of their many diplomas.