Final answer:
Almanacs such as Roosevelt's often predict the weather, but the phrasing 'try to make up its own mind' highlights weather's unpredictability, which has tangible impacts, especially in agriculture and during natural disasters. Nowadays, people rely more on real-time forecasts from advanced technology rather than traditional almanacs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Almanacs have long served as a useful tool for predicting the weather, providing crucial information that can influence the timing of agricultural activities such as planting and harvesting crops. However, the unpredictable nature of weather means that these predictions can sometimes be off the mark. In the context provided, Roosevelt's Almanac suggests that the weather in January will 'try to make up its own mind,' implying that the weather has a tendency to be unpredictable, which is particularly relevant when considering the consequences of storms that either fail to predict the severity correctly or when unforeseen weather events cause disasters, as was the case with the freeze in south Texas. Moreover, advancements in technology now allow for more immediate access to weather forecasts, such as those provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or the Weather Channel, giving people more current and potentially accurate information than traditional sources like the Farmer's Almanac.