Nostradamus - Prophet or Madman ?

Prophet, Physician, Astrologer, Humanitarian

Nostradamus was born on December 14, 1503 in the south of France. His family converted from Judaism to Catholicism when he was a young boy. Judaism is the religion of the Jewish and it is believed that his jewish forefathers were of the lost tribe of Issacher. This lost Jewish tribe were reknowned for their mystical and astrological knowledge.
From his mother's side Michael de NostraDamus was inherently exposed to mathematics and medicine. He began his formal studies of medicine during the years when the Black Plague was ravaging France. His unique healing methods were effective and lessened the suffering of many people. He went on to become a fully accredited Doctor. During this time he married and started a family, but lost them to the very disease that he was treating.
Though he was a spiritual man he became the target of the Spanish Inquisition in part due to some comments he had made about a religious statue. He fled to Italy to avoid the wrath of the Religious extremists.
He had gained much knowledge about astronomy and physics during his early years and made use of this knowledge to sustain himself. He was now divining astrological forecasts for the public.
The situation changed with the Inquisitors and Nostradamus returned to France where he worked for the City of Aix. He was once again fighting the Plague as a medical professional. He wrote what is considered to be the first medical directory which could be used by the public to access proper medical professionals all over Europe. By now he had rebuilt his life around a new family and was living in Salon de Croux.
All the while he would have been writing his prophetic thoughts in the form of cryptlogical Quatrains in order to avoid further prosecution from the extreme inquisitors. The first 300 prophecies or Quatrains were published and he quickly gained fame.
He was summoned to the Queens side for his divination abilities. His association with the Royal Family grew and in the years to come he wrote several Quatrains predicting events surrounding the Throne.
Micheal de Nostradamus predicted his own death. He passed away on July 1, 1566.

The Quatrains are great for debate since no one can claim them passed or not.

Take this one for example:

"In the year 1999 and seven months
The Great, KIng of Terror shall
come from the sky. He will bring to
life the King of The Mongols. Before
and after, Mars reigns happily."
C10 Q 72

Could this have been a vision of the 9/11 attacks?
As for future prophecies, the following Quatrains may have significant meaning.

Maybe this next one predicts a explosion caused by a cosmic collision such has would happen if Planet X were to enter the orbits of the sun's known planets.

"During the appearance of
The Bearded Star, the three
great princes will be made
enemies. The shaky peace on
earth will be struck by fire
from the skies. Po, The
winding Tiber, a serpent placed
on the shore." C2 Q4

And maybe prophetic vision of worst yet...

MABUS will soon die,
Then will come a horrible
slaughter of people and animals
At once vengance revealed coming
from a hundred hands
"Thirst and Famine when
The Comet shall pass
C2 Q72

Does this signify that the Cosmic object has passed and humanity is left to struggle (back to the original Cave's of the Hopi visionaries), or is this a forerunner to the cosmic collision.

The Quatrains of Nostradamus are terribly difficult to understand. Perhaps what they allow us to do is to live every day to the fullest, knowing that eventually something will happen.