Put Up Or Shut Up Time

THE WORLD IS ON THE BRINK of extinction, for tomorrow is december 21, 2012, the day of infamy we  all , or at least some of us, have long feared and anticipated. Several years ago my mother and my uncle said they hoped they would live long enough to see what happens. I told them that they probably would, but that probably nothing would happen. They did, and so far, nothing has. But it ainit over till its over. He's eighty eight and now she's ninety two, so, way to go, folks.

I hope they aren't disappointed after tomorrow. Did they want the world to end, and simply to live long to see it end, briefly, as they perish? Or did they want the world to go on turning, and look back on the ado about nothing. The latter, methinks.

During the past few weeks the true believers, the new age mayan calendar crowd, have been conspicuous by their absence. The furor has actually decreased as the great date approaches. Could it be that as crunch time nears, and the apocalyptic folks realize its put up or shut up, prudent silence has descended?

I certainly wouldn't want to be in the position of having preached impending doom for years, and be faced now with the prospect of a business as usual paradigm. It happens all the time. Some cult leader picks out a day of future doom, perhaps without fully comprehending that the future always arrives, and later leaves town with  egg on face.

Doomsday shelters have sold out, and are now full, presumably well stocked, just in case the end is partial. Are the prophets getting nervous as friday morning nears? I would be, were i they. Nervous because of fear of the unknown, nervous for fear of death, or perhaps fear of future ridicule.

So, we wait and see, but not for long. the mayans were amazing astronomers and matheticians. Either they were extremely dedicated to their complicated calculations, they had too much free time on their hands, or the once every twenty six thousand year crossing of the solar system  over the galactic equator fascinated them, and they knew that after it happens, the calendar need go no further.

Every calandar must end sometime, why not now, at this mathematically significant point in astrnomical history? From now on, every twenty six thousand years, its only going to be the same ole same ole, as earth and sun roller coaster their merry way around the edge of the milky way  spiral disk. No need for a repitious calendar. The long count has been laid out, and enough is enough.

I don't know about you, but I have no plans to spend my retirement money tomorrow morning.