Mayan Calendar and Dec. 21, 2012

[blessingx]

Okay, I've been hearing people reference this theory for a few years now, but it appears to be growing and the NYTimes did an article today titled The Final Days. Anyone else following the development of a community who believes the world (or at least human civilization) will change greatly based on the Mayan calendar cycle? More interested in the rise of a unusual shared belief than the likelihood of anything happening that day. Couldn't be worse than sitting through Apocalypto again.

 

[rockin_amigo14]

it'll probably have something to do with the US presidential elections. i'm calling it right here.

 

[Wodgy]

As the article says, this phenomenon is being driven primarily by Coast to Coast AM, which has five million listeners on any given night. Their aggregate audience (people who tune in from time to time) is probably 20-30 million, maybe more.

They never mention though on the show that 2012 is not the end of the Mayan calendar, it's just the beginning of the next long count. Unless for some odd reason they only expected there to be one long count.

 

[Happy Camper]

It is the end of their current age ie the end of time. http://www.greatdreams.com/2012.htm

It is also the end point of the earth rotation around the galaxy and it corresponds with the earth passing the central plane of the galaxy. Quite a few things are being attributed to this date. The doomsdayers are predicting there will be calamities that will wipe out a good portion of the human race. Entering the galactic plane will bring debris into our orbit. Predictions of the earth's polarity flip will cause tectonic shifting and the water basins will flood the lands. The alignment of our solar system will have a strong gravitational effect on earth. The boogy men will come out from under the beds, etc.......

This should be an interesting thread. I was going to start this one earlier but wanted to do some research first.

 

[GSurge]

That is the date the Internet will end.

 

[Wodgy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Camper /img/forum/go_quote.gif It is the end of their current age ie the end of time. http://www.greatdreams.com/2012.htm

It's not the end of Mayan time though. A bunch of charlatans are trying to sell it as that, but even Jenkins will acknowledge it's just the beginning of another long count. The Mayans had names for longer periods of time and would refer to them occasionally, e.g.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoame...ns_beyond_2012

 

[aphex944]

There are a few books on the 2012 alignment, and I remember seeing one that tied in large events in human history with the start/end dates of cycles in the Mayan calendar. Interesting stuff!

 

[Singapura]

OMG

and it's only 1999 days away! I still have to dig my shelter and buy enough canned food

. But seriously, I've seen a few end-of-the-world days come and go and the world is still turning. Then again. if people believe in clever little clocks and brilliant pebbles there's probably lots of money to be made in the apocalypse industry. How about, "I survived the apocalypse and all I got was this lousy T-shirt"? (c) and (tm) Singapura off course...

 

[Lazarus Short]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Singapura /img/forum/go_quote.gif "I survived the apocalypse and all I got was this lousy T-shirt"?

How about a book title: "How to Profit from the Coming End of the Mayan Long Count"?

Laz

 

[funch]

Interesting. Mouser had that date listed as the shipping date for a backordered Amphenol chassis connector. I wonder what that was all about?

 

[Absorbine_Sr]

I guess I'll be ok. I don't even own a Mayan calendar.

A_Sr.

 

[Superpredator]

Man, I love posting that image.

Seriously though, I am not sure what to believe, but considering how in touch an ancient civilization was with solar and galactic patterns I don't take it lightly that they believed that this would be the final age (whatever that may mean; I don't claim to have any idea). It landing on 2012 is one interpretation of their calendar, so I'm not convinced that that date is entirely meaningful.

2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl was an interesting read.

 

[Thelonious Monk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Camper /img/forum/go_quote.gif It is the end of their current age ie the end of time. http://www.greatdreams.com/2012.htm It is also the end point of the earth rotation around the galaxy and it corresponds with the earth passing the central plane of the galaxy. Quite a few things are being attributed to this date. The doomsdayers are predicting there will be calamities that will wipe out a good portion of the human race. Entering the galactic plane will bring debris into our orbit. Predictions of the earth's polarity flip will cause tectonic shifting and the water basins will flood the lands. The alignment of our solar system will have a strong gravitational effect on earth. The boogy men will come out from under the beds, etc....... This should be an interesting thread. I was going to start this one earlier but wanted to do some research first.

"no"

 

[Lazarus Short]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thelonious Monk /img/forum/go_quote.gif "no"

"no"?

A reasoned argument with supporting evidence would be so preferable to simple denial...

I happen to be well-read on the 2012/Mayan Calendar subject, having read entire books about it. I seem not to be in the mood to expound on it here - perhaps I'm just tired of the soap-boxing I used to do.
Laz

 

[wnewport]

1999 days = 1+9+9+9 = 28
year 2012 = 2+0+1+2 = 5
Apocalypse has 10 letters in it.

28-5-10 = [size=x-large]13[/size]

There is your evidence Monk. How could anyone not believe?