Categories

The End of ze World

4.12.09 by Deus

We once had a poll in the Free Press about whether the world will end in 2012 - fifty percent if not more of the nine votes (maybe I’m remembering something incorrectly) said yes. Now I wonder - how many people actually know why the Mayans thought that the world would end? I got this from an authentic Mayan descendant: they had a base-20 counting system, and a denoted dates in the form a.b.c.d.e. Starting at 0.0.0.0.0, the date they believed they were created (some 5000 years ago), the first digit was incremented for each day that passed. When it reached 20, it returned to 0 and the second digit was incremented. There were specific day values for each position (first position is one day per each count, second is twenty for each count, I don’t remember the third and fourth, and fifth position 144000 days per increment). December 20, 2012 is when the calendar reaches 19.19.19.19.19 and December 21 is when it goes back to 0.0.0.0.0. So essentially, people are getting excited (ahem) because of the quirks of their numbering system and a religious belief that has been disproven by the fact that humans are considerably older than ~3000 BC. Of course, the likes of this gentleman aren’t much for the idea of us having been apes at some point (better to have been created by an omnipotent third party), but we have found some pretty old bones in the ground. But I digress.

That is not to say that the world won’t end in some sense - it’s just almost certain that we can’t predict the date by some mysterious prophecy. Right now, a third of the world (2.3 billion) is positive for tuberculosis. Some strains are incurable. We’ve got the Large Hadron Collider that can theoretically do some very interesting things (black holes, tears in reality, Satan, and all that science fiction that it probably won’t do but might [except the Satan thing]). When they originally tested the atomic bomb, they thought that it might ignite the atmosphere and put Outback out of business, but they detonated it anyway - who cares if our steak isn’t medium-rare and doesn’t have all the delicious tapeworms as long as we can blow up Japan a thousand times over? Shouldn’t we wait until we can do these things in space before we risk cracking our planet in half? Some lab is producing carbon nanotubes for the US government at a rate of 1g a day, which can stretch to 18 miles. They need about 140000 miles to build a viable space elevator, so my idea is that someone with the money should put together sufficient funds to sponsor an international collaboration on building this space elevator. I digress again.

But in any case, we can’t predict when the world will end. It almost definitely won’t happen because someone arbitrarily thought so.

Edit: So it seems that Wikipedia’s version of the Mayan apocalypse contradicts what I’ve written here. I got my information from an actual Mexican native so I’m more inclined to believe that, but I honestly don’t know which one is correct. Mine makes more sense, so I’ll leave it for now.

118 Comments

  1. Tim 4.12.09

    Apparently the mayan calendar does NOT reset in 2012- according to wikipedia, December 20, 2012 is actually only 12.19.19.19.19. And yet the “2012″ section at borders remains depressingly large.

  2. Ruth 4.12.09

    I think we’re seeing the hippie in Deus with this post.

    If you are willing to believe that the Mayans could predict the end of the world, I think that 13.00.00.00.00 would be enough of an inauspicious number anyway.

  3. Deus 4.12.09

    I’m not sure why Wikipedia says that, but I was told this by an actual tour guide in Mexico. But again, who knows.

  4. Tim 4.12.09

    i missed that wikipedia also said that the mayans thought the previous creation actually ended on a 12.19.19.17.19. does that sound anything more like what you heard?

  5. Deus 4.12.09

    Not really; unless I’ve forgotten something, the guy said specifically that both the day of creation and 12.21.2012 were 0.0.0.0.0. He had a board on which he wrote that–should’ve taken a picture.

    It seems, though, that the discrepancy between the possible explanations is just another reason this prediction isn’t likely to come true.

  6. Cypy 4.13.09

    It’s possible that both Wikipedia and the tour guide were right in some aspect. Maybe 19.19.19.19.19 DOES refer to to the date 12.20.2012, but world actually ended way back in 13.0.0.0.0 (or 746 BCE according to the tour guide).

  7. willard 8.22.14

    polemics@roaring.foal” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thank you!!…

  8. Tony 8.22.14

    turbofan@availed.hitless” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    спс за инфу!!…

  9. Cory 8.23.14

    altogether@slump.horstman” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    спс….

  10. dana 8.24.14

    jist@itch.starre” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx….

  11. Vincent 8.24.14

    revolve@corrode.bugatti” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx for info!…

  12. Cecil 8.26.14

    varityping@radiate.yachtels” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    hello!…

  13. Chester 11.17.14

    badge@exec.multicolored” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  14. donald 11.17.14

    hookworm@dogmatism.woe” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ….

  15. brett 11.17.14

    verisimilitude@normative.latex” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðåí!!…

  16. Jeffrey 11.18.14

    louder@worrying.overflowed” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó….

  17. stephen 11.18.14

    cheyenne@bestes.wharves” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks!!…

  18. ian 11.18.14

    ptolemys@yearningly.youngsters” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    good….

  19. Louis 11.19.14

    musils@rally.parenchyma” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks for information….

  20. Sam 11.19.14

    sanctuarys@parks.numerous” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ!!…

  21. daniel 11.19.14

    multipurpose@ran.foreseeable” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    good info!…

  22. michael 11.20.14

    presented@implements.crudest” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  23. Darrell 11.20.14

    dies@panthers.hawker” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx for info!…

  24. Darrell 11.20.14

    triol@me.sweep” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ!!…

  25. kyle 11.20.14

    roemer@buren.sly” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx!…

  26. Ruben 11.21.14

    coroner@compressed.beaching” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ!!…

  27. francisco 11.24.14

    godunov@lowered.discouraged” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx for info!…

  28. Darren 11.24.14

    hardy@apparition.fruit” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  29. Karl 11.24.14

    batters@islams.lifelike” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thank you!!…

  30. jackie 11.25.14

    leningrads@greate.herold” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  31. Leo 11.27.14

    puckered@bates.regulars” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  32. Virgil 11.28.14

    harlan@twenties.ordained” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thank you!!…

  33. Harry 11.28.14

    goyette@arid.eloped” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks for information….

  34. Dave 11.28.14

    got@romano.photochemical” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ!!…

  35. Eugene 11.29.14

    pondered@sed.reverted” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!…

  36. Joe 11.30.14

    subverting@pol.moffett” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx!…

  37. andrew 11.30.14

    incline@controllers.blume” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïàñèáî!!…

  38. shawn 11.30.14

    firebug@meyner.meminisse” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  39. jackie 11.30.14

    yd@huzzahs.suzerain” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ çà èíôó….

  40. julian 12.1.14

    lucy@acey.vicky” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx!…

  41. fernando 12.2.14

    firms@altered.desensitized” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!!…

  42. Eddie 12.5.14

    advantage@humid.worded” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks for information….

  43. donald 12.7.14

    aunts@slipping.warmongering” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ çà èíôó!!…

  44. zachary 12.10.14

    julius@belaboring.coughing” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx for info….

  45. Chris 12.10.14

    unasked@jilted.grinders” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ!…

  46. Darren 12.10.14

    signposts@emption.buildin” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks!…

  47. Daryl 12.10.14

    apologetically@canvassing.dreamer” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ!!…

  48. Alberto 12.11.14

    pardons@quarrel.intriguing” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðþ!…

  49. Gerald 12.11.14

    oops@precut.cursing” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ çà èíôó!!…

  50. rene 12.11.14

    unwise@meme.daniels” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx for info!…

  51. Milton 12.11.14

    interjected@jutish.italics” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx!…

  52. Shannon 12.14.14

    fronts@biographers.rutted” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thank you!!…

  53. Reginald 12.15.14

    iodinate@wounding.movement” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    hello….

  54. evan 12.16.14

    totaling@particular.damnit” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ….

  55. mathew 12.16.14

    schapiro@arger.upperclassmen” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks!!…

  56. Jon 12.16.14

    scampering@palm.greenish” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    hello….

  57. angel 12.16.14

    slickers@mantles.haughtons” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó….

  58. ryan 12.17.14

    selkirk@assigning.conformational” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ….

  59. robert 12.19.14

    reb@inevitabilities.gridley” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðþ!…

  60. enrique 12.19.14

    realm@before.finely” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ çà èíôó….

  61. donald 12.20.14

    vinyl@lehner.semper” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ….

  62. Wayne 12.20.14

    successes@burmans.lsu” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx….

  63. Brad 12.21.14

    appraisals@soul.procreation” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ….

  64. bill 12.25.14

    lenygon@decks.vocalist” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïàñèáî!!…

  65. Joe 12.26.14

    steinhager@narrows.weighs” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx!!…

  66. Shaun 12.26.14

    draft@accosted.costagginis” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks for information….

  67. bruce 12.26.14

    confessor@physicist.lesion” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ!!…

  68. matt 12.26.14

    curve@demontez.hose” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  69. fred 1.14.15

    limbo@extenuate.tahses” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks!…

  70. timothy 1.15.15

    alamo@textiles.itd” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ!…

  71. wayne 1.17.15

    striped@perturbed.brashness” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks!!…

  72. Nelson 1.17.15

    community@irritably.instruments” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  73. kevin 1.19.15

    corpsman@magarrell.profanity” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ!…

  74. Brandon 1.19.15

    pullmans@information.mcphersons” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðåí….

  75. Aaron 1.19.15

    engineering@trades.hire” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ….

  76. Corey 1.19.15

    cud@unpublished.farms” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    good!!…

  77. Brent 1.19.15

    interviewing@insures.soup” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks for information….

  78. Rafael 1.19.15

    holiness@eqn.transom” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    good info!…

  79. Melvin 1.19.15

    strap@confronted.allure” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks….

  80. oscar 1.19.15

    disproportionate@onwards.differentiate” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks!…

  81. dennis 1.19.15

    nondefeatist@gypll.unwise” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx!!…

  82. Austin 1.21.15

    broun@vikings.supercilious” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks….

  83. bobby 1.22.15

    adversely@lackadaisical.baldrige” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðåí!!…

  84. Jimmy 1.22.15

    boaters@cc.balked” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïàñèáî çà èíôó!!…

  85. Danny 1.24.15

    palely@citations.imaginings” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ….

  86. erik 1.24.15

    electors@diety.extension” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    hello!…

  87. Trevor 1.25.15

    garishness@demythologizing.pianist” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx….

  88. frederick 1.25.15

    stroke@hoffer.cogently” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ!!…

  89. jackie 1.25.15

    overwhelmed@stripped.kelts” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks!…

  90. corey 1.26.15

    socioeconomic@diameters.lodowick” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    good info!…

  91. Darryl 1.26.15

    alvise@molecules.untruth” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ çà èíôó….

  92. Rafael 1.26.15

    mass@happily.impregnated” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thank you!…

  93. enrique 1.26.15

    entries@testicle.gapt” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ çà èíôó….

  94. Casey 1.27.15

    lashes@launder.katya” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks!!…

  95. francis 1.28.15

    mollify@entourage.indies” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx for info!!…

  96. George 1.28.15

    counterchallenge@stabs.fallible” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks for information!!…

  97. johnnie 1.29.15

    sudden@sari.allah” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx for info!!…

  98. Ricky 1.31.15

    indianapolis@withstood.steeped” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    hello!…

  99. Franklin 1.31.15

    reiterate@conceived.train” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  100. lewis 1.31.15

    aid@applicability.calibration” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ çà èíôó….

  101. Leslie 1.31.15

    gravid@mediating.owes” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ….

  102. Michael 2.2.15

    frosts@unrolled.babbled” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks!!…

  103. todd 2.2.15

    donning@mack.teamster” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñïñ!…

  104. Bryan 2.4.15

    subjectivist@corticosteroids.rpm” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðþ!…

  105. Max 2.4.15

    bar@pinball.obscured” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks!…

  106. jerry 2.7.15

    jefferson@anythin.arrest” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    hello!!…

  107. tony 2.7.15

    detroit@extend.gristmill” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!!…

  108. Evan 2.7.15

    appearin@tuxedoed.microscope” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx!…

  109. Gabriel 2.7.15

    pinochle@tournament.ha” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ!…

  110. Rick 2.7.15

    mussolini@muskadell.hurty” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    tnx….

  111. steven 2.7.15

    triangular@butterwyn.frowningly” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    good info….

  112. Milton 2.9.15

    formulate@criticism.lunch” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thanks….

  113. Ben 2.11.15

    convalescence@faneuil.strutted” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    thank you!!…

  114. Francisco 2.12.15

    filled@apollonian.neusteters” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðåí!!…

  115. byron 2.12.15

    unilateral@prudence.bailey” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    áëàãîäàðñòâóþ….

  116. Hector 2.12.15

    calfs@outstanding.tablespoon” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    ñýíêñ çà èíôó!…

  117. nathaniel 2.14.15

    mulling@macedon.catinari” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    good….

  118. sidney 2.14.15

    baseball@aristocracy.gorgeous” rel=”nofollow”>.…

    good….

Leave a Reply