December 21, 2012: The End of the World

As I’m sure everyone knows, planet Earth will explode on December 21, 2012, a fact somehow revealed by an obscure calendar system invented by mesoamericans many centuries ago.

Relative to our calendar, the Mayan Long Count Calendar started on August 11, 3114 BCE.  Like a car’s odometer rolling over to all zeros, the calendar runs out on December 21, 2012.  The result: the end of the world.  There’s even a new movie about this.

Yes, people actually believe this nonsense.  But that’s no surprise, given all the end of the world predictions we’ve endured over the centuries.  James Randi has a list of 44 such failed prophecies.  It might make you feel better to read it, if you’re worried about there being any truth to the 12/21/12 absurdity.