GMG Classical Music Forum

The Back Room => The Diner => Topic started by: Sean on July 20, 2007, 09:30:17 AM

Title: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Sean on July 20, 2007, 09:30:17 AM
The winter solstice in 2012 was predicted to be some kind of catastrophy or the end of the world by the Mayans, who persisted for several millenia in southern Mexico until the Spanish invaders of the 16th century. There are some interesting videos on YouTube, their astronomical knowledge being extraordinary: it's on this day that the procession of the Earth's axis tilts across the galactic centre...
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: beclemund on July 20, 2007, 09:35:51 AM
I have already started building the bunker and filling it with canned goods. Thank you for the warning.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Tancata on July 20, 2007, 09:50:25 AM
Quote from: Sean on July 20, 2007, 09:30:17 AM
The winter solstice in 2012 was predicted to be some kind of catastrophy or the end of the world by the Mayans, who persisted for several millenia in southern Mexico until the Spanish invaders of the 16th century. There are some interesting videos on YouTube, their astronomical knowledge being extraordinary: it's on this day that the procession of the Earth's axis tilts across the galactic centre...

Sean, you need a little less of the cool-aid  ;D.

According to some Mayan mythology, the world ends and begins again (or a new world starts) every 13 baktuns.

That day (in 2012) marks 13 baktuns since the last "reset" of the Long Count calendar in about 3114 BC.

...

Did the world end in 3114 BC (wouldn't the Newgrange-building guys in Ireland, or the early Egyptians have noticed this?  :P)?

Also, dates beyond 2012 are mentioned in Mayan writings, and there exist higher-level units than baktuns in the Long Count calendar. AFAIR, dates into the 4,000AD range or later have been referenced in various texts...

The Mayans are really, really interesting but not so much from the whole New Age angle, IMO...

Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: MishaK on July 20, 2007, 09:51:50 AM
Quote from: Sean on July 20, 2007, 09:30:17 AM
The winter solstice in 2012 was predicted to be some kind of catastrophy or the end of the world

Thank god it won't be a catastrophe. You had me worried there for a moment.

Quote from: Sean on July 20, 2007, 09:30:17 AMby the Mayans, who persisted for several millenia in southern Mexico until the Spanish invaders of the 16th century.

Actually, the Mayans quite effectively self-destructed well before the Spaniards showed up in internal warfare following a few bad crops and resulting corn shortage. What the Spaniards found and destroyed was a mere shadow of the original civilization.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 10:04:57 AM
Quote from: Sean on July 20, 2007, 09:30:17 AM
The winter solstice in 2012 was predicted to be some kind of catastrophe or the end of the world by the Mayans, who persisted for several millenia in southern Mexico until the Spanish invaders of the 16th century. There are some interesting videos on YouTube, their astronomical knowledge being extraordinary: it's on this day that the procession of the Earth's axis tilts across the galactic center...

On the plus side, if the Mayans were right, I won't have to pay back my student loans.

In any event: wheels within wheels, my friend. Wheels within wheels.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: beclemund on July 20, 2007, 10:11:39 AM
Quote from: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 10:04:57 AMOn the plus side, if the Mayans were right, I won't have to pay back my student loans.

Just last month I made the last payment on my student loans and just this month I repaid the remaining balance of my wife's loan. It certainly is a fantastic feeling.... One I am sure you would miss deeply should the world implode in 2012.  ;D
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: MishaK on July 20, 2007, 10:17:07 AM
Quote from: beclemund on July 20, 2007, 10:11:39 AM
Just last month I made the last payment on my student loans and just this month I repaid the remaining balance of my wife's loan. It certainly is a fantastic feeling.... One I am sure you would miss deeply should the world implode in 2012.  ;D

I'm aiming at experiencing that feeling mid-2008, inshallah.  ;D
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Tancata on July 20, 2007, 10:18:15 AM
Quote from: O Mensch on July 20, 2007, 10:17:07 AM
I'm aiming at experiencing that feeling mid-2008, inshallah.  ;D

There's no way you can somehow postpone payment until Dec 22, 2012?
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: BachQ on July 20, 2007, 10:19:54 AM
Quote from: Sean on July 20, 2007, 09:30:17 AM
The winter solstice in 2012 was predicted to be some kind of catastrophy

......... What's your definition of catastrophe? ..........
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: MishaK on July 20, 2007, 10:21:26 AM
Quote from: Tancata on July 20, 2007, 10:18:15 AM
There's no way you can somehow postpone payment until Dec 22, 2012?

I'm not following. Why would I want that?
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Tancata on July 20, 2007, 10:25:48 AM
Quote from: O Mensch on July 20, 2007, 10:21:26 AM
I'm not following. Why would I want that?

Open your eyes (http://www.december212012.com), brother...
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: MishaK on July 20, 2007, 10:28:27 AM
Quote from: Tancata on July 20, 2007, 10:25:48 AM
Open your eyes (http://www.december212012.com), brother...

Great, but what's the point of being indebted when the apocalypse comes?
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Tancata on July 20, 2007, 10:31:59 AM
Quote from: O Mensch on July 20, 2007, 10:28:27 AM
Great, but what's the point of being indebted when the apocalypse comes?

Well...you could use the money for something else in the meantime.

Anyway...when it comes to getting into heaven, being poor is the way to go...
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: mahlertitan on July 20, 2007, 10:32:25 AM
Does this mean i should listen to Pat Robertson too?
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 10:40:32 AM
Quote from: O Mensch on July 20, 2007, 10:28:27 AM
Great, but what's the point of being indebted when the apocalypse comes?

Think of it as God's student-indebtedness forgiveness program. No pesky government service or other "altruistic" common-good effort: just a plain, old cataclysm. You think the residents of Pompeii weren't thanking the Genius of Rome for making sure that all debts were forgiven? After the 63 CE earthquake (a solid warning about the 79 CE eruption), debts would likely have been pretty high, too.

Quote from: beclemund on July 20, 2007, 10:11:39 AM
Just last month I made the last payment on my student loans and just this month I repaid the remaining balance of my wife's loan. It certainly is a fantastic feeling.... One I am sure you would miss deeply should the world implode in 2012.  ;D

I don't know about that. I might even say that I'm dubious, at best.  ;D
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Sean on July 20, 2007, 10:49:18 AM
Okay Tancata, Mensch, thanks for the spelling lesson & your inevitable scepticism. We'll just have to see.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Tancata on July 20, 2007, 10:50:26 AM
Heh...no worries...but there was a reason it was inevitable...  0:)
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Joan on July 20, 2007, 11:12:53 AM
There are quite a few real Mayan Indians living in the community where I work; humble, hard-working immigrants trying to build a better future for their kids. They don't seem at all concerned about this sort of thing...probably because they're, well, you know, in touch with reality... :D   Meanwhile plenty of non-Mayans are going to make money by exploiting Mayan culture. It's going to be the Y2K fear-mongering all over again.  ::) 
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 11:21:19 AM
Quote from: Sean on July 20, 2007, 10:49:18 AM
Okay Tancata, Mensch, thanks for the spelling lesson & your inevitable scepticism. We'll just have to see.

Hey, listen, I'm already stocking up on stewed peaches, distilled water, and gold bullion. But, before we go on, we must not allow a mineshaft gap.

Now, I'm having my usual drink of grain alcohol and rainwater. Feel free to help yourself to whatever you'd like.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: mahlertitan on July 20, 2007, 11:26:41 AM
Quote from: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 11:21:19 AM
Hey, listen, I'm already stocking up on stewed peaches, distilled water, and gold bullion. But, before we go on, we must not allow a mineshaft gap.


don't forget to bring the women, we must maintain a 10:1 female to male ratio, we have some prodigious breeding to do....
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: bwv 1080 on July 20, 2007, 11:29:14 AM
I have heard on 21/12 2012 a galaxy-wide war results in the union of all planets under the rule of the Red Star of the Solar Federation. The world is controlled by the Priests of the Temples of Syrinx, who determine the content of all reading matter, songs, pictures - every facet of life during the year 2112 ("The Temples of Syrinx"). A man finds a guitar and learns to play new, different music from what he has ever heard. When he goes to present this to the priests of the Temples, they destroy the guitar. He goes into hiding and dreams of music; upon awakening he becomes severely depressed and commits suicide after a few more days in hiding. As he dies, another planetary battle begins ("Grand Finale") resulting in the (perhaps deliberately) ambiguous ending "Attention all planets of the Solar Federation: We have assumed control." (this spoken section was created by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson reportedly "messing around with a tape recorder")
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 11:32:30 AM
Quote from: MahlerTitan on July 20, 2007, 11:26:41 AM
don't forget to bring the women, we must maintain a 10:1 female to male ratio, we have some prodigious breeding to do....

Well, the women must be of a highly stimulating nature, insofar as sexual characteristics go. So I'm told.

Ah, the regrettable sacrifices we make for the future of the human race.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Todd on July 20, 2007, 11:35:12 AM
Note to self: pick up some window pane on 12/20/2012.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Sean on July 20, 2007, 11:37:24 AM
Quote from: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 11:21:19 AM
Now, I'm having my usual drink of grain alcohol and rainwater. Feel free to help yourself to whatever you'd like.

Some 9% lager for me- provides a few moments of clarity.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: karlhenning on July 20, 2007, 11:52:16 AM
(Don't say a thing, Karl, just don't say it.)
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: MishaK on July 20, 2007, 12:01:11 PM
Quote from: Tancata on July 20, 2007, 10:31:59 AM
Well...you could use the money for something else in the meantime.

Why not enjoy a few good years of debt-free life before the inevitable?
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Tancata on July 20, 2007, 12:07:40 PM
Quote from: O Mensch on July 20, 2007, 12:01:11 PM
Why not enjoy a few good years of debt-free life before the inevitable?

Presumably, after the world ends debts won't need to be repayed. So just rack 'em up.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 12:13:57 PM
Quote from: O Mensch on July 20, 2007, 12:01:11 PM
Why not enjoy a few good years of debt-free life before the inevitable?

There are no guarantees, either. I think someone should create Apocalypse Non-Occurrence Insurance for the unfortunates who spend more than they should, and then get burned when chariots of fire don't come blazing out of the Heavenly Firmament.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: bwv 1080 on July 20, 2007, 12:16:58 PM
Quote from: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 12:13:57 PM
There are no guarantees, either. I think someone should create Apocalypse Non-Occurrence Insurance

I am actually offering Apocalypse coverage - $1 million dollars (CSA) in the event of the world coming to an end.  Premiums are a one time $100, you can send it to me through PayPal.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 12:27:27 PM
Quote from: bwv 1080 on July 20, 2007, 12:16:58 PM
I am actually offering Apocalypse coverage - $1 million dollars (CSA) in the event of the world coming to an end.  Premiums are a one time $100, you can send it to me through PayPal.

Sorry. I have a bond for ten million Weimar Deutschmarks on the non-occurrence of the Apocalypse.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: bwv 1080 on July 20, 2007, 12:44:36 PM
Anyhow, our sleestack overlords would never let that happen
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 01:06:09 PM
Quote from: bwv 1080 on July 20, 2007, 12:44:36 PM
Anyhow, our sleestack overlords would never let that happen

To say nothing of the Illuminati.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: MishaK on July 20, 2007, 01:07:44 PM
Quote from: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 01:06:09 PM
To say nothing of the Illuminati.

Or Opus Dei.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: PSmith08 on July 20, 2007, 01:13:08 PM
Quote from: O Mensch on July 20, 2007, 01:07:44 PM
Or Opus Dei.

Aren't they two branches of the same thing? The religious and secular arms of the New World Order?
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Szykneij on July 20, 2007, 01:27:12 PM
Quote from: O Mensch on July 20, 2007, 12:01:11 PM
Why not enjoy a few good years of debt-free life before the inevitable?

Juts be sure it is inevitable ...


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=453095&in_page_id=1770
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: BachQ on December 20, 2007, 06:37:06 AM
Quote from: Sean on July 20, 2007, 09:30:17 AM
There are some interesting videos on YouTube

BTW, is YOUTUBE your primary source of news and information?
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Bonehelm on December 20, 2007, 07:29:04 AM
Quote from: D Minor on December 20, 2007, 06:37:06 AM
BTW, is YOUTUBE your primary source of news and information?

LOL OWNED zOMG
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Great Gable on December 20, 2007, 08:11:37 AM
Quote from: D Minor on December 20, 2007, 06:37:06 AM
BTW, is YOUTUBE your primary source of news and information?

I'd just noticed that common thread running through Sean's posts :)

All becomes clear doesn't it!
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Wanderer on December 20, 2007, 08:32:37 AM
Quote from: Sean on July 20, 2007, 09:30:17 AM
The winter solstice in 2012 was predicted to be some kind of catastrophy or the end of the world by the Mayans, who persisted for several millenia in southern Mexico until the Spanish invaders of the 16th century.

They didn't really expect to remain undiscovered until then?
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Gustav on December 20, 2007, 09:03:06 AM
don't laugh at Sean just yet! Maybe he is a real life Eric Cartman, and what he says will indeed come true, no matter how absurd, beware!
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: MishaK on December 20, 2007, 09:12:42 AM
Quote from: Gustav on December 20, 2007, 09:03:06 AM
Maybe he is a real life Eric Cartman

Well, he does seem to say "You guys suck! I'm going home!" quite often his own Sean kind of way.
Title: Re: Dec 21, 2012
Post by: Ten thumbs on December 20, 2007, 10:46:08 AM
Bad day - someone's gon'o die. The da capo code confirms it.