Apocalypse No: Some thoughts on the End and What's Hot in CF

“In Leeds, England in 1806 a hen began laying eggs on which the phrase "Christ is coming" was written. Eventually it was discovered to be a hoax. The hoaxster had written on the eggs in a corrosive ink so as to etch the eggs, and reinserted the eggs back into the hen.”

“The Prophet Hen of Leeds,” List of Dates Predicted for Apocalyptic Events, Wikipedia

Wikipedia’s list of Predicted Apocalyptic Events is a spiffy little read consisting of 235 incidents of Chicken Littling over the world’s end - and that’s only up to the one that’s supposed to come today. The predictions come largely from religious types but there are also a few surprise entries, like Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Manson, Christopher Columbus and Jeanne Dixon (which sounds like a roundly rejected idea for a Bill & Ted sequel). Then there are some runaway winners, like psychic Sheldon Nidlie who thought 16 million spaceships accompanied by angels would put a stop to this party on December 17, 1996 (strangest part: a psychic named Sheldon) and “self-described prophet” Joanna Southcott, 64, who claimed she’d give birth to the Christ child - and the world would end - on December 25,  1814 (she died the day of her prediction, possibly of embarrassment). 

With that ragged of a track record you’d think people would stop believing “The End is Nigh” predictions and yet there’s another said to be on it’s way for today. This one concerns a Mayan calendar that lasts for 5000 years and ends on 12/21/12 - today. Some people think that means this is the last day we’re going to have and not that some Mayan had OCD.  

The world won’t end today. I don’t have the kind of luck that would prevent my bills from still being here on Saturday. I was so confident this apocalypse was as bogus as the last 234 that I was out Christmas shopping (because there’s going to be a Christmas) and totally missed posting the link to my weekly What’s Hot in Central Florida segment which aired today at 4:32pm on WMFE 90.7 but which you can hear by clicking the What’s Hot link. Good ways to celebrate the end of the world?

* The End of the World Dance Party with Rocket 88, Eugene Snowden and his JC Jumpers and Control This TONIGHT at The Social.

* Mass Appeal at Mad Cow Theatre because if the world is ending isn’t a little spiritual struggling appropriate?

* The Christmas celebration with the singing tower at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales. I know it’s a hike but personally I’d like a little road trip to wrap up this life with and this is an incredibly pretty one. 

And in case you were wondering the next apocalypse on the WIkipedia list is scheduled for anytime between 2018 and 2028, giving us about the same window as the cable guy (“Can you be home between 8 a.m. tomorrow and 2025?”). 

If I’m still around I’ll see you out there!