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Will the world really end on 21st December 2012
The new year is fast approaching, and a date which has recently caused mass hysteria is within a years reach. Everyone by now knows of the prediction, helped perhaps by the creation of a rather frankly, poor Hollywood movie about it. But what I want to answer in this blog post is my reasoning to why I think nothing will happen on that day.
First of all it is important to ask where this date comes from. Well it comes from the ancient Mesoamerican civilisation of the Maya. The 21/12/12 marks the end of the calendar and the end of a 5,125 year cycle. 
As a University history student studying the Maya, I do not understand how the ridiculous suggestions that it means the end of the world is nigh comes from this. I mean, there are theories as mad as a long-lost planet returning to the solar system and even alien invasions planned by a secret organisation. Then there is the slightly more logical end of the world possibilities like galactic alignment, a reversal in earths magnetic field and The New Age community claiming that a change, not an end is coming.
First of all may I say that all of these theories are virtually impossible, put down by all scientists everywhere. Expect The New Age theory as they can not really test the Earth or look out into the stars and determine a human spiritual possibility. Even so, if the galaxy does align or the magnetic field does reverse, no one has ever experienced it before so there is in fact, no evidence it would do anything bad.
Doom and Gloom is unfortunately part of human nature, for centuries people have become obsessed with when the world will end. Any sign or hint, or even anything that sounds like a good date, people out there will turn it into an end of the world prediction. People thought the world would end in 1000AD a century after Christ’s birth (although he was most likely born 6 BC). Then there is the whole book of Revelations in the bible, written during the Roman persecution of Christians which explains the whole book.It also does well to explain that the word Revelations and ultimately the word Armageddon actually mean the revealing of something(secret), and not destruction. Then there is the constant calls of ‘Rapture’ meaning some people getting saved and others suffering a chaotic end caused by an apparently all loving God, by men such as Harold Camping. Who as you may recall, just changes the date whenever nothing happens. Yet people still believe him! Madness.
Why are the Maya different in their prediction? You may well end up asking a person who believes the human races story is almost complete. Funnily enough, they will tell you that the Maya were exceptional astronomers and through the way they have decided to interpret them, have decided that they correctly predicted many things in the past. That being said, the Maya were incredibly accurate at astronomy. So, surely if their extremely accurate, and according to people who wish to interpret events in such a way, have successfully predicted many historical events, then they must be right about 2012. But to answer that i would like to mention the most famous of doom prophets … Nostradamus.
Nostradamus too, was great at astronomy. He also achieved (yet again interpreted to suit the needs of the people) many ‘correct’ predictions. People who study his work claim that he prophesied 9/11, Napoleon and Hitler. They claim everything he says is set in stone. However they fail to ever mention that, according to Nostradamus, we have all been dead for 12 years. Yes that’s right! He predicted the world would end in 1999, obviously it did not but yet it did not ruin his reputation. Bringing it back to point then, even if the Mayans were right in some prophecies, this is out of pure luck and interpretation. It is very likely, and i would bet my life on it (as it would not matter if I lost of course) that the Mayans, just like the great Nostradamus, were not exactly spot on. 
I would also like to point out that while writing this, I have come across some figures that tell me that the human race has survived well over 150 notable extinction dates. A considerable number of them originating from Harold Camping. So as you can see, absolutely nothing makes this next date 21/12/12 different to 1000AD, 1999AD , 6/6/6 for all the Satanists out there, and of course many different dates to do with random religious nuts like Harold Camping who decide their bored. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dates_predicted_for_apocalyptic_events
As you may have realised by now, I do not believe anything will happen on this date next year and, like all previous predictions will fail miserably. This does not however, mean that I do not think the world will end. Of course I do, nothing can last for ever. I just strongly believe that is not possible to predict anything. (Please tell me if you disagree, I would love to hear what you think).
And most of all, I want to get this message across, do not worry about the doom mongers, do not listen to them. After all, if they do by some miracle turn out to be right then at least they can not say ‘I told you so’.
Thank you for reading this, I would like to know if you agree or disagree or if you think I have any facts or theories wrong?
Most of all I wish you a happy new year, hope 2012 is good for you and me!!
Top 10 Christmas Songs of all time
Well, seeing as christmas is coming up very soon i thought it would be fitting to make my first post rather christmasy. And whats more christmasy than the christmas songs that play year after year. We all love them, some may be bad, infact, most are awful, but we listen to and love them, mainly down to the memories they can bring up in your mind. But i was thinking, as there are hundreds, what are the best, and why? So this is where this post comes in, Listing, from 10 downwards, what i believe to be the greatest christmas songs of all time. Im also linking them on youtube incase you want to listen. Well, lets begin……
Number 10 – All i want for Christmas is you Mariah Carey
Released in 1994, this is the most recent festive song to enter my list, but nonetheless is still a classic. I can understand why many people will disgree with where i have placed this as it constantly gets the number 1 spot on many music channels, but it personally just doesn’t ‘do it’ for me. I have never felt a personal connection to this song. Having said that, its still good and the lyrics make you feel rather warm and festive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5bo4VDEH-U&feature=related
Number 9 – Last Christmas Wham
This song is overplayed every year to the extent that you could quickly flick through radio stations and hear it playing on most of them in December. However, a christmas song is immune to the laws of ‘overkill’ which quickly makes me dislike so many normal songs. This is a quality song which always starts my period of feeling christmasy but i have never been the biggest fan of it as at the end of the day, it is just about someone whos extremely whingy, but recently it really is growing on me. The music video is also one of the best with christmas songs, its not just them being filmed singing, but telling the story of the lyrics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI&ob=av3e
Number 8 – It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby, an absolute legend when it comes to christmas songs. If a song stays popular year after year for more than 60 years, then you know it must be good. The song didn’t actually originate with him, but its his version we all know and love. Absolute classic, many television adverts use this song and rightly so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcZAwoip5aY
Number 7 – Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Dean Martin
I’ve had to debate this one, as i also would of liked Paul McCartneys ‘Wonderful christmastime’ to of made the cut, being a big beatles fan and everything, but to leave this song out of the top ten list would have been tragic. Its incredible that a song released in 1945 is still considered this highly. But it rightly deserves its survival of the test of time. Living in Britain, i know how ‘dreadful’ the weather outside is during this time of year. Makes you happy to be warm inside, and sad for the ones who are not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN7LW0Y00kE
Number 6 – I wish it could be Christmas everyday Wizzard
This song reminds me of the twilight hours of christmas day during the 90’s over at my aunts house. By twilight i mean, not opening presents and not eating. I have a solid memory of this being on tv all the time in the living room and it always makes me smile as i miss those days of being a kid and having a magical(but always disasterous) christmas days. On a serious note, i do not wish it was christmas everyday, it would make it less special and make me bankrupt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoxQ4Ul_DME&ob=av3e
Number 5 – Do they know its Christmas? Band Aid
With Bono, George Michael, Paul McCartney and Phil Collins coming together on a song, this was always going to make the top 10. A thought provoking, emotional song, that makes you think of how lucky you are and to not take things for granted, which is what christmas really is about, showing your friends and family your appreciation. Sung for a good cause and stopped Whams last christmas from the christmas number spot in 1984 ( not that George Michael cared). Need i say more…….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5cX_ncZLls
Number 4 – Merry Christmas Everybody Slade
Everything about this song defines the 70’s. A Christmas song from a rock band, that is not entirely lame is an achievment in itself. Its hard to talk about this song without mentioning the famous ‘ITTTTSSSS CHRISTMASSS’ near the end, that always gets the message across of the time of year and how good Christmas is. Even if it does sound a little annoying. This song however, reminds me of being a child again on christmas day.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG4BPNvayWo&feature=related
Number 3 – White Christmas Bing Crosby
Yet again by the one and only Bing Crosby and deemed one of, if not the, biggest selling single of all time, it shows the never ending love for christmas, and the life lasting memories they produce. ‘Just like the ones i use to know’ really makes you think back to the heart wrenching memories of Christmas at home. And it may also of started the ‘will it…wont it’ tradition of there being snow on Christmas day, which, unfortunely where i live, is very unlikely. It is also from what many ‘modern’ traditions on Christmas in American and Western Europe stem from. Well Done Bing…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXcNfA4qebQ
Number 2 – Happy Xmas (War Is Over) John Lennon and Yoko Ono
From one of the best Artists of all time, and certainly the best beatle, This song has deeper meanings than Christmas. More of a war protest than a Christmas song, during the infamous Vietnam War. Its message still stands as long as war remains, with a lengthy war still ongoing in afghanistan, and many more wars in other countries its only natural at this time of year to think of them in an awful situation, and hope that the year ahead, is a peaceful one. NOTE: if watching my link for this song, the video is modern and quite shocking images of war in the 21st century.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN4Uu0OlmTg&feature=related
Number 1 – Fairytale of Newyork The Pogues with Kirsty MacColl
Well, here we are at last, number 1 Christmas song of all time. Im sure its no suprise to any of you that Fairytale of Newyork got the top spot. About people down on their luck, and reminiscing about lost love and wasted opportunities, no other song applies so much to the ‘regular joes’ of society. A warm song that lifts the spirits of people looking at the bottom of a glass on Christmas day, it also has its amusing moments including the use of the word faggot. The Pogues truly hit christmas gold with this song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwHyuraau4Q&feature=related
Thank you if you have taken the time to read this, do you agree with my list? If not, why not?, What would you of chose insted? Also as this is my first post on my first ever blog, any constructive critiscism would be more than welcome.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
And now for something completely different... 