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"2012" a Miscalculation; Actual Calendar Ends 2220

boombaard writes "News is spreading quickly here that scientists writing in a popular science periodical (Dutch) have debunked the 2012 date (google translation linked) featuring so prominently in doomsday predictions/speculation across the web. On 2012-12-21, the sun will appear where you would normally be able to see the 'galactic equator' of the Milky Way; an occurrence deemed special because it happens 'only' once every 25.800 years, on the winter solstice. However, even if you ignore the fact that there is no actual galactic equator, just an observed one, and that the visual effect is pretty much the same for an entire decade surrounding that date, there are major problems with the way the Maya Calendar is being read by doomsday prophets." I wonder what Amazon's return policy on a box full of 3 doomsday wolves shirts is?

3 of 600 comments (clear)

  1. Wrong diagnosis by ShiningSomething · · Score: 5, Insightful

    major problems with the way the Maya Calendar is being read by doomsday prophets

    When someone reads the Mayan Calendar and predicts the end of times... I don't think the date is the most important detail they got wrong.

  2. Re:Assuming... by Hojima · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Your post is incredibly relevant considering that the Mayan calendar simply starts over at that time rather than predicting the end. The Apocalyptic prediction from the calendar was simply speculation that arose from not knowing the language. There's not exactly a Mayan Rosetta Stone so even all that we know about the language is still premature.

  3. Re:Assuming... by Abreu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Go to your local Walmart and count how many products contain "high fructose corn syrup"

    Now who's the corn-worshiping culture?

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    No sig for the moment.