Nuts have been predicting the end of the world for millenia. I'm not any more afraid of December 2012 than I was of January 1, 2000--it's pretty much the same thing, some numbers rolling over on the calendar. Consider today's dates from isotropic.org:
Quote:
Gregorian: Sunday, 1 January 2012
Mayan: Long count = 12.19.19.0.5; tzolkin = 13 Chicchan; haab = 13 Kankin
French: 12 Nivôse an 220 de la Révolution
Islamic: 6 Safar 1433
Hebrew: 6 Teveth 5772
Julian: 19 December 2011
ISO: Day 7 of week 52 of 2011
Persian: 11 Dey 1390
Ethiopic: 22 Takhsas 2004
Coptic: 22 Kiyahk 1728
Chinese: Cycle 78, year 28 (Xin-Mao), month 12 (Xin-Chou), day 8 (Xin-You)
Julian day: 2455928
Day of year: Day 1 of 2012; 365 days remaining in the year
Discordian: Sweetmorn, Chaos 1, Year of Our Lady of Discord 3178
Now plug in January 1, 2013
Quote:
Gregorian: Tuesday, 1 January 2013
Mayan: Long count = 13.0.0.0.11; tzolkin = 2 Chuen; haab = 14 Kankin
French: 12 Nivôse an 221 de la Révolution
Islamic: 18 Safar 1434
Hebrew: 19 Teveth 5773
Julian: 19 December 2012
ISO: Day 2 of week 1 of 2013
Persian: 12 Dey 1391
Ethiopic: 23 Takhsas 2005
Coptic: 23 Kiyahk 1729
Chinese: Cycle 78, year 29 (Ren-Chen), month 11 (Ren-Zi), day 20 (Ding-Mao)
Julian day: 2456294
Day of year: Day 1 of 2013; 364 days remaining in the year
Discordian: Sweetmorn, Chaos 1, Year of Our Lady of Discord 3179
Why look! The Mayan date is still there? It just starts with a 13 instead of a 12!
Anyway, another cure for panic about the End of the World is to see how many times some crazy has predicted it. A treasure trove of past paranoia and hysteria:
A Brief History Of The Apocalypse