It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine!

So, 2012 is finally here!

Yup, the year where many are predicting some kind of mysterious Armageddon, where, quite famously, the world is scheduled to end, at least according to some interpretations of the Mayan Calendar, which ends on December 21st of this year. How accurate these readings of the calendar are (and yes, some experts believe that it is only a misreading, while still others claim that it does not have nearly the significance that many doomsayers are suggesting), is anyone's guess. Maybe, indeed, instead of ringing in the New Year at this time a year from now, the world will be a silent and dark grave, with nothing to celebrate for any survivors of the Apocalypse – always assuming, of course, that anyone manages to escape!

Enough of that, at least for now! If I happen to have died in some fiery hell a year from now, I will be man enough to admit to being wrong about this, but for now, I am going to classify this as just one in a long line of heavily hyped end of the world scenarios that the media plays up. We had the infamous predictions for May 9and then the rescheduled one for October) of this past year of 2011. Prior to that, we had the planets all aligning on May 5, 2000. Everyone remembers Y2K prior to that, right? Some people felt that September 9, 1999 (9/9/99) was actually the real date of "The End". Even before all of that, I remember some news footage of some gropu in Japan that was certain, absolutely certain, that the world was scheduled to end at a very precise moment, down to the second. There was footage of this group gathered in a large room, about the size of an assembly. They showed the clock counting down (kind of like New Year's, come to think of it!), and then the clock reached zero, and guess what? Nothing happened. The people started looking around, and the story concluded with the leaders of that cult or sect or whatever they were coming up with a new alternative date for the end of the world. Presumably, people still fell for it, much like those people who spent their life savings putting up posters promoting the end of the world scenario that was not earlier in 2011. Yet, despite all of those doomsday prophecies, we're still here, and I'm still writing this blog to my legions of fans!

So, while I will not use this space to say what my New Year's Resolutions are, I will make a prediction: that by this time next year, we will still be here, and that life as we know it will continue, more or less. Oh, we should make changes, and we do face serious problems in this world! We are devouring our natural resources like there is no tomorrow, until perhaps someday, there really won't be a tomorrow! And the threat of war on a massive scale still threatens life on this planet as we know it! Plus, the population still keeps growing, but the world seems to be shrinking. In the United States, which last I heard was allegedly the richest and most powerful country in the world, tens of millions of people remain uninsured while the price of medicine and insurance keeps rising, as does the cost of everything else. What is in decline are educational standards, as well as our infrastructure. Oh, and our morale as a country, and as  a world. The economy has been in the tank for a very long time, and it does not seem like it's about to pull itself out anytime soon, either. So, yes, we do face some serous problems. All the more reason why we should not get so wrapped up in these end of the world fantasies, which is really all that they are. Another form of escapism, if you will. This is where we need to stay sober and understand the real threats that face us, and not dream about some fiery, made for (or by) Hollywood movie type of scenario. We have enough to worry about, thank you very much!

Yes, the world will go on, and it is time to make 2012 the best that we can possibly make it, and not worry so much about things that we can't control. After all, if the world does happen to end on that date, what can you and I possibly do about it, anyway?

So, unless you're absolutely fixed on working yourself up into a frenzy based on what is most likely a severe misinterpretation, just relax. Have another glass of bubbly. I intent to celebrate later with family, enjoying some sausages and pate, cheese and wine. Ringing in a new year the way that it is meant to be enjoyed. And yes, I expect and intend to do the same thing, more or less, this time next year, whether or not this year is an improvement over the last one!