.
Feedback

Mayan Calendar: Apocalypse or Armageddon?

Your End of Year Options: the Fiscal Cliff, Holidays with In-Laws or the Mayan Cataclysm

THE MAYAN DEBATE: APOCALYPSE OR DOOMSDAY

You better hurry: According to the Mayan Calendar the last day to do Christmas Shopping will be December 21, 2012.

Go ahead and scoff; I did not believe it either until my daughter came home from Humboldt State; she filled me in whole conspiracy theory.

She says Humboldt students are facing a quandary: should they study for finals and miss the revelry of the Mayan Holy Week leading up to Armageddon; or not study for finals and find out too late that Kukulcan—the Oracle of Quetzalcoatl—was wrong in his prediction.

My Dentist, Doctor H, claims that his patients are asking him if they should continue to floss right up until December 21st.

Really, how much plaque can accrete in three weeks?

He’s saying we should never stop flossing—just what you’d expect from a Dentist.

With so many calamities facing us, it’s hard to pick which is the worst: the Fiscal Cliff, Christmas with the In-Laws or Mayan Oblivion.

Ancient Mayan Astrophysicists calculated that we are on a collision course with a rogue planet from another cosmos.

Two theories dominate the debate: one, this incoming planet is the Buckle off Orion’s belt; and two, it is a Sandal off Aquarius—the right sandal or left sandal makes little difference; this planet is hurling through space at nearly twice the Speed of Manifest Destiny.

This maverick planet was abandoned light years ago after the fossil fuels were depleted.

Imagine something hundreds of times bigger than the Titanic, operating at full throttle, but with no one at the helm—at least the Exxon Valdez had a Joe Hazelwood and a fifth of Seagram’s in the Wheel House.

Some people are already taking precautions; my neighbor Clay is packaging everything he owns in bubble wrap; including his bowling trophy.

The Scientific Community is contemplating an exodus an exoplanet: a planet beyond our Solar System.

Good luck with that one; two things they should think about before hopping the Star Shuttle.

Ignoring housing prices, what is the unemployment rate on this target planet?

And, what is the g-force on this Little Shangri-La?

Would you want to live on a planet where you weighed 4000 pounds?

If your sciatica and falling arches are bad at one g-force what will they be at 20 g’s?

Were it just the Mayans touting this theory, it could be dismissed as another Cosmic Prank like UC Tuition Hikes or the Shrapnel Fence around Historic Alameda High School, but even the Hopis are also prophesying that our shattered planet will form an third asteroid belt of flotsam, jetsam and Sam I am.

Talk about vengeance served cold—what did we ever do to the Hopis and could we please settle out of court?

Someday a Martian, sitting on his or her lanai, will look up into the night sky and see a “shooting star;” that mini-light show could be your family SUV, condo, your boat and trailer, or someone’s Franklin Mint Collection entering the Martian ozone layer at Mach 22.

Warning: when the planet fragments, all cable connections will be severed.

Wireless reception will also suffer due to the dust hurricane and the zillions of ions kicked up the blistering heat: think of the Edison Effect and then multiply that by Avogadro’s Number.

If the Humboldt exegesis is correct, Mayan deities are also part of the grand scheme.

Prior to this cosmic fender-bender, the Aztecs and Mayans anticipate the Return of Xibalba—the Prince of UV Light.

Xibalba is NOT coming back to shake our hand and congratulate us on how well we sealed off the border between Mexico and Arizona or fueled the Mexican Cartels.

Deities rarely come back unless they have grudges to settle: remember what happened to Tyre, Sidon and Detroit, Michigan?

Face it, Xibalba has a score to settle; most likely over the Cortes-Montezuma caper; one thing is for certain: we cannot depend on him for divine intersession so you might as well hang up the Prayer Beads and reach for the Greek Worry Beads and the Ouzo.

This is Montezuma’s Revenge on a much grander scale—as if we didn’t suffer enough after eating semi-fresh seafood in Tijuana or sunbathing nude on top of the Moon Pyramid at Chichen Itza without the sun screen.

Can we survive living on an asteroid belt, should we be worried?

As Environmentalist’s like to say, “Every cloud has a sulfur lining.”

If you anticipate Congress closing the tax loophole for interest on your home mortgage; Xibalba could be your best friend.

Knowing you have until December 21 to experience a little joie di vivre, can also be liberating.

The 1400 Club is hosting a Mayan Calendar Party on December 21; you can collectively raise a toast to Xibalba and Mike Cooper’s retirement at Happy Hour Prices, just as the cosmic fireworks start to crescendo.

Oh, if you are presently earning a paycheck, here is a tax tip: STOP paying withholding tax NOW.

The IRS is never going to catch up with you if you’re thumbing your nose at them from Pisces while they are marooned on Scorpio.

This tax tip is probably the reason the government does not want you to know about the Mayan Calendar; they’re completely fixated on that Fiscal Cliff.

Let’s not do anything rash while we are waiting for this to sort itself out . . . on the other hand, if you are shopping for Christmas, put all your purchases on your credit card . . . just to hedge your bets.

Jeffrey R Smith

Newsletter & Alerts

Get the best stories each day and important breaking news

Subscribe

Not from Alameda Patch? Find your Local Patch »

Loading comments ...
Note Article
Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Raising Sand May 24, 2013 at 12:49 pm
I live on Webster/Crab Cove - love it - and also try to do a lot to get neighbors going andRead More improving neighborhoods so that people thrive - no matter their income. I find that, too often, folks who've lived in Alameda for thirty years and more NEVER come to the West End. Never! More likely that West Enders go to East End but there's a huge divide. For example, half the folks working on the Neptune Beach Project don't know where Neptune Beach is, or Crab Cove. A start would be getting folks to "mingle" more, learn more about their neighbors, other parts of the island, etc. Target - well, I can't get behind that being the savior of West End. Or all the ticky tacky "development" that's going on all over the island but especially in West End. City and planners lack imagination about what could happen across the island. You can help by getting involved. And start by coming to the Farmers Market tomorrow, Saturday, and meeting with neighbors via the Raising Sand kiosk. This is an effort to engage residents across their usual boundaries. Be great to see you there.
Jana Saastad May 22, 2013 at 05:09 pm
Gevin: You're right; Webster Street could use more diverse restaurants. When will you be openingRead More one? As for Asian restaurants, note the huge Asian population in Alameda. I don't see any of the Asian restaurants closing anytime soon. And I pray Jamba Juice, et al. never bring down the mom and pop feeling of Webster. The chain restaurants closer East Webster are enough to satisfy the fast food junkies in our area.
AlamedaMama May 22, 2013 at 09:40 am
Anna Marie-you really owe it to yourself and the Alameda planning department to go to the AlamedaRead More Theater. They really did do a great job restoring the historic theater. I still remember taking my little kids there on opening day to celebrate all the hard work and it still gives me goosebumps. It really is a beautiful building. I think they incorporated the new theaters in a way that doesn't detract from the historic theater. The fact that my kids, now older, can walk there and meet their friends for a truly home town theater experience makes it all better.
willow
Mim Carlson May 24, 2013 at 12:44 pm
We have dogs of all shapes and sizes - big, little, active, and couch potatoes! They all love theRead More company of volunteers. And, of course, we need cat volunteers too! Check out the FAAS website at www.AlamedaAnimalShelter.org to find out how to become a volunteer.
Analisa Harangozo (Editor) May 22, 2013 at 01:17 am
Love it!
bees May 21, 2013 at 06:55 pm
you are very welcome! i also started a new blog on the patch to give a volunteer's perspective ofRead More working with our dogs and of course, i post lots of great candid shots of them just being... well, dogs! :p
PSBA Stephanie May 23, 2013 at 04:37 pm
I agree. An embedded link would be better. For those who don't copy and paste, here's a shorter linkRead More to the PSBA website: www.ShopParkStreet.com/news
a94501er May 23, 2013 at 02:48 pm
What is this, circa 1998? Haven't you folks heard of embedded links?
frank May 23, 2013 at 06:27 am
This would work better if the link given were 'live'.
Carol Weston May 23, 2013 at 03:03 pm
Was so happy to see Chestnut Encinal reopen with much fresher produce, looks cleaner, and as CarolRead More Parker said, good prices. You can zip in and out, no long lines, parking lot, all good.
Carol Parker May 21, 2013 at 06:10 pm
A friend and I took a peek in there today. It looks nice. I liked the fact that they have made toRead More order deli sandwiches for under $7 and some premade salads you can pick up on the go. The meat looked good too. I was very pleased that the prices were comparable to Safeway, not 7-11 as I had assumed.
Analisa Harangozo (Editor) May 21, 2013 at 04:05 pm
Thanks for the tip, Tom!
Jeff Mark May 22, 2013 at 02:33 pm
I'm more concerned, myself, about traffic light/stop sign violations. Speeding doesn't seem, to me,Read More to be that widespread, although, yeah, it's hard to keep discipline on Fernside, which, let's face it, is a "boulevard". That really ought to be addressed, tho, maybe a couple of stop signs to break it up. I'm a fan of those "your speed is..." signs, it's my observation that most "passive" speeders just need to be reminded to slow down a bit. Works for me, anyway. ;-)
HappyAlamedan May 22, 2013 at 10:06 am
I've heard there aren't enough police anymore. We live on Fernside and cars FLY by at very highRead More spees. When we first moved here six years ago there were cops with radar on Fernside all the time. I haven't seen one there in over four years. Folks also try to miss the High Street traffic and they cut through back side streets at very high speeds. Side streets where kids are playing all the time. It's very dangerous. I wish folks would think first; will it really be worth saving 30-60 seconds if you end up killing a child? Be courteous, be safe. Even 25 on the side streets is way too fast.
a94501er May 21, 2013 at 02:10 pm
Not sure about the 35 mph, but lots of cars jump the traffic light at Webster/Stargell as they comeRead More flying out of the tunnel. Perhaps a camera might help nab the offenders!
Maria May 21, 2013 at 09:54 am
Um, I was told by one of these guys the steaks are from a well-known steak restaurant. Pretty muchRead More admitted they are "hot".
Jasmine Tokuda May 21, 2013 at 09:35 am
I've bought steak from them a few years back, they were good steaks. They generally approach peopleRead More they see out and about. If you are unsure of them, just ask for a price list to keep. They have them printed up, and it has their contact info. Not sure if they have a business license to operate in Alameda though.......
Jane Griswold May 21, 2013 at 12:24 pm
The new structure is less appealing to read. Feels disjointed. I was hoping I would adjust but notRead More so.
Tom Brody May 21, 2013 at 11:50 am
The web site is still jerking around. I am not sure why various institutions like to change theirRead More web sites, when they are already working just fine. But I have a bigger gripe. Sometimes, it is the case that automobile makers have a VERY BEAUTIFUL automobile design, but after a few years, they abandon the design, and the result is the same model but with a much uglier design. (Everybody will have their own favorite example of this!)
Analisa Harangozo (Editor) May 21, 2013 at 09:45 am
My apologies for these issues. Our tech support is working the best they can to get these fixedRead More ASAP.
Jenna May 24, 2013 at 11:38 am
Tigent, you are not typing with one hand are you?
Tigent May 24, 2013 at 10:35 am
It was Lions Mane who reported it! I know who she is and she lives in the corner apartment andRead More always has these elaborate stories. She told the other neighbor she saw a man masturbating in the parking garage. She needs to get a life.
Jenna May 24, 2013 at 08:09 am
Lion's Mane, I see in the recent police report from Tuesday May 21st, 4:57 p.m.: "IndecentRead More exposure was reported at Shoreline Drive. A victim said she saw a suspect masturbating while at the beach." I wonder if this was the guy that you saw.
http://youtu.be/RhRFhyneFcw
bees May 21, 2013 at 03:50 pm
WHEW!! he's an absolutely stunning pit mix!! so glad that rascal is home :)))
Jenna May 21, 2013 at 09:25 am
What a funny story! So your neighbor found Oscar blissed out when he got home from work?
Vicster May 18, 2013 at 08:36 am
I'm so glad he hadn't wandered away! I bike home from the ferry along Santa Clara and I kept an eyeRead More out for him. Sounds like he had himself a nice time, the cheeky monkey!
Jenna May 23, 2013 at 08:10 am
Micah, Crown Beach is operated by the Park District under a cooperative agreement with the State ofRead More California and City of Alameda. Other than Crown Beach, I would think there is shoreline on Alameda Point that could be made available. Still it's worth asking the city government. They have made it possible to have two dog parks, when there were none.
Micah Pearlman May 22, 2013 at 09:02 pm
What would be the process for petitioning the city govt to allow a small area for dogs to swim?
Art Bz May 21, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Here is a fact I made up- 90% of dog owners are irresponsible and shouldn't have dogs... but I'mRead More sure there is a basis to my "fact"
Gloria Guerra May 20, 2013 at 11:43 am
Alameda Police Havier Quintero beat me up on December 16, 1990 and he gut away with this.
bette page May 20, 2013 at 11:10 am
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Time-Eat-Dog-Sustainable-Living/dp/0500287902
bette page May 20, 2013 at 11:09 am
Time to Eat the Dog?: The Real Guide to Sustainable Living
Carol Parker May 21, 2013 at 12:58 pm
They were open today. Mysteriously when I went in to see if I had any money on my account theyRead More claimed they had no record of my even having an account there. I don't know what's up with them.
Allison Martin May 17, 2013 at 03:41 pm
I'd report it to the police, that's stealing. Good luck!
Kimberlee MacVicar May 17, 2013 at 02:36 pm
Thanks for the info about your experience. I'm starting to hear the same story from about 7 peopleRead More now and I'm sure there are more. Store has been closed all week. Still no sign on the door. At a loss as to what to do to find out what's going on or what to do next.