I looked into it when one of my radio talk show host got on the topic a while back. I have a new date to be interested in. I'm looking forward to subsequent shows on TV and radio.

I saw that show on the History channel. It didn't say that 2012 will be the apocalypse but rather was clear to say it won't be the end of the world but rather the end of the world as we know it, and that we're going to be entering a whole new era.

hmm, crackpots of all kinds have predicted the end of the world (either literally or metaphorically) so often almost every day is probably the last one according to someone.

It's not happened so far, so I'd not start spending those life savings in the knowledge you're not going to need them.

> Some astronomers say that it might trigger a shift of the earth's magnetic poles
Would those be the same "astronomers" which predicted all sorts of consequences as a result of SL9 slamming into Jupiter?

I can see a few wacko astrologers and other assorted mystics trying to get some "me" time in the media from this, but any serious astronomer - gimme a break.

> It talked about the Mayan calendar and that it abruptly ends in 2012. The winter solstice to be exact.
Or the guy who chiselled the information into the rock just got bored.

> so I'd not start spending those life savings in the knowledge you're not going to need them.
I'm happy to take "donations" from anyone who believes they're not going to need the money

In 2038 or 2106 (depending on signing) most UNIX/Linux and modern Windows NT based systems will fail due to a date bug. This could very well signal the end of the world, or just anothe fun time for y2k paranoids

Not true any more with modern compilers because that problem has been fixed for another hundred years or so. Old compilers like the original Turbo C and all programs produced with them will be trashed.

> Old compilers like the original Turbo C and all programs produced with them will be trashed.
They've survived 20 years past their useful date already, and there's only 30 to go.
No sign in any slowdown in lazy profs teaching with museum tools.

If you google for "2012", all sorts of interesting things come up.

The london 2012 olympics logo looks like crap