We’re Still in Orbit
If you happen to be reading this piece today, one thing is obvious – the world did not end yesterday. Just in case you had been a reclusive monk for sometime, this date, 12-21-12, is the supposed end of mankind, according to the ancient Mayan calendar. Check Mr. Google and had Mayans got the leap years right on their calendar, the world was already pulverized decades ago.
For 4 billion years, Earth has been gently spinning along just fine. There were recorded impacts of asteroids but these were mostly out of harm’s way, at the big and wide blue seas. If you really want doom, the most potentially dangerous astral object that could hit us is a peanut-shaped asteroid measuring 2.7 miles long and 1.5 miles at its widest.
4179 Toutatis, as this asteroid is called, approaches Earth every four years and was closest to us a week ago. How close? Just 4.4 million miles away or roughly 18 times the distance of the Earth from the moon. The gravitational forces of Jupiter and ours drives this asteroid and according to people in the know, expands its orbit. Fear not, earthlings. Astrophysicists declare that impact hazards from 4179 Toutatis are not to happen in the next couple of hundred years.
I know of some people who demanded the return of family members from different parts of the globe so that they can be together when doomsday comes. For their final stay on Earth, they planned and celebrated their supposed farewell party last night and together with the ignorantly gullible dined, drank and danced their fears away. Morning came and majority had severe cases of hangover with matching stiff necks by looking upwards expecting to see flaming meteors and asteroids crashing to their parties.
In weeks prior to this expected scenario, they had been praying morning, noon and night. They had been going to masses almost daily and had novenas to a battalion of saints. The clergy could have declared this transformation to miraculous proportions. Ah, what little faith. Nobody knows exactly when our time or world would be up.
So let them end their world for all I care, and they could be really disappointed they’re still breathing today. Me and my wife still want to have grandchildren, see them grow and succeed. And if they’re well-settled on their own, maybe, my world can end. Meanwhile, let us thank the Lord for giving us another day to enjoy the gift of life. And yes, for you to read this section. Just in case you postponed your Christmas shopping because of this, rush to your nearest department store and join the maddening holiday crowd and pickpockets.
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At some point in my life, I played and felt the game of politics. All things considered, oh my freaking goodness, this game is dirty. Recent developments at the Provincial Capitol explains the muck. I have a mouthful to say about this power struggle but this is a sports section so let’s leave it as such. Let us just feel the game of power grab.... And power cling. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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