931 Let’s Go Camping
Perhaps you noticed this: the world didn’t end on October 21, 2011. Just as it didn’t end on May 21, 2011 or September 6, 1994. So engineer-preacher-radio station owner Harold Camping has been wrong three times out of three.
The latest prediction didn’t get the kind of publicity afforded the one in May, nor did it bring in the bucks. This time, no one spent his life savings on billboards. No one looted his kids’ college funds to donate to Camping’s 66 radio stations or his TV stations or even to buy a Rolls as a final resting place.
End time predictions have always been a gold mine of contributions. Unfortunately, Camping’s engineer-like precision has tarnished the value of that gold if not the price.
If old Har is an end-time extremist, are there end-time moderates? Not really. Just people sensible enough to not name a date.
They’re all predicting the end of life as we know it. Even the atheists among us see reason enough to forecast that -- albeit without the folderol of a Second Coming. (Or even a first coming for REAL non-believers.)
Take a look at what’s going on in the world today, whether here or in Europe or the Middle East or anywhere else and look in the mirror and with a straight face say to yourself “this’ll all work itself out.”
As an aside, there were two relatively small earthquakes in Northern California on October 21st. They did little damage and killed no one. Was that a preview of things to come?
In the meantime, the usual collection-plate-passing, fear-mongering end timers will continue their rant, even as prediction after prediction (and the accompanying messiah) fails to materialize.
But you still can don your tin foil hat and join them. Just bring your checkbook and check your skepticism at the door.
Let’s end with a song.
Shrapnel:
--The jewelry folks must be figuring the price of gold is on the downswing. For awhile, they stopped offering it for sale and instead hawked sterling silver, rhodium and other lesser metals. But in the last few weeks, the shopping channels seem to have gotten back into the gold business, offering 14K solid stuff at inflated but not hyperinflated prices.
--Spam of the week: it’s from someone at yahoo claiming to be the New York State Police and citing a vague traffic law violation in a place never visited. And they don’t give an address. Let’s not go camping, let’s go fishing.
--Joe The Plumber whose name isn’t Joe and who isn’t a plumber, is running for congress in Ohio. Good practice to start a campaign with a couple of lies, because that’s what congressmen do. But can they fit the name “Wurzelbacher” on the ballot space... something California found tough when Schwarzenegger ran for governor.
I’m Wes Richards. My opinions are my own but you’re welcome to them. ®
Please address predictions, death threats and comments to wesrichards@gmail.com
© WJR 2011
Perhaps you noticed this: the world didn’t end on October 21, 2011. Just as it didn’t end on May 21, 2011 or September 6, 1994. So engineer-preacher-radio station owner Harold Camping has been wrong three times out of three.
The latest prediction didn’t get the kind of publicity afforded the one in May, nor did it bring in the bucks. This time, no one spent his life savings on billboards. No one looted his kids’ college funds to donate to Camping’s 66 radio stations or his TV stations or even to buy a Rolls as a final resting place.
End time predictions have always been a gold mine of contributions. Unfortunately, Camping’s engineer-like precision has tarnished the value of that gold if not the price.
If old Har is an end-time extremist, are there end-time moderates? Not really. Just people sensible enough to not name a date.
They’re all predicting the end of life as we know it. Even the atheists among us see reason enough to forecast that -- albeit without the folderol of a Second Coming. (Or even a first coming for REAL non-believers.)
Take a look at what’s going on in the world today, whether here or in Europe or the Middle East or anywhere else and look in the mirror and with a straight face say to yourself “this’ll all work itself out.”
As an aside, there were two relatively small earthquakes in Northern California on October 21st. They did little damage and killed no one. Was that a preview of things to come?
In the meantime, the usual collection-plate-passing, fear-mongering end timers will continue their rant, even as prediction after prediction (and the accompanying messiah) fails to materialize.
But you still can don your tin foil hat and join them. Just bring your checkbook and check your skepticism at the door.
Let’s end with a song.
Shrapnel:
--The jewelry folks must be figuring the price of gold is on the downswing. For awhile, they stopped offering it for sale and instead hawked sterling silver, rhodium and other lesser metals. But in the last few weeks, the shopping channels seem to have gotten back into the gold business, offering 14K solid stuff at inflated but not hyperinflated prices.
--Spam of the week: it’s from someone at yahoo claiming to be the New York State Police and citing a vague traffic law violation in a place never visited. And they don’t give an address. Let’s not go camping, let’s go fishing.
--Joe The Plumber whose name isn’t Joe and who isn’t a plumber, is running for congress in Ohio. Good practice to start a campaign with a couple of lies, because that’s what congressmen do. But can they fit the name “Wurzelbacher” on the ballot space... something California found tough when Schwarzenegger ran for governor.
I’m Wes Richards. My opinions are my own but you’re welcome to them. ®
Please address predictions, death threats and comments to wesrichards@gmail.com
© WJR 2011
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