End of the World V2

I made 2 versions of this post. One, if the world did end, and one if it didn't. This is the version for when the world did not end.

If you have been too busy closing all those deals needed to achieve year-end and a decent bonus and have therefore shunned all human contact except for those clients with last-minute unallocated budget, here is a small backgrounder.

We have come to the end of the Mayan Long Calendar at the conclusion of the 13th Baktun. Each Baktun lasts 5,125 years. For some, this denotes the end of the world. For some others, including the Mayans, it does not - tending to suggest there is a strong likelihood we have all survived long enough to read this.

Now the danger has passed, you can go back to closing the quarter. But that potential tactic about offering a "Buy now. Pay later" deal and then closing by reminding the client they won't have to pay at all because the world is ending will have to be consigned to the "desperate pitch archive".

I was struck by some of the ceremonies that were happening around the world in which those who believed it was all about to end were involved in all manner of rituals. If I were a believer, I would of course be tempted to put my things in order and prepare myself for the final whatever comes next.

I did find it strange though to see some of the celebrants taking photographs. Who did they think was going to enjoy them?

Good to see too that at least there were two places where one could be safe. The first was at Bugarach in France and the second was Sirince in Turkey. Sadly according to Wiki, Sirince does not exist. Maybe it got to the calendar's end a little ahead of time. As for Bugarach, there was a rumour that M. Hollande was proposing a purely temporary hike in sales tax on "fin d'humanite" souvenirs (now that's a true contradiction in terms) to help out the nation's finances. For both places though and many more sites in Mexico, the end of the world has brought a welcome boom in tourism during these tough economic times.

An ill cosmic wind obviously blows someone some good.

But the end of an era that lasts five thousand years (but then didn't bring about the end of the world at all) does surely deserve some form of recognition. So here is something to empathise with those who aren't able to celebrate the world's end, and make them feel a little better. (From Mika).

I wish all those I know a happy start to the beginning of the 14th Mayan Baktun.

And to those who believe, all my best wishes for a peaceful Christmas with those you love.