NEWS ON THE 12

I am precipitously early some will say, delving head first into the convergence of time and occurrences which will be commemorated when the year 2012 dawns in 14 months. Actually; facts are that much advanced planning has already been completed to highlight these events. More planning and less significant commemorations will surely be coming into play over the next several months.

Given my pre-disposition to "ponder" the why and the whence; I shan't be deterred. After all, the international phenomenon, singer, songwriter, musician, artist - Prince - invited everyone back in 1982 to "Party Like It's 1999" so never mind that I should be ahead of the curve by 14 or so months. Regardless, let's together ponder where and wherefore "the curve" may be heading. Maybe I just have a predilection for wanting to get into the commemorative Tee-Shirt business.

THE WAR OF 1812 - Controversy has already flared-up on several fronts amidst historians, re-enactment experts, and re-enactors planning events to mark the 200th anniversary of the War which began on July 17, 1812 when the Americans captured Fort Mackinac (now in Michigan), and escalated two days later on July 19 with Britain's retaliatory attack on Sacketts Harbour (New York) on Lake Ontario. Our 21st Century dispute involves differing opinions on who won the War of 1812. The Treaty of Ghent, Belgium, for the most part, settled the military confrontations and permanently established British North America (Canada). But with the approach of the 200th anniversary; controversy swirls over a new American historic interpretation that the War of 1812 just finally put the British into "their place" over the 1776 Declaration of Independence. Thus settling once and for all United-States nationhood.

SINKING OF THE "TITANIC" - On April 14, 2012 a flotilla of Lord knows just how many cruise ships are to converge off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Almost 18 months from the date; two cruise companies claim to have sold-out reservations on board ships leaving Southampton, England - The M.S. Balmoral - and another from Boston, Massachusetts. At the current rate, by the dead of night in April 2012 they may need floating traffic lights over the GPS Coordinates at the sight of the Titanic's watery grave. One cruise organizer claims he's already been criticised by some people concerned about creating pleasure cruises to mark the aftermath of one of the ocean's great disasters. Apparently undeterred the relative of one victim of the tragedy is quoted in a travel blog..."(I) will be dressing-up as my wife's great-grandfather. More specifically to (take) a memorial plunge into the 30-degree Atlantic Ocean at the place where he met his death...to experience what was described by survivors as 'a thousand knives going into the body'." - As one pundit commented of the planned vacation cruises to the site: "What's the worst that can happen?"

THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE - It will be 67 years since the disappearance of the legendary U.S. Navy Squadron "Flight 19" into the "Bermuda Triangle" off the coast of Florida. A total of six aircraft vanished off of Fort Lauderdale on December 5, 1945 - The five torpedo bombers of the Navy squadron, and a seaplane with 13 on board sent-out to search for them. Some claim the flight leader's last transmission suggests super-natural powers were at work: "We are entering white water, nothing seems right. We don't know where we are, the water is green, no white." The stories which have followed in the wake of the disappearance of "Flight 19" are themselves legendary and have spawned numerous books and scholarly research. In a strange twist, a time-line of recorded events attributed to the Bermuda Triangle starts at about the War of 1812. The Mail Carrier "U.S.S.Patriot" vanished in 1812. The only daughter (Theodosia) of U.S. Vice-President, Aaron Burr, was on-board. The American warship "U.S.S. Wasp" disappeared in 1814.

THE MAYAN CALENDAR - If the super-natural is connected with the Devil's Triangle, perhaps also as well with the calendar of those pesky Mayan who have also since disappeared from the surface of the planet. Unfortunately they left behind a mysterious calendar that ends abruptly at the Winter Solstice, December 21, 2012. Apparently so refined is the Mayan calendar; it pinpoints "the end" at the exact time of day 11:11 Universal (Greenwich)time. Many (some surely more knowledge than me) marvel with, and at the precision of the calendar through a cycle of 5,125 years. They claim that its abrupt end signals the prophecies of the "End of the World." Bang or Whimper? To be determined.

BUMMER - I should be pissed. Same month as the abrupt "end of time" I qualify for Canada's social safety net monthly payments of the "Old Age Security Pension." My first cheque is scheduled on December 27, 2012. Curse you - Mayans!