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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 11:32 am Post subject: End(s) of the World |
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It's going to happen tomorrow, 21 May, friends (well, some people are sure that it will).
http://www.ebiblefellowship.com/outreach/tracts/may21/
Some people think we've got another year:
http://www.endoftheworld2012.net/
I optimistically thought perhaps we needed a thread that we could resurrect each time another such (non)event rolls around.
Some focus questions:
In what ways do such predictions affect student motivation for language learning (have we been able to convince them that English is the language of the afterlife?
In what ways do such predicitons affect our lives outside the classroom in 'our' respective foreign countries? Are 'you' able to stockpile essentials when needed? Are appropriate shelters available to shield you and loved ones from Judgement (if you need shielding!!)?
How does the media in the country where you live now present such (non) events?
More? |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:07 pm Post subject: |
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Latest from the CDC: Preparing for the Zombie Apocolypse
A must-read, obviously!
"There are all kinds of emergencies out there that we can prepare for. Take a zombie apocalypse for example. That's right, I said z-o-m-b-i-e a-p-o-c-a-l-y-p-s-e," wrote Dr. Ali S. Khan, a specialist in infectious disease, in the latest update on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Public Health Matters blog.
The first step in preparing for a zombie attack � or for that matter a hurricane or pandemic � is to put together an emergency kit. "This includes things like water, food and other supplies to get you through the first couple of days before you can locate a zombie-free refugee camp," Khan wrote
Read more: http://healthland.time.com/2011/05/19/cdc-to-america-how-to-prepare-for-a-zombie-apocalypse/#ixzz1MtiFbYxO |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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A useful lesson plan?!!
What would you do if you thought it were true (that the world will end tomorrow)?
Some stuff from Time mag's writers:
[i]I would go to a really fancy museum and touch everything
I'd buy the most expensive bottle of scotch I could get my hands on (like $1,000) and drink it. Oh, and I'd buy a cigar to go with it
Feel the emotions of exposing myself on public transportation
Punch my boss
Finally tell all those kids with the saggy pants to pull their pants up
Bust dogs out of the shelter and gorillas out of the zoo
Eat pies and cheese and stuff
I'd have my girlfriend come over and just lay in bed with me wearing our finest formalwear like the elderly couple in Titanic
Buy expensive crystal wine glasses and smash them against a wall
I'd probably just start asking random really hot girls if they want to sleep with me
Well, I'd definitely stop folding laundry
Eat nothing but $2 Taco Bell meals
Watch Party of Five on Netflix
Challenge Michael Jordan to a one on one
I'm going to do exactly what I did on September 6, 1994: listen to Ace of Base[/i] |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:13 pm Post subject: |
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Gotta stop talking to myself here...... |
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Guy Courchesne
Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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What time zone does the world end in? |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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I think that US group that says it's tomorrow said approximately 18.00 EST. |
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artemisia
Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 8:52 pm Post subject: |
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Quote: |
Gotta stop talking to myself here...... |
Why? I enjoy a good conversation with myself from time to time. It can beat having to listen to idiots.
I didn't discuss the issue of the Rapture and a sudden abrupt ending of the world with my students, not even when they said "See you Monday". This was partly because, currently, half of them are Saudis and I didn't know if I should raise a Christian (if you can call it that) prediction of doom with them. It might've also put a bit of a dampener on their forthcoming weekend. What you'd do on the last day ever could be handy topic for practising conditionals, though.
As far as preparations and plans for survival go, I'm not sure exactly what kind of world people building bunkers etc. envisage they'll be living in. |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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Dear spiral78,
You might want to contact these good folks:
"WASHINGTON (AFP) � When judgment day comes -- which some US Christian fundamentalists insist will happen on Saturday -- have you thought about what you're going to do with the family dog and cat?
In 26 US states, you could have them rescued and adopted by enterprising atheists who have set up a business to care for the animal companions of any Christians who are selected to go to heaven when Jesus Christ comes back.
"You've committed your life to Jesus. You know you're saved. But when the Rapture comes, what's to become of your loving pets who are left behind?" Eternal Earth-Bound Pets says on its website, offering to "take that burden off your mind."
The post-doomsday pet rescue service already has 259 clients, who have paid $135 for the first pet and $20 for each additional pet at the same address, to ensure the faithful animal companions are looked after and loved even when their Christian owners have gone to the other side.
All the rescuers are sworn atheists, which means they will definitely be left behind on Earth, ready to rescue pets after the Rapture, which one US Christian fundamentalist group has penciled for Saturday.
When judgment day happens, Eternal Earth-Bound Pets co-founder Bart Centre "will notify all of our rescuers to go into action and they will drive to the homes of anyone who's signed a contract with us, pick up their pets and take them home and adopt them as their own, keeping them happy and healthy for the rest of their lives.
"This will happen only if and when the Rapture happens. So we do not expect to have to do anything on Saturday," Centre told AFP.
Contracts are good for 10 years, just in case the Mayan calendar prophesy, which predicts the world will end in December next year, comes true."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110518/od_afp/usreligionanimalsoffbeat
Regards,
John |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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Dear John:
The schnauzer's got no worries. I don't qualify for the rapture. I'll be sticking around a while longer.
To neje muj hrnec caj:-)
Best, spiral & schnauz.
Artemesia, it's actually not the greatest of 3rd conditional lessons, because the first obvious answer to 'What would you do if you believed the world will end tomorrow?' can only be 'I would not be wasting my time in this class!' |
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BadBeagleBad
Joined: 23 Aug 2010 Posts: 1186 Location: 24.18105,-103.25185
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 11:04 pm Post subject: |
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Well, heck, I somehow missed that the world was going to end tomorrow. I was thinking about going to Cuba this week, but didn�t go. Now I wish I had. On the other hand, if the world doesn�t end, Cuba will still be there and I can go later. According to Fundamentalists, I, as a Catholic, am not a Christian, so if they have any say I will also be left behind, so my dogs are good too. But that�s a novel idea for a business. |
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Captain_Fil
Joined: 06 Jan 2011 Posts: 604 Location: California - the land of fruits and nuts
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 3:04 am Post subject: |
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If the world does not end on Saturday (5/21/2011), we'll just have wait for 2012.
That's when the world is suppose to end!
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I suspect that we will be able to resurrect this thread from time to time in the future |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 12:14 pm Post subject: |
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My theory is that the Apocalypse has already occurred. WW3 broke out at the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The reality that we perceive as teaching EFL is actually one of the many circles of HELL to which we have been consigned.
That dude Dante has a lot to answer for ! |
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artemisia
Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 875 Location: the world
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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If I had to live in KSA, I'd probably go for the above theory, too. I mean just the heat alone would do my head in!
I think Dante's "Abandon all hope, ye who enter here" would be a fitting subject heading for a few threads on these forums with a similar theme.
....Otherwise..
... nothing happened. I think we're past the danger zone? Got a good supply of wine in, just in case, and was planning on blasting this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_sY2rjxq6M
�Burn baby burn! .... Folks were screamin' - out of control .... couldn�t get enough, so I had to self-destruct ..�
I'll blast it anyway. It might be back in the 70s but great stuff. What a voice that lead singer has. That man could sing!
Last edited by artemisia on Sun May 22, 2011 12:26 am; edited 1 time in total |
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johnslat
Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 13859 Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 12:25 am Post subject: |
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Well, guess there are only we sinners left on earth. Strange though - it seems like everyone's still here. Hmm, how could that be?
Regards,
John the Sinner |
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