Looking for a job? Stonehenge, the mysterious rock formation that served as a monument to the ancients – it's believed — needs a manager.
As the sun rose from time zone to time zone across the world on Friday, there was still no sign of the world's end _ but that didn't stop those convinced that a 5,125-year Mayan calendar predicts the apocalypse from gathering at some of the world's purported survival hot spots.
The world didn't end today. Those who had feared an ancient Mayan prophecy meant the apocalypse can breathe a sigh of relief. Pessimists, though, can feel free to continue holding their breath until the stroke of midnight, just to be sure.
Citizens of the world, exhale. Contrary to a ballyhooed ancient Mayan prophecy that has spawned everything from Chinese doomsday cults to Hollywood special effects extravaganzas to dire warnings that Earth is on a collision course with the mystery world of Nibiru, our planet will not come to an apocalyptic finale Friday.
Sometime when you get a chance, go back and look at newspapers from the 1940s, the 1930s or even the 1920s. Somewhere on the editorial pages in December, you'll find the obligatory op-ed of the season -- the one about how sad it is that Christmas has become so commercialized.
Mexican archaeologists say they have determined that the ancient Mayas built watchtower-style structures atop the ceremonial ball court at the temples of Chichen Itza to observe the equinoxes and solstices, and they said Friday that the discovery adds to understanding of the many layers of ritual significance that the ball game had for the culture.
As a non-Christian with a deep affection for Christmastime, I've always felt a little left out around this time of year, but not in the way you might think. I've always felt a bit out of place with the venerable conservative tradition of denouncing the "war on Christmas."
Along with the Christmas season comes the annual uprising of atheistic Grinches determined to spoil it. They might get some satisfaction out of wrecking a few nativity scenes, but their long-range goal of expunging religion from American society isn't going to happen: The search for God is innate.
Skywatchers got an early holiday present this year: A total eclipse of the moon.
