Best-selling author Steve Alten returned for a discussion on the Mayan Calendar's 2,000 year old prophecy which he explored in his novels Domain and Resurrection.The Mayans believed that humanity undergoes five great cycles-- the last four ended in cataclysm, and the current cycle is due to end similarly on December 21st, 2012. Such knowledge was reportedly passed down to the Mayans through their leader/deity Kukulcan (known to the Aztecs as Quetzalcoatl).

Alten outlined the sophisticated workings of the Mayan calendar, which simultaneously rotated several different types of time systems. One of them-- the Long Count calendar, featured a 52 year cycle composed of Katuns-- which each last 20 years. The Katuns predict different types of events to occur during their time frames, and he noted that there have been interesting correspondences such as during Katun 5 which took place during the American Civil War.

According to the Dresden Codex, the Mayans foresaw a great flood as being the cataclysm that occurs at the end of the current great cycle. Alten reviewed possibilities of other calamities bringing an end to our civilization-- such as a solar flare, an asteroid hit, and the eruption of the Yellowstone caldera.

Cell Phone Update

First hour guest, researcher Dr. Nick Begich commented on the start of in-flight cell phone use (Emirates Airlines will begin offering the service in January). He warned that such capabilities might give terrorists an easy way to coordinate attacks with those on the ground, and noted that with any technological advancements we need to carefully consider the implications.