{"id":217,"date":"2013-01-01T14:47:33","date_gmt":"2013-01-01T22:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/lateraltruth\/?p=217"},"modified":"2013-01-01T14:47:33","modified_gmt":"2013-01-01T22:47:33","slug":"things-that-didnt-happen-in-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/skepticink.com\/lateraltruth\/2013\/01\/01\/things-that-didnt-happen-in-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"Things that didn’t happen in 2012."},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, that\u2019s it for 2012.\u00a0 Once again, Earth has passed an arbitrary point in its orbit that, for historical and cultural reasons, is considered significant; our chronological odometer has clicked again, to put us 2013 years from an event that almost certainly did not take place.\u00a0 Happy New Year, everybody.<\/p>\n

This is the season when psychics confidently trot out their predictions for the coming twelvemonth, and skeptics get to snark about the failed predictions from the one just finished.\u00a0 Perhaps the best snarking is to be found at http:\/\/www.relativelyinteresting.com\/2012-failed-psychic-predictions\/<\/a> – but this is a game that anyone can play.\u00a0 I wanted, though, to look not just at the failed predictions, but the ones that were considered successes.<\/p>\n

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So I set out looking for a psychic who had made at least a minimal effort to document his hits.\u00a0 Enter one \u201cSpiritman\u201d Joseph Tittel<\/a>, who bills himself as a spiritual medium, psychic clairvoyant, and medical intuitive – whatever that means.\u00a0 He comes out annually with a long list of predictions<\/a>, subdivided into categories like a game of Trivial Pursuit; these are generated on his live blog radio spot on January 1st<\/sup>, transcribed onto his blog thereafter, and updated as each prophecy is fulfilled.\u00a0 The helpful commentariat on his blog and FB page also contribute suggested confirmations as they come up.\u00a0 I looked only at his blog.<\/p>\n

It was a massive list for 2012: seventeen weather predictions, seventeen for celebrities, seven for the US economy, one long screed about Obama, and no fewer than sixty-seven \u201cworld\u201d predictions, including natural disasters.\u00a0 Of the 109 itemized prophecies, either Tittel or his commentariat suggested \u201cconfirmations\u201d for all of 32. \u00a0As well, many items ramblingly included several different parts, each of which could be treated as a separate prediction.\u00a0 Even I, however, am not obsessive enough to tease them out and count them individually.\u00a0 What, for example, would one do with the following?<\/p>\n

2: Major controversy erupts out of Alaska. Something to do with the political movement in Alaska. It involves the government & possibly the FBI. Alaska came to me several time which makes me believe they will have several major incidents that hit news headlines including weather related issues. Bizarre unexpected and unusual storms here and throughout the world.<\/p>\n

12: Japan hit once more by large earthquake up to 8.1. This time I feel it hits more toward the northern west part of Japan. I feel that Japan will endure several major issues, including issues with China, along with several earthquakes. Most likely floods. Also many issues with water, floods. I see people boiling water. May be a total of three earthquakes that measure high on the scale\u2026<\/p>\n

48: Pakistan will cause the world great trouble as will other middle eastern countries like Iran and even problems with Russia. Russia & China buddy up and make it difficult for other surrounding countries as time progresses.<\/p>\n

W2: Extremely large and very unusual and unexpected dust storms begin to take place, especially during the summer and early fall months, one out of Arizona and\/or New Mexico. Injures several and 7 causalities. India, China, Europe and Australia.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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A quick summary will do for the failed prophecies that were specific enough to judge.\u00a0 The year 2012 did not<\/em> see:<\/p>\n