Now this is a message going to all the skeptics out there. Of course this is not true. Of course, when the calendar runs out, you get a new calendar. What end of the world? Lots of people are going to end up looking like idiots without their clothes when the sun comes up in January 1, 2013. You are not one of those people.

But you know, this kind of opportunity presents itself only once in a life. You know the lifestyle you are living is unsustainable. You know the economy is fracturing, that we are not in some secular cycle. You know it is different this time.

So make use of the madness! While those folks are getting their crates of chardonnay and party-hats, you are getting freshwater, first-aid kits and your finances in order. Be a “believer”. Instead of curmudgeonly protesting that the end of the world ain’t comin’, go ahead and make those necessary changes to your life.

Because when this is over, some people will be idiots. Those idiots will be those that partied, and those that hid away in protest. You are neither of this, and you will emerge victorious.

Don’t waste the apocalypse!

And me, getting hints here and there, finally declare that it is a copyright violation, persecutable upon the full extent of the law.

And so we have an impasse, a deadlock. You don’t want incriminating evidence on your hands. And I don’t want it too. You can’t speak freely of it with your tongue thus tied. And I can’t do anything but wait for signs that you have.

I am going to release you from this impasse. I know you know of it, so just come out and say it. My only wish is that you do not spread it further. And return, I promise I will not take legal action against you.

To protect myself, I also disclaim responsibility from the consequences of the story. As you will know, some of the events predicted have come true, some have not or yet too. That’s the nature when all I set out was to paint one scenario, not predict anything. As far as I am concerned, I have exercised due care. Please do you part.

And to prevent the file from being changed, I now SHA1 sign it here:

78c3b4612441c022dbb4956579447d7bdec9613c8893bcd15ca0f07a4c4b47ea2d888
52e3b4e2b710496b4130bfad61361d081e1c4fe92dfff441846682b1003 story.doc

This being jittery times, please understand why I am not releasing the file into the wild. One day it will. But at least you can be relieved of a fear a lawsuit from me. And I can move on with my life.

Thank you.

This idea, “future-proofing” had me scratching my head in bewilderment. What could it possibly mean?

If one says one’s safe is “fire-proof”, one means that in the event of an fire that burns down one’s house, the safe would be protected from damage. “Fire” is the damage agent and “proof” is the claim against it’s effects.

If you said your watch was “water-proof”, you mean that the continued functioning of your watch will not be affected when it comes into contact with water. So as not to make too much guarantees, some watches are called “water-resistant”, just in case the touted proof is not perfect. This idea: “resistant” is revealing of what “future-proof” is trying to convey.

So a good first guess at what “future-proof” is meant to convey the methods and techniques designed to insulate us the bad effects of the future.

There are quite a few flaws in this understanding. Why should one be insulated against the future? The sort of person who needs to do that is a fearful individual who hates change. The effort going to resisting the future is a inherently futile endeavour, destined to fail.

I can hear you objection. One future proofs to avoid the bad effects of the future. Good effects are welcome!

But this understanding reveals a flaw. The future, unpredictable and unknowable, will carry good and bad effects to us. “Good” and “bad” is a value judgement in the rear-view mirror. In the front view mirror, everything – good and bad – is coming at you, out to get you with a great big stick. 赛翁失马，炎知非幅！

So future-proofing runs the risk that we will avoid that which could be good for us, had we but patience to wait for what the future holds. It will take some time, but who says the future only comes quickly?

Because we don’t just anticipate the future to fear the untoward effects, we also want to welcome the new, the strange, which may turn out to be good!

The future is not future-proof, because it is not proven!