Locals react to ‘Judgment Day’

LYNN – For nearly a month, a billboard in Wyoma Square has warned that the world will end today. But as of “Judgment Day” eve, the specter appears not to have fazed locals.There’s plenty of doomsdays around,”said 14-year-old Rafael Perez. “It doesn’t scare me at all.””I’m probably just going to wake up in the morning and eat cereal,” said his friend Charlie An, 13. Then the two began listing past doomsdays: – “2000, 2002, 2008?” – before continuing on with their afternoon.The billboard is attributed to the Family Stations, Inc. which is described on its website as a “non-profit, non-commercial Christian radio network. According to the website (as a message on the organization’s voice mail said that “due to the holiday, our staff is not available at this time?”) the prediction is based on the biblical readings of the organization’s founder Howard Camping. The website explains that Camping bases this prediction on his reading that the flood associated with Noah began on the 17th day of the second month of 4990 B.C. Considering the passage equating one year with a thousand years, noting that Noah had seven days to prepare for the flood, and comparing the “Biblical” and modern calendar, today’s the day.But the website is a little confusing about what exactly is supposed to happen. One section on Judgment Day says the world will end. Another entitled “facts about May 21, 2011” predicts an earthquake that will separate the saved from the unsaved. The latter will be shamed and live in a world of horror and chaos until Oct. 21. (The website also notes the importance of the question mark in Camping’s book “1994?,” in which he wrote that Judgment Day would be in that year. “Camping warned there may be something he overlooked, therefore the question mark was prominently placed on the title,” the website explains.)Brad Glew of Broadway Antiques said that he wasn’t going to take any chances. “I’m going to do layaway today,” he said. “Any money we have, you’re not going to get back.” Later he handed out a card advertising a half-price sale through May 21?so his inventory and prices today might be the best indication of whether he was joking or not.Tim Tenney said that a woman had come into the True Value hardware store where he works to take a picture of the sign, but otherwise the store hasn’t seen any shopping habits that might indicate the upcoming disaster.”No, I don’t think people are putting off home improvement,” he said. “I just think it’s nothing. Like everybody else.”John Olson said that he didn’t know about the prediction until his wife mentioned the sign.”I didn’t sell my stocks,” he said. “But I think the Mayan calendar ends next year.”Unfortunately, two of the most salient businesses on the subject of the sign – a life insurance provider and a psychic – were closed Friday afternoon.But Maura Lynch, of James Lynch Insurance, said that she would focus on the bright side of the upcoming earthquake and other disasters.I guess it will be a good time to sell insurance!”