Bloomberg Jokes About Doomsday On Weekly Radio Show
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – It may not be a laughing matter to some people, but New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg had a lot of fun on his weekly radio show joking about the world coming to an end on Saturday.
Bloomberg said if they world ends Saturday, we won't have to worry about returning library books or paying parking tickets.
"Think about it. If the world were to end tomorrow it would fix our traffic problems," Bloomberg said.
1010 WINS' Stan Brooks reports: Bloomberg Jokes About Doomsday On Weekly Radio Show
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It all started when Harold Camping, an 89-year-old Christian radio tycoon, made dire prophecies about May 21, 2011, reports CBS 2's Katie Fehlinger. Camping made his prediction using complex numerology based on passages straight out of the King James Bible.
Theologian Dr. David Shriver said that wasn't very smart.
"The 24th chapter of Matthew disclaims any possibility of human beings, including himself, setting a date for God's judgment of the world," Dr. Shriver said. "But of that day and hour no one knows -- not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only."
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But that hasn't stopped the hype. Everything from the Centers for Disease Control's online instructions for dealing with a "zombie apocalypse" to Mayor Bloomberg joking on his radio show has been in play over the last week.
The mayor, who was on quite a roll, said he would change some of the city's parking rules and give New York City drivers a break.
"If the world does end tomorrow alternate side parking will be suspended. Although I think alternate side parking will take on a whole different meaning, actually."
Photo Gallery: End Of The World Flicks Featuring NYC
Regardless, in preparation for the end of the world many New Yorkers are planning rapture parties to wait out the end-of-days, while others are cashing in on potential doomsday deals.
"We're gonna have a good time in New York tonight. I think that's it!" tourist Jason Gart told CBS 2's Fehlinger.
"We're all gonna be at bars across New York City having a grand old time," added Nick Quinn.
Quinn manages the Manchester Pub on the East Side. Even though he doesn't believe the end is coming Saturday, he figured why not capitalize on the hype with a bash?
"We're expecting that people are going to be out on the streets looking for a good time and looking for someplace to go," Quinn said.
One post on Craigslist is asking for a $200 Rapture Deal. The post asks to sublet an apartment from anyone who is expecting to ascend to Heaven during tomorrow's apocalypse.
It reads: "As someone who will not be saved I'm looking to make the most of my remaining time here. If YOU'RE someone who WILL be saved and you live in a higher end apartment in one of the more desirable neighborhoods in Brooklyn I'd be interested in subletting until your return."
EXTRA: Your End-Of-The-World NYC Plans
Bottom line: Shriver said nothing will happen.
"To set a date at which the grand climax is going to come of God's way of dealing with the world is a very big mistake," Dr. Shriver said.
What are your doomsday plans? Let us know in our comments section.
