I know NPR is under the microscope allthemore lately. But is reporting on the lunatic fringe the "way to salvation?" Or is this news in the sense that there are significant numbers of people who actually "believe?"

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/12/136239062/divining-doomsday-an-old-practice-with-new-tricks

My first response was, "Isn't there REAL news out there that was supplanted by this piece that I would have rather heard?" On the other hand, maybe the news value is not in the ideas of the subjects of this piece, but the fact of the people who believe the idea of the imminent end?

OTOH, maybe someone "considered" it a fluffy laugh piece amid the other horrible news.

Saul