Round Table Topics

I thought a thread for discussing round table topics might be helpful.

Right now I'm considering a topic I call "The End of the World and You: How Apocalyptic Belief Pervades Everything".  I would begin by taking a poll of how many people at the table believe that we live in extraordinary times; that the world now is in a unique state of unrest and turbulence; and that the world is on the brink of huge changes or catastrophes.  Finally, I think a good conversation starter might be to mention that Stephen Hawking doubts the ability of the human race to survive beyond 2100, and ask what people think about this estimation.

In addition to conversation like this, I would bring in advertisements, news clippings, or whatever mainstream media I can find that hints to, or explicitly expresses apocalyptic belief.