I saw a serious TV program with Mr. Hawking. They only asked him 5 questions, and it took him a week to answer them, but the answers were bright, relevant, and plausible.
He was speaking on solar flairs, and 2012 and all that crap.
I wish I had a link, it was really interesting, I caught it on a show called " The Universe" on the science channel.
All drooling jokes aside, he is a really brilliant man.
He said we are safe. As solar bursts happen alot, but have to be directed at us to do anything. Plus there is that Van Allen belt thing....
Something the Mayans knew nothing about.
Soop is still buying your property for pennies on the dollar though