[Zeke]

As a base generality, there are a couple of arguments that can be thrown out -- beyond the obvious ones previously mentioned -- for 2012 to NOT be the "end of the world."

First, one possible reason that the Mayan calendar terminates is because there were no more Mayans to update it. (i.e., "Hey, Bob? Why does your calendar stop at 1978? Printer went out of business? Okay...")

Second, I'm not sure sure linear "calendar" is quite the correct term for usage related to the Mayan items/documents used to predict 2012. Most American aboriginal date-keeping items are more circular than literal. (i.e., "Bob, why does your Roman calendar end on December 31st? You say that's the end of this document/year/age? But I shouldn't be worried because it only marks the passage of time, controls nothing, and immediately resets? Okay...)

And, oddly, I just watched 2012 last night. Insipid film...