Well, according to present day Mayans, the cycle which ends on 21st December, and the new cycle will commence on December 22 and not the end of the world is often thought. Or so I read somewhere yesterday
Don't be daft, EC! That day will never happen! Heading for the wine rack, though, wishing there was a "mark as most pointless thread of the day" button...
I take exception to this being the most pointless thread of the day – there are many (especially in the USA) taking appropriate precautions; preparing for the inevitable (that they will look complete fools on 22 December 2012).