You see, the Mayans did not follow the modernly-accepted Gregorian calendar. They couldn't; it didn't exist. Instead, they lived their lives based on a combination of information presented by three separate calendars:

- A solar calendar based on a 365-day year;
- A ceremonial calendar based on a 260-day year;
- and a "long-count" calendar that based all time frames on a series of five numbers that always individually totaled less than 20.

The 365-day and 260-day calendars coincided every 52 years. If that isn't insensible enough, the second to last number of the long count calendar was always less than 18. The first number on the long calendar was: 0.0.0.0.0.  That number corresponded to August 11, 3114 BC (as close as can be determined). Every 144,000 days was called "baktun". 144,000 days is roughly 395 years. Like the Y2K hypothesis that predicted unruly chaos when the Gregorian calendar rolled over from 12/31/1999 to 01/01/2000, the Mayan calendar predicts chaotic devastation when it rolls over from 12.19.19.17.19 to a new 0.0.0.0.0.

Here is what is supposed to happen then:

- Asteroid 433 Eros will come within 17 million miles of the Earth in January;
- In April, the US will grant renewed control of the Korean military back to Koreans;
- An annular solar eclipse will transpire in May;
- The Summer Olympics will be held in London;
- The population of our beloved Earth will top 7 billion;
- The new Freedom Towers in NYC will be completed;
- November will bring a new US president;
- A new 11-year sunspot cycle will begin, flipping the Sun's magnetic poles;
- and the Mayan calendar will officially complete its pre-designated 5125-year lifespan and the end of days will be upon us.

What will follow is said to be an apocalyptic world where everything will be chaotic until natural forces restore the balances of life - if ever. That is the basis of the 2012 predictions of the Mayan calendar. Make of it as you will. Be prepared to live to the fullest of your potential in any case!