Mexican Astronomer Dismisses Mayan Apocalypse Prophecies

From FoxNews Lation: Mexican Astronomer Dismisses Mayan Apocalypse Prophecies
Mexico City – Neither the Mayans' texts nor their calendar contain predictions of an apocalypse later this year, but regrettably "pseudoscientific media outlets are talking about the end of the world, based on supposed prophecies and the Mayan calendar," Mexican astronomer Marte Trejo Sandoval said.

The Mayans, who lived in what are now Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador between 800 B.C. and A.D. 900, did not leave behind any texts that contain prophecies about the end of the world on Dec. 21, the astronomer and historian said during a workshop Wednesday in the southeastern Mexican state of Yucatán.

"Astronomy played a fundamental role in knowing when it was time to plant and in following the cycles of the planets, but there are no records that the Mayans saw the end of the world coming. An apocalyptic concept did not exist in that civilization," Trejo told the Mexico City daily El Universal.

The Mayan long count calendar started 5,125 years ago and ends on Dec. 21, 2012, with a new time cycle starting, but it does not provide an end times prophecy, Trejo said.

The Mayans considered astronomy extremely important, with their cities "laid out in relation to the movement of the sky, their buildings pointing to the sun or the stars that moved," Trejo said.

"In some codexes, there are images of people with nets, and in the beginning they were interpreted to be about the Mayans' dedication to weaving, while the truth was that the nets were the equivalent of the reticles used by astronomers today to get the exact positions of the stars and the planets," Trejo said.

Mayans living in several states in southeastern Mexico marked Dec. 21, 2011, as the start of the last year of the current calendar.

"The days of prayer for the Mayan people" have arrived and "it is time to prepare for a new era," Mayan chief Santiago Cruz told Efe last year.

"Human beings have to be reborn in these days. We do not believe in disasters, in earthquakes, and that is why whenever we pray, we pray for humanity, we ask that there will be more awareness of the need to protect our land," the chief said.

The Mayan predictions for December 2012 were about the return of the god Bolon Yokte and not about the end of the world, experts say.

The Dec. 21, 2012, date found on Mayan glyphs led to speculation about Maya prophecies of the end of the world, prompting archaeologists and epigraphists to deny them.

The Mayans created a calendar based on 400-year periods, known as "baktuns," with each era made up of 13 cycles of 400 years that added up to 5,125 years.

The current era, according to their calculations, would end in December 2012, experts say.

In the Mayan cosmology, a cycle of creation was completed at the end of each era and another began.

Bolon Yokote is a god associated with creation and war that participated in the start of the current era, which began on Aug. 13 of 3114 B.C.

The idea that the pre-Hispanic civilization predicted the end of the world in 2012 has been popular in some New Age circles since the 1970s.

End of Mayan calendar sparks interest, concern

From Post-Gazette: End of Mayan calendar sparks interest, concern
Astrologer Cathy Bednar says that the date Dec. 21 of this year -- the so-called last day on the Mayan calendar -- is generating the kind of interest and fear as did the Y2K at the cusp of the millennium.

"The Long Count Mayan calendar, which runs for a total of 5,125 years, ends on Dec. 21 this year, also the date of the winter solstice, and many people are curious about it," said Ms. Bednar, who will deliver a talk on the subject at 6:30 tonight at the Oakmont Carnegie Library, 700 Allegheny River Blvd.

The calendar comes from the Mesoamerican civilization from about 250 to 900 A.D., when advanced mathematics and primitive astronomy flourished. The calendar was used in Central America prior to the arrival of Europeans.

Ms. Bednar said the talk, which is free and open to the public, is titled "The Astrological Connections of Dec.21, 2012; the End of the Mayan Calendar."

"I've had a lot of people ask me what I thought about something happening on a catastrophic level on that date and I thought I'd put the topic out for discussion," she said.

In her talk, she'll encourage questions and give her audience connections associated with the date from an astrological point of view.

She'll also hand out visuals such as astrological charts and posters on astrology. She said her talk won't be a history lesson on the Mayans, but an astrological exploration of the date.

"Because the [Mayan] calendar seems to be running out on Dec.21, some people are thinking of it in terms of being the end of the world," she said. "In reality, it is likened to an odometer that reaches the count of 999, then turns over one digit to become 000."

Ms. Bednar likened the heightened interest in eschatology -- the study of the end of times -- is similar to the Y2K scare "in that some people thought the turn of the millennium would be a disaster."

One belief held by some people holds that the planets will align in such as way on Dec.21 -- the sun will be aligned with center of the Milky Way for first time in 26,000 years -- that the solar system will collapse.

But Ms. Bednar points out that astronomers and NASA have discounted the fear.

She also said she finds nothing unusual about the date from an astrological perspective.

The Monroeville woman said she has studied astrology for 15 years.

"I've been interested in astrology since high school when I read the daily horoscopes in the newspapers," she said. "I soon realized that they're too generalized and not customized to the individual. They give short blurbs on each sign for the day or month, but for an individual horoscope -- or natal chart -- a person needs to provide their birth date, birth time and location of where they were born."

Ms. Bednar has done many individual consultations with clients and inputs their natal information into a database for a computer software program she utilizes in her work. The program then generates an astrological chart for each client.

"A lot of people are curious about their chart because it gives them information on their background, relationships, career aspirations, finances, motivation and personality," she said.

In recent years, Ms. Bednar has been giving lectures and workshops at libraries, holistic centers, private clubs, yoga centers and at places like Whole Foods and the East End Co-op. Two years ago, she's was also interviewed on a radio station in Eastern Pennsylvania.

In October 2009, she delivered a talk at the Oakmont Library titled "How an Astrological Chart Can Help Define Your Life's Purpose." Robin Almendinger, program coordinator, said the talk drew a large crowd, which is one of the reasons the library invited her back.

"Our lecture topics have included everything from Reiki massage and guided imagery to finances, health and gardening," she said. "We're hoping that Ms. Bednar brings in an audience different from the ones our other talks do."

Tianguis Turistico Commences Today!

From MarketWatch: Tianguis Turistico Commences Today!
RIVIERA NAYARIT and PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico, March 26, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The global travel industry has descended on the Mexican state of Nayarit for the Ministry of Tourism's most important travel industry event, "Tianguis Turistico", which commences today.

Mexico Tourism Board, chief operating officer, Rodolfo Lopez-Negrete said, "Affectionately known as 'Tianguis', this is one of the pre-eminent events for the travel and tourism industry.

"A record-thumping 22.7 million international tourists visited Mexico in 2011 from all corners of the globe; Tianguis serves as a vehicle to show the industry why.

"Tianguis was created to provide a robust forum for members of the tourism sector to learn about the very best Mexico has to offer the global traveler: culture, luxury, adventure tourism, gastronomy and business."

"2012 is set to be another hallmark year for Mexican tourism. We are particularly excited about 'Mundo Maya' - the Mayan World - a celebration of the end of the Mayan calendar and mythological period of rebirth."

"This program has provided a vehicle for us to aggressively promote the cultural and historical side of Mexico.

"Mexico is much more than simply a luxurious beach side getaway; we are a diverse country with a diverse range of tourism products," Lopez-Negrete said.

"We look forward to welcoming our friends from near and far to celebrate Tianguis."

Tianguis is being held in a new region for the first time in 37 years: Riviera Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta. The conference will be jointly held by the two destinations from March 25-28.

Cancun caters to 'end of the world' celebrations for the sophisticated traveler

From FoxNews: Cancun caters to 'end of the world' celebrations for the sophisticated traveler
If the world was going to end, you'd want to spend the last days in style, right?

That's how Maryanne and Paul Carpenter would do it -- in style and eating amazing food --lots of it.

“We ate three servings of ceviche, then fish tacos, then beef cheeks, pork belly and a few things we’ve never even heard of,” said Maryanne, 35, who admitted to resorting to having to unbutton her pants from their feast of plenty. “We’re eating like it’s the end of the world.”

The Carpenters were indulging in this weekend’s Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival, but there was something more that brought them to Cancun from Indiana.

They planned their trip south of the border this year because Maryanne was intrigued about the Mayan "end of the world" prophecies that predict 2012 will be our last one on the earth. According to the MesoAmerican calendar, Dec. 21 is the date in Mayan mythology that marks the end of a 5,125 year-long cycle. Based on astrological calculations, some believe it to be a period of spiritual renewal, but more outlandish scenarios involve the Earth’s collision with another planet or being swallowed by a black hole.

The apocalyptic prophecies may be just myth, but still the entire Yucatan peninsula has been prepping for 2012 for the past few years. Cancun and the surrounding areas like the Riviera Maya and Tulum are seeing a boost in tourism in 2012 due to curiosity about the Mayan’s doomsday scenario.

More than a few Mexicans with Mayan ancestry who still inhabit the area told me they don’t think the world will literally end on Dec. 21, but they do believe 2012 is a significant time for rebirth.

Nowhere is that more true than in Cancun where officials and the tourism board have been working hard to reinvent themselves from hard partying spring breaker destination filled with foam parties and topless bungee jumping to a more adult playground and destination for foodies.

“As we close out the traditional Mayan calendar and welcome a new era. Cancun is embracing a ‘new beginning,’ which invites locals and guests to think different and behave different by exploring the evolution of humanity, and redefining our experience in the land of the Mayans,” Erika Mitzunaga of the Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau told me.

The wine and food festival, the first for Cancun, was just one way of welcoming this new era of more sophisticated tourism. More than 30 star chefs, including the highly celebrated molecular gastronomist Ferran Adria of El Bulli, Ingrid Hoffman of “Simply Delicioso” and Jacques Pepin of “Essential Pepin,” prepared their edible artistry for crowds in the thousands.

But even before the festival convened in Cancun, the city was already starting to see an influx of different kinds of clientele arriving since the first of this year.

“The curiosity about Cancun is increasing from all different parts of the world. We are seeing an increase in interest from China, Russia and the Latin American market,” explained Raul Petraglia, the managing director of the ME by Melia hotel. “The demographic is 23-50, all folks who are young in spirit, people who enjoy being in an atmosphere of good cuisine.”

Over the coming weeks Cancun’s visitor’s bureau will put the finishing touches on their end of the world celebration plans for the city—many of them including good food, good wine and good company.

“Just as Times Square in New York City is the most exciting place to ring in a new year, Cancun is the only place you’ll want to be to celebrate the beginning of a new era,” Mitzunaga said.

Beyond entertainment, the cultural sites have stepped into high gear too.

A modern-day pyramid is already under construction in the town of Zama (close to the ruins of Tulum) in honor of the ancient Mayans. Visitors to the region are invited to place a dream, wish, or message on a piece of paper and then place it inside a recyclable plastic water bottle. These water bottles will be the building blocks of the pyramid.

In May, the eco-archaeological park Xcaret is giving visitors the opportunity to practice the ancient yearly pilgrimage to Cozumel in honor of the Mayan goddess Ixchtel. The trip embarks at sunrise on May 21 at Bahía Dos Playas in Xcaret park. All visitors who arrive to the gates of the park before 5:30 am receive free admission to Xcaret.

“This is the perfect time to come to Cancun to recharge your energies under the Caribbean sun, embrace a civilization that studies show dates back to 2600 BC while marveling at the ancient Mayan ruins, or challenge yourself to experience something you’ve never done before like swim with a whale shark or dive into a cenote,” said Mitzunaga.

Cancun does still have its fair share of college-aged revelers but we checked out three hotels where grownups can party like it is the end of the world in the company of other grownups.

The ME by Melia: Winner of Trip Advisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award for the Luxury and Trendiest hotel in Mexico, the pyramid shaped ME is reminiscent of the Mayan ruins sprinkled throughout the region. Perfect for adults who want to party like it is the end of the world without having to leave their hotel, the ME’s Rose Bar, opened by nightlife impressarios Rande and Scott Gerber attracts some of the hottest DJs from around the world.

The Balinese day beds at the beach club pull double-duty for sunbathing during the day and dancing at night. Dance like you’re in South beach while DJs spin mash-ups on the beach on Friday night and then lounge with strawberries and champagne on Sunday afternoon.

If relaxation is more your thing, the far left corner of the resort has been converted into a “chill out” zone that is entirely music free.

Dining options for the all-inclusive property (ME switched to the “Complete Me” all-inclusive last year, because who wants to pay in cash at the end of the world?) include Mediterranean-inspired Salt and the Japanese fusion restaurant Silk.

The Sun Palace: This adults-only hotel is positioned in the heart of Cancun’s hotel zone. The Palace, which caters to couples, offers private beach access, three infinity pools with swim up bars and an indoor pool with two Jacuzzis. The property boasts four restaurants on-site: the Italian La Tratto, the Mexican El Alamo and the Argentinian The Steak

Le Blanc: Also adults only, Le Blanc has a five-star AAA designation, a rare award for an all-inclusive resort. Here all-inclusive doesn’t mean well drinks and hot dogs like some of the places down the strip. The all-inclusive price at Le Blanc includes gourmet food and fine wines and access to five bars and five international restaurants, among them Lumiere, a French fusion restaurant with an eight-course tasting menu.

Guests are treated like royalty from the moment of arrival when personal butlers provide frozen drinks, tropical flowers and herbal scented towels. These butlers are then on hand 24/7 to cater to guests every whim. The all-inclusive also includes scuba diving demonstrations, access to a complete resort fitness center with workout facilities and spinning, kickboxing, yoga and Pilates classes, beach or pool volleyball and nightly live musical performances from local bands.

Maya Spring Equinox Celebrations at Belize’s Caracol

From PRWeb: Maya Spring Equinox Celebrations at Belize’s Caracol
This year’s Maya Spring Equinox celebrations at Caracol, Belize’s premier Maya archaeological site were a fitting kick-off to the 2012 equinox and solstice calendar, Chaa Creek’s Larry Waight said.

This year’s Maya Spring Equinox celebrations at Caracol, Belize’s premier Maya archaeological site were a fitting kick-off to the 2012 equinox and solstice calendar, Chaa Creek’s Larry Waight said.

Mr Waight was among 60 participants in a special tour led by Dr Jaime Awe, director of the Belize Institute of Archaeology and one of the world’s foremost authorities on Maya civilisation.

“Work on the Caracol site has come a long way in recent years, and it now rivals Tikal and Chitzen Itza as a major Maya cultural destination,” Mr Waight said.

One of the ancient Maya world’s largest and most important city-states, Caracol sprawled across 65 square miles (168 km²) and contained an estimated population of between 120,000 to 180,000 inhabitants at its peak around 700 AD.

Over 20 miles of broad causeways radiated out of its centre like spokes of a wheel, linking a vast network of ceremonial, administrative and trade centres with farms, aquaculture ponds and habitations fed by one of the ancient world’s most impressive irrigation systems.

Dr Awe referred to Caracol as the Crown Jewel of Belize’s Maya sites, and said that today it is certainly one of the most impressive Maya archaeological sites to be found anywhere.

Covering 30 square miles of the 25,000 acre Caracol Archaeological Reserve established in Belize’s vast Chiquibul National Forest, the site contains five plazas, an astronomic observatory, ball courts and over 35,000 structures. The main building, Caana, Mayan for Sky Place, rises over 140 feet above the main plaza, making it the tallest manmade structure in Belize.

Mr Waight said the 2012 Spring Equinox celebration did justice to Caracol’s grandeur. After a two-and-a-half hour tour participants enjoyed a traditional Maya buffet with a menu that the ancient rulers would have found familiar, followed by another presentation by Dr Awe. A 2am temple ceremony conducted by Maya shamans from Belize, Mexico and Guatemala prepared participants for the dawn of spring solstice as the sun rose over the temples and vast stretches of jungle canopy.

“It was one of those events you’ll remember all of your life. Dr Awe was able to put everything in a context that gave us an appreciation of what an amazingly advanced civilisation the Maya created deep in the rainforest, and the Maya shamans added a perspective that was very evocative and moving. Eating the same foods over the same stones where Spring Equinox ceremonies were conducted so many hundreds of years ago was an almost indescribable experience,” Mr Wait said.

Mr Waight also said that Chaa Creek will be hosting special tour packages for the Autumnal Equinox, the Summer Solstice and the long awaited Maya Winter Solstice of December 21 2012. “If this Spring Equinox was anything to go by, we have an incredible year ahead of us and the Winter December 21 2012 Solstice will more than live up to its promise as a -once-in-a-lifetime experience,” he said.

Apr 27: Mayan Calendar Prophecies with Elder Erick GonzalezF

From PR Web: Mayan Calendar Prophecies with Elder Erick Gonzalez; a Workshop on Spiritual Warriorship & Living from the Heart, Blue Deer Center, Catskills, NY, April 27 – 29, 2012

Often associated with doomsday prediction, the Mayan Calendar provides meaningful prophecies for living during these challenging times. Erick Gonzalez, well respected Shaman and internationally known, presents a workshop on Spiritual Warriorship: Living from the Heart. This provides a profound and rare occasion to delve into the essence of the Mayan Calendar prophecies and the indigenous wisdom.

Often associated with doomsday prediction, the Mayan Calendar provides meaningful prophecies for living during these challenging times. Erick Gonzalez, well respected Shaman and internationally known, presents a workshop on Spiritual Warriorship: Living from the Heart. This provides a profound and rare occasion to delve into the essence of the Mayan Calendar prophecies and the indigenous wisdom.

Illuminated in the ancient wisdom of the indigenous Maya, is a path for uniting the earth with the cosmos. Revealing spiritual practices preserved precisely for this time,Erick Gonzalez will share his teachings on spiritual warriorship, living from the heart and the Mayan medicine wheel. We will delve into the essence of the Mayan prophecies and share a traditional fire ceremony, bringing voice to our gratitude and prayers.

Erick Gonzalez, also known by his Tolteca-Azteca name OmeAkaEhekatl, was trained in the ceremonial way over a thirty year period with indigenous healers and medicine people from Mexico, North America, Colombia, Peru, and Guatemala. He has worked with Native Elders and Youth Councils throughout the Americas supporting the work of international sharing and preservation of sacred wisdom teachings since 1979, promoting increased cooperation and unity between diverse communities throughout the world.

Blue Deer Center provides an important setting for teachings and practices that promote balanced relationship with the natural world. They particularly welcome ancestral approaches to healing, ritual, and retreat. The Center's origins are rooted in the Huichol shamanic tradition and living connection to the universal and sacred spirit of fire.

For more information on the Blue Deer Center, visit our website at http://www.bluedeer.org or call 845-586-3225.

World to end in 2012? NASA not convinced

From News 4 JAX: World to end in 2012? NASA not convinced
On Tuesday night -- 281 days from the predicted Dec. 21, 2012 , apocalypse -- I decided to watch the blockbuster hit ''2012'' from the comfort of my house.

It didn't take long for me to realize that not only was it completely far-fetched, but that it made for a great sleeping agent. I zonked out about an hour into the movie.

Also this month, NASA released a video with its official stance on what exactly we can expect for Dec. 21. I have a feeling that the title of the video says it all: "Just another day.''

Here is NASA's stance on the Mayan doomsday prediction:

Remember the Y2K scare? It came and went without much of a whimper because of adequate planning and analysis of the situation. Impressive movie special effects aside, Dec. 21, 2012, won't be the end of the world as we know. It will, however, be another winter solstice.

Much like Y2K, 2012 has been analyzed and the science of the end of the Earth thoroughly studied. Contrary to some of the common beliefs out there, the science behind the end of the world quickly unravels when pinned down to the 2012 timeline. Below, NASA Scientists answer several questions that we're frequently asked regarding 2012.

Question: Are there any threats to the Earth in 2012? Many Internet websites say the world will end in December 2012.
Answer: Nothing bad will happen to the Earth in 2012. Our planet has been getting along just fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012.

Q: What is the origin of the prediction that the world will end in 2012?
A: The story started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012. Then these two fables were linked to the end of one of the cycles in the ancient Mayan calendar at the winter solstice in 2012 -- hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012.

Q: Does the Mayan calendar end in December 2012?
A: Just as the calendar you have on your kitchen wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan calendar does not cease to exist on December 21, 2012. This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period but then -- just as your calendar begins again on January 1 -- another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar.

Q: Could phenomena occur where planets align in a way that impacts Earth?
A: There are no planetary alignments in the next few decades, Earth will not cross the galactic plane in 2012, and even if these alignments were to occur, their effects on the Earth would be negligible. Each December the Earth and sun align with the approximate center of the Milky Way Galaxy but that is an annual event of no consequence.

"There apparently is a great deal of interest in celestial bodies, and their locations and trajectories at the end of the calendar year 2012, said Don Yeomans, NASA senior research scientist"Now, I for one love a good book or movie as much as the next guy. But the stuff flying around through cyberspace, TV and the movies is not based on science. There is even a fake NASA news release out there..."

Q: Is there a planet or brown dwarf called Nibiru or Planet X or Eris that is approaching the Earth and threatening our planet with widespread destruction?
A: Nibiru and other stories about wayward planets are an Internet hoax. There is no factual basis for these claims. If Nibiru or Planet X were real and headed for an encounter with the Earth in 2012, astronomers would have been tracking it for at least the past decade, and it would be visible by now to the naked eye. Obviously, it does not exist. Eris is real, but it is a dwarf planet similar to Pluto that will remain in the outer solar system; the closest it can come to Earth is about 4 billion miles.

Q: What is the polar shift theory? Is it true that the earth’s crust does a 180-degree rotation around the core in a matter of days if not hours?
A: A reversal in the rotation of Earth is impossible. There are slow movements of the continents (for example Antarctica was near the equator hundreds of millions of years ago), but that is irrelevant to claims of reversal of the rotational poles. However, many of the disaster websites pull a bait-and-switch to fool people. They claim a relationship between the rotation and the magnetic polarity of Earth, which does change irregularly, with a magnetic reversal taking place every 400,000 years on average. As far as we know, such a magnetic reversal doesn’t cause any harm to life on Earth. A magnetic reversal is very unlikely to happen in the next few millennia, anyway.

Q: Is the Earth in danger of being hit by a meteor in 2012?
A: The Earth has always been subject to impacts by comets and asteroids, although big hits are very rare. The last big impact was 65 million years ago, and that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Today NASA astronomers are carrying out a survey called the Spaceguard Survey to find any large near-Earth asteroids long before they hit. We have already determined that there are no threatening asteroids as large as the one that killed the dinosaurs. All this work is done openly with the discoveries posted every day on the NASA NEO Program Office website, so you can see for yourself that nothing is predicted to hit in 2012.

Q: How do NASA scientists feel about claims of pending doomsday?
A: For any claims of disaster or dramatic changes in 2012, where is the science? Where is the evidence? There is none, and for all the fictional assertions, whether they are made in books, movies, documentaries or over the Internet, we cannot change that simple fact. There is no credible evidence for any of the assertions made in support of unusual events taking place in December 2012.

Q: Is there a danger from giant solar storms predicted for 2012?
A: Solar activity has a regular cycle, with peaks approximately every 11 years. Near these activity peaks, solar flares can cause some interruption of satellite communications, although engineers are learning how to build electronics that are protected against most solar storms. But there is no special risk associated with 2012.

The next solar maximum will occur in the 2012-2014 time frame and is predicted to be an average solar cycle, no different than previous cycles throughout history.

Has the Mayan Crystal Skull Mystery Been Solved?

From Marketwatch: Has the Mayan Crystal Skull Mystery Been Solved? Wayne Sedawie, founder of Gemrockauctions.com, has been wholesaling and has cut over a million gemstones, has sold over 1,000 crystal skulls, and has an experienced understanding of all aspects of how a crystal skull could have been carved!

QUEENSLAND, Australia, March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Gemstone dealer with over 20 years' experience investigates the mysterious Mayan crystal skull.

Wayne Sedawie, founder of Gemrockauctions.com, has been wholesaling and has cut over a million gemstones, has sold over 1,000 crystal skulls, and has an experienced understanding of all aspects of how a crystal skull could have been carved.

With in-depth gemstone knowledge and practical experience he has researched and investigated the crystal skull mystery and used his experience from operating gemstone cutting factories, opal mining operations, international gemstone wholesale and a recent trip to Chichen Itza in January 2012 to investigate the Ancient Mayan sites.

Firstly by studying the geography of the area he analysed where the quartz could have been formed. This led him to some exploration findings and to the conclusion that the rough quartz had to be outsourced out of the Mayan regions. The trail for the sourcing of quartz led to the investigation of the Mayan trading system and trade routes, the amazing and chilling rituals and religion of the ancient race, the ideal environmental conditions for the creation of quartz, analysing what countries could have supplied the quartz and where the crystal skull could have been made in the start of the century.

Other researchers failed to investigate how a crystal skull could have been made. With his knowledge and research he found out how at the start of the century craftsmen had existing techniques and were capable of cutting a crystal skull.

A skilled craftsman understands how to analyse rough quartz in a process called "stress test." This test eliminates any faults in the rough before carving commences, and then with the use of pointers or calibrators the craftsman could obtain an exact copy from a human skull and also use abrasion materials that were available at the time, so that a skull could be cut and polished. Through this information he has concluded with a high probability of who made the skull.

Website: http://www.gemrockauctions.com

Maya 2012 End of Days Prediction Explored in New Exhibition

From the Christian Post: Maya 2012 End of Days Prediction Explored in New Exhibition

Did the Maya believe the world would end in December 2012? That is the question the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (known as Penn Museum) in Philadelphia has taken to exploring in its newest exhibition opening in May.

The theory that the ancient Maya predicted a cataclysmic event at the end of their calendar has been gaining popularity over the recent years. According to the exhibition organizers, some believe that a celestial alignment will bring a series of devastating natural disasters. Others argue that this event will bring enlightenment and a new age of peace. Penn Museum scientists decided to address the issue, and attempt to answer the questions surrounding the mysterious calendar prophecy, especially having observed the public's increased curiosity about that ancient civilization and its knowledge regarding the end of time.

"MAYA 2012: Lords of Time," the exhibition, is set to compare the apocalypse predictions with their supposed origins in the ancient Maya civilization, says a statement released by Penn Museum. For that purpose, the museum mobilized some of its best curators, creating an interactive exhibition complete with sculptures and full-sized replicas of major monuments.

But most crucially, the exhibit aims to explain the Maya's complex calendar systems, which were based on an advanced understanding of astronomy and the night sky. Their most elaborate system, called the Long Count, encompasses trillions of years, and one of its important cycles comes to a close on Dec. 23, 2012 (Dec. 21, 2012, according to some scholars), according to the museum's statement.

"We wanted to tell the true story about the ancient Maya, their calendar, their understanding of time, and what all this 2012 stuff is about," Associate Curator of the American Section Simon Martin says in a video promoting the exhibit.

But the apocalyptic element is not everything, curators assure.

"MAYA 2012 offers visitors a rare opportunity to view spectacular examples of Classic Maya art – some of which have never before been seen outside Honduras – and delve into the Maya people's extraordinary, layered, and shifting concepts about time," Exhibition Curator Dr. Loa Traxler said in a statement. "MAYA 2012: Lords of Time uncovers a history and culture far richer and more surprising than commonly supposed." Traxler is an archaeologist, a leading Maya epigrapher, Mellon Associate Deputy Director of the Penn Museum, and co-author of The Ancient Maya.

Penn Museum, founded in 1887 and celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2012, is dedicated to the "study and understanding of human history and diversity." The Museum has sent more than 400 archaeological and anthropological expeditions to all the inhabited continents of the world, according to the museum website.

"MAYA 2012: Lords of Time" is presented in partnership with the Instituto Hondureño de Antropología e Historia of the Republic of Honduras. The exhibition will run through Jan. 13, 2013.

Mayan Calendar 2012 Doomsday Scenarios Debunked By NASA Scientist

From the HuffingtON Post: Mayan Calendar 2012 Doomsday Scenarios Debunked By NASA Scientist Scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory have put out a new video to address false claims about the "Mayan apocalypse," a non-event that some people believe will bring the world to an end on Dec. 21. In the video, which was posted online Wednesday (Mar. 7), Don Yeomans, head of the Near-Earth Objects Program Office at NASA/JPL, explains away many of the most frequently cited doomsday scenarios. [See video] Addressing the belief that the calendar used by the ancient Mayan civilization comes to a sudden end in December 2012, and that this will coincide with a cataclysmic, world-ending event, Yeomans said: "Their calendar does not end on December 21, 2012; it's just the end of the cycle and the beginning of a new one. It's just like on December 31, our calendar comes to an end, but a new calendar begins on January 1." Yeomans also attempted to allay fears regarding potential causes of a Mayan apocalypse, including Nibiru, an imaginary planet that some people think is swinging in from the outer solar system just in time to collide with Earth in December. "This enormous planet is supposed to be coming toward Earth, but if it were, we would have seen it long ago. And if it were invisible somehow, we would have seen the [gravitational] effects of this planet on neighboring planets. Thousands of astronomers who scan the sky on a daily basis have not seen this," he said. [Believers In Mysterious Planet Nibiru Await Earth's End] He added that there is zero possibility of a NASA cover-up. "Can you imagine thousands of astronomers who observe the skies on a daily basis keeping the same secret from the public for several years?" As for solar flares, Yeomans explained that these do exist — in fact, two massive solar flares erupted just days ago, sending bursts of solar radiation into space — but they are part of the sun's normal 11-year cycle. Radiation from solar flares can damage orbiting satellites, but Earth's magnetosphere shields its inhabitants from the blasts, and the flares are not a health concern. "Then we have planetary alignments," Yeomans said. Some doomsayers believe the other planets and the sun will align with the Earth in December and cause catastrophic tidal effects. "Well, first of all, there are no planetary alignments in December of 2012, and even if there were, there are no tidal effects on the Earth as a result. The only two bodies in the solar system that can affect the Earth's tides are the moon, which is very close, and the sun, which is massive and also fairly close. But the other planets have a negligible effect on the Earth." (Incidentally, it is perfectly normal for the sun and moon to align, bolstering each other's gravitational pulls on Earth and generating higher-than-normal ocean tides. This happens twice each month.) Addressing the claim that Earth's axes are going to shift on Dec. 21, 2012, he said: "The rotation axis can't shift because the orbit of the moon around the Earth stabilizes it and doesn't allow it to shift." He noted that the magnetic field does shift every half-million years or so, but "there's no evidence it's going to happen in December, and even if it were to be shifting, it takes thousands of years to do so. And even if it did shift, it's not going to cause a problem on the Earth apart from the fact that we're going to have to recalibrate our compasses." [What If Earth's Magnetic Poles Flip?] Invoking the astronomer Carl Sagan's famous maxim, he said: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. Since the beginning of time there have been literally hundreds of thousands of predictions for the end of the world, and we're still here."

Preparing for 'the end of the world as we know it'

From the Spectrum: Preparing for 'the end of the world as we know it' CEDAR CITY - A TV show on the National Geographic Channel, called "Doomsday Preppers," about people preparing for an end of the world event along with the belief the Mayans predicted the end of the world in 2012, has brought a surge of interest in emergency preparedness across the United States. "This is more than just casually getting ready, it's a lifestyle," said Rajul Mistry, communications specialist with the National Geographic Channel. "In a survey from Yale, it shows most people believe some cataclysmic event will take place in the not to distant future. These same people say they aren't prepared so they like to watch shows about people who are." The survey states 71 percent of Americans envision a major natural disaster in their lifetime, 27 percent of Americans believe the Mayan calendar's prediction about a calamitous event in Dec. 2012 to be at least "somewhat true" and 85 percent of Americans do not feel they are prepared for a devastating event. Clett Mansfield lives with his wife in a small trailer in unincorporated Iron County and says he knows there will be an "end of civilization event" soon, for which he says he is prepared. "It's not a question of if, it's a question of when," Mansfield said. Mansfield says he lives 99 percent "off the grid," meaning he doesn't rely on outside sources for food, water or electricity. Mansfield said the most likely occurrence he is prepared for is a breakdown of the government caused by an economic collapse, but the possibility of sun flares that could knock out power across the world is another concern. "In the end it's the same result," he said. "People will be starving waiting for someone to help them, while those of us who prepared will be fine indefinitely." Mansfield said he has goats to provide milk and meat, chickens, a fishpond and a hydroponics greenhouse to grow food year round. He also owns a large stockpile of guns and ammunition. "This is how it will play out. The grid will go down and then we'll have government agents going from town to town and house to house taking people's food for governmental stores. We'll need to protect ourselves from them if we hope to survive."

PA: No mystery behind the 2012 Apocalypse

From Lions Tale (a high school journalism blog): No mystery behind the 2012 Apocalypse
The reason people even started to suspect that the world might end in 2012 in the first place is because on the Mayan Calendar, Dec. 21, 2012, it marks the end of a 5,126-year long era. However, just like a regular calendar does not end on Dec. 31, Dec. 21, 2012, is not the end of the Mayan Calendar. It is just the end of a long-count period, and another period begins after it. This is like any other calendar that restarts on January 1st and begins a new year.

2012 and the preoccupation with the end of the world have been thoroughly analyzed by professionals. NASA scientists have already answered many questions that are frequently asked regarding 2012. They say that “our planet has been getting along fine for more than 4 billion years, and credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012.” The story of the ‘end of the world’ started when a small planet was supposed to collide with Earth in May 2003, and when nothing happened, the date was moved up to December 2012. However, any planets said to be headed towards Earth are an internet hoax. If a planet actually were close enough to hit Earth sometime in 2012, astronomers would have been able to track it for the past decade and we would be able to see it now. There are also no planetary alignments scheduled to take place in the next few decades, and even if there were, the effects of these would not be felt on Earth. They would also not do any damage.

In a 2009 article, Lawrence Joseph, who wrote the book Apocalypse 2012 said he “noticed that the Mayan’s end date coincided with a peak in solar flare activity three years from now. Those flares could affect the world’s electrical systems, leaving people without electricity for months or years.” These solar flare theories have been proven incorrect by NASA. Solar activity has a regular cycle which peaks every 11 years. Near these peaks, flares can interrupt satellite communication. The next peak is scheduled for the 2012 - 2014 time frame, but it will be no different than the previous cycles throughout history.

There were many previous predictions that the world was going to end, dating as far back as 1806. These, obviously, were all incorrect. The most recent was predicted for May of last year. This date was based on a mathematical system created by Harold Camping to interpret prophecies hidden in the Bible, the same system used to predict the false 1994 end date.

Although there are a wide variety of theories, science has proven that the world is definitely planning on ending anytime soon.

Wednesday!

I know I keep promising that I'm going to get back to a daily schedule of posts, and I know that weeks have gone by and there's been nothing regular about my schedule!

And I apologize! Stuff happens, abetted, I admit, by procrastination. There was a helluva lot of scanning of material I needed to do which I never did, and now I've got to get all that material back where it came from, so I've got 2 days of probably 12 hours a day spending my time scanning, and double checking to make sure I havne't missed any pages, etc.

So I'm going to spend the next 2 days doing that, will be all caught up on Wednesday, and will resume daily posts here.

And will finally have learned my lesson about procrastination - don't do it!