wooderson, can you cite one reputable source that states the calendar can be specifically intepreted as saying time will end? Or is it that the calendar merely ends on Dec. 21, 2012? (Not unlike the 2008 calendar hanging on my wall ends one Dec. 31 of this year.) I've never had much interest in Meso-American history, but am truly interested in seperating the New Agey, aluminum foil hat wearing hype that surrounds such events as this from legitimate, archeological findings on a historic artifact.
Over the years we've had many of these "end of life as we know it" events be predicted, the most recent I can recall being the turn of the millinneum and one in 2005 I believe, where the inner planets were aligned. Dire consequences were predicted for both of those, mostly from sketchy characters with books, tapes and videos to sell (I miss Art Bell.) All of them came and went with little fanfare. I predict the date in 2012 will be exactly the same. However, should I be proven wrong on the day after, I'll gladly stand anyone who thinks differently to a beer. You will be able to find me in my bunker.
As to using Wikipedia for a cited resource on a paper for school, I'm in complete agreement with both you and your professor. In my day it was doing the same with an encyclopedia. However, the resource list from both a good encyclopedia article and Wikipedia can be an excellent place to begin one's actual research. Besides which, the General forum on Dweb hardly equates with a research paper. Wouldn't you agree?