first:
Our solar system passes through the ecliptic.
an interesting
article here
Basically, the Mayan calender is circular and as days/hours/months/years/etc pass the wheels turn from the inside out. Kinda like the gears of a clock turning. On December 21st, 2012, the calender will have made it's first full rotation. Thus a new cycle will start.
The Long Count calendar identifies a date by counting the number of days from August 11, 3114 BC According to the Maya, there will be a baktun ending in 2012, a significant event being the end of the 13th 400 year period, but not the end of the world. However, instead of using a base-10 scheme like Western numbering, the Long Count days were tallied in a modified base-20 scheme.
an article on the
magnetic north pole shift
more
interesting reading
Do I think it will be the end?
yes, something will probably end on that day. someone will probably die that day. someone will probably be born on that day as well!!