Does 2012 mark the end of the world? Are you one of those people who buys Playboy for the pictures? Finally, someone has taken the trouble to create a graphic look at 2012.

The wonderful folks at “Information Is Beautiful” have distilled the controversy over the end of the Maya calendar in 2012 in a concise infographic. They do not side with so-called New Agers who are anticipating a great change when the 5000-plus-year calendar runs out on Dec. 21, 2012, but with those boring archaeologists and anthropologists who stubbornly cling to the belief that it will be “just another day.”

You can find the “Information Is Beautiful” graphic HERE. For what the Maya think about 2012, be sure to listen to my PodCast HERE.

Here’s a nice amateur video of Chichen Itza’s El Castillo pyramid. There is a time-lapse recording, as well as some nice video of lazy dust devils dancing across the Gran Platform. How they shot this without a tripod, which are not permitted in the archaeological zone, is a mystery.

Who knew the late, great Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges was a tourist like the rest of us, complete with snapshots of the places he visited? Some 100 of the photographs, taken by his last wife, Maria Kodama, are featured in an exhibit currently underway at ARTeria in Mexico City, including several shots of the Borges at Chichen Itza.

“The Atlas of Borges,” consisting of photographs of the maestro along with snippets of appropriate text and poetry from the author’s works, will be exhibited through March 28. The project was originally a book published two years before his death. Kodama selected 130 photographs from the book and that serves as the basis for the exhibition.

The weigh-in for next month’s defense of the World Boxing Council’s featherweight crown will be held at Chichen Itza.

Local favorite and former champion Gustavo “Guty” Espadas will challenge the current champion, Dominican Elio Rojas, in a fight to be held Feb. 20 in Merida at the Poliforum. Originally Espadas announced the fight to be held at Chichen Itza, but was unable to get permission.

The fight, named “The Kukulcan Battle,” after the feathered serpent deity for whom the Chichen Itza pyramid is named, will be coming to Chichen Itza however, as the weigh-in will be taking place in the archaeological zone, according to the Governor Ivonne Pacheco Ortega.

The director of the Yucatecan state agency in charge of Chichen Itza has declared that the federal agency which also oversees the site has agreed to allow the singer Elton John to perform at the ancient Maya city on April 3. However, a proposed boxing match will instead be held in Merida, Yucatan, according to organizers.

There had been media reports last month that the Elton John concert to be held at the foot of the great pyramid, El Castillo, was at risk of cancellation because of recent archaeological work in the area. However, the director of Cultur, the Yucatecan state agency sponsoring the concert, said he has received permission to hold the concert from INAH, the federal agency in charge of the excavation. Jorge Esma Bazan, Cultur director, told media outlets that “we have the support of the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History–INAH) and are to sign the respective agreement.” He added that representatives of Cultur met with INAH’s general secretary, Luis Ignacio Sainz, and the concert was approved.

The excavation at Chichen Itza

According to Esma Bazan, the excavation at Chichen Itza will not affect the concert. The digging has been conducted on the east side of El Castillo, and the concert will be held on the west side, he said.

The director of Cultur also announced his agency is pursuing the possibility of holding the concert at sunset, which will be followed by a spectacular moonrise.

The sun has set already on the notion that the return to the ring of Yucatecan boxer Gustavo “Guty” Espadas will be held at Chichen Itza. Espadas had announced he would attempt to retake the featherweight crown in a fight at Chichen Itza in February. That fight instead will be held at the Poliforum in Merida on Feb. 20.

In a nod, at least, to the ancient Mayan city, the fight will be promoted as “The Kukulcan Battle,” after the feathered serpent deity for whom the pyramid El Castillo is named. Espadas, who held the World Boxing Council’s featherweight crown a decade ago, will attempt to reclaim it from Dominican Elio Rojas. The fight is being promoted by Pepe Gomez of Cancun and the United States’ Don King.

Previously:

Elton John on Collision Course with Archaeology at Chichen Itza?

Boxing Match Slated for Chichen Itza Feb. 15

Will your children enjoy a visit to Chichen Itza? Here’s a trip report of a recent visit made by two small children, both cute as bug’s ears:

In the 1990s, there was this clever Fanta commercial that looked as if it had been shot on a pyramid at Tikal, a famous Maya city. Someone did their own version of the commercial at Chichen Itza, although the footage is several years old as the actor was able to climb Chichen Itza’s big pyramid, El Castillo (something that has been forbidden since 2006). Here’s the homage to the original commericial:

For comparison or for those who don’t remember, here’s the original commercial that is being parodied: