In the spirit of Y2K, Geraldo Rivera's opening of Al Capone's vault and the Vikings' preseason playoff hopes, we bring you: the last New Year's Eve ever.

Maybe.

The theory that this could be our final end-of-the-year countdown is based on the Mayan calendar's supposed indication that the world will end during the coming year. In the interest of not being alarmists, we point out that scientists mince no words in debunking that theory. Even Prince hasn't bothered to rewrite the words to his doomsday anthem, "1999."

Nonetheless, the notion that this might be the last chance to let loose on New Year's Eve could induce some daring celebrants to throw caution to the wind in an effort to go out with a bang.

The Minneapolis Police Department, where level-headedness is in vogue, isn't buying that theory. "We don't see any correlation between the Mayan calendar's prediction and the chance of any additional rowdiness, at least not in Minneapolis," said spokesman Sgt. Steve McCarty.

Even if you buy the doomsday theory, keep in mind that the supposed end of the world doesn't come until the winter solstice in December, providing plenty of time for over-the-top partyers to pay the piper -- not to mention the court fines -- for their indiscretions.

Is the calendar dated?

Theories abound as to why the Mayan calendar, carved into a stone that was discovered in a 1960s archaeological dig in Mexico, stops in December.

It was based on 13 time periods, called baktuns, and some scholars think it stopped after the 13th one because the cycle simply started over again at that point, much the same way modern calendars list Sunday through Saturday.

Other theories are that work on the calendar was abandoned because of a natural disaster -- some scientists believe the civilization foundered because of a 200-year drought -- or an epidemic or an invasion by an enemy army.

There's a whole other school of thought that the calendar wasn't indicating a physical end to the world at all, but rather the dawn of a new spiritual era. Adherents to this hypothesis argue that the calendar was predicting the return of Itzamna, the Mayan god of creation. On a contemporary front, some New Agers expect that it will usher in a new level of enlightenment.

Nonetheless, the alarming theories about the calendar's apocalyptic forecasts have gotten so prevalent that NASA has posted an online FAQ debunking the notion (www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/2012.html). Other than the fact it inspired the 2009 disaster movie "2012," the space scientists can't find much nice to say about the calendar's influence.

"Impressive movie special effects aside, Dec. 21, 2012, won't be the end of the world as we know it," the Web page says. "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."

Jeff Strickler • 612-673-7392