Poll: Does Dick Clark's Death Signify the End of the World?

It's been a long and public life for Dick Clark. After being born in the Great Depression, and living through World War II, Clark went on to host American Bandstand and the 1950 which lasted through the '80s.

Perhaps best known for his Rockin' New Year's Eve show, Clark was always there to broadcast the countdown to midnight.

Clark only missed one new year's broadcast, 2004-2005, when he suffered a stroke. In his return, he was a co-host with Ryan Seacrest.

According to the LA Times , Clark's health has been in decline since his stroke.

"Clark's health had been in question since a 2004 stroke affected his speech and mobility, but that year's Dec. 31 countdown was the only one he missed since he started the annual rite during the Nixon years."

One commenter on the LA Times article jested that with Clark's death there will be no one to countdown to the new year.

Perhaps it's just a coincidence then that the Mayan calendar comes to an end on Dec. 21 of this year.