In 2012, certain groups assume the world will come to an end, according to a warped interpretation of the Mayan calendar. I'm sure they'll tie in this eclipse somehow.

http://www.levity.com/eschaton/Why2012.html

The year 2012 is also when the next Venus solar transit happens. Venus was a big deal to the ancient cultures of Latin and South America.

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/transit/venus0412.html

Others think it will be the start of a new golden era. Remember the Harmonic Convergence of 1987? Oh yeah, the Cosmos really changed then. Knowing the way society works in general, it will probably just be another year of stupidity and violence.

Or maybe 2012 will be the year of the Singularity, when humanity finally grows up - or at least its descendants do.

http://www.aleph.se/Trans/Global/Singularity/