Thread View: alt.folklore.computers
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Started by ken... Stephen P. Kendall
Sat, 30 Dec 1989 07:56
Chronology, Computers, and You.
Author: ken... Stephen P. Kendall
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 1989 07:56
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 1989 07:56
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I distantly remember how all this got started (OS's reaching their absolute
date limit, if memory serves), but this is getting silly. Massive bandwidth
is being expended daily to discuss totally arbitrary trivia about time.
Even Jan. 1st being New Year's day is arbitrary, EVEN IN OUR CALENDAR!
In the 18th century (accourding to my almanac), the British moved New Year's
Day from Mar. 25 to Jan 1. How it got there I do not know.
My point is that while there may be some scientific basis for this calendar
or that calendar, you might as well celebrate the turning of your car's
odometer. The changing of the most rarely changed part of the date is just
as good as an excuse for a celebration as most. When the century is up is
silly, and belongs more on quiz shows than USENET. Few people care, and
almost nobody is going to do anything about it anyway.
"The National Coalition to Ban More-Festive-than-Normal New Year's Eve
Celebrations in 2000"
I don't think so.
--
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Stephen P. Kendall ken...@bsu-cs.bsu.edu
Ball State University 00spk...@bsu-ucs.bsu.edu
"What do you want?"--six "Information..."--two "You won't get it!"--six
Re: Chronology, Computers, and You.
Author: tee... Matthew Moore
Date: Fri, 05 Jan 1990 19:14
Date: Fri, 05 Jan 1990 19:14
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In article <10...@bsu-cs.bsu.edu> ken...@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Stephen P. Kendall) writes: > >Even Jan. 1st being New Year's day is arbitrary, EVEN IN OUR CALENDAR! >In the 18th century (accourding to my almanac), the British moved New Year's >Day from Mar. 25 to Jan 1. How it got there I do not know. It was part of the deal when they changed from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar, the latter being more accurate. By the time it was moved, the date was eleven days out of step (I know - what with?), and eleven days were actually deleted from the calendar, in September 1752 -see man cal.1 (phew! a connection with computers) and there were serious riots on the theme "give us back our eleven days" (New Scientist did a full feature on this a few years ago) -- ++
Re: Chronology, Computers, and You.
Author: Jim McIntosh
Date: Sun, 07 Jan 1990 02:04
Date: Sun, 07 Jan 1990 02:04
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In article <1990Jan5.1...@isis.educ.lon.ac.uk>, tee...@isis.educ.lon.ac.uk (Matthew Moore) says: >In article <10...@bsu-cs.bsu.edu> ken...@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Stephen P. Kendall) >writes: >>Even Jan. 1st being New Year's day is arbitrary, EVEN IN OUR CALENDAR! >>In the 18th century (accourding to my almanac), the British moved New Year's >>Day from Mar. 25 to Jan 1. How it got there I do not know. > >It was part of the deal when they changed from the Julian to the Gregorian >Calendar, the latter being more accurate. >By the time it was moved, the date was eleven days out of step (I know - >what with?), and eleven days were actually deleted from the calendar, in >September 1752 -see man cal.1 (phew! a connection with computers) and >there were serious riots on the theme "give us back our eleven days" Well, out of step with countries which had already switched calendars. By the time the British (and the American colonies) got around to it they were out of sync with other countries which had changed calendars earlier. As a result they had to not only change calendars, but also change dates to be in sync with everyone else. ------- Jim McIntosh (JIM@AUVM) The American University Washington DC 20016 USA
Re: Chronology, Computers, and You.
Author: wi... William Lewis
Date: Mon, 08 Jan 1990 06:01
Date: Mon, 08 Jan 1990 06:01
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In article <1990Jan5.1...@isis.educ.lon.ac.uk> tee...@isis.educ.lon.ac.uk (Matthew Moore) writes: >In article <10...@bsu-cs.bsu.edu> ken...@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Stephen P. Kendall) writes: >By the time it was moved, the date was eleven days out of step (I know - >what with?), Well, the seasons ... if the equinoxes and such hapened on the 10th instead of the 21st it would be noticeable... If they HADN'T fixed it and spring began to come in February, it would disturb a lot of people... > and eleven days were actually deleted from the calendar, in >September 1752 -see man cal.1 (phew! a connection with computers) and >there were serious riots on the theme "give us back our eleven days" Yah. Landlords would charge a full month's rent, but employers would deduct 11 days' pay ... and I bet people who had things to do during those eleven days got quite confused. (Well, I was going to fix the roof on Saturday, but Saturday ceased to have been going to exist...) -- wi...@blake.acs.washington.edu (206)526-5885 Seattle, Washington
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