So there was no year 0? it goes from 1BC to 1AD?
-----Original Message-----
From: m <mt_2@yahoo.com>
To: extropians@extropy.com <extropians@extropy.com>
Date: Thursday, December 09, 1999 11:24 PM
Subject: Re: millenial madness
>
>
>--- Spike Jones <spike66@ibm.net> wrote:
>> > m wrote: It ISN'T the last year of the century or
>> the millenium.
>
>[...]
>
>> It *is* the start of the 21st century. The first
>> century had
>> only 99 years. spike
>
>A joke, yeah?
>
>There's an essay on this
>http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/97jul/zero.htm
>
>AFAIK (and according to specialists) the first century
>DID have 100 years, from 1 A.D. to 100 A.D.. The 2nd
>century went from 201 to 300, etc.
>
> Denis Exiguus (St Denis) , who invented the Julian
>Calendar, was working before the introduction of the
>digit "0" (from Arabic mathematics). He would be using
>Roman numerals, "I" to "C", etc. He simply jumped from
>1 BC to 1 AD. Jesus was born in 1 AD according to this
>setup.
>
> So the the 3rd millenium begins at 1 + 2000, ie 2001
>AD.
>
> To get around this, you have to define "millenium"
>purely on the actual number (not years since Jesus'
>(conventionally dated) birth).
>
> This is inconsistent with the way millennia and
>centuries have been counted. It's winning in
>popularity, however.
>
>So maybe It's not the Millenium, it's just a very
>"noughty" year :). (Apologies to Python fans).
>But anyway, it'll be 2000, yippee!
>
>On madness,
>
> It seems that many people are choosing to avoid the
>crowds. In Sydney the railways are having a 2 hr
>hiatus cnetred on midnight to check for Y2K
>difficulties; this seems to have persuaded many to
>stay at home. Apparently they cannot simulate NYE on
>their systems ahead of time.
>
>
>Have a great NYE 2000!!. Avoid crazies. Check the
>computer.
>
>Mike
>
>
>
>
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