16th March 2008, 1:51 AM
Why what?
Okay that's kinda interesting.
I also think some people are pretty anal, or used to be, about the whole "2001 was the new millenium, not 2000". The thing is, in astronomical years, 2000 IS a new millenium and 1BC is considered "year zero". They find it a lot easier to work with the numbers that way. Further, if you say that 2001 is the new millenium, you have to say 1901 was the start of the 20th century, not 1900, and that the upcoming year 2011 is the new decade, not 2010.
Okay that's kinda interesting.
I also think some people are pretty anal, or used to be, about the whole "2001 was the new millenium, not 2000". The thing is, in astronomical years, 2000 IS a new millenium and 1BC is considered "year zero". They find it a lot easier to work with the numbers that way. Further, if you say that 2001 is the new millenium, you have to say 1901 was the start of the 20th century, not 1900, and that the upcoming year 2011 is the new decade, not 2010.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)