The 20th Century--WOW! What a Ride!

[G. Jacobs]

Dear All Forumites,

Thank you for all your lively and informative discussions. I have learned a lot here. I think the passage of time has caused many of us to glorify the feats of war without reflecting on the hardships suffered by the combatants of all nations. Living on the front away from your family and loved ones, bad food, poor sanitary conditions, lack of sleep, the weather, etc.-all contributed to a miserable daily existence for every soldier, sailor, and airman.

In the realm of this Forum, our heroes (and villains alike) found death staring them in the face every time their engine started. For some it was a premonition, for others a reminder of how lucky they had been, and for the survivors a reminder of the daily horrors they had conquered.

Let us hope we have learned our lessons from the fabulous 20th Century "...it was the best and the worst of times."

Best Wishes All-Wherever you find yourself Tonight

Gary

[Jim 'ACE']

All,
I sincerely hope that mankind will find a way to settle their differences in the 21st century without global war. Where ever you may find yourselves this New Year, remember that it was the sacrifice of those who fought for freedom in all the wars of the 20th Century, that gave us this moment to witness and enjoy. "No greater love hath man, than that he should lay down his life for his fellow man." This moment belongs to them! They bought and paid for it with everything they had ... they own it!
VBR,
Jim
HAPPY NEW MILLENIUM

[Lucien Morareau]

I agree with you, but nevertheless, note that the 21st century will begin on January 1st 2001 only...

[Tobias Gibson]

I wasn't aware that on the day Christ was born, that the Romans said, "the Jewish Messiah is born, let us create a new calendar and call this year 1." For the Romans it was year 46 based on Julius's new calendar. The current calendar was adjusted to relfects Christ's Birth by St. John Chrysostom in what would now become 354AD. He based it on Christ being crucified at the age 33 in the Roman year 79 and then knocked 33 years off of that calendar and said this is our new starting point. So the Roman year 387 became 354 AD because the St. John Chrysostom surmised Christ was born 354 years ealrier.


He wasn't concerned that the Roman Calendar had begun with the year 1. Because of this back dating we do end up with a year "O" because if you take 354 from 354 you wind up with 0 and not 1.

Think about it.
The year 79 became 33.
If you take 33 from 79 you get 46.
If you take 33 from 33 you get 0.

In short some St. John Chrysostom created a year 0 because he backdated a calendar to an event rather than started counting from the event.
<G>
Tobias
And now for a recap of the 20th century, regardless of when you think its starts:

The Twentieth Century Is Almost Over
by Steve Goodman and John Prine

Back in 1899 when everybody sang Auld Lang Syne
a hundred years took a long, long time
for every boy and girl
Now there's only one thing I'd like to know
where did the 20th century go
I'd swear it was here just a minute ago
all over this world.

Does anyone remember the Great Depression
I read all about it in True Confessions
Sorry I was late for the recording sessions
but somebody put me on hold;
Has anybody seen my linoleum floors,
petroleum jelly and two World Wars;
They got stuck in the revolving doors
all over this world.
Winter's getting colder, summer's getting hotter
Wishing well's wishing for another drop of water
Mother Earth's blushin' cause somebody caught her
making love to the man in the moon
How you gonna keep 'em down on the farm,
now that outer space has lost its charm,
Somebody set off the burglar alarm and not a moment too

Old Father Time has got his toes a tappin,
standin'in the window grumblin'and a rappin'
Everybody's waiting for something to happen,
tell me if it happens to you
The judgement Day is getting nearer,
there it is in the rear view mirror
If you duck down, I could see a little clearer
all over this world.

The twentieth century is almost over
almost over, almost over
The twentieth century is almost over
all over this world.
All over this world, all over this world.
The twentieth century is almost over all over this world.

[leo]

So far, the twentieth century has been my favorite century.

leo

[Michael Dailey]

I also feel that St. John Chrysostom and John Prine belong together in some odd fashion..

MDD

[mike_baram]

Tobias,
All the info I've gotten credits a 6th century Scythian monk, Dionysius Exigus (Dennis the Short, or Denny the Runt, if you prefer) with the placing of Christ's birth on 25 December, 1 BC (Before Christ). Historically, Christ was born during the reign of King Herod, who died in 4 BC, and it is suggested the birth is actually around 7 BC. We know that Herod ordered a census around that time, and all males who did not have children would have to be counted in their fathers' households (which would make a trip to Bethlehem a real possibility). Also, the census was in the spring of that year. Anyone familiar with the Judean hills will agree that winter weather is abominable....I've been caught in it.
Another piece of relevant information.....December 25 was the Winter Solstice under the Julian Calendar, as well as the traditional birthday of the Persian god, Mithras.
Regards,
Mike

[Darryl]

Hi Tobias,

Now I PROMISED myself I was NOT going to get involved in this.....but........

With all due respect, the backdating of the calender resulted in a starting point of "zero" but, just as you are born at "zero" and go through your *first year*, the first year of the 'Millennium' was year 1, not year 'zero'.

This is precisely the reason that we have lived thus far in the Twentieth Century even though we live in the '19' hundreds. To those who say we have reached the end of the decade and the century but not the Millennium, and there are plenty, I will just grin broadly and walk away.

It has been amazing here in the last few days to see the Media and the advertisers start refering only to the year 2000 and NOT to the "New Millennium". Now I am just cynical enough to believe that we are going to go through the whole Millennium hype again at the end of this year, promoting the wrong year gave them another bite at the cherry in 362 days time.

On the question of who 'invented' the modern calender, I must agree with Mike. The mad monk got it almost totally right (except that in the year 4019 we lose a day!! or is it gain a day, I'll post back when it happens**VBG**).

BTW Mike, sorry for not getting back to you on the other thread, it HAS been grand and now we get the chance to do it all again, at least until the Vogons arrive to blow us into hyper space....

regards

Darryl