999 years doesn't make a milleneum

1/1/2000

It shouldn't take a computer programmer to know that both next millennium and century are still 12 months away. The dumbing down of our education system has spawned a generation of idiots who graduated high school unable to do math, read, write, and tell when the next century will begin.

Apparently the people and Time magazine correctly knew in 1901 that the year was the start of the 20th century. They didn't have Y2K problems then. In fact, they didn't have electronic calculators or even the slide rule but were capable of understanding the simple fact that there was no year zero in the calendar system developed by the monk, Dionysius Exiguus (c. 525 AD) who suggested that years be counted from the birth of Christ - the first millennium and the first century began AD 1.

Coupled with the sub-mediocre educational system, we are also hoodwinked by the Clinton presidency and the media frenzy where form has been elevated to a level more important than substance - that of celebrating a century that had only 99 years and a millennium that lasted 999 years.

Looking back that I mistakenly showed up for my first date with my future wife a day early now looks minuscule in comparison with these notable events that will erroneously be celebrated a whole year early. Bah, Humbug!