Posted by Raul.
Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.
Posted on 12/20/99 7:05 AM MST
There are unending statements from the news media and many other people about how the new millenium is about to start. Can we set the record straight here?
Since we are to be scientist and engineers we must get are facts straight (more important than perfect spelling or grammer).
So here are the facts:
THE YEAR 2000 IS PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY!! THE NEW MILLENIUM DOES NOT START UNTIL 2001!
I will try to explain:
When you are born you are 0 (zero) years old, but we say that you are in your 1st year of life (there is no 0th year).
When you turn 9 you are in your 10th year of life.
We say you are 9 years old even though you are in your 10th year of life. This causes confusion. Your first decade of life ends when you are done with your 10th year (you turn 10) and your 11th year of life starts.
When we decided to start the AD calendar, the year 1 AD (year number 1) started when 0 (zero) years had passed.
The first year ends when
The first decade ends after the 10th year ends, after year number 10 ends and year number 11 begins.
The 1st first century ends after the 100th year ends.
The 1st millenium ends after the 1000th year ends.
The 2nd millenium ends after the 2000th year ends and year number 2001 begins!!!
That was way too complicated.
Simply put:
Since we started counting years with 1 and not zero. So in the year 2000, only 1999 years have passed and 2000 years will have passed (and thus the 2nd millenium ends) on 12/31/2000.
Raul
Posted by Dodd Stacy.
Engineer on team #95, Lebanon Robotics Team, from Lebanon High School and CRREL/CREARE.
Posted on 12/20/99 8:20 AM MST
In Reply to: 2000 not a new Millenium posted by Raul on 12/20/99 7:05 AM MST:
So…, the whole confusion is because the AD calendar started with the year ‘1’ rather than ‘0’? And I heard there was some argument about when the calendar clock was started, as well. I think I’m going to play it safe and celebrate the new millenium both times!
Best of luck to all the teams in the 2000 Games, whatever century and millenium they happen!
Dodd
Posted by Jerry Eckert.
Engineer from Looking for a team in Raleigh, NC sponsored by New England Prototype/Brooks Automation.
Posted on 12/20/99 1:37 PM MST
In Reply to: 2000 not a new Millenium posted by Raul on 12/20/99 7:05 AM MST:
: There are unending statements from the news media and many other people about how the new millenium is about to start. Can we set the record straight here?
: Since we are to be scientist and engineers we must get are facts straight (more important than perfect spelling or grammer).
: So here are the facts:
: THE YEAR 2000 IS PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY!! THE NEW MILLENIUM DOES NOT START UNTIL 2001!
: Simply put:
: Since we started counting years with 1 and not zero. So in the year 2000, only 1999 years have passed and 2000 years will have passed (and thus the 2nd millenium ends) on 12/31/2000.
I don’t disagree with your logic, but it’s way more complicated than that.
Numerous changes have been made to the calendar (which is not really THE calendar, as there are still a number of different calendars in use) since 1 AD. With all the adjustments which have been made, it seems fairly safe to say that January 1, 2001 will not be exactly 2000 years (by today’s definition) after January 1, 0001
And, if you wish to use the actual birth of Christ as the start of the first millenium rather than the first day of the year 1 AD the situation is even more confusing because the exact year (much less the date) of Christ’s birth is not known.
Jerry
Posted by Austin Martus.
Other on team #47 from son of pchs coach.
Posted on 12/21/99 12:35 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: 2000 not a new Millenium posted by Jerry Eckert on 12/20/99 1:37 PM MST:
all i have to say is
7% believe the millennium begins 1/1/00.
14% believe the millennium begins 1/1/01.
79% believe the other 21% need to get a life.
austin
Posted by Raul.
Engineer on team #111, Wildstang, from Rolling Meadows & Wheeling HS and Motorola.
Posted on 12/21/99 4:22 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: 2000 not a new Millenium posted by Austin Martus on 12/21/99 12:35 PM MST:
: all i have to say is
: 7% believe the millennium begins 1/1/00.
: 14% believe the millennium begins 1/1/01.
: 79% believe the other 21% need to get a life.
: austin
Yes, but those are the same 79% who are so busy ‘getting a life’ that they forget to enjoy the little details. As they say, they forget ‘to stop to smell the flowers’.
Raul 
Posted by Mike Kulibaba. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Student on team #88, TJ², from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional and Johnson and Johnson.
Posted on 12/21/99 7:55 PM MST
In Reply to: Re: 2000 not a new Millenium posted by Raul on 12/21/99 4:22 PM MST:
Is FIRST Y2K compliant? have they ran any tests, hope they don’t lose all their info! good luck to everyone
Kuli Team 88 TJ²
Posted by Brandon Martus. [PICTURE: SAME | NEW | HELP]
Other on team #47, Chief Delphi, from Pontiac Central High School and Delphi Automotive Systems.
Posted on 12/21/99 6:25 PM MST
In Reply to: 2000 not a new Millenium posted by Raul on 12/20/99 7:05 AM MST:
yea…
this was brought up on x-files once a few weeks ago, if i’m not mistaken…
: There are unending statements from the news media and many other people about how the new millenium is about to start. Can we set the record straight here?
: Since we are to be scientist and engineers we must get are facts straight (more important than perfect spelling or grammer).
: So here are the facts:
: THE YEAR 2000 IS PART OF THE 20TH CENTURY!! THE NEW MILLENIUM DOES NOT START UNTIL 2001!
: I will try to explain:
: When you are born you are 0 (zero) years old, but we say that you are in your 1st year of life (there is no 0th year).
: When you turn 9 you are in your 10th year of life.
: We say you are 9 years old even though you are in your 10th year of life. This causes confusion. Your first decade of life ends when you are done with your 10th year (you turn 10) and your 11th year of life starts.
: When we decided to start the AD calendar, the year 1 AD (year number 1) started when 0 (zero) years had passed.
: The first year ends when
: The first decade ends after the 10th year ends, after year number 10 ends and year number 11 begins.
: The 1st first century ends after the 100th year ends.
: The 1st millenium ends after the 1000th year ends.
: The 2nd millenium ends after the 2000th year ends and year number 2001 begins!!!
: That was way too complicated.
: Simply put:
: Since we started counting years with 1 and not zero. So in the year 2000, only 1999 years have passed and 2000 years will have passed (and thus the 2nd millenium ends) on 12/31/2000.
: Raul
Posted by Nate Smith.
Other on team #66, GM Powertrain/Ypsilanti HS/Willow Run HS, from Eastern Michigan University and GM Powertrain.
Posted on 12/26/99 8:14 PM MST
In Reply to: 2000 not a new Millenium posted by Raul on 12/20/99 7:05 AM MST:
Here’s an idea I heard from a friend of mine…why not just celebrate it both times?