Do we believe Wiki? “December was also the tenth month in the Roman calendar until a monthless winter period was divided between January and February.” “Although March was originally the first month in the old Roman Calendar, January became the first month of the calendar year either under Numa or under the Decemvirs about 450 BC (Roman writers differ).”
Blame the bureaucrats, but as chahn points out above, it was those authoritarian right-wingers, the Roman emprorers Julius and Augustus that inserted July and August.
July and August did NOT screw up the month numbering system. Those months were not inserted, but replaced the previous Roman months Quintilius and Sextilius. What screwed up the counting was moving the beginning of the year from March to January, as mentioned above.
Thanks, fpberger, you saved me the trouble. Although if I remember correctly (can’t be bothered to look it up), Julius WAS responsible for stealing days from February.
If it were up to me, we’d have 13 months of 4 weeks each. That would take care of 364 out of 365. The current December 31 would be a “Free Day”, falling in no month and on no day of the week. Since it happens to be my birthday, I suggest we name it after ME. (After all, I’m the one who came up with this eminently sensible idea.)
In leap years, we’d stick an additional Free Day between Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, July 1. Naming rights go to the highest bidder.
I don’t mind that they inserted a couple of months, as I recal the calendar was really screwed up back then and the new months did a lot to fix it. But as today’s strip pointed out, they should have been added at the end so that December was still the tenth month, not the twelfth. Or at least change the names.
Or we could simply rename September through December so their names no longer represent numerical rank. We could name them after celebrities (our modern gods and goddesses), and turn the contest into a reality show. I wouldn’t mind celebrating my birthday on “Aniston 31st…”
Scratch that. All the tweeners with their cell phones would flood the call-in number, and I’d end up having to give my birthmonth as “Bieber” or something…
lindonc over 13 years ago
????
Hillbillyman over 13 years ago
Bureaucrats involvement ruined everthing.
lewisbower over 13 years ago
I use the Mayan calandar.
jondelfin Premium Member over 13 years ago
Do we believe Wiki? “December was also the tenth month in the Roman calendar until a monthless winter period was divided between January and February.” “Although March was originally the first month in the old Roman Calendar, January became the first month of the calendar year either under Numa or under the Decemvirs about 450 BC (Roman writers differ).”
ladywyntre over 13 years ago
Yes, the old calendar started with Spring. Just about every ancient calendar did.
TheSpanishInquisition over 13 years ago
I live in Chicago. We have four seasons: windy, snowy, freezing-rain-and-potholes, and summer.
Smiley Rmom over 13 years ago
KS has mostly two seasons: summer & winter. We get about a week or two each, of spring & fall.
RaiseMoreHell over 13 years ago
Blame the bureaucrats, but as chahn points out above, it was those authoritarian right-wingers, the Roman emprorers Julius and Augustus that inserted July and August.
fpberger over 13 years ago
July and August did NOT screw up the month numbering system. Those months were not inserted, but replaced the previous Roman months Quintilius and Sextilius. What screwed up the counting was moving the beginning of the year from March to January, as mentioned above.
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
Thanks, fpberger, you saved me the trouble. Although if I remember correctly (can’t be bothered to look it up), Julius WAS responsible for stealing days from February.
If it were up to me, we’d have 13 months of 4 weeks each. That would take care of 364 out of 365. The current December 31 would be a “Free Day”, falling in no month and on no day of the week. Since it happens to be my birthday, I suggest we name it after ME. (After all, I’m the one who came up with this eminently sensible idea.)
In leap years, we’d stick an additional Free Day between Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, July 1. Naming rights go to the highest bidder.
up2trixx over 13 years ago
here in eastern Canada we have two seasons: “Winter”, and “Winter will be right back”
…I’m liking Fritzoid’s idea…
Ed The Red Premium Member over 13 years ago
I don’t mind that they inserted a couple of months, as I recal the calendar was really screwed up back then and the new months did a lot to fix it. But as today’s strip pointed out, they should have been added at the end so that December was still the tenth month, not the twelfth. Or at least change the names.
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
Or we could simply rename September through December so their names no longer represent numerical rank. We could name them after celebrities (our modern gods and goddesses), and turn the contest into a reality show. I wouldn’t mind celebrating my birthday on “Aniston 31st…”
fritzoid Premium Member over 13 years ago
Scratch that. All the tweeners with their cell phones would flood the call-in number, and I’d end up having to give my birthmonth as “Bieber” or something…