i don't know if you are familiar with cecil adams. he writes a column
called "the straight dope" which appears in papers in chicago, detroit,
phoenix, etc.
ask cecil a question, and he will find the correct answer, regardless of
how absurd, ridiculous, sublime, etc. cecil is never wrong.
he once wrote an answer to a question regarding the 4 seasons which
included a portion on the "official" start date to winter, spring, summer, &
fall. he noted that no governmental or scientific agency has ever
adopted an "official" start date to the seasons. he further challenged his
readers to locate one. to my knowledge, nobody ever has. (hallmark
cards and other calendar makers do not count as a recognized
governmental or scientific agency.)
when you think about it, it makes no sense to judge the beginning of
seasons on the equinox or the solstice. weather, hence the seasons, is
influenced by a ton of parameters which vary from location to location.
does it make sense to say that spring begins the same day in anchorage
as mexico city? great falls and pasco? moscow and lewiston?
nope.
don't know why i thought of this upon reading the "birthday" message.
just did. its one of "those" things... just like the difference between
"cement" and "concrete." folks often use cement when they really mean
concrete. (cement is an ingredient of concrete... one doesn't blow out
the candles on their birthday "flour.")
anyway... far too much effort on such minutiae....
>>> Tom Lamar <tlamar@moscow.com> 11/30/95 05:18pm >>>
Ray,
Please explain. I'm confused by your message
Tom
>** Proprietary **
>
>tangentially.....
>
>always remember that, no matter how much the talking heads on tv
>insist....
>
>the solstice does not mark an "official" first day of winter!!!!
>
>
>
>>>> Kenton Bird <90142419@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU> 11/30/95
>03:51pm >>>
>On the Winter Solstice, dec. 21, the Vision2020 list-server will observe
>its first birthday. Some time in the next 2 weeks, Fritz and I plan to post
a
>survey asking subscribers about their use of the list and to gather ideas
>on how it might be improved in its second year.
>
>If you were a subscriber last march, you may remember a similar,
though
>shorter survey. Since then, the list has nearly doubled in size, and the
>discussion has ranged widely.
>
>One of the questions we'll ask is subject matter -- in particular wheter
to
>add public school issues. But we're also open to asking about other
>areas of content and tone as well. If you have suggestions, please
>write me, kbird@wsu.edu or fritzK@moscow.com