On Thu, 30 Nov 1995, RAY PANKOPF wrote:
> ** Proprietary **
>
> 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
>
>
>
>