Archive for December 31, 2009
The End of a Decade – Wait For It, WAIT FOR IT…
by John Weckerle
As is often the case at this time in any year ending in a “nine,” people are looking back over the past decade and reminscing. Let’s take a look at a few things that didn’t happen in this decade:
- Y2K did not pass without damaging systems worldwide.
- George Bush was not elected president.
- Al Gore and Joe Lieberman did not lose the Presidential election.
- AOL did not purchase Time Warner.
- Brazil did not celebrate it’s 500th year.
- Israel did not withdraw from southern Lebanon.
- Hedy Lamarr, Tom Landry, and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. did not die.
These things did not happen in this decade because they happened in the year 2000, which was in the last, and not this, decade. While popular culture has come to view the “nine” year as the last in a decade, it is not; that distinction actually falls to the “10” year. This is because of the way the Gregorian calendar, which we use to this day, was set up: the first year was designated as the year 1 rather than the year zero. Thus, the first decade was the year 1 through 10, and all decades (and centuries, and millenia) have followed the example since. The 20th century and the second millennium both came to a close on December 31, 2000, and the first decade of the 21st century will end on December 31, 2010. Whether you loved it or hated it, you’re in for one more year of the decade!
Surprise! Snowstorm Slams Southwest, Slowdowns Suspected
by John Weckerle
The Great Hunter bags a rubber chicken in the snow.
Snow continued to descend throughout the night, with a few flakes still falling this morning at New Mexico Central headquarters. Temperatures were in the low 20s, and accumulation – though difficult to ascertain due to the drifting – appeared to be between 8 inches and a foot. Your editor spent about an hour last night shoveling two tire tracks down the driveway and coaxing the car up the driveway and into the garage. It is unclear exactly when the car will be going back out.
Cameras on I-40 at Zamora Road in Tijeras and in Carnuel show relatively clear, but possibly slippery, conditions on the highway; however, local roads (not to mention driveways) are likely to be another matter. Alerts are in effect along I-40 from at least Sedillo Hill through Carnuel.