It's the second quarter of the 21st century!
ESSENTIAL NEWS. January 5, 2025. Florida Weekly
We are now officially in the second quarter of the 21st century.
Isn’t it amazing how time flies? It seems like only 25 years ago we were all panicked about the impending Y2K calamity.
For those too young to recall this perilous moment in our world’s history, a refresher:
Back when computer programs were first created in the mid-20th century, they didn’t have the powerful chips we have today. Silicon hadn’t been invented yet, and chips were carved out of elephant tusks.
Oh, wait, scratch that. That was ChatGPT acting up again. Silicon was invented—it’s sand, after all—the chips just weren’t very good.
Anyway, the upshot was that computers had very limited memory, so programmers, to save space, cheated on dates.
So, instead of, say, “1967,” programmers just used “67.”
Which worked fine until the year 2000 approached, and everyone lost their minds fearing computers would think it was the year “00.”
Planes would fall out of the sky, banks would collapse, and microwave ovens would never turn off.
Everyone panicked. It was like hurricane season in Florida, but all over the world. People began stockpiling toilet paper, bottled water, and ammunition for the chaos ahead.
The world was going mad, and supermarket tabloids were publishing headlines such as: “Is This The End?” and “ARMAGEDDON” and “Bracing for the End Times.”
But quietly, without fanfare, computer programmers took a look at the problem and said: “Oh, a bug, let’s fix it.” And they did.
Then everybody partied like it was 1999, because it was. The computer clocks rolled over to the new year, and all was well. Except for the hangovers.
(But it was great practice for how to panic, which paid big dividends a few years later when there was, in fact, a genuine need to hoard toilet paper and bottled water when COVID-19 struck. But that’s another story.)
One of the big debates as the year 2000 neared was when the new century actually started.
Was it the year 2000 or the year 2001?
This is vital, because if the answer were 2000, then I should have written this column a year ago. But after much debate and discussion and discourse and—I’m running out of alliterations now—it was determined that the new century, never mind the Y2K issue, started in 2001.
This is because there was no Year Zero. Why? Incredibly, the numeral zero wasn’t invented until sometime between the 5th and 7th centuries. (I kid you not.)
So, the first year of what we now call the Common Era (as opposed AD, for Anno Domini, which is no longer in style) was year 1. So new centuries subsequently roll over in years ending in 01.
And let’s hope all the computer programmers have taken this into account so we won’t have another issue 75 years from now.
Onward through the fog
To be the smartest person in the room—or the Zoom—you need to be aware of these milestones for the coming week.
Jan. 9 is Play God Day. No, this isn’t for malignant narcissists who really believe they are deities. It’s for ordinary—read that, sane—people to take the day and spread blessings and goodness through good deeds.
Jan. 10 is Houseplant Appreciation Day. Plants are pretty, although a bit demanding in that just like cats and dogs they demand water. Still, studies show indoor plants have a calming effect, although their alleged abilities to purify the air are exaggerated.
Jan. 11 is Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends Day. It might also be a good time to check your health insurance policy before you choose to do so.
Jan. 12 is National Hot Tea Day. Here’s how I prefer my hot tea: I brew it, then pour it over ice.
Jan. 13 is International Skeptics Day. Or so I read online. But I have my doubts.
Jan. 14 is Dress Up Your Pet Day. I suppose you could also dress up your houseplant, although caution would be advisable if your plant happens to be a Venus Flytrap.
J.C. Bruce is an award-winning journalist and author of the Strange Files series of mysterious adventures. He holds dual citizenship in the United States of America and Florida. When he’s not writing, he’s in training for the International Underwater Ping-Pong Championships. Check out his website, jcbruce.com, for details on how to order your very own copies of his books. Copyright, 2026, J.C. Bruce.