>Ed Lipinski wrote:
>Taking the dates, 1999, 2500, and 450 BC doesn't compute, I should think.
 
Well, you did something that LOTS of folx do...you forgot how this
"calendar" thing all came about.  BC (in the relative term) is typically
understood to me "Before Christ", while AD is typically considered to mean
"After Death".  Now...if you look at this "word" problem, you *should*
notice an interesting fact.  It's a 'before and after' problem...but what
about the "during"?  If you agree that Christ was alive, then he had to
spend some time on the planet.  I haven't found any specific reference
stating the exact number of years that he was alive, but it's been
calculated (by many, who I can not quote, since I don't subscribe to their
ways of thinking) that he lived anywhere from 35 years, to 55 years of age.
If this is the case, then the "missing" years that you are looking for
could probably be "found" in this area.  In other words, if you are trying
to calculate the number of years between "now" and some time in the BC-era,
then you have to not only include the number of years from AD to now and
the number of years from BC to then, but also the number of years that
Christ was supposed to have lived.  Instead of two numbers, you need to use
three.
 
Another, simpler method, would be to just calculate the number of years
from current, to past...like you did, where you subtract 2,500 from the
date of 1998, then call the answer *From Present Date"...or something like
that.  In other words, do away with the AD and BC portions, and just use
the raw math.
 
Todd and the (Gimme that calculator!  MINE!) Fuzzbutt Rodeo Clowns!
 
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[Posted in FML issue 2576]