The New Year (A.D. or C.E.) MMIII
(NYC, by its seal)  CCCLXXIX
By Henry J. Stern
January 2, 2003

    First, I want to wish all our readers a Happy New Year.  This may be the annual holiday most widely observed worldwide.

    The Jews  (year 5673 until 9-27-03), the Muslims (year 1423 until 3-4-03) and the Chinese (4699, the year of the Horse, until February 1, then the year of the Sheep, 4700), observe the New Year at various times.  Their calendars are based on the lunar year, which means you need an extra month in seven out of nineteen years to keep 'n sync with the solar year (365.24 days, more or less).

    Our calendar year begins on January 1.  It was changed from March 1 by Julius Caesar in 46 B.C. (note July and August, for whom are they named?).  It is where most of us, including the Internet, start the year.  A relic left behind from this C-change* (footnote at end of article) is that September, derived from seven, is the ninth month.  October, November and December are similarly affected.  But who would want the holidays in Duodecember?

    You may know that, for determining racing age, all horses are deemed to have been born on January 1.  Incidentally, today, the second day of January, is either 1-2-03, or, if you are a machine, 01-02-03.  Both numbers are intriguing.
 
    May the New Year bring you, your family, your friends, and all of us health, happiness, prosperity and freedom from misfortune.
 
    Since this medium is interactive, we would enjoy your response or acknowledgment (the spelling listed first) to these New Year's greetings.  When I write, all I see is the monitor.   It is gratifying to be reassured that there are real people out there, able to push the Reply button.  No essays are needed, just say hello.

    Our Website: nycivic.org has been redone by Ginger Nut.  It now contains not only the text of all our articles, but references (links) to particularly interesting columns in more prominent media.  You should surf it once just to see how it looks.  Today, we start work on entering your responses (with your permission) on specific issues.  There is a sharp difference of opinion over the latest article, "Smoke 'til You Croak.  Not in NYC," which we intend to post.  Your name is not required.

    For the highlights of 2002, and a few predictions for 2003, we will try for tomorrow.
 
    All the best from StarQuest, Northside, Redfern, Ginger Nut and our co-conspirators.



*  This is intended as a triple pun, maybe quadruple.  Mayor Koch told me that no one will understand it.  If you do, let us know and you will be honored.  If you don’t, please tell us that, and all its meanings will be explained to you cheerfully.
    With regard to the triple pun, think “Two out of three ain’t bad.”  --  Meatloaf,  from “Bat Out of Hell”,  Sony Records, 1977, remastered 2001.  The full text of the line is available to you, from us, free, on request.  It is culturally quite interesting.

Henry J. Stern is the director of NYCivic.