Tuesday 16 February 2016

16 Feb : Easter


Copyright 2004 British Library

The Head of the Research Group says...

"When I was a student I had to learn Fortran and one of the exercises was to calculate the date of Easter. It was very interesting - so many variables - variables which nested inside one another. You had to include leap years and so forth. I calculated it for the next thousand years and I still use that programme. I see that there are plans to fix the date of Easter and I understand that how convenient that would be for school holidays but it would be a shame because I couldn't use my programme for teaching any more." 

He looks pensive. I wonder if I am supposed to contact the Pope.

11 comments:

  1. it is all in the back of the Book of Common Prayer for hard core numerologists or for people who need some diversion during a rambling sermon. More complex than adding up the hymn numbers anyway.

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  2. the table of Affinity is more interesting to be honest though

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    1. Can you give me plenty of warning if you are planning to marry one of my relatives. Thanks.

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  3. we'd lose the meaning to a 'moveable feast'

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    1. I always thought that was the posh name for picnics.

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  4. One of my Offspring sometimes has a birthday on the Easter weekend, but sometimes earlier or later than Easter. It's tricky to explain to youngsters (who are not best at measuring timelines anyway) why they get Easter celebrations along with the birthday presents some years, but not others.

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    1. In these circumstances I explain that it is part of the cruel and arbitrary nature of a world ruled by adults.

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  5. I like the fact that Easter moves about. Is the Pope in charge of these things?

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  6. Gosh. Difficult question. If not the Pope, then who???

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  7. I like the fact that in a world of standardised measures and uniformity there are some things that fall into the 'irrational and irregular' category.

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  8. if the Pope isn't in charge of it, then what does he do?

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