>If the world is to end on 23 October 1996, then New Zealand will be first
>to go, as one of our cities, Gisborne, being so far east, is first in the
>world to see sunrise on any date. So far, Gisborne is accessible and it
>is 10.00a.m. on 23 October. If I have time, I will let you know whether
>the prediction is coming true. If you don't hear from me, don't make
>any impulsive assumptions; I am very busy and may not have time to stop
>work even for the end of the world. Garth.
>Garth Chivalle Carpenter
>Dept. of English,
>Victoria University of Wellington,
>New Zealand.
Dear Garth,
Forgive me if I am in error, but I think your remark is predicated on the
modern fact that the international date line is where it is because of the
adoption of the Greenwich meridian as 0 degrees. This is something poor old
Ussher could not have taken into account, and what does he mean by "dawn"
and "dusk" anyway, since the earth is constantly revolving and ipso facto
it must always be dawn and dusk somewhere. So far as I am aware, Ussher
didn't specify where he thought this dawn would occur (in the Holy Land? in
the meridian of Dublin or Armagh?), so his remark is rather fatuous.
Likewise he couldn't take into account the revision of the calendar in
Britain in 1752, which now throws his calculations a whole twelve days out.
Anybody else care to join in the fun about predicting the end of the world?
Presumably Nostradamus can be pressed into service here as he seems to have
predicted pretty well everything, according as you want to interpret him.
Sorry to be niggly, but I guess a Kiwi won't mind a little bit of friendly
rivalry from an Aussie across the water (and a Banana-bender at that!).
Cheers,
Brian
Brian Donaghey - Dept of English Language & Linguistics - Ext 6291
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