Internet News Exclusive
Due to widespread panic about the Y2K bug, Internet
News has obtained an EXCLUSIVE interview with the
one person most to blame for the situation.
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Internet News: We have as our guest today the man whose
birthday is the cause of the Y2K predicament, Jesus
Christ. What do you have to say for yourself, Jesus?
Jesus Christ: First, let me say that I was terribly
flattered to have my birthday turned into the starting
date for your calendar.
IN: But isn't it true that your birthday was already
being celebrated on December 25th? How is it that
our calendar dates from your birthday but January 1st
was chosen?
JC: Oh, just a fluke, really. Neither date is correct.
It always struck me as funny that, December 25th or
January 1st, you choose to celebrate it in the middle
of winter. I mean, the shepherds weren't exactly
"keeping watch over their flocks by night" in the
open fields during winter, were they?
IN: No, I guess they weren't. So, when exactly were you
born?
JC: December 28th.
IN: But...
JC: Just kidding. If I told you when I was really born,
you would just make another holiday out of it and I
think that two birthdays a year are more than enough.
IN: But it will be 2,000 years from the year you were
born, right?
JC: That's another thing. There is no year "0" partly
because the ancients had no concept of it mathematic-
ally but mostly because of all the arguments about
whether it would be 0 AD or 0 BC. It became sort of
a Y-zero-K situation, so they decided to skip it
altogether. One year after 1 BC became 1 AD.
IN: So, year 2000 will actually be your 1,999th birthday.
JC: Well, not exactly. The monk who came up with your
calendar used a calculation process called Pentiumnus
Calculus to get the starting date. It was close but
5 years off so my human nature is going to be 2,005
years old in the year 2000.
IN: So I guess the whole Y2K problem isn't your fault
after all since you were actually born in 5 BC?
JC: 6 BC. Remember to skip year "0".
IN: Ah, yes, sorry. Happy belated birthday, by the way.
So, what's in store for the world when the big Y2K
hits?
JC: I'm sorry, but I'm not supposed to talk about that.
My Father made me promise not to divulge any future
events.
IN: Do you think the monk foresaw that we would invent
computers just in time for the year 2000 to be a
problem?
JC: Perhaps you should interview him. Go easy on him,
though. If he had done his calculations right,
you'd all be...oops. Almost let that slip.
IN: So, umm, I understand you have a book to plug.
JC: Actually, the Bible has been out for quite a while.
I won't ask people to go out and buy a copy since
pretty much everyone has one. I'd just ask that they
read it more.
IN: And for anyone wishing to get you a belated 2,000th
birthday/Christmas present?
JC: Read the book. It'll tell you what I want.
IN: And this is Internet News, signing off.