LETTERS.

MILLENNIUM HYPE AND THE 21ST CENTURY

Editor

To quote Forrest Gump--"Stupid is as stupid does."

Do your readers know that all the attention over the year 2000 being part of the new millennium and the 21st century was just hype?

The national TV news media, magazines (including State Legislatures in its January edition), etc., succumbed to this fallacy to make something out of nothing.

The math is simple. There are 1,000 years in a millennium. According to our calendar, this all started with the year 1 A.D. After 365 days, we were in year 2 (Jan. 1, 02) and so on. Ten centuries of 100 years.

During this first millennium, there were 365,000 days plus 240 leap days and two extra leap days for years 400 and 800. A total of 365, 242 days.

The second millennium began on Jan. 1, 1001 and will have 365,000 days plus 240 leap days and three extra leap days for 1200, 1600 and 2000, for a total of 365, 243 days in the second millennium.

The problems seems to be, according to Forrest Gump--we have attained only 364,877 days in his second millennium at the end of the day of Dec. 31, 1999. We still have 366 days to go in the year 2000 to reach the end of the second millennium and into the 21st century.

The 21st century and the third millennium do not begin until 12:00:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2001.

The 21st century hype in January was marketed in such a way to get us to spend our money twice. Next year it will be called a simple mistake associated with Y2K.

Harry Stille

Representative

South Carolina

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ALSO RESTRICTS TEEN DRIVERS

Editor:

I am writing to bring your attention to an oversight in your "Statestats" column in the February 2000 issue of State Legislatures. It provides statistics on the states that have adopted some form of graduated licensing for teenage drivers, but fails to include the District of Columbia.

The Council of the District of Columbia passed a graduated licensing law for teenagers on Nov. 2, 1999. This law, which will go into effect on Sept. 1, is one of the most comprehensive graduated licensing laws in the country. Considering the importance of these laws and their effectiveness in saving lives, I hope you will add the District of Columbia to your list.

Carol Schwartz

Council Member

...