I am bored at work... not for lack of work to do, but for lack of a desire to do it. So I decided to see how far back and how far forward my Outlook Calendar goes. The answer raised some questions in my mind...
The earliest date available is 4/1/1601... and the latest date available is 8/31/4500. (it actually didn't take long to find this out... so don't think I have spend all day on this)
Now my questions are these: Who chose these arbitrary dates and why? I mean seriously... why would you not start time on January 1 and end it on December 31? And the years themselves are pretty random.
Someone make sense of this for me... I honestly may not be able to sleep with this issue looming over me. That is what I get for not working while at work...
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15 comments:
The first date does happen to be April Fool's Day...
While we're on the subject of dates... I think it is really cool that you also had this thought in November 2000... ;-)
P.S. I have insomnia... so tomorrow I will probably be looking at my Outlook calendar instead of working too...
Maybe it's a formula,
like:
EDA = FD of m, given (T - 4004y7m)
and
LDA = LD of m, given (T + 2494y9m)
OR
TCA = 2900y
(where EDA and LDA are determined by T)
Key:
EDA= Earliest Date Available
LDA= Last Date Available
TCA= Total Calendar Availability
FD= First Day
LD= Last Day
T= Today
y= years
m= months
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow. I don't even know what to say now.
Erin... I tried to change the date so that it would be September 1, 4500... but it wouldn't let me. I guess I forgot to go back and make it the right date... so I am glad you noticed. :-)
Dovie... you win the pize. This issue will no longer keep me awake at night. However, I will be thinking at lenght about your mental well-being... :-)
Dovie definitely wins the prize. I am amazed that you came up with that. The part that really frightens me, though, is that the math nerd in me keeps wanting to try to solve your equations....
Erin... Me TOO...
In reality, the min/max has to do with the mathematical range of the storage mechanism your version of Windows uses for its date calculations coupled with the precision required by Outlook.
Windows measures time in hectonanoseconds from 01-JAN-1601, but because Outlook only requires precision to the minute, the developers could easily have allowed a date range of around 4086 years... I'm not sure why they chose to limit it. Maybe so you'll have to buy a new version before then.
Dovie... you have just been officialy outdone. However, I will still buy you dinner when you are in Houston for Christmas (or at least a cup of coffee) for your stellar efforts.
Daniel... you scare me.
There is a reason I always pick Daniel as my Trivial Pursuit partner. He's sick.
Um. Wow. So VERY outdone!
will you be my friend? will you?????
Blues Image Burgundy... Rolls off the tounge doesn't it?
Random things...hmmmm, maybe like attempting to throw your finger nail clippers at your roomate, but, instead, hitting the light directly about your head.
crazy hat fish man
Hey Todd!! Remember me?? How the heck are you?! I've enjoyed reading your blog...but...um...you need to update it!! :) Have a Merry Christmas!
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