# Happy New Year

**URL:** http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137
**Category:** CSG2003
**Created:** [January 1, 2003, 9:53am UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137 "2003-01-01T09:53:13Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Richard\_Marken2](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@Richard\_Marken2](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Richard_Marken2)
#### Post date: [January 1, 2003, 9:53am UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/1 "2003-01-01T09:53:13Z")

</div>

[From Rick Marken (2003.01.01.0150)]

I can't believe I'm up at this hour. But it does give me a chance to see if  
this will be archived as the first post of 2003.

Again, have a happy, productive and peaceful 2003.

Best regards

Rick

---

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### Author: ![Bill\_Powers](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Bill\_Powers](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Bill_Powers)
#### Post date: [January 1, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/2 "2003-01-01T15:21:00Z")

</div>

> I can’t believe I’m up at this  
> hour. But it does give me a chance to see if
> 
> this will be archived as the first post of 2003.
> 
> Again, have a happy, productive and peaceful 2003.  
> [From Bill Powers (2003.01.01.0753 mdt)]

Rick Marken (2003.01.01.0150)]

I echo the sentiment.

Best [regards to everyone]

Bill P.

---

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### Author: ![lloydk](http://discourse.iapct.org/user_avatar/discourse.iapct.org/lloydk/32/44_2.png) [@lloydk](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/lloydk)
#### Post date: [January 1, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/3 "2003-01-01T17:06:10Z")

</div>

Yes, Bobbie and I send each and all (as we cast nets and test specimens)  
of you a joyous new year (already less than new for some).  
More than being up, it is remark(en)able that we are controlling (for) PCT  
and CSG at this important transitional time.  
My previous sentence raises a lay\* and technical question. Is it OK in popular  
usage as well as technical usage to say “controlling for something” as well  
as “controlling something”?  
Hope to see you all at CSG2003 in LA!  
**\*I particularly mean the 3rd use of lay** as an adjective:  
Function: _adjective_  
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French _lai,_ from Late Latin  
_laicus,_ from Greek _laikos_ of the people, from _laos_ people  
**1**  **:** of or relating to the laity **:** not ecclesiastical  
**2**  **:** of or relating to members of a religious house occupied  
with domestic or manual work \<a _lay_ brother\>  
**3**  **:** not of a particular profession \<the _lay_ public\>;  
_also_ **:** lacking extensive knowledge of a particular subject

Richard Marken [MindReadings.com](http://MindReadings.com) wrote:

> **···**
>
> ```auto
> --
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> LLOYD KLINEDINST - BARBARA A. BOLLMANN
> 10 DOVER LANE - VILLA RIDGE, MO 63089-2001
> HomeVoice: (636) 742-4039 - FAX: (636) 742-4039
> Lloyd Mobile: (314)-609-5571 - Bobbie Mobile: (314)-799-3323
> email: website: email: website:
> 
> ```
> 
> [lloydk@klinedinst.com](mailto:lloydk@klinedinst.com)[http://www.klinedinst.com](http://www.klinedinst.com)[bbollmann@bbollmann.com](mailto:bbollmann@bbollmann.com)[http://www.bbollmann.com](http://www.bbollmann.com)

---

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### Author: ![Bill\_Powers](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Bill\_Powers](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Bill_Powers)
#### Post date: [January 1, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/4 "2003-01-01T19:40:29Z")

</div>

> Lloys  
> Klinedinst(2003.01.01);  
> [From Bill Powers (2003.01.01.1232 MST)]

> My previous sentence raises a lay\* and technical  
> question. Is it OK in popular usage as \>well as technical usage to say  
> “controlling for something” as well as “controlling  
> something”?

I’ve always understood a clear distinction between the two ways of  
putting it. “Controlling” is used when you are successfully  
holding something in a reference state. Controlling _for_ a reference  
state explains what you’re doing by saying what the intended outcome is,  
but without claiming success, yet. A bowler can say “I’m controlling  
for a perfect game,” a golfer “I’m controlling today just for  
getting all my drives in the fairway.” So “I’m controlling for  
X” means “My goal is to achieve X, and that explains my actions  
even when I don’t succeed.”

Best,

Bill P.

> **···**
>

---

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### Author: ![Bruce\_Gregory3](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bruce\_Gregory3](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Bruce_Gregory3)
#### Post date: [January 1, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/5 "2003-01-01T19:57:40Z")

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[From Bruce Gregory (2003.01.011457)]

Bill Powers (2003.01.01.1232 MST)

> I've always understood a clear distinction between the two ways of  
> putting it. "Controlling" is used when you are successfully holding  
> something in a reference state. Controlling \_for\_ a reference state  
> explains what you're doing by saying what the intended outcome is, but  
> without claiming success, yet. A bowler can say "I'm controlling for a  
> perfect game," a golfer "I'm controlling today just for getting all my  
> drives in the fairway." So "I'm controlling for X" means "My goal is to  
> achieve X, and that explains my actions even when I don't succeed."

Needless to say, this distinction is consistent with a baseball  
pitcher's "control." In less formal terms, we are "trying" when we are  
"controlling for". The pitcher is always trying to put the ball where he  
wants it to go ("controlling for") but he demonstrates control (in the  
vernacular) when his efforts are successful.

---

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### Author: ![Dick\_Robertson](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Dick\_Robertson](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Dick_Robertson)
#### Post date: [January 1, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/6 "2003-01-01T22:03:28Z")

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[From Dick Robertson,2003.1.1.1602CST]

"Richard Marken MindReadings.com" wrote:

> [From Rick Marken (2002.12.31.1120)]
> 
> I'd like to wish all the members of CSGNet a very happy, healthy and  
> productive New Year.

from me too.

> **···**
>
> > Best Dick R

---

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### Author: ![Bill\_Powers](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Bill\_Powers](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Bill_Powers)
#### Post date: [January 1, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/7 "2003-01-01T22:09:46Z")

</div>

> Needless to say, this distinction  
> is consistent with a baseball
> 
> pitcher’s “control.” In less formal terms, we are  
> “trying” when we are
> 
> “controlling for”. The pitcher is always trying to put the ball  
> where he
> 
> wants it to go (“controlling for”) but he demonstrates control  
> (in the
> 
> vernacular) when his efforts are successful.  
> [From Bill Powers (2003.01.01.1508 MDT)]

Bruce Gregory (2003.01.011457)–

Yes, clearly put and more succinctly than my effort.

Best,

Bill P.

---

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### Author: ![Richard\_Kennaway2](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@Richard\_Kennaway2](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Richard_Kennaway2)
#### Post date: [January 1, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/8 "2003-01-01T23:46:44Z")

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Happy New Year to all, and something of a New Year resolution:

The project which has eaten up the greater part of my working hours over  
the last three years, and a good many of my non-working hours as well,  
has just ended. That's ViSiCAST, a large EU-funded project to create  
computer-generated deaf signing avatars for the web or other media.  
([http://visicast.sys.uea.ac.uk/](http://visicast.sys.uea.ac.uk/)) My contribution to it has been the  
development of algorithms for generating signing animations from a  
semi-abstract description of the gestures. There's a small amount of  
PCT involved, in that I use a very simplified biocontrol model to  
generate realistic movements from one posture to another. I produced a  
paper on it last year for a conference  
([http://www.sys.uea.ac.uk/~jrk/visicast/RK-GW2001/](http://www.sys.uea.ac.uk/~jrk/visicast/RK-GW2001/)). There is a  
follow-on project to ViSiCAST, although that is more to do with  
technology exploitation than basic research, and my role in that will be  
limited to providing consultancy for the software I wrote.

The ending of ViSiCAST is good news, for me, in that I will at last have  
time to pick up on my other research interests, including the six-legged  
robot simulation that I demonstrated at the PCT meetings at  
Kroechlendorff and Boston, and which I've let lie dormant ever since.  
And pay more attention to CSGNET.

I also intend working on extending my synthetic animation work by taking  
the opportunity to improve on the use of control models for animation,  
and to reconsider what is required of a gesture notation system,  
especially for applications mre general than sign language. There is  
already software around to animate Labanotation, a widely used ballet  
notation, but all of it merely generates linear interpolations. Their  
use is limited to teaching Labanotation students how to read the  
notation. I'd like to generate realistic balletic movements. To what  
extent control models can help remains to be seen. It's all control, of  
course, but what is a ballet dancer controlling?

-- Richard Kennaway

---

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### Author: ![Bill\_Powers](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Bill\_Powers](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Bill_Powers)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/9 "2003-01-02T19:04:02Z")

</div>

> time to pick up on my other  
> research interests, including the six-legged
> 
> robot simulation that I demonstrated at the PCT meetings at
> 
> Kroechlendorff and Boston, and which I’ve let lie dormant ever  
> since.
> 
> And pay more attention to CSGNET.
> 
> I also intend working on extending my synthetic animation work by  
> taking
> 
> the opportunity to improve on the use of control models for  
> animation,
> 
> and to reconsider what is required of a gesture notation system,
> 
> especially for applications mre general than sign language. There  
> is
> 
> already software around to animate Labanotation, a widely used  
> ballet
> 
> notation, but all of it merely generates linear interpolations.  
> Their
> 
> use is limited to teaching Labanotation students how to read the
> 
> notation. I’d like to generate realistic balletic movements. To  
> what
> 
> extent control models can help remains to be seen. It’s all  
> control, of
> 
> course, but what is a ballet dancer  
> controlling?  
> [From Bill Powers (2003.01.02.1155 MST)]

Richard Kennaway (21003.01.02) –

> The ending of ViSiCAST is good news, for me, in that I will at last  
> have

Wonderful-sounding projects, Richard. Among other things, the  
last-mentioned one will require solving a much simpler problem, which  
maybe you should tackle first: devising a control system for a biped so  
it can stand up and balance, and of course then take a step without  
falling over. I still believe that there is a way to simulate forward  
dynamics in a jointed system that doesn’t involve all the complications  
of the “correct” differential equations. Every force on an  
object can be reduced to a single force through the center of mass (or  
gyration) plus a couple. If we only want to simulate the response of a  
jointed body to torques and forces, why can’t we do this directly instead  
of starting with potential and kinetic energy and then taking the inverse  
of the solution?

I suspect that Bruce Abbott, who has been feeling poorly, will be getting  
back to his physical bug model pretty soon (i.e., in the Spring). I hope  
we can count on your consultations, at the usual fee.

Best,

Bill P.

---

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### Author: ![DAVID\_WOLSK1](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@DAVID\_WOLSK1](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/DAVID_WOLSK1)
#### Post date: [January 2, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/10 "2003-01-02T19:51:29Z")

</div>

> I also intend working on extending my synthetic animation work by taking  
> the opportunity to improve on the use of control models for animation,  
> and to reconsider what is required of a gesture notation system,  
> especially for applications mre general than sign language. There is  
> already software around to animate Labanotation, a widely used ballet  
> notation, but all of it merely generates linear interpolations. Their  
> use is limited to teaching Labanotation students how to read the  
> notation. I'd like to generate realistic balletic movements. To what  
> extent control models can help remains to be seen. It's all control, of  
> course, but what is a ballet dancer controlling?

Richard, My daughter spent three years studying Laban notation and another  
system. I think a choreographer is controlling for an imagined image of  
bodily motion to music. I also vaguely remember that very sophisticated  
software was developed at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver quite a few  
years ago. I'll try to get a website.  
Good luck on your new project and congratulations on the one you just  
finished.  
David

> **···**
>
> From: David Wolsk O2/01/03 11:46 am pst
> 
> ----- Original Message -----  
> From: "Richard Kennaway" \<jrk@SYS.UEA.AC.UK\>  
> To: \<CSGNET@listserv.uiuc.edu\>  
> Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2003 3:46 PM

---

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### Author: ![R\_Marken](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@R\_Marken](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/R_Marken)
#### Post date: [January 1, 1999, 8:19pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/11 "1999-01-01T20:19:55Z")

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[From Rick Marken (990101.1220)]

Happy New Year Perceptual Control Theorists!

For me 1998 has been the year of the center fielder; it's the  
year when I learned about how baseball outfielders catch fly balls  
(by controlling optical velicity) and wrote a paper about it to  
boot. Of course, just my luck, 1998 also turned out to be the  
year of the home run hitter (my son has a ball that was signed to  
him by Mark McGuire when Mark was a rookie on the A's; unfortunatly,  
it doesn't quite insure my son's retirement -- yes, I checked) so,  
of course, people were more interested in the balls that the  
fielders \_could not\_ catch. Ah well. PCT just can't get a break;-)

I don't know what I'm going to waste my time on in 1999, though  
I'm sure it will have something to do with testing perceptual  
control theory. Any (polite:-)) suggestions would be most welcome.

Again, have a healthy and happy New Year.

Best

Rick

> **···**
>
> --
> 
> Richard S. Marken Phone or Fax: 310 474-0313  
> Life Learning Associates e-mail: [rmarken@earthlink.net](mailto:rmarken@earthlink.net)  
> [http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken/](http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken/)

---

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### Author: ![Dick\_Robertson](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Dick\_Robertson](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Dick_Robertson)
#### Post date: [January 4, 1999, 1:16pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/12 "1999-01-04T13:16:45Z")

</div>

[From Dick Robertson,990103.0713CST]

Richard Marken wrote:

> [From Rick Marken (990101.1220)]
> 
> Happy New Year Perceptual Control Theorists!
> 
> For me 1998 has been the year of the center fielder; it's the  
> year when I learned about how baseball outfielders catch fly balls  
> (by controlling optical velicity) and wrote a paper about it to  
> boot.
> 
> I don't know what I'm going to waste my time on in 1999, though  
> I'm sure it will have something to do with testing perceptual  
> control theory. Any (polite:-)) suggestions would be most welcome.

Any chance you could put your 3 level hierarchy on lotus 123 platform?

> **···**
>
> > Again, have a healthy and happy New Year, to all from me too
> > 
> > Best, Dick R.

---

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### Author: ![R\_Marken](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@R\_Marken](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/R_Marken)
#### Post date: [January 4, 1999, 2:51pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/13 "1999-01-04T14:51:24Z")

</div>

[From Rick Marken (990104.0750)]

Dick Robertson (990103.0713CST) --

> Any chance you could put your 3 level hierarchy on lotus 123  
> platform?

There is a version of the spreadsheet hierarchy called  
"PC version". It's at the bottom of the page at:

[http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken/demos.html](http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken/demos.html)

It's a zipped Excel file. When it's unzipped it will run  
as an Excel spreadsheet on a PC. I \_think\_ it will also run  
in Lotus 123 but I'm not sure. I might have to convert it  
to a different file format.

I don't have Lotus 123 available anywhere nearby. But I'd  
be happy to try to make the spreadsheet work in Lotus. Let  
me know if you can download the PC version and unzip it. If  
so, then let me know what happens if you try to read it into  
Lotus. If you have problems, I'd be happy to try to send you  
a version of the spreadsheet (via person e-mail) in different  
formats that might work in Lotus.

Have a happy New Year

Best

Rick

> **···**
>
> --  
> Richard S. Marken Phone or Fax: 310 474-0313  
> Life Learning Associates e-mail: rmarken@earthlink.net  
> [http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken](http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken)

---

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### Author: ![Dick\_Robertson](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Dick\_Robertson](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Dick_Robertson)
#### Post date: [January 5, 1999, 3:36pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/14 "1999-01-05T15:36:31Z")

</div>

[From Dick Robertson,990105.0932CST]

Richard Marken wrote:

> [From Rick Marken (990104.0750)]  
> Dick Robertson (990103.0713CST) –

> > Any chance you could put your 3 level hierarchy on lotus 123
> 
> > platform?

> There is a version of the spreadsheet hierarchy called
> 
> “PC version”. It’s at the bottom of the page at:

> [http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken/demos.html](http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken/demos.html)

> It’s a zipped Excel file. When it’s unzipped it will run
> 
> as an Excel spreadsheet on a PC. I _think_ it will also run
> 
> in Lotus 123 but I’m not sure. I might have to convert it
> 
> to a different file format.

> I don’t have Lotus 123 available anywhere nearby. But I’d
> 
> be happy to try to make the spreadsheet work in Lotus. Let
> 
> me know if you can download the PC version and unzip it. If
> 
> so, then let me know what happens if you try to read it into
> 
> Lotus. If you have problems, I’d be happy to try to send you
> 
> a version of the spreadsheet (via person e-mail) in different
> 
> formats that might work in Lotus.

> Have a happy New Year

> Best Rick

Thanks, Rick. I will try to download it. Netscape is offering  
my NetZip 6. for the plug-ins to run it. I am a little scared of  
that because the last time I had NetZip it kept interferring with my email.  
So I had to unload it. I had bought their package by thenl, but never  
installed it because of having had all those problems. But I will  
try again and see what happens.  
Best, Dick

> **···**
>
> >

---

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### Author: ![Bill\_Powers1](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bill\_Powers1](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Bill_Powers1)
#### Post date: [January 5, 1999, 5:20pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/15 "1999-01-05T17:20:47Z")

</div>

[From Bill Powers (990105.1017 MST)]

Dick Robertson,990105.0932CST]

Dick, look for "unzip" on Yahoo and download it. It's free, and it works.

Best,

Bill P.

Richard Marken wrote: [From Rick

> **···**
>
> > Marken (990104.0750)] Dick Robertson (990103.0713CST) -- \> Any chance you  
> > could put your 3 level hierarchy on lotus 123
> > 
> > > platform? There is a version of the spreadsheet hierarchy called
> > 
> > "PC version". It's at the bottom of the page at:  
> > [http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken/demos.html](http://home.earthlink.net/~rmarken/demos.html) It's a zipped Excel file.  
> > When it's unzipped it will run  
> > as an Excel spreadsheet on a PC. I \_think\_ it will also run  
> > in Lotus 123 but I'm not sure. I might have to convert it  
> > to a different file format. I don't have Lotus 123 available anywhere  
> > nearby. But I'd  
> > be happy to try to make the spreadsheet work in Lotus. Let  
> > me know if you can download the PC version and unzip it. If  
> > so, then let me know what happens if you try to read it into  
> > Lotus. If you have problems, I'd be happy to try to send you  
> > a version of the spreadsheet (via person e-mail) in different  
> > formats that might work in Lotus. Have a happy New Year Rick  
> > &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But I will try again and see what happens. Best, Dick

---

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### Author: ![Bill\_Leach1](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@Bill\_Leach1](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Bill_Leach1)
#### Post date: [January 1, 1995, 11:28pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/16 "1995-01-01T23:28:13Z")

</div>

\<[Bill Leach 950101.17:58 EST(EDT)]

> [Rick Marken (941231.1915)]

Also... Happy New Year to all!!

> My New Year's resolution? Why, to be an even bigger pain in the net  
> next year than I was this year;-)

Oh good! At least we know it will not be a boring net then 🙂

-bill

---

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### Author: ![Richard\_Marken2](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@Richard\_Marken2](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Richard_Marken2)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2002, 7:11pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/17 "2002-12-31T19:11:21Z")

</div>

[From Rick Marken (2002.12.31.1120)]

I'd like to wish all the members of CSGNet a very happy, healthy and  
productive New Year.

Best regards

Rick

---

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Richard\_Marken2](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/edb3f5/32.png) [@Richard\_Marken2](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Richard_Marken2)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/18 "2005-12-31T17:42:25Z")

</div>

[From Rick Marken (2005.12.31.0940 PST)]

I suppose this is a little late for those just to the left of the dateline but "Happy New Year" to all. I hope 2006 brings you health, happiness and wisdom.

Best regards

Rick

> **···**
>
> ---  
> Richard S. Marken Consulting  
> [marken@mindreadings.com](mailto:marken@mindreadings.com)  
> Home 310 474-0313  
> Cell 310 729-1400

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### Author: ![Kenneth\_Kitzke\_Value](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenneth\_Kitzke\_Value](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/Kenneth_Kitzke_Value)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2005, 6:24pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/19 "2005-12-31T18:24:36Z")

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[From Kenny Kitzke (2005.12.31.1115 EST)]

\<Rick Marken (2005.12.31.0940 PST)\>

\<I hope 2006 brings you health,  
happiness and wisdom.\>

Ditto to all on CSGNet.

I am very excited about the Conference being in China in 2006. I’ll be posting some reminders as 2006 gets going.

Want a little brain teaser for the eve (even before people are drunk)? Ask them if they know who first declared January 1 to be New Year’s Day? Even better, why? And what other days have been used to start a year; even as recently as 200 years ago? When does the Chinese New Year start?

[For those who want something else to do than to watch football (USA) bowl games.]

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### Author: ![B\_Thalhammer](http://discourse.iapct.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/47e85d/32.png) [@B\_Thalhammer](http://discourse.iapct.org/u/B_Thalhammer)
#### Post date: [December 31, 2005, 7:25pm UTC](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137/20 "2005-12-31T19:25:50Z")

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[From Bryan Thalhammer (2005.12.31.1325 CST)]

Happy New Year!, !Feliz Ano Nuevo!, and in a few weeks, Gongxi focoi (PRC) =  
Congratulations and be prosperous! Uisui pingon (PRC) = Everlasting peace  
year after year!

Three languages? My point: My little nephew Michael is beginning to get to  
the point where he needs to learn another language or forever lose the  
ability to hear and speak it well as a semi-native speaker. I almost never  
buy the kid toys, except that they make him think or learn things he  
wouldn't learn in today's public schools. For his birthday this past Dec 28,  
I sent him Spanish and Chinese kids phrase books. I hope that at least one  
of these gifties takes root! In addition, I will be quizzing him on what he  
is learning in Maths, History, Civics and humanities classes. Maybe....

(My implied New Year's wishes are that no American kid would ever again be  
bored, intimidated or stymied by bad Math, Statistics or Science teachers,  
and that every American kid would be able to get past our provincial  
dependence on English, instead speaking of the future also in Spanish,  
Chinese, Hindustani or Arabic (Four of the five of the most widely spoken  
languages in the world \<[http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0775272.html](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0775272.html)\>), and  
the corrolary, that every American kid will again be enthralled by History,  
Civics, and the Humanities--any and all of which will be a matter of  
survival of our Country these days!)

Good New Year's Day reading suggestion:

Enriquez, Juan (2005). The Untied States Of America, polarization,  
fracturing, and our future. New York: Crown. ISBN: 0307237524.

--Bryan

PS: Happy New Year when??? The New Year really is an arbitrary demarcation  
between two major growing seasons in a hemisphere (e.g., the Northern  
Hemisphere), where a good dividing time is bewteen shortly after the winter  
solstice when the day is visibly starting to get longer and before the time  
when dedicating the fields for the next planting season takes place. March 1  
\*was\* the New Year of Rome and of the Republic of Venice until 1797. Easter  
replaced the traditional European celebration of New Year from late February  
to mid-April. The adoption of the Gregorian calendar led eventually to the  
\*adoption\* of January 1 as New Year's Day in all countries using that  
calendar. Chinese New Year \*occurs\* every year at a new moon during the  
winter. The exact date can fall anytime between 21 January and 21 February  
inclusive, on the Gregorian Calendar. Ah, but in the Southern Hemisphere the  
New Year of the Incas \*is\* on June 21. In other places, the new year ranges  
all over the planetary, solar and lunar calendars, for various reasons,  
including climate and tradition. For example, July 26 \*is\* the Gregorian  
date that marks the Mayan New Year. \<[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New\_Year](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year)\>

[Next page](http://discourse.iapct.org/t/happy-new-year/5137.md?page=2)