ivy, Don't listen to 'em! Kids today know so much more about the world, esp. any kid who has a computer and Internet access!

An interesting book, is Stephen Jay Gould's Questioning the Millenium: A Rationalist's Guide to a Precisely Arbitrary Countdown" published by Harmony books. ISBN # 0-0609-60076-1.

He points out the fact that the "year 2000" first of all isn't technically the start of the next century, and second of all, that the numbers which we assign to time's passage, are after all, constructs of humankind and really have nothing to do with the planet itself or its evolution.

It's an interesting antidote to all of the millenium hysteria, esp. that of the far right/survivalists/etc.

There is a very touching last chapter about an "autistic friend" of his; touching in what he reveals about his friend in the last sentence or two. I won't spoil it by telling you. He admits to it bringing tears to his eyes, as it did mine. As I said, a good read.

So was the poem, Ivy B. Thanks for posting it.

katlaughing & embracing the future!