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you fun facts every month.
January Factoid | Back To Main Factoid Page
We hope you enjoy this month's freshly gathered facts direct from the magnetic fields of Planet
Factoid!
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"January Factoids" — January 2000
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1. Where did the word "January" come from?
January comes from Janus, the Roman god of gates and doors, and openings and beginnings.
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2. Was it always the first month of the year?
No. January, which has 31 days, was the 11th month in the ancient Roman calendar. It came to
be regarded as the first month in the 2nd century BC.
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The Millennium
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3. What is the Millennium?
The dictionary defines "millennium" as "a span of one thousand years." Many people believe
the 3rd millennium to be the start of the year 2000 while it actually is the start of the
year 2001.
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4. What is Y2K?
Y2K stands for the Year 2000.
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5. What is the Y2K computer bug?
The Y2K bug will affect all non-Y2K compliant computers on January 1st, 2000. Many years ago,
computer programmers programmed years using only 2 digits. For example: 199CCFF9 would be simply
"99CCFF." Because of this computers may mistake "00" for the year 1900 rather than recognizing
it as the year 2000. This may or may not cause certain functions of your computer or software
to work incorrectly or not at all. If you're reading this after January 1st, we can probably
assume your computer is doing ok or that all effects were temporary.
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Martin Luther King Jr.
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6. Who is Martin Luther King, Jr.?
In 1968, America was in much turmoil over the civil rights movement. Mr. King was a passionate
leader who preached non-violent civil disobedience as a means of opening the way for
African-Americans to obtain the rights and liberties guaranteed to all citizens of the United
States.
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7. Why does he have his own holiday?
Having their own day "holiday" honors a few people who have made great contributions to our
society. This day is set-aside for us to remember Martin Luther King's contribution.
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8. Is he alive today?
No. King was killed on April 4, 1968 on a 2nd story balcony of the Motel Lorraine in Memphis,
Tennessee.
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9. Who was responsible for his death?
James Earl Ray. He confessed after a grueling interrogation and claimed that he was part of
a larger conspiracy. He later changed his story and much doubt surrounds the evidence of the
case against him.
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10. When is Martin Luther King Day?
This holiday is celebrated on January 18th. It became a federal holiday in 1986.
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