Mar 24, 2012
RAY: We used to refer to our Associate Producer David Greene as Rainman due to his peculiar ability to effortlessly figure out a certain date's day of the week. Now he recently displayed this talent when I recently asked him if there was a conflict with the upcoming Fuzzy Dice Conference and our weekly court-ordered community service. He asked the date of the convention. It was April 20th, 2012.
"Oh, that’s a Friday," he said, effortlessly. "And your sentences have you committed for the next few dozen Wednesdays so you'll be able to go." And of course he was right.
One day a few weeks ago I asked out loud in the office about the date June 5th. And of all people, my brother piped up and said "Oh, that's a Tuesday."
"That's right," said David.
Well how about Ocober 3rd?
"That's a Wednesday," said my brother.
Then I asked about Christmas Day 2012.
"Oh, that's a Tuesday."
David nodded in agreement.
Do we now have two rainmen? Or had Tommy figured something out?
Answer:
RAY: Here’s what was going on. Tommy was using something called anchor dates. And these dates apply to each and every year. April 4th, or 4/4 we’ll call it from now on, June 6th or 6/6, 8/8, 10/10, 12/12, are all the same day of the week, each and every year.
TOM: Yeah, I know that!
RAY: So too are 5/9 and 9/5, May 9th and September 5th. So too are 7/11 and 11/7, and all the above dates are the same day of the week, as is the last day in February, Leap Year or not. And they’re all the same day as January 4th, it would otherwise be January 3rd, but this was a leap year, and that’s changes the anchor day from January 3rd to January 4th, OK?
TOM: Yes.
RAY: So Tommy also knew that New Year’s Day was a Sunday. He was sobered up by then. And he knew it was a Sunday because Christmas was a Sunday in 2011, so New Year’s Day is a Sunday, so the Anchor Day for 2012, January 4th, has to be a Wednesday!
So if that’s a Wednesday 4/4, 6/6, 8/8, 10/10, 12/12, 5/9, 9/5, 7/11, 11/7 and February 29th, all the same day of the week and they’re all Wednesdays. So when I ask for example, about October 3rd, he knew October 10th was a Wednesday, 10/10. So 10/3 must also be a Wednesday. 12/12 is a Wednesday in 2012, so it’s 12/26, which is two weeks later. So 12/25, or Christmas Day, must be a Tuesday. Pretty cute, eh? Do we have a winner?
TOM: Yes we do! Our winner this week is Rachel Gaissy from Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Congratulations, Rachel!
TOM: Yeah, I know that!
RAY: So too are 5/9 and 9/5, May 9th and September 5th. So too are 7/11 and 11/7, and all the above dates are the same day of the week, as is the last day in February, Leap Year or not. And they’re all the same day as January 4th, it would otherwise be January 3rd, but this was a leap year, and that’s changes the anchor day from January 3rd to January 4th, OK?
TOM: Yes.
RAY: So Tommy also knew that New Year’s Day was a Sunday. He was sobered up by then. And he knew it was a Sunday because Christmas was a Sunday in 2011, so New Year’s Day is a Sunday, so the Anchor Day for 2012, January 4th, has to be a Wednesday!
So if that’s a Wednesday 4/4, 6/6, 8/8, 10/10, 12/12, 5/9, 9/5, 7/11, 11/7 and February 29th, all the same day of the week and they’re all Wednesdays. So when I ask for example, about October 3rd, he knew October 10th was a Wednesday, 10/10. So 10/3 must also be a Wednesday. 12/12 is a Wednesday in 2012, so it’s 12/26, which is two weeks later. So 12/25, or Christmas Day, must be a Tuesday. Pretty cute, eh? Do we have a winner?
TOM: Yes we do! Our winner this week is Rachel Gaissy from Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Congratulations, Rachel!
