Have a byte of chocolate cake …
Happy Friday the thirteenth! At least, for some people, today is a day for celebrations
Just in case you haven’t noticed … today is Friday the 13th … but it is not just a day to be cautious and carefully watch out for potential misfortune looming over the horizon, it also a day for celebration … at least, that is, for some people.
In fact, it is, (at least), a double “holiday” … I say “at least” because to some people in different parts of the world the day will have yet other connotations … for example, in Mexico it is Día de los Niños Héroes - the Day of the Boy Heroes … six teenagers who died defending their Military Academy from invading US forces.
In Romania it’s the Day of the Grape Harvest.
A programmer at work!
In Russia it’s also the professional holiday for hairdressers - that one is interesting to lovers of trivia like me because it used to be marked on September 14th but nobody seems to know why it was changed to one day earlier.
On the other hand we do know why President Medvedev signed a decree establishing this as Programmers’ Day back in 2009 … September 13th happens to be the 256th day of the year, (unless it is a leap year – in which Programmers’ Day is marked on 12th September),
The number 256 is significant because it is the the number of integers that can be expressed in binary notation using a byte … 8 digits … and it is the largest number in the binary sequence that is less than 365 – the number of days in a year.
For the record: In binary there are only two digits: 0 and 1. A byte is a collection of eight binary digits and so has 256, or 28, possible values … counting from 0 to 255. As a result, the number he number 256 often appears in computer applications (especially on earlier 8-bit computer systems … but nowadays, advances in technology and the development of 16, 32 and 64 bit systems means that we are seeing an interesting form of “inflation” in numbers relating to computers and Information Technology).
The day has apparently been around for several years and is observed in several countries – including, it seems in the UK and US.
Although the term “programmer” is usually associated with computers, virtually all digital devices have to programmed in one way or another.
It’s not the only professional “holiday” associated with Communications and Information Technology; in 2005 the United Nations established World Information Systems Day, which is marked each year on 17th May with the aim of to raise global awareness of societal changes brought about by the Internet and new technologies and, or so it is hoped, help to reduce the “Digital Divide”.
For the record: In fact, they didn’t create a new holiday but rather adapted and renamed World Telecommunications Day, which had been established in 1973 and the date was chosen to commemorate the founding of the International Telecommunications Union back in 1865.
Then there is SAD - System Administrator Day – (I love that name!), which takes place on the Last Friday in July … apparently the idea of a Systems Administrator after seeing a cartoon in a magazine where a Systems Administrator is presented with flowers and baskets of fruit fruit as a Thank You for installing new printers and making their lives easier. The main aim of the day is supposed to be intended as a way to show appreciation for the work done by some of the unsung heroes that keep the systems that are so vital in our modern world up and running … but it sounds to me as if it is just a chance to get another cake.
As a former teacher of Computing and Information Technology, I am happy to adopt the day as yet another of my professional holidays … along with Teacher’s Day (October 3rd) and World Tourism Day (27th September) … so, we will, as is customary in our office, have a cake – even if it is not an officially recognized professional holiday here in Kyrgyzstan.
So, what’s all this about Cake? … and Chocolate Cake at that?
Well is also happens that today is also supposed to be International Chocolate Day … well, there is some confusion as there are a number of dates throughout the year promoting variations of local, national or international Chocolate Day ,,, but this seems to be the date that most people have fixed on.
So … it seems like a perfect excuse to have a byte of chocolate cake to celebrate Programmers’ Day!
Bishkek