"Dr J R Stockton" <reply0...@merlyn.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:Vyslo1P9mG8KFwSy@invalid.uk.co.demon.merlyn.invalid...

We relied on a similar trick in the previous century, during most of which
the two digit year would invariably be greater than the largest possible day
of month number. You may recall the name of the phenomenon that occurred
when it finally dawned on us that we were, effectively, planning our own
obsolescence. Kind of like my mother in law who back in the 1990's had a
tombstone sculpted for herself with the first two digits of the date of
death being pre-carved as "19". A common, and even practical, practice
earlier in the century. Apparently the few who were born in the 1890's and
who lived into the 21st century thought better of the idea and left the
slate completely blank as long as they could.

/Al