Oh, and the universe began on this day, 6014 years ago. (Or if there wasn't a year 0, then it began 6013 years ago.)

Oct. 22, 4004 B.C.: Universe Usshered In

4004 B.C.: It’s the beginning of time, according to 17th century Irish bishop and theologian James Ussher — and not just any old moment on that fateful date, but “on the beginning of the night.”

Ussher’s calculations, published in the Annals of the Old Testament, Deduced From the First Origins of the World, strike most modern sensibilities as absurd. Except for a few Young Earth Creationists, believers and nonbelievers alike agree that if a supernatural entity created the universe, it happened about 13.75 billion years ago.

Huh, I thought that X in Spanish was from Mexico. From Mixtec or something.

Ussher's calculations always make me think of the beginning of Good Omens where we learn that he was in fact wrong by about a quarter of an hour, or something like that.

Now I'm wondering - was there a year zero?

Although I think we discussed this on or about Jan 1, 2000....

Now I'm wondering - was there a year zero?

There was not. The calendar goes straight from 1 BCE to 1 CE.

Amy, unless there's another author with the same name, my library has a bunch of your books. I thought maybe I should check the next time I went there, but then I realized, Internet, duh. I just did a search.

The calendar goes straight from 1 BCE to 1 CE.

And everybody born in year 0 never got any birthday presents ever.

ION, Live crab vending machine

his live hairy Shanghai crab vending machine keeps the crabs at 5° C, at which temperature the poor crustaceans go into hibernation. If you give it some money and it dispenses a dead crab, the machine's owner will give you three free live crabs by way of compensation. The machine is in Nanjing, and represents a major push in the always-complex business of live-crab vending.

I just watched one of those Monsters Inside Me programs on Animal Planet, and there was a guy who got a really gross infestation from eating live crabs at a sushi restaurant. So watch out!

Did they at least give him a t-shirt that says, "I caught the crabs at [dining establishment name]"?

That's awesome, Gud! Wow, I had no idea.

Here's hoping many, many more libraries have Cold Kiss next fall.