Google's new annoyance caused me some brain damage

So ... on Google's main page ... what is the call with the apple dropping from the tree?

It so happens that Jan 4, (1643) is Isaac Newton's birthday ... unless you use the "OS" (old style) dates ... in which case it's Dec 25, (1642.)  Interesting, huh?  Nothing is easy, is it.  Turns out there's a whole big snake-handling involved in "OS vs NS" (Old Style/New Style) dates.  I figured you'd want to know.

From this article at Wikipedia:

Differences between the start of the year

When recording British history it is usual to use the dates recorded at the time of the event with the year adjusted to the start on 1 January. So for example, the Battle of Hastings is universally known to have been fought on 14 October, 1066. But the start of the Julian year was not always 1 January and was altered at different times in different countries.

From the 12th century to 1752, the civil or legal year in England began on 25 March (Lady Day) so for example the execution of Charles I was recorded at the time in Parliament as happening on 30 January 1648 In modern English language texts this date is usually recorded as "30 January 1649" (New Style). A full conversion of the date into the Gregorian calendar is 9 February 1649, the date by which his contemporaries in some parts of continental Europe would have recorded his execution. (Old Style).

The OS/NS designation is particularly relevant for dates which fall between the start of the modern year (1 January) and the start of the contemporary year, which was 25 March in England up until 1752 (see Julian year article).

There you go ... feel any smarter?  I don't.   In any event, the annoyance will be gone tomorrow.