> The reasons for this are not clear for me, there must
> be something historical. The /usr/sys/include/arch/alpha/clock.h
> header file tells something about the "how", but not the "why".

The comment indicates that there are ranges of dates which
the SRM mucks with, and the 52 years offset keeps the date
away from these.

I wonder why the SRM would be mucking with particular years,
just to have DU avoid it?

May have something to do with VMS?

-Dave