Happy Palindrome Day! 21-02-2012 will be last back-to-front date for eight years Many Twitter users noticed the oddity that when today's date is written out numerically - 21022012 - it is the same when turned back-to-front. One pointed out that it would be the last for eight years, with the next palindrome due on Februay 2 2020 - 02022020. Others could not help pointing out that, just like the pancakes for which today is more traditionally known, the number could be flipped over to be the same on both sides. It was noted, of course, that today is only a palindrome day if the date is written out "the British way," with the day written before the month. Those attached to the American system are bereft of the quirk, saddled as they are with the distinctly non-palindromic 02212012. Happily, both sides of the Atlantic will be united in celebrating 02022020. Of course, other ways of writing out dates throw up different palindromes, with next month's 21/3/12 and the 21st of every month up to September this year throwing up a more common example when put in this form. A rarer occurence involves a same-numbered palindrome, with both time and date reading the same both backwards and forwards, as at 11.11.11 on 11/11/11. The next will not occur for 100 years.