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BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is?
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Subject: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: annamill Date: 24 Nov 99 - 07:55 PM I know. I'm a programmer, been a programmer for a long time, and I may have inadvertantly been part of the problem. So, I know what it's all about. I was reading an article about it the other day, someone mentioned that there was special on it Sunday. I was sitting on the bus from NY and looked around at the people and realized how very few actually know what it's all about. Do any of the non-programming 'cats know what it is?? Love, annap
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Allan C. Date: 24 Nov 99 - 08:05 PM Even my 82 year-old mother who lives in the hills of West Virginia and has never even seen a computer has some sort of idea what all the hoopla is about. Many of us have received notices from our banks and utility companies which, in a minimum of words both explain the problem and attempt to reassure us that all the necessary steps have been taken to prevent any difficulties with their respective functions. In all, I would be very surprised if there were many who post to the 'Cat who haven't been made aware of it all in some way or other. 'Cept Cletus, maybe |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Jeri Date: 24 Nov 99 - 08:09 PM Well, I think it's that thing where programs that use only the last two digits in the year won't know whether we turned another year or went back 99. It's either that, or the one where the evil aliens land and kick off the apocalypse (wondering if "Apocalypso" might be a good name for a New Year's Eve band) by giving electronic appliances a will of their own. I dunno, but I think I'll unplug my toaster just in case. (And has anyone seen that hilarios Nike commercial with the tanks and missles and giraffes?) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 24 Nov 99 - 08:12 PM I gather the idea is that, come Midnight on the 31st of December, something goes haywire in all the computers, so that time gets messed up, and instead of it being 1st of January 2000, it's 1st January 1999.
So we get another run at this century, and maybe we can make a better fist of it this time, because we flunked it this time round. Sort of macro version of the movie "Groundhog Day".
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 24 Nov 99 - 08:16 PM I meant to say, 1st of January 1900 - the Millennium Bug struck me early, I'm afraid. Incidentally, I've just realised why people write it Y2K -it's really because it saves writing Millenium, and then realising it should be Millennium. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: annamill Date: 24 Nov 99 - 08:35 PM Years ago when computers were new and had almost no memory we did all we could to conserve that memory. Dates are used all the time to calc. time (strange, huh)and the year was put in front for mathmatical reasons. (ex 19991124 - 19991728). Well, many systems have literally thousands of entries per day and every little byte(bite) counts. So..we only used the last two digits of the year cause 2 digits times thousands were a lot of memory and disk space. We have a lot more room now, so space is not so much of a problem and we can use the whole date if we like. Problem is there is an enormous amount of code out there that still only stores the date as 991124. We have been spending enormous amounts of energy trying to find all the places we did this. Companys have spent enormous amounts of money trying to find all the places we did this. All we can do is hope. We programmers, who know better than anyone the human error problem, are a little skeptical that they will all be found. Sooo.. wish us good luck and hope we'll find most of them and so will foreign countries, and the government....small businesses... 000101 - 991124 won't work! Love, annap |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Allan C. Date: 24 Nov 99 - 08:42 PM Lord, I'm runnin' Tryn' to make 2000 Don't you know 1900 won't do? Lord, I'm runnin' Try'n to make 2000 If I don't well, you know We're gonna be screwed. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Mudjack Date: 24 Nov 99 - 08:49 PM It is the failure of communications, all societies will riot and pillage one another because the banks and corporations will fail, FEMA will then enact REX84B and we will all be subjects of the NEW government without the benefit of a constitution. Well HELL, it worked for Orson Welles. All joking aside, you want some good web surfing, type in your favorite search engine: Rex84 or FEMA and discover what the "Secret Government" is doing for you.It might even add up to Y2K...WHY??? I just love a good conspiracy theory. Happy New Millenium, that is if we have one. Mudjack |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Mike Robertson Date: 24 Nov 99 - 08:52 PM |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Midchuck Date: 24 Nov 99 - 08:54 PM It's only slightly on topic, but: A banjo player and an accordion player formed a duo. After a while they got a bar gig for new year's eve. At the end of the gig, the owner said, "You guys were great! I want you to play for me again next new year's eve! The banjo player said, "That's wonderful! O.K. if we leave our gear?" |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Mike Robertson Date: 24 Nov 99 - 09:09 PM I guess that the interesting thing about Y2K from my point of view (speaking as both a folkie and as someone who's been involved with computers for the last 30 years or so) is the perspective of time that's involved here. Back in 1970 those of us who were writing programs were looking at a presumptive 'program lifetime' of only a few years; everything would be rewritten by 1980 because if for no other reason the language we were writing in (COBOL68!) would be completely out of date by then. As someone who was into doing things vocally that had been supposed to be out of date for hundreds (rather than tens) of years I think that my love of folk music was part of giving me a different perspective on this. At least in the sense that any program I ever wrote will not be affected by the year in which it's being used. Not so easy when you're talking computers as when you're doing the songs, but having the songs as a background gave me the right mindset at least. Pity that not all of the '70's programmers were folkies, we might never have had the problem in the first place...:-) -mike- |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Gary T Date: 24 Nov 99 - 09:46 PM Annap, 19991124 makes sense as a date, but what the heck is 19991728? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: BK Date: 24 Nov 99 - 10:53 PM The Apocalypso Evil Alein Band will be playing unplugged tipples.. Cheers, BK |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Escamillo Date: 24 Nov 99 - 11:08 PM I'm a programmer too (at least I make a living of this) and sometimes a teacher. I happily solved the Y2k problem in 1985. Trying to write a good set of routines for date arithmetic (calculate periods between dates, installments, etc) I found two short programs in a Hewlett Packard manual for an old machine, which converted a normal date to an integer number from 1 to 65535 and viceversa, taking into account all months with 28, 29, 30 and 31 days, odd years, etc. This not only solved all arithmetic problems elegantly, but was also valid for any date before or past the 2000, which was simply one year more. When all this problem of the 2000 arised, I proudly told my customers that my programs were immune, for a great surprise of all of them. THEN somebody told me that my competitors were charging 1 to 2 thousand dollars for "upgrading" their programs and I was a very honest stupid. Damn! Fortunately, when I carefully examined my programs, found a flaw: the HARVEST NUMBER, which is usually 4 digits like 97-98, 98-99, etc. failed to default to 99-00, 00-01. What a discovery! I had found a reason to charge them something, just to not appear so dumb. Then I charged them 200.00 dollars each, and I still feel ashamed, but a little more smart. Conclusion: All this hoopla may be true for some old programs (we will never know how many of them are completely out of use, especially in government) but I'm sure it is BIG BUSINESS. Yours, Andrés Magré (Dorkmanaged Systems Inc.) |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: sophocleese Date: 24 Nov 99 - 11:49 PM Just transferred this over from another thread. Just a quick warning which I heard on the radio, CBC. Don't wear pants with zippers on New Years Eve. You will notice that most zippers have the letters YKK, can be read as 'Y, 2K', on them. They may fail you during that crucial New Years Eve kiss! And then where would you be? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Mark Roffe Date: 24 Nov 99 - 11:54 PM I thought it was the Volkswagen Beetle that comes out in the year 2000. Y'know, the Y2K Bug. My friend hung out his shingle as a Y2K Consultant. He reports that he's never had a gig before where people hand him fistfuls of money and all he has to promise is that things won't be any worse than they are! -Mark |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: JedMarum Date: 25 Nov 99 - 12:05 AM At two companies where I was consulting (on non-Y2K projects) the senior management was much more concerned about proving they had given the Y2K compliance issue their best effort, than they were about actually giving Y2K any real effort at all. Both places really believed there was little for genuine concern, and that whatever issues arose they could handle (I suspect they were right). They gave real interest to the mission critical systems, and lip service to the others. The truth be told, I have seen Y2K errors popping in the production systems of these companies for the last two years, and they have been fixed as they arise. Revenue is recognized in the future for contracts that roll out beyond the year 2000, likewise billing dates for contracts beyind year 2000 are calculated, many similar computer processes already have bumped into the Y2K bug. I suppose more will still show up. I am not worried. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Jon Freeman Date: 25 Nov 99 - 01:40 AM Some of my older programs have a varient on the Y2K bug. I coded the date using 2 digits for the year but based my start on 1980 ie 80 to 99 = 1900's, < 80 = 2000. A long way to go but the same type of failing. I wonder if there are any commercial programs that will fail for this type of reason but like mine, would actually be Y2K safe. Jon |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 25 Nov 99 - 04:30 AM Love the joke, going to send that one round the system.... Married to a programmer, I've not had any problems with Y2K, only wish it affected melodeons..... Many people were worried in September, that their computers would crash into oblivion, taking half the western world with it, when the date turned over to 9/9/99. Still waiting...... And how much Y2K bug info is real and how much crap sent round by people wanting to screw more money out of the stupid sods ready to pay it.....? Escamillo, I admire your ethics. LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Roger the skiffler Date: 25 Nov 99 - 06:21 AM As secretary of my institution's Y2K implementation committee I now know more than I wanted to about Y2K but I believe moat fears are exaggerated but precautions we've taken will satisfy our lawyers and insurers. I must remember to forward the YKK zipper joke to our Computer Director. RtS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Lady McMoo Date: 25 Nov 99 - 10:01 AM Yes I have one installed under the bridge in my guitar. Works very well too...! mcmoo |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Bryant Date: 25 Nov 99 - 05:06 PM I read about a funny Y2K related glitch a month or so ago. Seems people in New England somewhere were registering their model year 2000 cars and getting registration certificates listing the "Type of Vehicle" as "Horseless Carraige". :) Kinda minor, but it shows the numerous ways this thing can creep up. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 25 Nov 99 - 05:14 PM Maybe this is the answer..... Corporate has defined a lower cost alternative for Desktop conversions that also addresses the Y2K (Year 2000) issue: The goal is to remove all computers from the desktop by December, 1999. Instead, everyone will be provided with an Etch-A-Sketch. There are many sound reasons for doing this: 1. No Y2K problems. 2. No technical glitches, keeping work from being done. 3. No more wasted time reading and writing e-mails. 4. Substantial hardware cost savings. Frequently asked questions from the Etch-A-Sketch help desk: Q. My Etch-A-Sketch has all of these funny little lines all over the screen. What do I do? A. Pick it up and shake it. Q. How do I turn my Etch-A-Sketch off? A. Pick it up and shake it. Q. What's the shortcut for Undo? A. Pick it up and shake it. Q. How do I create a New Document window? A. Pick it up and shake it. Q. How do I set the background and foreground to the same color? A. Pick it up and shake it. Q. What is the proper procedure for rebooting my Etch-A-Sketch? A. Pick it up and shake it. Q. How do I delete a document on my Etch-A-Sketch? A. Pick it up and shake it. Q. How do I save my Etch-A-Sketch document? A. Don't shake it. -- LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Banjer Date: 25 Nov 99 - 07:25 PM The following was posted here on the Mudcat some time ago. I do not recall who posted it but feel sure they won't mind it being 'replayed' Memo to Management:
Our staff has completed the 18 months of work on time and on budget. We have gone through every line of code in every program in every system. We have analyzed all databases, all data files, including backups and historic archives, and modified all data to reflect the change. We are proud to report that we have completed the "Y2K" change mission, and have now implemented all changes to all programs and all data to reflect your new standards:
Januark, Februark, March, April, Mak, June, Julk, August, September, October, November, December
As well as: Sundak, Mondak, Tuesdak, Wednesdak, Thursdak, Fridak, Saturdak
We trust that this is satisfactory, because to be honest, none of this Y to K problem has made any sense to us. But we understand it is a global problem, and our team is glad to help in any way possible. By the way, what does the year 2000 have to do with it?
We'll await your direction.
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Escamillo Date: 25 Nov 99 - 10:55 PM Excellent, Banjer :) I will surely be available when this people want a program for solving the K2Y problem, and will charge them only half the cost of the Y2K. Yours, Andrés Magré |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Alan of Australia Date: 26 Nov 99 - 02:02 AM G'day, Of course you realize that the Y1K bug caused the Dark Ages. Is history about to repeat itself? The solution is Y2KY Gel - allows you to insert 4 digits instead of 2. Seriously though, apart from saving memory, another reason for the bug is that programmers made their programs more user friendly by allowing users (without Y2KY) to insert only 2 digits for year. To do that properly you need extra code. I'm just fixing a program I wrote in 1990 when I didn't think I'd ever need the extra code. The way I fixed it it will fail in 2090. I don't care. I'll be retired by then. Talking of the millennium, do you realize that the current one will only be 999 years. Started in 1001, but everyone wants the next one to start in 2000. Actually we can put that old argument to rest by declaring that the year 1BC is also called 0AD. Then all millennia start at 000.
Cheers, |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: murray@mpce.mq.edu.au Date: 26 Nov 99 - 05:34 AM The funny thing about some of the "repairs" to the Y2K bug that I have seen is that it makes the assumption that the program won't last another 50. We never learn from our mistakes. They are of the form "If date is smaller than 50 make it date+2000. If date is at least 50 make it 1900+date". (Of course, in practical terms, the programmer is not expecting to last another 50 years ;^) Murray |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: stupidbodhranplayerwhodoesn'tknowanybetter Date: 26 Nov 99 - 12:24 PM The Y2Kbug is God's way of dealing with the drum machine!! Or for that matter, electric music as a whole!!! What a glorious time it will be! Rich |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: sophocleese Date: 26 Nov 99 - 12:27 PM YES!!!!! WAY TO GO!!!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: TheMuse Date: 02 Dec 99 - 06:47 PM Can't remember the name, but there's a word game where you scamble the letters of a word or phrase and make a different word or phrase. Well, here's goody for you - Take "year two thousand" and rearrange the letters and you get "A year to shut down" Do I hear Twilight Zone music??? TheMuse |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Alan of Australia Date: 02 Dec 99 - 08:45 PM Anagram
Cheers, |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: MMario Date: 02 Dec 99 - 09:42 PM of course you all realize that we are poor deluded fools, and if you read the serious reports on the survival newsgroups and forums you will realize that only stocking up on pinto beans, ammunition and two liter bottles of water (Why 2 liter? I don't know, but they insist on 2 liter bottles) will prevent the collapse of the world as we know it into utter chaos on the stroke of midnight as the date changes to 1/1/2000. of course, according to the television movie broadcast a few days ago, if you purchase something from a time zone EARLIER then your own, they will fail based on the time zone of purchase. This is even though the particular equiptment has NOTHING to do with the y2k bug. Seen the ads for the y2k compliant toasters? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Bev Lawton Date: 02 Dec 99 - 09:44 PM Just to claim my joke Banjer it was me who sent in the Y to k joke - Bev Lawton. As it happens I am an Analyst/Programmer and have spent the last three years on and off doing work on this but the best Year 2000 problem I've heard happens to be true - There is a certain company in UK who sells gravestones wholesale to funeral parlours etc and most of the engraving work is actually done on computer controlled robot engravers. What they supply to the "trade" is the usual pictorial scene (Roses, Angels etc) with a suitable pious verse - plus pre-engraved Born 19 Died 19 Apparantley they have several thousand gravestones on special offer at the moment!!!! Bev |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: M. Ted (inactive) Date: 03 Dec 99 - 01:45 PM If we are using anagrams of "year two thousand" as necromantic tools, I offer the following: Y2K will be called a "Now hasty readout", but smokers will find the "ashtray outed now". Folk music lovers will be delighted to discover that there is a "New hoot Saturday", which will take place in the "Showy tea rotunda" to be schedule for "Townhouse Art Day". A policy allowing "No Eastward Youth" for their lack of "any outward ethos" will prompt "new authors today" to cry "Away, Thou Rodents!!!" . When leaders "shutdown toy area", the youth will respond, "Daresay Thou Won't", resulting in an "unsteady hoot war". I am sorry for that--bu I have just finished writing a set of fundraising letters, and can't stop stringing together meaningless phrases--
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Steve Latimer Date: 03 Dec 99 - 02:08 PM I thought that most G7 countries were up to speed on the Y2K problem (developing nations don't stand a chance.) But I saw in this past weekends paper that a major North American municipality had sent Jury duty notices out to report on a date in January, 1900. I'm now starting to worry again. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Easy Rider Date: 03 Dec 99 - 02:26 PM Dear Boss: I followed your instructions; but, to be honest, none of this Y to K problem makes any sense to me. I have finished the conversion of all of the months on all the company calendars for next year (year 2000). The calendars have returned from the printer and are ready to be distributed with the following new months: Januark Februark Mak Julk |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Jack (who is called Jack) Date: 03 Dec 99 - 03:53 PM There's a lot of code out there but a lot of the application code can be rewritten or patched. I'm curious about the embedded systems on all the low level appliances out there that are using chips that have the MM-DD-YY format and whose software is burned onto onboard RAM chips. I'm thinking of medical devices and cash registers, and Gas Station pumps, etc, etc, etc. That stuff can only be fixed by physically replacing the surface mounted components on printed circuit boards. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: MMario Date: 03 Dec 99 - 04:11 PM most of those types have SOME programable features, and setting the date is usuually one of them. Virtually all of them should roll over to 1/1/00 with no problem, and for the purpose they are used for, the two digit date is sufficient. it's only where you have applications that span the divider that problems will arise. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: MandolinPaul Date: 05 Dec 99 - 02:13 AM I'm not so scared of computer problems; what I'm scared of is the problems that will be caused by people expecting computer problems: Mass withdrawals near the end of December can have a huge effect on the banks. As hording of food and supplies can raise economic and safety issues. My favourite one, though, is one that I read in a magazine at my doctor's office: Some technical guy at Bell Canada said that if enough people pick up their phones at the same time (say, at 12:01), to check for a dialtone, the phone system will overload and shut down. But I'm still gonna pick up my phone at 12:01. Paul. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Mick Lowe Date: 05 Dec 99 - 07:00 PM The "BUG" is that I can't afford a babysitter for my daughter come New Year's Eve so I can go and get pissed as newt.. don't know what the "rates" are like where you live, but here it's more than a brain surgeon makes in a week.. okay.. 3 hours.. In a way I hope every computer explodes come midnight.. I mean have you checked out your handwriting lately, mine (having used these damn things nigh on 15 years) is atrocious... Imagine the mudcat if we all had to send hand written letters to some central point and then await a reply by pigeon post.. we take so much for granted these days.. Love to all Mick |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 06 Dec 99 - 05:47 AM So Mick, sounds like me and you are going to be the only sober people in the world come 12.01,1/1/2000 and if it stops that bastard crank caller who phones me up at 1.00am every sodding new year, leaves an unintelligible message on my answerphone (I'm usually still round at a friends house)in Russian (or just pissed English) then I will personally go round the entire street picking up phones..... LTS who thinks this is a load of phoey about nothing, hasn't been able to get money out of her bank account for a year (bank say it is the machine, machine says it is my card....) and could quite happily spend the night curled up in bed with Sean Connery. |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 06 Dec 99 - 05:48 AM Ooops, that should be a Sean Connery movie.... although..... LTS, going for a lie down in a cold bath.... |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Alan of Australia Date: 06 Dec 99 - 06:08 AM Liz, you'll have to share Sean with alison, & according to surveys, half the female population of Britain would like to wake up on 1/1/2000 with the old fella. Don't let the Y2K bugs byte.
Cheers, |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: alison Date: 07 Dec 99 - 10:31 AM who cares if he's old...... look at those eyes... that chest..... that voice......... HEY Liz..... any cold water left in that bath??? |
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Subject: RE: BS: Do YOU know what the Y2K bug is? From: Liz the Squeak Date: 07 Dec 99 - 11:52 AM Alison, you will have to wait, Rising Sun was on over the weekend, the Man AND Wesley Snipes, I'm heating up the water myself here!!! And you know what they say about things improving with age..... I fell in love with him when I was 11, and he totally corrupted me. Only ever been out with 2 guys who weren't hairy somewhere (other than the obvious...., ooh you are filthy!)..... LTS steaming quietly and waiting for the swelling to go down...
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