NZ's millenium responsibilities

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Helen
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 05:56 PM

Hi all,

I thought of posting at 1am this morning, east coast Oz time, but I wasn't in a fit state. I've had a nice long sleep & some brekky, so here I am. One false start in connecting to the net - it said check my dial-up configuration because I didn't have access to the newtwork. Just some computer techie's joke I guess - setting up everyone's dial-up access to fail on the first go on Jan 1 2000 so that I could sit there chewing my fingernails wondering if I would never see Mudcatland again.

Happy New Year/Millenium Helen

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 05:05 PM

I thought Western Samoa was to be the first.

But from what the rest of you say I can stop looking for the rest of the parts for my 8 bit Amstrad and trying to source a nullmodem. THat's a relief.

But can anyone tell me why the channel tunnel is closed? FOr those of us in Kent, England, that could be the first sign of something nasty.

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Ana
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 04:21 PM

Well I'm emerged from my cocoon called bed, and (as amongst the first to be in a position to report) I'm very sorry to tell you all - THERE IS NO SUN. I'm unable to assist you with information as to whether my jeans fell off - another concern is that my sense of recall would appear to have diminished. This must have something to do with Y2K, but I have yet to fathom it. It is presently raining - some cultures see this as a sign of fertility. I'm confused as to whether this is another possible area of celebration. Thanks for messages and joining in the fun - best wishes Ana

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Bill D
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 11:48 AM

shucks, I saw film of dancers on Kiribati, right on the dateline...and someone got married out there..and some cruise ship was out crossing & re-crossing the line several times, so those who piad them lots of$$$ could claim THEY were first more than once!.....now, next year there will be another batch out there claiming the REAL "firsts"

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: catspaw49
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 09:20 AM

Thanks Ana....We enjoyed watching the celebration in Auckland...looked great...........but, uh, did you see the newa coverage on the US sub that surfaced on the date line and so was technically the first to witness the millennium?

Happy New Year Kiwis!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Okiemockbird
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 09:20 AM

Ana, thanks again for keeping in touch and happy new year. T.

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: alison
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 09:02 AM

Hahaha... maybe so Anna... but we got the first posting on Mudcat..... 8.00am...... LOL......

Looked like we had better luck with the weather than you although the rain has been threatening all evening....

Happy New Year

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Ana
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 08:58 AM

Yes!! we beat Australia again!! - sorry guys, better luck next time. I haven't noticed anything of concern thus far, though lights seem to going out. I'll have to do a bit of checking later. The time is now 2.57 am on Saturday 1st January 2000 (whoa) Happy New Year all- Ana

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 07:00 AM

Hello, NZ & OZ...Happy New Year!

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: sophocleese
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 12:43 AM

Ana, Clement is the large orange grove just north of the small orange grove. Your selflessness in wearing jeans for the rest of us on New Year's Eve will not go unnoticed, especially if they fall down. We'll find out who really wears the pants in this family of Mudnutters. Have fun this evening, your evening and I'll hope to read about it during my afternoon, if I can.

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: katlaughing
Date: 31 Dec 99 - 12:31 AM

Ana, at 4a.m., my time, this coming morning, Dec. 31st, it will already be the New Year for you. Since I doubt I will be up at that time, have yourself a very good new year and, as another friend said to me, thanks for the old one. You be sure to come back and tell us more clothing/commune/jelly stories, okay? How do you say Happy New Year in Maori?

Jeri, in Wyoming they tell us to always be prepared for a winter storm, i.e. blizzard, and our electricity can get pretty fickle, too. So....thanks for reminding to use my oil lamps if needed. I always think of candles and flashlights but forget those lamps.

All the best, katlaughing

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 10:54 PM

Ana, thanks for checking in. T.

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Ana
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 08:19 PM

Well I'm pleased to see that I'm not going to be overloaded with responsibilities tonight - the weather is apparently going to be in Clement (anyone know where that is?). Maybe I will wear my jeans - it's been a long time since they fell off, so it could be a novel experience. Johnb, you've obviously been doing a bit of sussing (spooky). I actually gave up wearing cheese cloth when the commune used my garments for straining the crabapple juice (for jelly of course). I didn't mind that so much as the fact that they didn't get a proper rinsing (it was a drought and the river was a bit low) and I ended up looking like a road kill when I re-wore them. They also had fermented, but that's another story. Now LTS, wash your mouth out "move into the 20th Century"!!! I'll have you know I moved into the 90's quite recently - I now have a washing machine and can agitate to my hearts content. In fact it makes a lovely background effect to some of the mood songs I like to sing - some parts of the cycle are reminiscent of a drone, and others of my rainstick, and its throb.. no that's enough secrets for now. The time is now 2.20pm on Friday the 31 Dec 99!! Ana

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Jeri
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 08:10 PM

I have wood and a fireplace. I have oil lamps and candles and a spring for water. I'm not worried about Y2K - it's just that the power goes out here when it rains, when the wind blows, and probably when it snows. I wouldn't put it past practical jokers to just turn the power off for a little while, though. Me, I'm gonna be playing music when the year flips over in the Eastern Standard time zone - that is if a bunch of old folkies can manage to stay awake that late...

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Mikal
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 07:57 PM

OOOOOH. That was a close one. two shots of rye and a good talking to by the wife convinced me it is still 872 AD, and I have a bit more time to go.

All kidding aside, this new machine of mine is Y2k ready, and so, it seems, is my VCR! So come the big meltdown, I can fire up the generator and watch "the Bells of Dublin" while I try to use up all that Guiness before it goes bad.

Hmmmmm. Maybe I am a survivalist, after all. Nah! I just live in the middle of the US! That is bad enough!

Mikal

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 07:45 PM

Mikal, ccoooooommmmmmeeee bbaaaaccckkkkkk!!! Good to see you're with us again. Hope all is well.

kat

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 07:14 PM

And I expect to here from you when you can Helen!!! I think the last I heard that Rick fielding's computer was dated sometime in '78 nad slowing down. Evidently a bad battery or something, but Rick oughta' be in great shape!! Well, his computer anyway.............

Spaw

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Helen
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 06:59 PM

Bert,

My hubby (computer hardware service engineer) says that the trick is to change your computer's date to 1972 because the days of the week for 2000 correspond to 1972. He also says it's a big hype and it won't be nearly as bad as everyone reckons.

Ask me again about that in another 13 hours & 10 minutes (it's 11:51 am on New Year's Eve here in east coast, Oz)

Helen

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Bill D
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 05:14 PM

there was an article here in the US about NZ and Oz being about as well prepared as any place in the world....so I suspect that we wont really know until the date reaches US...(and, of course, SE Asia and Russia..!!)

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Bert
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 04:42 PM

Of course if there are a lot of disasters all we have to do is to call the new year 1900 instead of 2000 and just add the 100 years in our heads. Then we've got another 100 years to get things right.

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Mikal
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 04:30 PM

All this worry...It makes no sense to me. As far as I can tell my drum isn't even y1k compliant.

Come to think of it, neither am....urk...sputter...crash...

Mikal

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Llanfair
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 05:39 AM

LOL, Alan. Hwyl, Bron.

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 05:32 AM

G'day,
It's good to know the Enzedders are looking after us this time. Hope their programmers are as good as their cricketers. Australia won't be far behind, closely followed by Queensland. If our programmers are as good as our cricketers they'll be the best in the world. Southern hemisphere seems to be winning a lot lately.

We're doing a gig way out in the bush & won't get back to civilisation until it's all over world wide. If we're still civilised (U.S. civilized).........

Bron, we heard about your bank on the news today. My brother's in charge of computing systems for my bank. I drew all my money out.......

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Skipjack
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 05:12 AM

I heard on good 'ol Radio 4 (BBC) there's a move afoot to establish GET. Yup, that's Greenwich Electronic Time, son, and exactly the same thing as GMT. I have to admit it was a bunch of egghead Europhiles that have been cooking it up, but it is a start to address the date/time stamp on e-transactions, etc. that has apparently plagued cash transfers and that sort of thing.

I don't think the Septics are going to take kindly to having NYMT hijacked, and who knows, we'll probably settle on that meridian, but, to get to the point, when exactly is the turn of the e-millenium?

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Llanfair
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 04:58 AM

Well, my bank appears to have had a problem already! People have been unable to pay for goods in the sales. Shame!!!! Serves them right for changing their name to a bunch of initials without a proper explanation. Bron.

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: johnp
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 04:03 AM

sorry forgot the ID above

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From:
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 04:01 AM

NZ admits to nothing except holding the ugliest trophy ever constructed and vowing to retain the thing for another few years. Ana, I researched your contributions and am now in a position to advise re demure dress for your New Year party.Something in velvet and cheesecloth OVER some serious jeans. In that way you will be able to conduct the requested test and satisfy your instinct for the demure. Sorry I cant help with the viagra test. I use Win 95 on an IBM compatable and I dont think Viagra is an application that my setup would handle. Is there an updated version ...viagra 2000? A fine Hogmanay with lots of Irish, Scot and assorted folkies between Wairoa and Napier means that I can help no further and even my cellphone will be out of range so best of luck to you all as we descend into the new dark..........(cont. on page 94)

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Dec 99 - 02:31 AM

SO NZ is admitting responsibility for something then....

I'm sorry you had to get both my sister AND my mother to get you to finally admit it, but there was no other way.

All you have to do now is drag yourselves kicking and screaming into the 20th Century and we will be all square....

LTS who is delirious with flu.....

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 11:59 PM

Alison sent me one too, but if I admit it, it will completely screw my image as the shallow minded buffoon.

Spaw

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 11:51 PM

Great thread, Ana! For anyone who wants it, Alison sent me a great world clock thingie by email, which makes it really easy, SPAW! to figure out the time anywhere in the world,. If you want a copy emailed to you, leave me a message with your addy.

kat

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 09:30 PM

Gee Ana...I really loved that ending....sounded like a countdown ...COOL!!! So that figures that Y2K hits you at 4 AM EST/US.....This'll be a kick. Karen and I were discussing this today and we'll both be checking in and with Helen, alison,,Alan, John, Bugsy and the other Aussies.....Our first "Round the World with Friends" New Year. And if YOU decide to wear the jeans and there's a problem...send PIX!!! (:<))

Spaw - (and put a shine on the "Cup")

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Ana
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 08:11 PM

Ah dear Noah - you are such an innocent. Yes, I'm sure you live to play your acoustic... but if the world has ended, I'm sure you would like advance warning so you can give your instruments of passion one last caress. Sophocleese, for the vital test I could wear my jeans on New years eve, but I'd rather wear something a little more demure - maybe Johnp could help out; but (a gentle warning) these things could be personal to the individual - sort of like "let me know if viagra still works".the time is now 2.07 pm 30 Dec 99. Ana

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 05:42 PM

Thanks.....and I'll be looking forward to you sending "The Cup" back here too. I think Mr.Cayard will probably be coming to pick it up.

Spaw

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: johnp
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 05:37 PM

Catspaw

This message is sent at 11.39 am from Wellington NZ

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: johnp
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 05:34 PM

Sorry Helen, yes it was a reworking of an old joke and you made my day by falling for it although I notice you are in Oz so that probablly explains everything. (Other readers, do no be alarmed, I am not being rude to Helen. This is the way New zealanders and Australians communicate.) Do not be alarmed. The Y2K bug has been over hyped by those in the computer business as a way of making an extra buck. But just in case, remember that there are a couple of gallons of good drinking water in the toilet cistern and lots more in the hot water cylinder although this will not be hot because the electricity will also fail. SHOWER BEFORE MIDNIGHT. Best wishes to you all

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 05:26 PM

So...being an idiot....what time/date is it in Kiwiland on your next posting. Are we 17 or 18 hours behind...something like that???

Spaw

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Helen
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 05:11 PM

johnp,

Is that a bit like saying in a letter " if this letter doesn't reach you, please let me know"?

Has anyone on the 'Cat considered what would happen on 01/01/2000 if our internet connections don't work? No Mudcat. Aaaaaaarrrrgggghhh!

Ana, I'm only over here in Newcastle, NSW, Oz so I'm not going to get much forewarning from your kind offer to check out millenium bug-gery. I'll have to think about what I need to know & get back to you.

Helen

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: johnp
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 05:02 PM

Please let us know if your computer ceases to function

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Noah Zacharin
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 04:54 PM

since my initials are nz, i was afraid for a moment that somebody was telling me what to do. i feel my responsibility re this silliness is to pretend it isn't really worth paying much attention. my acoustic guitar will still play, and when it comes down to it that is my core reason for getting up in the mornings. good morning new zealand!

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: sophocleese
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 04:46 PM

Will my jeans stay up during the New Year's Eve party? Please let me know so I can wear something else if necessary, its too cold here to go bare bum.

Subject: RE: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Ana
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 04:24 PM

(end of message deleted.. its started happening already) "late" Ana

Subject: NZ's millenium responsibilities
From: Ana
Date: 29 Dec 99 - 04:22 PM

In a few short days it will be the year 2000 (in case you haven't heard the publicity!). There may be ramifications (good word that). New Zealand will be the first country to "see the sun" and therefore in a position to ascertain the bugs. I believe that NZ'ers have a responsibility to do as much testing as possible during the head start, so the rest of the world can be informed and make plans. For instance - if my espresso machine ceased to function, wouldn't you want to know so you could organise a thermos? Start posting your requests now, so the NZ'ers amongst us can be delegated reporting duties - before it's too