and to think 10 years ago today, we were all freaking about the Y2K fiasco....

[MomNeedsVacay]

10 years ago dh and I were down in DC visiting my sister and her family. we didn't have kids yet, so the two of us decided to go into DC for the celebration, and we remember debating the wisdom of it, because there was so much talk about terrorism and possible scary things happening.

we ended up having a wonderful time! the day was sooo warm, we spent it kicking around them all, and idiot that I was, when it cooled off late that night I was FREEZING because I hadn't dressed for the drop in temps. so I didn't mind the masses of people hanging out watching the festivities with me because they helped block some of the chill. lol.

the one other thing I remembered was how disappointing the fireworks were. they were just so disappointing, we really expected something so much more than they ended up being. maybe disney ruined us for other fireworks. lol.

I was in DC too at a party at the Grand Hyatt. My husband (new boyfriend at the time)...and I ran over to stand by the EXIT sign ...so at midnight, instead of kissing, we were going to make a run for it, if there was any funny business....

 

[FireDancer]

The Y2K fiasco was a great example of how the mainstream media is terrible at reporting on technology news. They were the same when dealing with conficker earlier this year.

It was a basic data parameter issue. If you designed a program to work with a 2 digit year you had to make some changes. This is much easier in some languages and in some database or file systems. It could have resulted in some calculations being off but that was pretty much all fixed ahead of time. The alarmist media talking about missiles firing and power plants shutting down was just to sell news stories.

I'm sure that in 2038 the same thing will happen as the 32-bit time counter maxes itself out. It is also something that will have to be dealt with but I will let you all know now that it will also not end the world.

As far as the Mayan calendar predicting the end of the world...please. It is carved in stone! They guy probably got to 2012 and figured he and his ancestors would be long dead and his arm was getting tired so he put down the hammer and chisel.

 

[Wall-E1]

I'm sure that in 2038 the same thing will happen as the 32-bit time counter maxes itself out. It is also something that will have to be dealt with but I will let you all know now that it will also not end the world.

Well, that's all inconsequential. As we all know, the world will be ending in 2036. This is the date when the Apophis asteroid will be striking Earth and wiping out all traces of humanity. Stock up on Spam now.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Hey now, no need to go crazy! If the world is going to end that's no reason not to bake. Just because we're all going to die doesn't mean we have to die on a diet!!

I'm going to eat everything in sight. Maybe I'll start now.

I cannot believe how quickly the last 10 years have gone by.

 

[jog58]

Well, that's all inconsequential. As we all know, the world will be ending in 2036. This is the date when the Apophis asteroid will be striking Earth and wiping out all traces of humanity. Stock up on Spam now.

Not if Planet Nibiru gets us first.

 

[Wall-E1]

Not if Planet Nibiru gets us first.

Okay. Now I'm scared. I am currently huddled under my coffee table with a box of Pop Tarts, a bottle of water, and an a.m. radio.

 

[Imzadi]

Okay. Now I'm scared. I am currently huddled under my coffee table with a box of Pop Tarts, a bottle of water, and an a.m. radio.

 

[FireDancer]

Well, that's all inconsequential. As we all know, the world will be ending in 2036. This is the date when the Apophis asteroid will be striking Earth and wiping out all traces of humanity. Stock up on Spam now.

Not if the LHC gets us all sucked into a black hole before that, or before the Mayans kill us in 2 years for that matter.

 

[Darsa]

OMG you guys!

I have to confess that there was this liiiitttle niggling worry in the way-back of my head when 1999 became 2000, and promptly felt very silly at one minute past midnight when the world didn't end. I've got to say that the tech aspect of it never came into my mind; don't tell yer mom, Ember!

 

[Wall-E1]

Not if the LHC gets us all sucked into a black hole before that, or before the Mayans kill us in 2 years for that matter.

You're thinking way to far into the future. We could be wiped out at any time if the sun becomes angry enough and shoots a large solar flare our way. Get your sunscreen and sunglasses ready people!

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

The Y2K fiasco was a great example of how the mainstream media is terrible at reporting on technology news. They were the same when dealing with conficker earlier this year.

It was a basic data parameter issue. If you designed a program to work with a 2 digit year you had to make some changes. This is much easier in some languages and in some database or file systems. It could have resulted in some calculations being off but that was pretty much all fixed ahead of time. The alarmist media talking about missiles firing and power plants shutting down was just to sell news stories.

I'm sure that in 2038 the same thing will happen as the 32-bit time counter maxes itself out. It is also something that will have to be dealt with but I will let you all know now that it will also not end the world.

As far as the Mayan calendar predicting the end of the world...please. It is carved in stone! They guy probably got to 2012 and figured he and his ancestors would be long dead and his arm was getting tired so he put down the hammer and chisel.

Firedancer, you were probably a wee young lad waaaaay back in 1999

 

[lovesmurfs]

DH's father passed away on Christmas eve in 1999 -- DH went to Atlanta to be with his mom and siblings -- we couldn't afford for my travel, so I stayed in NJ with the kids and my parents. It was a really tough new year -- DD's first Christmas. We were glad to ring the year out (both of DH's grandmothers passed away in 1999 as well), even if it was apart.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Okay. Now I'm scared. I am currently huddled under my coffee table with a box of Pop Tarts, a bottle of water, and an a.m. radio.

Water??? Quick...grab the good stuff!

 

[Wall-E1]

DH's father passed away on Christmas eve in 1999 -- DH went to Atlanta to be with his mom and siblings -- we couldn't afford for my travel, so I stayed in NJ with the kids and my parents. It was a really tough new year -- DD's first Christmas. We were glad to ring the year out (both of DH's grandmothers passed away in 1999 as well), even if it was apart.

I'm sorry to hear about your losses that year. I hope the new millennium has been much smurfier for you.

 

[FireDancer]

Firedancer, you were probably a wee young lad waaaaay back in 1999

Not all that wee. Jan 1 is my birthday so I was turning 22 as our pending death loomed at midnight on Jan 1, 2000.

 

[olena]

Sitting in my apt with DH contemplating my wedding, as I has just gotten engaged. I wasn't worried a bit about any Y2K disasters, nor did I buy anything special except for a bottle of Cristal....

 

[kaytieeldr]

You remember?? in 1999, most of us were worried about everything stopping working as we rolled into 2000..We stocked up on batteries, and water just in case??? What were YOU doing 10 years ago??

Thinking, "I don't get what all the danged fuss is about - we've still got another year left in the current decade/century/millennium. The next millennium doesn't start until January 1, 2001!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

[dnoyes]

My FIL spent thousands of dollars getting ready for the end of the world. For Christmas in 99 he gave us propane heaters, water jugs and two years worth of MRE's (meals ready to eat) TWO YEARS WORTH Also a hand gun and a large amount of cash. He did this for all four of his kids and their families.
This was not like this man to do something so extreme and we were really starting to get worried about him.
When the looters didn't show up to take over my home I gave him the gun and money back

 

[Wall-E1]

My FIL spent thousands of dollars getting ready for the end of the world. For Christmas in 99 he gave us propane heaters, water jugs and two years worth of MRE's (meals ready to eat) TWO YEARS WORTH Also a hand gun and a large amount of cash. He did this for all four of his kids and their families.
This was not like this man to do something so extreme and we were really starting to get worried about him.
When the looters didn't show up to take over my home I gave him the gun and money back

That's excellent!!!

 

[LoraJ]

I went to a party that NYE and at midnight we were all celebrating and then all the power went off in the house. People started freaking out. Of course the host was just being silly and shut off all the power.