I actually have no problem with the end of the Christian millenium, but I am however, irritated with the "mass media" trying to use it to sell their products. END OF THE MILLENNIUM SALE! THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE TO OWN "PETER PAN" THIS MILLENNIUM! A CHRISTMAS LIKE THIS ONLY COMES ALONG ONCE EVERY 1,000 YEARS! The only real difference is that the general population is gradually becoming stupider, and really seem to "buy in" to this tripe. Honestly. And there is such_a_fuss over the last anything of the millenium. As if that makes an accomplishment more important? You just know that similar substances will be floating about for the first anything of the next millenium, assuming they don't realize that you start counting at "1," not "0," before 2,001.
What about this "millenium bug" computer nonsense? As I said before, it has nothing to do with the end of said millenium, and even if the course of time were to shift and suddenly it did, (which it won't) it would be a centennial issue, as computerised dates are supposedly stored in 2 digit increments, rather than 3, which would make it a millenial issue.
But really, why is this such a huge issue? Computer programs don't delete files based on their dates unless someone specifically instructs them to. It's not going to nullify airplane controls or cause massive oil spills. The biggest problem will be from people who are convinced that civilization is going to "shut down," and that the communists and the Irish are going to seize power, somehow giving them a reason to drive around murdering people for "precious resources." Others cling to the notion that all power will be shut off, instantly detonating household appliances, even battery powered ones (according to ABC news, which reported that slide rules will become the replacement for handheld calculators), and amazingly killing off all of the plants, because they're apparently engineered by Microsoft now. You could be amazed about how ignorant people are on this subject. I heard some stupid kid on Nickelodeon's (Please note: I heard it. I was not watching it. I do live with other people) excuse for a news program say, and I am quoting this: "I'm concerned about the year 2,000 because of the Y2K." Yes. He is concerned about the year 2,000 because of the year 2,000.The simple (yet dismal) fact is that most computers are so "user friendly" that someone needn't know how to replace a roll of toilet paper to operate one. Not that the two are neccesarily related, but apparently unwrapping something and placing it within reach of the toilet is a real chore. All that you need is a lot of money and a lack of common sense (if you have common sense, computers cost a substantially lower amount of money) to use one. No skill is required. These are the type of people who avoid revealing their "E"-mail address because they think it can be traced back to them by a casual observer, who could then transfer funds to themselves and decrease the screen resolution. Yet, they (the idiots, not the casual observers) are in the majority, which makes them "right," so perhaps I am "wrong" after all.
Thou shalt return to the index page.
This meandering harangue was assembled in an anger induced indignation after half of "Late Night" was recorded by my VCR the previous night without sound on 12/17/99 by Roneldo.
