One of my relatives works at a major clinic in one of Alabama's largest cities. Their telephone system frizzed this morning and was up and down throughout the day. Employees were told it was a Bell South problem, but I haven't heard that others around town have experienced telephone problems. Also, the data base of patient information and appointments had similar symptoms throughout the day. The clinic has been around for a few decades and likely has some old software.

Interesting coincidence on 9/9/99?

-- mike (maples@voy.net), September 09, 1999

Answers

There seems to be a problem in south central bell. There have been since January this year, relays I think,many people whom I know have had problems,getting through to their family a few miles away. Sometime it take days for it to clear up sometimes a week or more.

-- ET (bneville@zebra.net), September 09, 1999.

The 9999 "problem" is a stupid idea that no engineer will accept. It depends on a program reading input with the first item being the current date field which would look like 9999 being used as an EOF. It cannot happen because 9999 is NOT a date, 090999 is and will not be detected as EOF. This problem was input as a possible by some accountant. Unfortunately the TV talking heads are now saying that there were no such problems were reported, the whole Y2K thing is not going to happen. This is very unfortunate.

-- Jack Beal (jack305@juno.com), September 10, 1999.

I have a 9999 story to recount.

I can't reveal my identity, because I'm too scared to lose my job. Well, I would be if I had a job. But hey, mind your own business anyway, whats it to you who I am ? Anyway, I came here to recount a true 9/9/99 problem, so lets get to it.

Just yesterday, my refridgerator (which had worked perfectly for 18 straight years prior to 9/9/99) suddenly blew the little bulb that lights up when you open the door. Now when I get hungry in bed, and I go to grab those left-over grits from last nights supper, I'm as likely to get a bowl of goose-fat.

Is'nt it just too much of a coincidence that this happened on a Thursday, with lots of nines in it ? Or something. Anyway, maybe this is a sign of the harships to come.

You pollys can all scoff at the 9999 problem, but try eating a spoonfull of goosefat at midnight in a dark kitchen sometime.

I blame the gubbmint.

-- 9999 ate my westinghouse (worried@boonies.org), September 10, 1999.