The news desk person on Tee-Vee this morning, asked the Mayor if this had anything to do with Y2K and he said absolutly-not. We want to celebrate the new millineium at the same time the rest of the world is celebrating. I always throught it was at 12pm. Do you think it has anything to do with the fact that power run on GMT?

-- Les (yoyo@tolate.com), September 22, 1999

Answers

Les, it should, but you'd be giving Mumbles Menino too much credit. (How about contacting me, Les. My e-mail is real. I think you live close by.)

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), September 22, 1999.

is the entire grid really set to GMT? (serious questions, memory's failing)

-- sarah (qubr@aol.com), September 22, 1999.

Since the Boston First Night celebration is scheduled to continue on past midnight local time (as it has done each of the last 20 years, BTW), I doubt there is particular Y2K connection to the 7:00 pm events.

Did it ever occur to anyone to take Menino at his word about something so simple? This is a major event (the celebration of the new millineum, even though everyone is really celebrating a year early, but that's a rant for another time) and wouldn't it be nice for people with famlies to be able to bring their children out and let them feel as if they were a part of something that will, rather obviuosly, be totally unique in their life times? I couldn't bring my kids to a midnight event simply because they are too young, but a 7:00 pm event they could do. It makes sense to me.

Flame away.

-- Paul Neuhardt (neuhardt@ultranet.com), September 22, 1999.

Les:

I think you are reading too much into Mayor Mumbles' statement. He might really believe that the rest of the world runs on GMT, without all those complicated time zones and whatnot. You have to remember that Menino is one of our more simpler politicians.

-- Bryan (BryanL@aol.com), September 22, 1999.

Paul I hear what your saying, but there is a select group of folks out there that believe that the North American Grid runs on GMT. If that be the case and the grid has a problem with roll-over, then maybe its best for the lights to go out at 7pm rather then 12pm. In any event Paul, if you have visited this forum much, and checked to see how well the remedeation effort is going out-there, I cant imagine any-one taking there children to an inner-city anything that night. Bryan,I bet Mayor mumbles knows alot more then the way he acts. Sarah..Im sorry I dont have the site were I heard that, but I have seen talks about that before..GMT...Why did it have to be 7pm? please, If he has a PR staff you think they would have picked this up. Unless of coarse he trying to tell you somthing...---...Good luck

-- Les (yoyo@tolate.com), September 22, 1999.

Les, you said:

"Paul I hear what your saying, but there is a select group of folks out there that believe that the North American Grid runs on GMT. If that be the case and the grid has a problem with roll-over, then maybe its best for the lights to go out at 7pm rather then 12pm. In any event Paul, if you have visited this forum much, and checked to see how well the remedeation effort is going out-there, I cant imagine any-one taking there children to an inner-city anything that night. Bryan,I bet Mayor mumbles knows alot more then the way he acts. Sarah..Im sorry I dont have the site were I heard that, but I have seen talks about that before..GMT...Why did it have to be 7pm? please, If he has a PR staff you think they would have picked this up. Unless of coarse he trying to tell you somthing...---...Good luck "

Actually, I've been here since pretty much day one of this forum, and in all that time I've never gotten used to how many people here are willing to see conspiracy and evil in every single thing that they consider unusual. Sad, frankly. As for this forum being the definitive source of information on the quality of remediation, let's just say that we disagree on the overall quality of much of the "facts" that tend to get presented here.

As for the lights going out at 7:00 pm rather than 12:00 am, it frankly makes little difference in Boston that time of year. It's already pitch dark and has been for several hours, and barring the immenent approach of a nor'easter it's almost as cold as it's going to get for the night. In other words, it would be just as dark, just as unpleasant and just as disruptive. The only saving grace might come in that some people wouldn't be quite as drunk at 7:00 pm as they would be by 12:00 am.

As for taking my children in to see it, if they were a bit older I might consider breaking my rule about not going out on New Year's Eve and do just that. I generally hide at home on New Year's Eve while all the amature drinkers (the ones who think the purpose of drinking is to get drunk) are out on the roads, then go out to visit friends on New Year's Day when all the drunks are either sleeping it off or are parked in the hospital/morgue. But for the turn of the Millenium, I might make an exception. You see, not everyone here believes that the world will end at all over Y2K, much less at the stroke of midnight. Hell, even most of the real "Doomers" don't buy the "world ends at midnight" schtick. However, the logistics of schlepping two young children 30 miles into Boston Common and surrounding areas to be pushed, pummled and otherwise battered about by the masses that will be there simply aren't favorable, Y2K or no. I'll celebrate quietly out in the 'burbs as usual.

As for why did it have to be 7:00 pm? Easy. When it's 7:00 pm on 12/31/1999 in Boston it's 12:00 am 01/01/2000 GMT, the first time zone in the world to offically ring in the new year. If you are going to celebrate early to let the kiddies join in, that is your first chance to do so that allows you to truthfully be able to say "Heck, it's New Year's somewhere. Let's Party!"

-- Paul Neuhardt (neuhardt@ultranet.com), September 22, 1999.

Paul..the reference to (why 7pm ) just strikes a nerve to those who believe that there may be some power plants that will not be able to successfully slide by 12:00am GMT...7pm EST. There may be faultering electric power at that time. The whole thing comes down to RISK, and you will never hear me say the world is going to end. The fact is the world is going to be put in different levels of risk because of Y2K. You may be able to go downtown Boston and stay till the wee-hours and still have lights, however there is a risk you may not have lights. Knowing the complexities of this problem, Paul you cannot say there is not any risk...---...good luck

-- Les (yoyo@tolate.com), September 23, 1999.

Les,

Of course there is risk. There is always risk in life, and there is always a risk of being in downtown Boston (or New York, or Miami, or Twin Falls, or Bugtussle, or ...) and suddenly finding that the power has gone out.

The question isn't (nor has it ever been) "is there risk" but rather "is the risk significantly greater at 7:00 pm on 12/31/1999 than it is now at 10:03 am on 09/23/1999?" While I was concerned about that in the past, I have personally come to the conclusion that the answer is "No, it is not." Since I don't see the risk as higher, I must then ask myself "Is that risk too high for me to deal with now?" Again, the anser is "No, it is not."

This is the basic process everyone must go through in deciding what they are and are not going to do regarding Y2K preparations in every area from "am I going to store up extra food and water" to "where will I be New Year's Eve?"

As for the connection between Boston's plans and GMT, well, let's just say that some times coincidence is just that: coincidence. That's all it is here.

-- Paul Neuhardt (neuhardt@ultranet.com), September 23, 1999.

Albania, NY announced yesterday that New Year's Eve activities (First Night, if you must) will end at 11:00pm. "Just in case."

-- Spidey (in@jam.woodsy), September 23, 1999.