**Michael Hyatt** - How Will The Bug Bite? --

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

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[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1999

By Michael Hyatt

How will the bug bite?

I'm often asked what kinds of problems does Y2K create for computers. There are basically four problems that non-compliant computers have with Jan. 1, 2000.

1.It starts with a "2." Some programs, especially data-validation routines, will only recognize years beginning with a "1."

2.It ends with zeros. Some random-number generators, which create account numbers, for example, use the computer's system date and divide by the last two numbers. These programs either lock up or crash when they try to divide by "00."

3.It starts on a Saturday. Many programs use a "day-of-week" function to perform certain tasks. These can be as simple as an automated back-up procedure to opening a bank vault if it is Monday but locking it if it is Saturday or Sunday. The problem is that Jan. 1, 1900, was a Monday; Jan. 1, 2000, is a Saturday. If the computer thinks the year is 1900 (as non-compliant systems will), the vault will swing open on Saturday and lock shut on Thursday. This will affect any other routines that use day-of-week calculations to perform certain actions.

4.It is a leap year. Most people assume that every fourth year is a leap year. However, every fourth turn-of-the-century is a leap year, too. The year 1900 was not a leap year; the year 2000 is. Therefore, if the computer thinks that the year 2000 is the year 1900, it will not account for February 29. As a result, all kinds of calculations will be off, including billing cycles.

URL: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_hyatt/19991228_xcmhy_how_will_b.shtml

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-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), December 28, 1999

Answers

Hey! Is this the same Hyatt that has been wrong with EVERY single prediction he has made?

"April 1, 1999. On this date, Canada, Japan, and the State of New York begin their fiscal year. This will, of course, include dates beyond Y2K. As a result, planning systems, especially budgets that have not been repaired will fail as they attempt to process Y2K dates. Since New York City is the media capitol of the world, problems there will grab headlines worldwide. Problems in Japan will remind everyone again of how interconnected our world is. The Japanese will also be forced to admit that there systems might not make it. I expect the stock market to react and begin (or continue) its downward spiral. Public confidence will continue to wane and the number of Y2K optimists will continue to dwindle.

July 1, 1999. On this date, forty-four U.S. states begin their fiscal years. The problems that began in New York will now spread exponentially across the country and around the world. The public will feel the global and pervasive nature of the Y2K Problem for the first time. This will be further exacerbated by the fact that many states have not had the resources to adequately address their Millennium Bug problems. Consequently, the failures will be real and widespread."

From the 12 Oct 1998 issue of Westergaard - Michael Hyatt

-- Leftover Turkey (turkey@leftover.s), December 28, 1999.


Leftover: Uh, Hyatt is absolutely right on all of the above, regardless of the severity of Y2k. So, enough of attacking the messenger. His "message" here is simple and factual. Deal with it.

81 1/2 hours...

-- counting down (the@hours.now), December 28, 1999.


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