DAN’S PAPERS
Page 30 December 14, 2012
danshamptons.com
From the Archives: December, 1999 Altogether, more than 274 departing airplanes were delayed more than an hour and tens of s we contemplate the horrors of the Mayan thousands of travellers were inconvenienced. It Decree for December 21 (the end of the was quite a mess. world), we present another concern for horrors— The problem arose at about six o’clock the belief that when the 20th century ended, the in the morning last Monday. The old beginning of the 21st would bring the complete computer system called Host, which had had crash of the Internet, computers and everything frequent breakdowns and for which spare parts online due to a dating error installed in all are simply no longer available, had been replaced computers years earlier. Called the Y2K Calamity, by a new system manufactured by IBM. That part it nevertheless never happened, and we got had gone fine. They were installing a new kind through it all right. of display screen, and when they plugged it into * * * the IBM system, everything went blank. There is People who worry an automatic switching about the Y2K problem system which comes have for some time Altogether, more than 274 immediately into play now been saying that departing airplanes were delayed when things don’t it is probably not a work and throws all good idea to be in an more than an hour. the data back to the airplane during the old system—but that millennium. The computers in the air traffic failed also. control system are so out-of-date there is no There is a third system on hand, even way they are going to survive the rollover into older, that can be used, but there is no 2000. automatic switch to go to it. It had to be When this bit of advice was first made about put online manually, and this took the better six months ago, however, the FAA took it part of two hours, which is what caused as a kind of challenge. This would be their the delay. first priority. They’d make the critics eat When the new system is put back online (they their words. believe the new computers simply threw too Last week, however, the air traffic controllers much data at the new display screen during system in Ronkonkoma broke down in the start-up), there will be a system in place that middle of a transfer from the old computers to will not only be Y2K compliant, but will also the new computers, causing delays at all three of provide the traffic controllers with far more the New York airports, as well as Philadelphia. detailed information than before. By DAn RAttinER
A
SEISKAYA BALLET’S
“lavish” NY Times
Nutcracker the
“a perfect holiday treat for families of all ages” Bradbrook, Dan’s PaPers
Staller Center for the Arts Stony Brook University Box (631) 632-ARTS office
6 Spectacular Performances December 14 thru 17 Friday at 7PM Saturday at 2PM & 7PM Sunday at 1PM & 6PM Monday at 7PM
“A Delicious Holiday Confection for Young and Old” Bernstein, newsDay
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Guest Artists Cory Stearns (Cavalier) principal dancer ABT • all six performances • Elizabeth McGrath (Sugar Plum) 1st soloist Ballet West • Sat at 7PM and Sun at 6PM •
nutcrackerballet.com
“...lavish and sumptuous...” Tayler, newsDay “Polished” Goodman, newsDay “ENCHANTING” Parks, newsDay “...a joyride on a magic sled...” Goldberg, smithtown messenger
what to do, where to go, where to play & where to stay.
HAMPTONS & NORTH FORK