Date: Thu, 28 May 1998 10:07:48 +1100 From: Ross.Rowe@ea.gov.au (Ross Rowe) To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg1823$foo@default> Subject: Re: computer software (humorous)
Dear list
I don't know if the following will qualify me for a free copy of the software
but it may be something which the developers wish to keep in mind.
Happy humming!
Ross
>Sung to the tune of the "Gilligan's Island" theme song. Author unknown.
>
>
> Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale
> Of the doom that is our fate.
> That started when programmers used
> Two digits for a date.
> Two digits for a date.
>
>
> Main memory was smaller then;
> Hard disks were smaller, too.
> "Four digits are extravagant,
> So let's get by with two.
> So let's get by with two."
>
>
> "This works through 1999,"
> The programmers did say.
> "Unless we rewrite before that
> It all will go away.
> It all will go away."
>
> But Management had not a clue:
> "It works fine now, you bet!
> A rewrite is a straight expense;
> We won't do it just yet.
> We won't do it just yet."
>
>
> Now when 2000 rolls around
> It all goes straight to hell,
> For zero's less than ninety-nine,
> As anyone can tell.
> As anyone can tell.
>
>
> The mail won't bring your pension check
> It won't be sent to you
> When you're no longer sixty-eight,
> But minus thirty-two.
> But minus thirty-two.
>
>
> The problems we're about to face
> Are frightening, for sure.
> And reading every line of codes
> The only certain cure.
> The only certain cure.
>
>
> [key change, big finish]
>
>
> There's not much time,
> There's too much code.
> (And Cobol-coders, few)
> When the century is finished with,
> We may be finished, too.
> We may be finished, too.
>
>
> Eight thousand years from now I hope
> That things weren't left too late,
> And people aren't then lamenting
> Four digits for a date.
> Four digits for a date.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Jan 02 2001 - 17:31:32 PST