Offbeat: Another Y2K warning (Yawn!)

A rare quick of the calendar that once had some people predicting computer troubles similar to the Y2K scenario of New Years Eve drew barely a notice today as public-safety officials and utilities said they were ready for the leap year.

The arrival tomorrow of Feb. 29, 2000, raised concerns among some technology experts that the date could pose a potential problem for computers not programmer to deal with the extra day. But Pennsylvania state government officials and others said reparations for the potential Y2K-related disasters that never materialized on New Years Day should mean they can expect to encounter few troubles.

I have not heard anybody overly concerned about it at all, said Marko Bourne, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The fixes were done, and we expect them to be in place regardless of the leap year.

Leap year 2000, by the way, marks the end of the first full, 400-year cycle since Pope Gregory XII adjusted the calendar system in 1582.

An extra day is added every four years, except for years ending in 00  unless the year is divisible by 400. That makes 2000 a leap year, as was 1600. However, 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not.

http://inquirer.philly.com/briefs/#820

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), February 28, 2000