a brief look at 2038

hi there


well, it seems that we have another "whoopsie did not think of that" moment ahead (rather than behind) of us, look you see. once again them what innocently built all them computers and that, which we have foolishly fashioned our society on the foundation of, have to a certain (slight) extent betrayed us.

once again, then, we have a computer issue that is connected to our date system year commencing with "2" (or even "20") rather than "1" (or for the sake of being complete "19"). some of you, of a certain age at the least, shall fondly recall the infamous "Y2K bug" panic. that was when, at the stroke of midnight marking the arrival of 1 January 2000, all computers would stop working, planes would fall out of the sky, etc.

this variation is called the Year 2038 Problem, rather than bug. and yes i have linked to Wikipedia, since i am one of the ones which listened to their appeal and donated (roughly) the price of a cup of coffee to them for all their hard work and efforts.

i would really recommend that you click on that link for more information, as it all seems a bit too clever for me to interpret in a more general way as to what it is. but, basically, at a specific time on 19 January 2038, some computer things will reset (or revert) their date to 1 January 1970. basically, or essentially, it seems to have something to do with certain microchips (or whatever) not having enough "space" to calculate (or report) the time and date beyond that point. so, either they reset themselves, or they become self-aware, trigger missiles and that, then send a massive naked austrian back in time. my view is that the reset works best.

by that point, perhaps, all computer or electronic machinery which could be affected shall be gone from our society, and no harm will befall. this is likely, possible but in no way assured. even now, in 2020, we have some computers running around the world that are not, as it were, Y2K compliant. or software and that on them which is not. so, it is kind of worth noting this one.

credit where it is due for this

there you go, a nice simulation thing of how we are all going to be f****d, of how this Year 2038 problem shall hit and wipe out life as we know it. maybe.

a major problem in dealing with this, or taking it seriously, is the stealing, hijacking or other such cultural appropriation of the term "binary". this is very much a binary issue, but our understanding of that word (or term) has been polluted and diluted. rather than being just a computer term, the precious, the petulant and the pious of our society (not just Greta but certainly no exclusion for her here) have brazenly used the word "binary" to decry anything they do not like in society, particularly election results and decisions. the simpler, less polarising times of the late 20th century meant that pretty much everyone could grasp what a "Y2K" issue was. now, alas, sensible types are going to see the word "binary" and simply turn the page on news of the issue, assuming it is the latest nonsense by someone having a temper tantrum over the world not operating precisely as they wish it to.

right, then, there you go, or even have it. that some may choose to ignore this issue is one of them things, all i can do is just relay what is known for the sake of expanding information. so, if devices what are computer related are sort of totes knacked in 18 or so years, this might well be why this is so.




be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!