Hard work around globe blotted out Y2k bug threat

As in every other business, if the staff

can’t handle the heat, get them out of

the kitchen. Murray Christison, reader

In defence of myself and my fellow workers at the time, I have to point out to Jonny Wilkinson that the Y2k bug wasn’t fake.

There was a genuine problem. The existing computer systems had mostly been written with no century in the date format. Date calculations would not have worked correctly.

Instead of waiting for everything to start falling over, we got stuck in.

Computer programmers all over the world added the century to date formats, upgraded existing data, upgraded programs, tested programs, retested programs. In short, we worked!

Collectively, the programmers all did their jobs so well that the likes of Jonny now think it was all a lot of fuss about nothing.

We know how those Apollo astronauts feel.

Pam Richardson

Hastings

Covid-free destination

We have in the past successfully advertised our country as 100 per cent pure. It would seem we’re nearly going to be able to go one better — surely soon we can advertise ourselves as 100 per cent covid free . . .

Let’s open our borders to those who want to visit such a unique environment — but let’s require a covid test on arrival and quarantine until confirmed negative — at the tourists’ expense. Then they, and we, can be amongst the luckiest people in the world.

John Mills

Taradale

US propaganda misjudged

Todd Muller, a couple of days into his new job as leader of the NZ National Party, and I’m looking at the general tone of social media feedback.

One of us appears to have badly misjudged the appeal of American propaganda and personal religious baggage to mainstream NZ voters.

So far it doesn’t appear to be me. Time will reveal all. Perhaps Jacinda really will, shortly, govern without the distraction of minor parties.

D B Smith

Napier

Buck passing at its best

In regard to HB Today’s item of May 25, this is the finest example of buck passing I have seen for some time.

This is not a situation the average person can relate to, like the pool, water or aquarium. This is high finance.

I would hazard a guess that 95 per cent of the city’s population would have no idea of the implications of borrowing $33 million, or what it is needed for.

One of the reasons we elect councillors is the expectation that they have the knowledge and experience to decide these matters.

As in every other business, if the staff can’t handle the heat, get them out of the kitchen and hire someone who can.

Don’t expect me to pay them and also do the cooking.

Murray Christison

Napier