COVER SOUND

Fun
and games

Razz
pranks & tricks

Stuff
fun gag gifts

Call in Sick
Eye Test
Excuses
Portrait Studio
Hard Drv Cleaner
Barking Spiders
Error Msg Decoder
Insult Machine
Bad Printer Paper
Ask Nostradamus

Free Stuff
Stupid Stuff
Gag Gifts-Pranks
Palm-PDA fun
Fun Links
Games
Free Tarot Reading

News Archives:
Complete List
June 1
September 1
November 1
December 15

OddSpace Locator -- HOME : ODD News : Y2K

Y2K inventor Found!

What has now become a worldwide problem known as the Y2K or "Millenium bug" originated back in 1962 at the Burroughs plant in Xenia Ohio.

Steven Schwartz,  an engineer at the Burroughs computer development research unit in Xenia, won $100 and was named "employee of the month" for his idea to store the year using two digits instead of four. 

"By storing the year in two digits instead of four, my company was able to save $15,000 in memory costs the first year we implemented it", says Schwartz.  He adds "during the 60's and 70's, the money saved was substantial".  

Sadly for Schwartz, he never was able to benefit from the millions that Burroughs made from licensing the "two digit year" technology.

Burroughs closed it's computer technology division in 1982 citing diminishing sales of Schwartz's two digit year invention.

Schwartz , who bought back the rights to his invention when Burroughs discontinued its sales, now travels the world as a private consultant instructing small companies on how to implement his two digit year system.

"After all these years it's still quite profitable", Schwartz admits.  But the workload is so huge  "I'm booked solid through next year" he adds. 

Reportedly, many US companies have contracted with Schwartz to re-institute a two digit year system as they are disappointed with the productivity losses associated with the four digit year technology.

HOME : FUN : RAZZ : STUFF : E-MAIL : TEXT

Please note: The GetOdd website contains satire and parody, which means that you should NOT take as truth the news items featured here.
GetOdd news is meant to be humorous and not necessarily factual.
Please see our POLICY page for more information.  
(C) 2003 GetOdd