Alfredo posts part of an article from Reuters at
   <http://www.news.com/News/Item/0%2C4%2C15779%2C00.html?nd>

        PITTSBURGH -- Trying to prevent massive computer
        problems when the year 2000 arrives, government
        information officers yesterday adopted a new standard
        for representing the year in computer systems.
[snip]
        All those computers will use 2000, rather than 00, he
        said. "There is a mutual preference...that a four-digit
        date standard is used," he said.

I wonder (1) how long it took them to come up with this standard,
and (2) what other options were considered.

It's just too easy to envision a Dilbert-esque series of meetings:

        Wally..: Ooh! Ooh! How about SPELLING the year!

        Dilbert: Is there a hyphen in "ninety-seven"?

        Alice..: You know, I've always liked Roman numerals.
                 They're still printed on the back of the dollar bill,
                 and that's from the U.S. Treasury. If it's good enough
                 for THAT branch of the government...

        Boss...: What's the problem again?

        Dogbert: <bonk!>

        Boss...: Oh, yeah.


--Glenn Cole
  Software al dente, Inc.
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