1969? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

InklingElf · 08-03-2004, 03:30 PM

Maybe this isn't worth wasting a thread on but I've just been browsing the member list and some of the 'last visited' dates are 1969 -- which can't be true since such members that exist are 'Aragorn2002' and so forth.

Of all trivialities I would like to have an answer on this one phenomenon

Son of Númenor · 08-03-2004, 03:48 PM

That date was chosen (I assume arbitrarily) for all those members who have not signed on since the forum underwent its 'corporate' renovation.

The Internet has, of course, not been in existence since 1969 (when the B-W was 4 years old

).

Arie · 08-03-2004, 04:11 PM

InklingElf you're right! I just logged on....and I haven't for so many months and it says I last visited 12-31-1969.

I guess it is due to the renovation it looks different since the last time I was here.

The Perky Ent · 08-03-2004, 04:51 PM

But why 1969? Is there some mystery behind it? Some past waiting to be dug up? It's possible...but then it's also possible that it was the first date that came to the Barrow-Wight's mind

mark12_30 · 08-03-2004, 08:03 PM

Zero time in UNIX is 1 January 1970. One second less than that, or an un-entered/ nonexistent time, comes up in UNIX as 23:59 Dec 31, 1969.

Now you know why people worried about Y2K, and why they still worry about UNIX time rollover. Imagine if you had to pay tax going back to the last time you logged on to the barrow downs. Thirty-four years back taxes, plus interest. Cash, please.

Fortunately the Barrow Wight doesn't collect taxes.

InklingElf · 08-03-2004, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark12_30

Zero time in UNIX is 1 January 1970. One second less than that, or an un-entered/ nonexistent time, comes up in UNIX as 23:59 Dec 31, 1969.

Now you know why people worried about Y2K, and why they still worry about UNIX time rollover. Imagine if you had to pay tax going back to the last time you logged on to the barrow downs. Thirty-four years back taxes, plus interest. Cash, please.

Fortunately the Barrow Wight doesn't collect taxes.

Do you mark? heheheh. I would never have known that -- and thank goodness for the non-tax-collecting Barrow Wight... In fact I wonder if there is another explanation (a birthdate perhaps) -- not that this one isn't satisfactory.

The Perky Ent · 08-03-2004, 10:16 PM

Um...well, we landed on the moon in 1969, so maybe it's the start of something. Maybe the beginning of something great

08-03-2004, 03:30 PM	#1
InklingElf Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 402	1969? Maybe this isn't worth wasting a thread on but I've just been browsing the member list and some of the 'last visited' dates are 1969 -- which can't be true since such members that exist are 'Aragorn2002' and so forth. Of all trivialities I would like to have an answer on this one phenomenon

08-03-2004, 04:11 PM	#3
Arie Animated Skeleton Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Fangorn Forest Posts: 50	InklingElf you're right! I just logged on....and I haven't for so many months and it says I last visited 12-31-1969. I guess it is due to the renovation it looks different since the last time I was here. __________________ "Don't tell me of facts, I never believe facts; you know Canning said nothing was so fallacious as facts, except figures."--Sydney Smith

08-03-2004, 04:51 PM	#4
The Perky Ent Maniacal Mage Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Setting sail for Umbar, with Firefoot at my side! Posts: 3,297	But why 1969? Is there some mystery behind it? Some past waiting to be dug up? It's possible...but then it's also possible that it was the first date that came to the Barrow-Wight's mind __________________ 'But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.'

08-03-2004, 08:03 PM	#5
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	Zero time in UNIX is 1 January 1970. One second less than that, or an un-entered/ nonexistent time, comes up in UNIX as 23:59 Dec 31, 1969. Now you know why people worried about Y2K, and why they still worry about UNIX time rollover. Imagine if you had to pay tax going back to the last time you logged on to the barrow downs. Thirty-four years back taxes, plus interest. Cash, please. Fortunately the Barrow Wight doesn't collect taxes. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

08-03-2004, 10:16 PM	#7
The Perky Ent Maniacal Mage Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Setting sail for Umbar, with Firefoot at my side! Posts: 3,297	Um...well, we landed on the moon in 1969, so maybe it's the start of something. Maybe the beginning of something great __________________ 'But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.'

08-03-2004, 03:48 PM	#2
Son of Númenor A Shade of Westernesse Join Date: May 2004 Location: The last wave over Atalantë Posts: 515	That date was chosen (I assume arbitrarily) for all those members who have not signed on since the forum underwent its 'corporate' renovation. The Internet has, of course, not been in existence since 1969 (when the B-W was 4 years old ).