Countdown Clock Won't



  • Apparently, a large countdown clock was installed yesterday in London's Trafalgar Square, counting down the days, minutes, and seconds until the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Olympic Games. The clock was set up with much fanfare, fireworks, and the support of a number of past British Olympic athletes.

    A few hours later, it stopped counting down, halting with 500 days, 7 hours, 6 minutes, and 56 seconds remaining.

    Massively public fail.

    Original article: [link]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12749912[/link]



  •  Sounds like the plot to a Dr. Who episode .  The Master is trying to disrupt the British government by creating a local area (in London, no less) where time has come to a complete stop.  Only the Dr. and his faithful companion can stop him.



  • @dogbrags said:

     Sounds like the plot to a Dr. Who episode
    Not too far off the mark, there... according to the article:
    Coincidentally the same evening saw the start of a satirical BBC Four comedy, Twenty Twelve, which featured a clock counting the wrong way and then breaking down.



  • 2012 you say? Clearly this is a sign that WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE.



  • @lolwtf said:

    2012 you say? Clearly this is a sign that WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE.
    It's okay though, if the clock has stopped that'll buy us some time, won't it?

     

    As a side note, I'm really looking forward to 1st Jan 2013 - I can't wait to hear all the (mental) excuses for why the world still exists.

    What's that you say? The Mayans weren't all-knowing?.... *sigh*


  • 🚽 Regular

    Some 290 billion years from now I wonder how many people will be rioting over the end of the universe when the ancient 64-bit calendar that the all-knowing people of Unix were sure about.

    Of course by then I think our sun will be on its last legs, so maybe we really are all-knowing. Surely by then, though, Earth will be some museum similar to the likes of Pompeii or Giza.



  • @RHuckster said:

    Some 290 billion years from now I wonder how many people will be rioting over the end of the universe when the ancient 64-bit calendar that the all-knowing people of Unix were sure about.

    Of course by then I think our sun will be on its last legs, so maybe we really are all-knowing. Surely by then, though, Earth will be some museum similar to the likes of Pompeii or Giza.

    The Sun will only last about 5 billion years, after which it will expand to swallow at least Mercury and Venus, and possibly Earth as well. Even if the Earth does not get eaten, it will be thoroughly roasted by the immense heat of a red giant filling half the sky. There won't be much to put in a museum unless we manage to figure out a way to spirit the entire planet away into an orbit around a younger star.



  • @RHuckster said:

    Some 290 billion years from now I wonder how many people will be rioting over the end of the universe when the ancient 64-bit calendar that the all-knowing people of Unix were sure about.
     

    I think there's a verb missing at the end of that.  "When the ancient 64-bit calendar etc" does what?

    Anyway, the terms "290 billion years from now" and "people" may be mutually exclusive.  Whoever's running things in that far-off era, I rather doubt that any of us would recognize them as "people", even if they are descended from us.



  • @da Doctah said:

    @RHuckster said:

    Some 290 billion years from now I wonder how many people will be rioting over the end of the universe when the ancient 64-bit calendar that the all-knowing people of Unix were sure about.
     

    I think there's a verb missing at the end of that.  "When the ancient 64-bit calendar etc" does what?

    Anyway, the terms "290 billion years from now" and "people" may be mutually exclusive.  Whoever's running things in that far-off era, I rather doubt that any of us would recognize them as "people", even if they are descended from us.

    That sounds like that evilution thing.



  • @da Doctah said:

    I think there's a verb missing at the end of that.

    Apparently, he accidentally the whole 64 bits.



  • @North Bus said:

    and the support of a number of past British Olympic athletes.
     

    That's why we never support our software using past Olympic athletes (only current ones).



  • @North Bus said:

    A few hours later, it stopped counting down, halting with 500 days, 7 hours, 6 minutes, and 56 seconds remaining.

    Massively public fail.

    Original article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12749912

    It may be a massive public fail, I can honestly say it wasn't exactly a shock though.



  • @tdb said:

    The Sun will only last about 5 billion years, after which it will expand to swallow at least Mercury and Venus, and possibly Earth as well. Even if the Earth does not get eaten, it will be thoroughly roasted by the immense heat of a red giant filling half the sky.

    Cooler by the lake.

    (With apologies to MST3K.)



  • @piskvorr said:

    @da Doctah said:
    I think there's a verb missing at the end of that.
    Apparently, he accidentally the whole 64 bits.
    Nice!



  • @blakeyrat said:

    @tdb said:
    The Sun will only last about 5 billion years, after which it will expand to swallow at least Mercury and Venus, and possibly Earth as well. Even if the Earth does not get eaten, it will be thoroughly roasted by the immense heat of a red giant filling half the sky.

    Cooler by the lake.

    (With apologies to MST3K.)

    LOL!  Your wit makes me chortle.


  • @blakeyrat said:

    Cooler by the lake.

    (With apologies to MST3K.)

    Why, this is where the fish lives!

  • 🚽 Regular

    @North Bus said:

    @blakeyrat said:
    Cooler by the lake.

    (With apologies to MST3K.)

    Why, this is where the fish lives!

    Watch out for snakes!



  • @RHuckster said:

    @North Bus said:
    @blakeyrat said:
    Cooler by the lake.

    (With apologies to MST3K.)

    Why, this is where the fish lives!

    Watch out for snakes!

    And American wurwilf!



  • @RHuckster said:

    Some 290 billion years from now I wonder how many people will be rioting over the end of the universe when the ancient 64-bit calendar that the all-knowing people of Unix were sure about.
     

    The Unix people were sure about the 32-bit calendar, as you know will overflow in 2038. Then we'll party like it's 1901!


  • 🚽 Regular

    @Zemm said:

    The Unix people were sure about the 32-bit calendar, as you know will overflow in 2038. Then we'll party like it's 1901!

    I'm waiting for the unsigned 32-bit calendar to end. I bet the 1970 party will be cool. You know, with all the pot 'n stuff.



  • @RHuckster said:

    @Zemm said:
    The Unix people were sure about the 32-bit calendar, as you know will overflow in 2038. Then we'll party like it's 1901!
    I'm waiting for the unsigned 32-bit calendar to end. I bet the 1970 party will be cool. You know, with all the pot 'n stuff.
    Depends if SpectateSwamp is crashing it or not. I think he's still at that party, in his mind.



  • @blakeyrat said:

    @RHuckster said:
    @North Bus said:
    @blakeyrat said:
    Cooler by the lake.

    (With apologies to MST3K.)

    Why, this is where the fish lives!

    Watch out for snakes!

    And American wurwilf!

    Where, oh werewolf?


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