A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned the new rules for daylight savings time and how those changes might affect our computers. I noticed over the weekend that Apple was offering an update called Daylight Savings Time Update, so I have to assume that Macs running OS 10.4 are now covered for the adjustments.
I want to point out that the daylight savings time change will only be a slight annoyance for home users (and no problem with installed updates). The real problems will be (or, hopefully, NOT be) with the working computers of the world…the computers that operate our power grids, our financial institutions, our factories. Operations that are timed, such as money transfers might occur sooner or later that planned. Your VCR time might display the wrong time resulting in a timed taping of the wrong TV program.
Its highly unlikely that anything catastrophic will occur as a result of this little hiccup in time. Most devices (such as your VCR and your time clock at work) are linked to a few central network time servers. At home, just pretend the power has been off and check all the clocks that require a reset when that happens. Youll be fine!
And Just Think About This:
According to the January 4 online edition of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, kids make you fat. Their idea of good food includes McDonalds, macaroni and cheese, pizza and hot dogs. Youd think adults would influence the foods that kids eat, but thats often not the case. Kid food is quick and convenient and keeps peace in the family, so often the adults just join their youngsters in a quick meal. The study found that parents and guardians fessed up to eating more pizza, ice cream, potato chips and salty snacks, sausage, cured meats and hamburgers than did adults without children in the home. Read all about it at:
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-kids8jan08,0,918720.story?coll=la-home-health
Traffic cameras are a very sore subject with some people. We have a lot of trouble with the big brother aspect. What we really need to consider is the fallibility of any device, and the need to be a bit skeptical of some claims. For instance theres the case of the guy who received a ticket for going 406 mph and a cab in the UK who was issued a ticket for 420 mph in a 30 mph zone. As this article points out, these extremes are pretty obviously wrong, but is it possible that some of the errors might be only 10 mph or 20 mph which would make the difference between actually deserving a ticket and … well, not.