Amusing technical mishaps

[SomeRandom]

In 2023, I’m sure we are all pretty reliant on technology. Even as we tell ourselves we’re not

This includes many officially run ventures.

For example, here I am watching the AFL (Australia’s excuse to watch people hit each other over a dumb football) and the power of the stadium suddenly goes out. No backup generators comes on either
This is a nationally televised event, with multiple big name (for us anyway) sponsors and with various safeguards meant to ensure this doesn’t ever happen.
Play was suspended, as per protocol, due to obvious safety concerns and because the umpires (referees) actually need to see the match in order to officiate lol
Perhaps the AFL just forgot to pay their bills? lol

So what are your favourite gaffs, mishaps, technical issues and technology wreaking havoc?

 

[Stevicus]

I remember when this happened: Y2K Test Sends Sewage Flowing Into Park, Street

Raising concerns about the city’s ability to handle the year 2000 computer problem, a test of the emergency system at a sanitation plant went awry Wednesday night, spilling about 4 million gallons of untreated sewage into part of the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area before officials could stop it.

Officials at the San Fernando Valley plant had been testing a backup electricity system in anticipation of a possible Y2K power outage when they learned from a park ranger shortly after midnight that sewage was gushing from a maintenance hole in the 2,100-acre recreation area.

City and commercial crews largely succeeded in corralling the stream of sewage flowing into the recreation area and kept it away from the Los Angeles River, a nearby golf course and a popular Japanese garden where two weddings are scheduled for this weekend.

The spill occurred when a gate controlling the transfer of sewage from a large pipeline was mistakenly closed during the test, backing up sewage to street level for about two hours. Officials traced the malfunction to a programmer’s error made in 1985.

Judy Wilson, director of the city Sanitation Bureau, said she has ordered a review of the computer programs for all gates in the city sewer system. City officials said the problem can be fixed quickly and should not present a threat when computer clocks strike 12 a.m. Jan. 1.

The Y2K problem stems from the use of two digits to represent years in computer programming. In 2000, computer systems could become confused over the date “00,” which could be read as either 1900 or 2000, resulting in malfunctions or miscalculations.

 

[ChristineM]

@SomeRandom, from your kneck of the woods.

David Coulthard was leading the1995 Australian Grand Prix, he needed to pit for a tyre change and refuel. Pulling into the pit lane a "technical" problem locked his brakes sending him skidding into the wall

Ouch!

 

[ChristineM]

DeLorean DMC-12

Enough said ;-)

 

[Stevicus]

 

[Father Heathen]