Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Into The Void

Wanted: Y2K Parties

This is the opportunity of a lifetime for the partiers of the world as we prepare to change from the 1900s to 2000, and there is likely to be some world-class parties thrown.

Because of this, I thought it would be interesting to "cover" some Y2K parties, reporting on them for the paper. After all, there are as many ways to welcome the year 2000 as there are people throwing the parties to begin with.

The idea, though, isn't to cause anyone any embarrassment or to make anybody uncomfortable, but to capture the moment forever on film. After all, we're only going to get one shot at this.

So, what I'd like to do is hear about some of the Y2K parties being planned and try to visit as many as possible before the midnight hour hits. It would be interesting to find out what people talk about on the dawn of the new millennium.

Exactly how the coverage will be handled isn't etched in stone yet, but the general concept is to hit the parties, observe what's going on, get some photos and notes, then collate the information into a story.

This is not an attempt to wrangle invitations to parties, but to capture the moment for history.

Then, when someone asks where were you at midnight Dec. 31, 1999, there will be documentation on hand to prove it.

However, this will only capture the Y2K parties, and people should remember the new millennium won't occur until 2001.

For some reason there is the misconception that the millennium will begin Jan. 1, 2000, but this is wrong. When we as a race of people went from BC to AD on the calendar, the first year wasn't 0, but 1. By adding 1,000, we get the result of the first millennium, which occurred in 1001, with the second to hit 2001.

The parties for the new millennium should really be something, but those are a full year and some away. No, on the other hand, the 2001 parties probably won't be as much fun as the Y2K parties because so much has been made of the change from 1999 to 2000.

Still, the most important thing to remember at the Y2K parties is to be responsible and not drink and drive. After all, nothing dampens a celebration more than a tragedy and who wants to start off the year with one of those.

But, anyone interested in having their Y2K party covered can contact me at 887-2002. We can work out the details then.