[KLUG Programming] questions on picking data types

[Adam Tauno Williams]

> >> > If not, then it probably makes more sense to just store the
> >> > 9-digit SSN as an INT.  That way when you need to retrieve a row
> >> > ...
> Oh, I can't WAIT for them to add a digit! :)

Thats actually not so funny, they've talked about doing so in the past. 
And SSN numbers are already not unique.

How many COBOL programs will get modified to do SSNs as ######-####
instead of ####-##-#### in order to squeeze in another digit without
having to refactor all those SCREEN stanzas?  Thats my question.  I love
COBOL programmers, they are just so darn "creative".

> Y2K was so much fun, aswas the move from 8th the decimal on the exchanges...

I'm waiting for the NIDN (National ID Number) to get passed and replace
the SSN - that will be fun!