After it was over, my husband and I looked at each other and both said "holy cats!" at the same time.

What did you all think? (If I was from Lubbock, I'd have said y'all!)

I lived in San Antonio for two years a while back, and have admired Texas & Texans ever since. High in pride and "let's get this thing done!"

Here in my neck of the woods, even though we had plenty of practice during the ice storm last January, folks still are in denial. I've seen dozens of kerosene heaters & generators in the want-ads for sale, many stating "used only during ice storm". I can't help but wonder how these people can be so sure that there won't be another ice storm this winter.

I digress... sorry! What about Peter Jennings, folks? Any comments?

-- Arewyn (nordic@northnet.net), October 02, 1998

Answers

Hi Arewyn,

It was an interesting report from my perspective. But, I've been aware and doing research for a while. I didn't find it hard hitting enough.

But... what about all those that were unaware until then? How many of them do you think will start their own journey toward becoming y2k aware today? My guess is a whole lot of people just got a wake up cal

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), October 02, 1998.

I did see Peter Jennings report on Oct 1. I couldn't believe what a fluff piece it was. Just a couple minute segment on one town's rehearsal of a breakdown of communications. Yes, It showed that Lubbock is one of a few small towns who are thinking about Y2k, but the report did not address what they would do in the face of power outages, gas shutdowns, phone outages, 911 services breakdowns, etc. It was treated as an amusing story about overboard Texans. If I saw the piece and it was my only exposure to Y2K, I would have said "so what". They followed it with a piece about computer programmers from India pitching in long distance to help the USA, but gave no indication of what is truly at risk. Shame on ABC for treating it so lightly. Why don't they start grilling the utility representatives to expose their weaknesses and alert people to what the public might be in for.

-- Dale Rehus (dale@spicreative.com), October 02, 1998.

I too saw the abc news, I do NOT believe it to be very informative and downplayed the effects of y2k. What bothers me most is the fact that there is NO media attention at all. I am in the insurance indstry and know for a FACT the industry is not ready. I just hope that this serves to bring about some awareness. Most believe it wont happen and I have an ex who laughs at me everytime I mention it.

-- carrie (Carrie0238@aol.com), October 03, 1998.

I saw the ABC y2k news piece and was frankly, quite unimpressed by it all. They made it seem as though the entire town was worried about one firetruck. (!!!)

They showed the "control" room. Everyone in there was using cell phones and there were, what, 10-15 computer screens blinking out information? Not a very likely y2k scenario.

They didn't say anything about the traffic problems, the hospital problems and the food (J.I.T.) problems (or the water, or, or, or ... etc).

Then, they continued with some fluff about India helping the US with their programmers who "charge much less than the US" and apparently these people were going to get us out of trouble just "in the nick of time" (whew...)

These kind of stories are why my father-in-law just shrugs when I ask him about it...

-- Okum (ws000@aol.com), October 05, 1998.