Porlier's writings continue to be a very important part of my community awareness initiatives.

Porlier article: The Complacency PeddlarsXXX

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), February 17, 1999

Answers

A good article Brooks. I was especially interested in the comments on the global repercussions. Once these people on the Street GI, it will be time to head for the financial hills. I think this is beginning.

Begin quote

Martin Truax of Salomon Smith Barney, not known as an alarmist on Wall Street, recently commented on reports to the U.S. Senate. "What this could mean to us, according to the report, is an interruption of goods and services; the possibility of global recession affecting imports and exports; foreign investments encountering disastrous results; too many people losing confidence in the banking system; too many interruptions in the food and medical chains; and local, city, and town governments not being able to provide needed services. Our biggest risks will be the impact from foreign governments and companies and providers of key resources."

end quote

This awareness is taking far too long and there is little time left.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), February 17, 1999.

Mike, I just don't think it's starting yet. The forces trying to hold it together still have some momentum left. I think it will take another 4 months until the reality sets in.

Things will go downhill fast after the July 4th holiday. Half of this year will be gone and the magic dates of March and June (for testing to be in full swing) will have passed in the night. After that, a growing movement from within the financial and business community will realize that the odds of their future being in jeopardy are greater than the odds of a successful y2k 'soft landing.'

Business, financial and government leaders will be bolting upright from sleep when they realize that they are not going to make it in time and all the happy talk in the world is not going to make their organizations ready for the storm. No one will be able to talk their way out of failures. I feel sorry for the employees and families of the companies with leaders (idiots dressed in business suits) who will suffer the most.

-- PNG (png@gol.com), February 17, 1999.

"Business, financial and government leaders will be bolting upright from sleep when they realize that they are not going to make it in time and all the happy talk in the world is not going to make their organizations ready for the storm."

That's the crux right there PNG, as always you're so on target!

They'll bolt upright, then bolt out. We're bolted.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), February 17, 1999.

In San Diego, one of the high-tech centers of America, is published a well-regarded (and free) weekly computer magazine called "ComputorEdge" [sic]. They finally got around to discussing Y2K in their Jan 5, 1999 issue. Typical PC-weenie, no-lo-problemo pap. The following issues garnered exactly two reader responses---one about watching the deadline approach around the world on 12-31-1999; one on the economy.

When DWGIs produce computer magazines which peddle complacency, it's time for another bag of rice and box of shells.

http://www.computoredge.com

Of course what can you believe in a 'puter-mag that can't even spell computer correctly?

Hallyx

"Ignorance, stupidity, apathy, and denial: The first consisting of lack of exposure to information; the second of lack of capacity to absorb it; and the third and fourth of having the information but lacking the conviction or optimism or fortitude to act on it."

-- Hallyx (Hallyx@aol.com), February 17, 1999.