Dan the Power Man would like your comments at the Yourdon forum. <:)=

The NERC Report: You asked for it, you got it! Y2k and Power

-- Anonymous, May 05, 1999

Answers

I'll take a pass; thanks for the pointer, though.

IMHO, the time for debate and analysis is pretty much passed, and there's little point in engaging in the circular arguments that have been raging over the past few months. I could shred his arguments from my POV; he could shred mine from his POV. What's the benefit in either of us taking time from our jobs or families to do so? None, at least that I can see.

I'd rather be shooting hoops with my daughter.

-- Anonymous, May 05, 1999

Hello Rick. I must say I am a bit disappointed that you are unwilling to debate the latest report with me on Yourdon's forum. Your frequent commentary appears to be taken seriously on that forum, and I think folks might have been looking forward to a spirited debate.

Of course I wouldn't want you to take quality time from your family, and I assure you I am not maliciously trying to drag you into something you aren't willing to. Perhaps we can engage at a later date; remember, if you do submit an analysis of power systems' readiness, I will most likely respond.

I leave you with this challenge: I disagree that you could "shred" all of my arguments. For example, I stand by this statement: Not a single protective relay commonly used in power systems has been found to fail its basic functionality during a y2k test (with more than 100 types tested from all the major manufacturers). This is a fact that is indisputable unless it can be proven otherwise.

Anyway, if you don't want to take the time to discuss, so be it. I am wondering if you plan to attend the NERC conference next week in New Orleans. Are you?

-- Anonymous, May 06, 1999

I must say I am a bit disappointed that you are unwilling to debate the latest report with me on Yourdon's forum. Your frequent commentary appears to be taken seriously on that forum, and I think folks might have been looking forward to a spirited debate.

Dan, no offense meant to you, but I hope you can understand that after 3 years of sleeping, eating, and breathing Y2K, I don't have a lot of interest in providing a sideshow for the optimists and pessimists alike. And in the final analysis, that's about all such a "debate" would accomplish.

I disagree that you could "shred" all of my arguments.

My apologies for the use of the word "shred" - it was about 12:30AM when I wrote my response. A better choice of phrases would have been "pick apart". We could both nitpick this thing to death, with you satisfying the optimists and me satisfying the pessimists, and the end result being that no one would be any closer to clarity on the issue.

Lastly, you might be surprised to learn that I'm a lot closer to your view (and have been) than people on either side of the issue would lead you to believe. I wish you, your company, and your customers well, and sincerely hope that your guarded optimism is rewarded.

P.S. - no, I won't be at the NERC shindig. I'm on the road most of next week on a contract I've been working on.

-- Anonymous, May 06, 1999

OK, Rick, I'll be the first to bite on what you had to know would be a point of interest for all of us here.

When you say you're very close to Dan's view--which I'm assuming is a "This is an overblown non-event" view--what exactly are you saying? Is it time, as one has recently said, to shut down EUY2k? How can you be so close to a non-event viewpoint and still maintain this site?

I've followed you long enough to believe that you wouldn't be 'sandbagging' on this, just because it's "good for business." Then again, human nature being what it is, I have to at least ask.

Please clarify your current position, based on your comment that your views are "close" to those of Dan.

Thanks in advance for your kind response.

Bob Allen

P.S. I have to agree that "shooting hoops" with your daughter sounds like a worthy expense of time--Y2k or no Y2k. Even in the worst case, life will go on, and the important things like family will still be there--*if* we take care of them now and always.

-- Anonymous, May 06, 1999

Bob,

You're misinterpreting my statement. I said: "Lastly, you might be surprised to learn that I'm a lot closer to your view (and have been) than people on either side of the issue would lead you to believe."

I've never subscribed to TEOTWAWKI scenarios. If you read my interview with Drew Parkhill, and then go to the Yourdon forum and read some of Dan's writings, you'll find that I certainly don't think (and I don't think Dan does either, but I could be wrong) that Y2k is going to be a non-event for the electric industry.

The non-eventers put me in Gary North's camp. The TEOTWAWKIers think I'm letting the electric industry off the hook. Neither view is the case. And there's absolutely no point in devoting what little free time I have in a "debate" that's only going to serve the purpose of reinforcing hardliners on both sides of the issue. (BTW, have you been to the Yourdon forum lately??)

As you note, the limited time I have is better spent reinforcing bonds that I hope will last a lifetime. My kid isn't going to be a kid forever.

-- Anonymous, May 06, 1999

Rick: Thanks for your response to me. Like I said, perhaps another time would be better to have a debate.

-- Anonymous, May 06, 1999

dan the power man, the latest NERC report does not give me any reason to have confidence that the telecommunication issue affecting the power industry is solved. Your opinion?

-- Anonymous, May 07, 1999