Here we go! I'll post sections as they are completed. Please don't post to this thread until I'm finished.

(Of course, you can ALWAYS post to the cheering section at

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000s2R

and. . .Cory, if you're lurking. . .can you email me some malasadas? (sp)

:)

U.S. Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem United States Senate "Community Y2K Preparedness: Is There News They Can Use?" May 25, 1999, 10:00 a.m. 216 Senate Hart Office Building

Synopsis and Partial transcripts (Verbatim statements are in quotes--everything else is a synopsis.)

Opening statement by Senator Robert Bennett:

In his opening statement, Bennett said, Perception is reality. Reality is Perception. Therefore were focusing on Y2k preparedness and the news media, which in this country creates the perception.

Bennett talked about the importance of news media, says the challenge to be probed in the hearing is Whether or not the news media treatment of Y2k will create a bigger crisis than the computer problem. He said people need to be informed of the reality of the problem without creating panic. He questioned how we can walk the line of keeping people informed without panicking them. He referred to the Boy Scout motto of being prepared, indicating the motto has served us well in many areas of life: extra food in the house for guests, flashlights if we lose electricity, buying insurance, etc. Bennett said, These are not considered panic activities, but when we talk about Y2k and say lets take some insurance policies or make some contingencies, then sometimes we get accused of being panicked. So those are the areas were going to explore today. What can the press do, what has the press done with respect to Y2k that can have people get ready to take appropriate contingency plans, or has the press gone too far the other way and caused a situation with respect to panic. Bennett indicated his prepared statement contains more, on this subject but this introductory statement summarizes his view.

Bennett introduced an ex-officio member of the committee, Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska. He paid tribute to him for attending so many meetings, and said without his efforts the federal government wouldnt be as ready as it is, because Stevens facilitated necessary appropriations.

Stevens spoke only briefly, stating he wanted to hear from the panel.

Bennett then introduced the first panel; Ed Yourdon, a noted software engineer,co-author of two best-selling books with respect to Y2k, Timebomb 2000, and The Complete Y2k Home Preparation Guide, Mrs. Paloma O'Riley, shes Co-founder and Director of Research for Cassandra Project organization focused on Y2k community preparedness. For those who are not up to date on their Greek mythology, Cassandra was the figure who was always predicting disaster and was never believed--and who was always right. So thats an interesting choice of name for this particular project. Then well hear from Ms. Liza Christian, whos the former Executive Director of the Rogue Valley, Oregon Y2K Task Force, a community-based Y2k preparedness group, and Mr. Michael Nolan, who is City Administrator of Norfolk, Nebraska , which has made Y2k conversion and preparation its highest priority, and finally, Miss Cathy Hotka, Vice-President, Information Technology with the National Retail Federation. So, Mr. Yourdon, we will start with you.

(I'll take Yourdon's testimony from another thread and post it after I double check it with the tape for any last minute changes. More to come)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 25, 1999

Answers

(Note: it's worth mentioning that Yourdon's verbal testimony differs from the Senate links referenced in the thread kindly posted by Diane Squire. As I understand it, those statements are for the record as well though, so do visit them to get the full picture. I'll check all testimony for differences. And. . .when we get to the question and answer sessions. . .it gets interesting.)

Testimony of Edward Yourdon

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Ed Yourdon. Ive worked in the computer field for some 35 years and have written 25 books on computer technology, including two on Y2k. But Im not here today as a computer professional, Im here as a father and a son, and a husband and a brother who takes the personal safety and responsibility of his family very seriously.

Mr. Chairman, my father lives in your state of Utah, and he would have a lot to worry about with Y2k were it not for the fact that he is surrounded by friends and neighbors whose religion has encouraged them to prepare for emergencies long before Y2k came along. So hes not panicking about any of this nor are his neighbors, and all I would ask of you Mr. Chairman is that uh, you have legitimized this whole concept of preparedness so the nation can benefit from the same leadership that youve given your state over the years.

My mother lives in Senator Edwards state of North Carolina and she has more at stake with Y2k, partly because shes dependent on Social Security, but also because it seems that her friends and neighbors are oblivious of Y2k. Shes not panicking, but I worry that perhaps her neighbors might if Y2k turns out to be more than just a bump in the road, and what I would ask of Senator Edwards is that he encourage the private sector and public sector organizations in his state to make a full disclosure of the Y2k risks that they all face, so that they can all make their own decisions.

My wife attended college with Senator Dodds sister as it turns out, and some 35 years later, after working with me in the computer field, my wife now has rheumatoid arthritis. I dont need to belabor the risks that she faces if theres a disruption in medical supplies. Shes not panicking either, but she doesnt really believe the rather glib reports that she reads from computer illiterate computer journalists, uh newspaper journalists that tell her theres nothing to worry about. And what I would ask of Senator Dodd if he were here (Note: Dodd wasnt present for beginning of hearing), is that he might want to remind his fellow Democrat Mr. Gore that hes been missing in action on this Y2k problem, and he might come to regret it in the election next year.

One of my sons attended college in Senator Collins state of Maine during the January 1998 ice storm, where 750 thousand citizens ended up without power for a month, so I dont need to explain to my son what the stakes are, if theres a mid Winter power outage, even if it is localized. Fortunately he graduated two days ago and hes now on his way to Arizona, to Senator Kyls state for graduate school, so the stakes no longer involve freezing. On the other hand, until he finds out whether his community is aware and prepared, my personal plans have to take into account that he may be spending a long time in my house after New Years Eve. And I would suggest to Senator Kyl that he might want to remind his fellow Republicans that perhaps a dark horse presidential candidate may take Y2k as the hot button issue for the election next year.

And Senator Stevens, one of my sisters lives in your home state of Alaska, in a small town that quite fortunately for me is very much aware of Y2k and is making its own plans and informing its citizens and taking responsibility for its own actions (inaudible), as many small towns in Alaska do, given their distance from the mainland. So, I no worries about her.

And Senator Smith from Oregon is probably the only one of your whole panel for whom I have no family members to worry about (laughter from audience). I do have friends there, but theyre all adults and they all work in the computer field and I think they can probably figure out the stakes for themselves.

In fact, I would suggest that all of us can determine the Y2k stakes on our own, but I think it is important that we do not confuse stakes and risks. If somebody tells me that 99% of all automobile accidents are mere fender benders, and that therefore I dont have to wear seatbelts, I would respectfully disagree, because the stakes are too high.

I dont hold this committee responsible for helping us determine the stakes, but I would hold this committee responsible-along with the rest of government-if it were to misrepresent or withhold information about the Y2k risks, because then, neither my community nor my family, nor I can make appropriate plans for coping with Y2k.

If you believe as I do, that Americans can cope with life and death issues, like Kosovo, then I think you must also believe that we can cope with potential life and death issues of Y2k.

Certainly its not the first time weve faced a crisis-in fact the very creation of this country was a crisis-and my plea for full Y2k disclosures was echoed very eloquently I think by Patrick Henry in a speech that he gave on March 23, 1775, where he said, Its natural for man to indulge in illusions of hope. Were apt to shut our eyes against the painful truth and to listen to the song of that siren so she transforms us into beasts. For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cause, Im willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

(More to come)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 25, 1999.

Folks,

I'm at an impasse. The oral testimony of today's Senate hearing witnesses differed from that offered at the Senate Website.

I don't know if I should continue transcribing (at least the question and answer sessions, which I believe are only available--at this moment--if you watch the video using a Real Player or have cable tv.)

Let me know if you'd like me to continue. (If, for example, you want to show the printed transcript to someone who doesn't have cable, a computer, etc.)

Post to the "cheering section" thread at:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000s2R

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 25, 1999.

Folks,

Enough regulars on the above "cheering section thread" have responded positively for me to take a "leap of faith" regarding the transcription of the "live version" of today's Senate Hearing.

It hadn't occurred to me until now, but making this synopsis/transcript widely available might also be of benefit to the hearing impaired. My little one's babysitter (who is really part of our extended family, especially since I have no living relatives in my area) is an interpreter for the deaf at her church.

My plan of action is posted at the following thread:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000s2R

'God bless and go there if you think this will be of value to you.

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 25, 1999.