This just in from DeJagger:

http://www.computerworld.com/home/print.nsf/CWFlash/990621AF36

De Jager: Lighten Up on Y2K

A well-known doomsayer changes his tune

By Matt Hamblen 06/21/99 Peter de Jager has publicized the dangers of the year 2000 problem so widely, his name is associated with the threat. Now he's self-publishing a 192-page book of humor and cartoons about Y2K called The Bug Stops Here!!! Reporter Matt Hamblen asked de Jager about his change in direction.

Q: Why do you think humor is the correct response right now?

A: It's not that the problem has diminished, it's that the end-of-the-earth-as-we-know-it crowd has basically blown this thing into the utter stratosphere, and for no reason. I'm sorry, but I don't believe the power will go out forever, and the time has come to poke at the nonsense.

This is the biggest, dumbest, most stupid blunder in the history of technology, and if we can't find humor in that, then we've lost. If you lose your sense of humor, you've lost.

For the most part, we've done what we're supposed to do to fix the problem, and it's time to lighten up.

Q: So what problems will materialize Jan. 1?

A: I'm not sending an all-clear, and there's still a tremendous amount of work. Some large corporations will be dead in the water for a couple of days or two weeks. Some corporations will have serious problems in inventory and control and management and reporting, and overseas problems will impact assembly lines.

But society won't fall apart, there won't be rioting in the streets. On a personal level, you need to prepare for this just the same way you do for a winter ice storm that lasts two weeks. I'll be flying that night from Chicago O'Hare to London Heathrow.

Q: Last year, U.S. government officials often talked about the need to not panic the public over Y2K.

A: Yes, if [the] government had been diligent in 1994, we wouldn't have to worry about panic. If we all had done our job in the beginning, we wouldn't have to inform the public. And the media has done a lousy job.... This isn't just the Michelangelo virus.

Q: Why did that enormous oversight happen?

A: Because the problem is incredible, beyond credulity and incredulous. It's so hard for people to understand how an enormous industry that charges a lot of money for software could have done such an incredibly bad job with this. And that sorting out of who's to blame starts in earnest next year. One of the cartoons in the book says, "The time has passed for awareness. It is now time for pointless finger-pointing." There will be a lot of that going on.

-- JAW (clueless@pollyanna.com), June 23, 1999

Answers

A month or so ago he recommended three weeks' preps, now 2....

-- lisa (lisa@training.everybody_today), June 23, 1999.

Hey is a great way to sell books. People don't want to hear bad news so why bother. He's playing both sides for an economic gain.

-- kevin (innxxs@yahoo.com), June 23, 1999.

To hear De Jager express the views of Koskinen and Bennett in the same article,is to know the man has completely lost his mind.

-- Gia (Laureltree7@hotmail.com), June 23, 1999.

I think I know what you mean Gia.

-- KoFE (your@town.USA), June 23, 1999.

Oh, almost forgot...There's shades of Jane Garvey in there too. Hey Pete, what color is your parachute?

-- Gia (Laureltree7@hotmail.com), June 23, 1999.