This is from Eau Claire, WI. Near where I live and the city where I work. I post this as another example of A Y2K story FULL of the usual quotes. "The experts will fix it" probably my favorite. Sometimes us (comparatively) "newbies" think "the" awareness story is coming, just around the corner. This story just reminds us that we are on our own, don't wait or hope for something new from the media. Instead of just making me sick, stories like this just make me realize how really deep we are in for it.

Also in another story (not on newspapers web site) they quoted a vice chairman of the DOD as saying "Russia is working on it (nuclear problems) so they will be no problem, and they're the only ones with weapons pointed at us." ---- which is a lie, China has between 12 and 24, possibly with MRVs.

***** Breaking down Y2K

Computer experts see no reason to panic

By Bob Brown Leader-Telegram staff

Taped to the door of Marian Ritlands office is an article clipped from the front page of the May 7, 1988, edition of the New York Times.

The headline atop the yellowed clipping reads: "In Computers, The Year 2000 May Prove a Bit Traumatic."

More than 11 years later that article is proving to be quite prophetic  and woefully understated.

"A bit traumatic" is a mild way of describing the worldwide concern over the Y2K computer problem, known in some circles as the millennium bug.

Countless Web sites and a seemingly endless number of articles are devoted to the topic. Many warn the potential ramifications of Y2K are immense.

Y2K refers to a programming glitch in which some computers recognize only the last two digits of a year. Some people fear massive malfunctions after Jan. 1, 2000, when machines could assume it is 1900.

The most dire predictions  attributed to everyone from scientists to computer experts to the person on the street  warn of large-scale power outages, chaos in air traffic control systems and global economic collapse.

But local computer experts call such concerns vastly overstated and say they are confident the New Year will arrive without the onset of Armageddon.

"I think theres going to be lots of problems, but most of them are going to be of the annoying kind, not life-threatening," says Ritland, development manager for computing and networking services at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

"I have quite a bit of confidence that utilities and things like that will work properly," Ritland says. "They have taken this very seriously, and Im quite sure theyre going to perform."

Jim Pejsa, an assistant professor of physics at UW-Stout, says hes not worried about Jan. 1 and wont be taking any special precautions.

"Absolutely not. I dont plan on doing a thing," says Pejsa, a member of UW-Stouts Y2K Committee and its Learning and Information Technology Council.

Pejsa is joined by Tom Prescott, a senior processing consultant and chairman of UW-Stouts Y2K Committee, in saying theres nothing he would be afraid of doing as the clock strikes midnight on New Years Eve.

"I cant think of anything, to be honest," Pejsa says. "Both Tom and I are pilots, and I would have no qualms about being in the air at midnight. So I, personally, dont have any concerns."

When asked if hes equally confident crucial computer systems will continue to function, Prescott smiles and says, "Oh, yeah."

Ritland cites an example of a problem that might arise because of Y2K:

A high-rise office building has 10 elevators that are in use on weekdays, but to save energy seven of them are put out of service on weekends. Come Jan. 1 the elevators computer controls may not be able to identify which days are Saturdays and Sundays. It may take seven elevators out of service on some weekdays when they are needed most.

"The Y2K problems may be subtle like that," Ritland says. "Other things may look like theyre working, but problems wont become apparent for weeks or months."

For example, a program that is supposed to go through a companys e-mail system and eliminate all messages that are more than 4 months old may begin to trash important new messages without warning.

Ritland predicts these kind of annoying Y2K-related computer problems will manifest themselves over the next 18 months and then gradually taper off.

Some problems may become evident as early as this month, as Wisconsin and many other states and private businesses begin their 1999-00 fiscal year.

Still, Ritland isnt planning any major changes in her life as Jan. 1 approaches.

"Im not storing extra food or anything like that, but I might have a little more cash on hand than normal," she says. "Its not like you should have thousands of dollars under your mattress. That would be foolish  and dangerous. That would be a sign of a panic."

Mary Hanson of Eau Claire has seen early signs of just such a panic.

Her in-laws, college-educated people in their 70s, have told Hanson they know of many senior citizens who have begun taking their money out of the bank. Many also are stockpiling bottled water.

"Im kind of worried about a run on the banks," Hanson says. "These are highly educated people who are doing this."

Hansons greatest worry about Y2K concerns her job, through which she organizes athletic programs for the Eau Claire Parks and Recreation Department.

The department needs to buy new, Y2K-compliant software programs for its computers before she can complete schedules for the fall volleyball and basketball seasons, which extend beyond Jan. 1, Hanson says.

The new programs also are needed to ensure staff payroll and scheduling will continue without a hitch, she says, adding, "We hope well get that update by the first of September for our fall sports."

Sue Luthy of Eau Claire isnt allowing the specter of Y2K to affect her life.

"Im not at all concerned about it," Luthy says.

"Its possible that I will take some extra money out of the bank, but thats about it," she says. "Im just figuring the experts will have taken care of it by then."

Ritland, in her expert view, believes Luthys confidence is well-founded. But she advises that people keep written copies of all their financial records and then carefully inspect all statements they receive during the first several months of 2000 to ensure they are accurate.

Prescott chuckles when hes asked about people who plan to stockpile supplies in anticipation of major disruptions.

"I figure next year is going to be a good year to buy a generator," he says, "because theres going to be a lot of people with generators theyve never used."

An Internet search under the keyword "Y2K" reveals many Web sites offering excellent suggestions for a well-reasoned response to the potential problems, Ritland says.

But, she adds, it reveals just as many "Chicken Little" Web sites designed to sell books, consulting services and other Y2K-related products.

Pejsa and Prescott say Y2K shouldnt be ignored, but dont believe everything the doomsayers are predicting.

Pejsa shakes his head and adds, "I think there are some people who stand to make money from this."

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), July 25, 1999

Answers

All of our friends and some relatives have been planning to prepare for the last year. They are hoping they can find time to start next weekend. "No, REALLY we'll do it this weekend!"

Seems to me that intelligent people get it, or don't, with no middle ground. Part of this may be simply that our world demands specialty with no time to learn anything else. I had a roomate before I got married. PhD in Chemistry, 6 patents, and in his last year of med school. But he had no common sense, and no concept of how the world worked around him. One example is that he would drive out of state 2.5 hours away to get $3.00 off on an oil change. He couldn't figure out the US government, why legislation took so long. Why can't we just take orders from one person? Many of the computer geeks I work with are the same way (I do software analysis and testing, but not programming). The world exists in a cube but no connection is made to how that program interacts in the free market.

My wife was talking to an intelligent DGI about the Y2K issue a few months back. My wife was told that the entire issue was all hype and something "they're all working on so we don't have to worry."

My wife told her that I worked in software development on these problems and that I was concerned.

She said "Well, everyone else working on it must be smarter than your husband."

-- Retroman (retro50@agapeis.net), July 25, 1999.

You have it right - they dwell and live in little boxes and can't see out. It has to do hith the way different people learn, not IQ.

MIT had a paper about this and a thread on this forum was posted about a month ago.

Could someone dig it up? most interesting - explains why 95% of people DGI.

Bob P

-- Bob P (rpilc99206@aol.com), July 25, 1999.

Retroman, look at it this way. A BUNCH of people like that will be permanently removed from the gene pool in a few months. Darwin would be proud...

-- Dennis (djolson@pressenter.com), July 25, 1999.

Just what I was thinking Dennis. "Friends of Darwin" might be appropriate.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), July 25, 1999.

Bob, I would really like to read that MIT paper. Where can I find it? If it's on that thread you mentioned I can't find that, either. Thanks. Retroman

-- Retroman (retro50@agapeis.net), July 25, 1999.

mohawked ex-yuppies will rape your ass and steal your food,enraged that you didn't try harder to convince them when you had the chance.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), July 25, 1999.