Pretty big news day for Y2K (a portent of things to come?).

Since I couldn't find any good in-depth analysis, I thought I'd share my vote for the dumbest one. Instead of making you mad, realize this now the attitude we face. There will be no "awakening" until extremely late this year or even after 1/1/2000.

*****

August 9, 1999 Viewpoint

How to cash in on the Y2K phenomenon Bill Wellborn

As the millennium draws closer, lots of people have figured out ways to make money from the phenomenon.

Businesses and consultants have popped up to take care of the Y2K bug, because people all over the world are aware of the potential problems that would occur if their computers aren't able to understand that, come Jan. 1, it's not only a new year but a new century.

Doomsayers have gotten a lot of attention amid Y2K predictions, because a potentially catastrophic event gives such people a reason to speak. In truth, though, the Y2K scare now appears no more of a threat than Nostradamus, who predicted, among other things, that a "great King of Terror" would fall out of the sky sometime in July 1999.

The predicted Y2K disaster is a bit more real than Nostradamus' misguided prediction, but preparations can be made other than canceling life for a day and taping up your windows. As long as you can get your computer's calendar right, you'll probably survive.

There's still plenty of money to be made before the biggest New Year's Eve bash of the century, however. Here are a few ideas that could make some money with proper marketing. I would pursue these myself, but I'm too busy getting ready for the end-time.

Real estate options: Buy membership lists from religious fringe groups and survivalist zealots, then take out purchase options on any real estate they own. Chances are, they'll sell them for a fraction of their worth the closer it gets to Dec. 31, 1999.

Portable home generators: One of the biggest fears is that all power will stop when the year turns into 2000. I remember fiddling with a hand-cranked generator in high school physics that would fire up a light bulb if you cranked it hard enough. Count on a substantial return on investment for these little babies.

How-to books: The beauty is in the titles, not the content. The fearful of the world would be quick to buy anything titled "What the Government Isn't Telling You About Y2K" or "How to Become Y2K-Compliant in Five Minutes."

End-of-the-world survival kits: These products exploit the fears of the gullible and the weak of heart, which could be considered the very definition of niche entrepreneurship. A kit might include a gun, freeze-dried provisions for a month, batteries, water, a Bible, a comb and some Wet-Naps. If you hurry, you might be able to strike a deal with Wal-Mart.

Millennium survivalist's handbook: How to live when technology stops cold. Chapters on fire-starting, lean-to construction, snares for wild game and latrine design. (For you wanna-be entrepreneurs, these could be lifted from the Boy Scout Handbook.) Other chapters might feature truck-patch farming, hunting and skinning, guerrilla warfare tactics and the best way to cook a dog.

One more note: If you pursue any of these ideas, make sure you have no longer than a six-month business plan.

Bill Wellborn is editor of the Memphis Business Journal, which is owned by American City Business Journals Inc., the company that also owns Business First.

Week of August 9, 1999 | Commentary | Top of the page

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), August 09, 1999

Answers

Oh, yes.

Heres a snip from another story there, a very interesting snip. If you remember, it continues a trend noted in a similar report from last month:

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8/9/99 Y2K Compliance Declining?

The number of software products reversing their Y2K-ready status is going up, not down, according to one Y2K compliance-tracking firm. Last month, vendors for 58% of the 125 software products evaluated made "negative" changes to their Y2K ready status, according to Infoliant Corp. in Pittsburgh. That means the manufacturer has discontinued Y2K support, or has encountered previously unknown Y2K issues.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), August 09, 1999.

The worst thing about articles like this is that I find myself momentarily hoping that things get really bad, & that the idiot who wrote this crap suffers horribly... Then I wake up & realize what I'm wishing for.

...Shudder....

Should avoid reading such things. Very bad karma.

-- bad vibes (from@reading.crap), August 09, 1999.

Doomers do not like articles like this because they make mock of their insular, paranoid, fear-crazed world. Doomers do not like articles like this because they fear a crack of sanity may return to their pathetic lives. Doomers do not like articles like this because a small part of them know that the author is correct. Doomers do not like articles like this because...

People who want to survive Y2K should be prepared to kill.

-- (its@coming.soon), July 27, 1999.

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), August 09, 1999.

Note to those who are not too far over the edge: This is what it looks like to be rational about Y2K. It's not too late to get a grip on reality. You don't have to succumb to fear and paranoia like so many others on this forum.

-- cd (artful@dodger.com), August 09, 1999.