Assuming the "Y2K Pentagon Papers" are true and are based on extensive research, can we postulate any theories on what the failure criteria must have been? If we can come up with some credible theories then we will be in a much better position to evaluate how credible these Navy documents really are.

One of the things that bother me is the apparent inconsistancies. For example, Florida Power and Light is expected to fail in Canaveral, Florida and in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. However, the Navy Port at Miami gets power from Florida Power and Light and is not expected to fail. Could the problem be transmission and distribution? Is this be an embedded chip problem? Apparently, not, because all utilities are type testing. Southern California Edison provides power to the Port of San Pedro in Long Beach and they are not expected to fail, but Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale are.

I would truly appreciate opinions on what the failure criteria may have been.

-- Anonymous, August 20, 1999

Answers

time -- may 21, 2145

place -- university

subject -- american history

professor omniscient-- yes,jane?

student -- dr. omniscient, how is it possible that a problemn the size of y2k was totally ignored by a large majority of the population of every country of the civilized and not so civilized world?

professor -- well jane, it is necessary to take the entire picture into consideration when analyzing a situation that far back in time. you must remember, that while the technology had made quantuum leaps in the 100 hundred years prior to that catastrophic event, the level of consciousness of the people was not as evolved as we would like to imagine.

the people were more concerned with the material and would not accept that such a thing was possible. there are many psychological texts written to address this particular form of denial.

in addition, from a political point of view, the government had made the determination, however, deluded that might have been, that it was much more important to keep the economy viable right up to the bitter end, so, the society at large was secondary of the economic interests of a chosen few.

jane -- but professor... surely *some* of the people were aware of the seriousness of the situation... the signs were everywhere.

professor -- yes, jane, you are correct... the signs were everywhere. but the few brave souls that tried to raise the awareness of the populace to the problem were mocked, scorned, derided and held out to the general public as being alarmists. as a result they tended to maintain contact on a limited scale with like minded souls. they intellectualized, they poured over reports, they questioned the powers that made the announcements to the masses... but in the end -- they did nothing that was of any consequence.

to be contd.

-- Anonymous, August 20, 1999

Here is a link to the ABC report where Mr. K admitted that the report was real, but also did his "but I didn't inhale" dance.

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Business/AP19990819_522.html

Will be interesting. Good luck to all, Bill

-- Anonymous, August 20, 1999

Bill Watt

There is a small Navy Base at Port Canaveral, used for various things including Trident subs on occasion. They have been building a new power plant like mad for somewhat over a year now. I don't know the current status, however, it was schedled to be completed in 2001. Perhaps they have improved the schedule. This power plant provides electric for Port Canaveral, Cape Canaveral AFB, and Kennedy Space Center.

Orlando Utilities, also on the list, put all of its oil/gas fired power plants up for sale approximately 1 year ago. I don't know if they have been sold or not.

The Navy report has been floating around the net since this past spring, at least, that'w when I first ran accross it.

If you wish the best place I have found for it try:

http://www.jimlord.to/CitiesatRisk.cfm

Jim is pretty serious and put it on the web from Togo.

Marianne,

Very interesting piece of science fiction, quite possibly true. Except that a few will move to secure places to surive the turmoil, sort of like the movie about Europe in the time of the plague, called "The Last Valley".

Remember that old aphorism "In the kingdom of the blind, the one eyed man is killed."

Or the Greek mythological character who was forever condemned to roll the boulder up the hill. I forget his name right now.

Youall may wish to read my post about the News - on Where is the news.

xBob

-- Anonymous, August 20, 1999

Ah, was it Syssiphus, the rock roller?

-- Anonymous, August 20, 1999