[From today's Washington Post editorials]

Braced for the Millennium

Saturday, November 27, 1999; Page A24

THE APPROACH of Dec. 31, 1999, has not brought full clarity on how much we should be worrying about the "Y2K problem"--the possibility that computers will read the new date as Jan. 1, 1900, and cease to function. Rep. Stephen Horn, who has issued periodic "report cards" on government efforts to avert the problem, this week offered a typical mix of reassurance and ambiguity. Most systems, it seems, are go, but people should be prudent and avoid relying on them; on the other hand, the air traffic control system is still described unnervingly as "playing catch-up," but Mr. Horn and FAA administrator Jane Garvey both declare they will be in the air on New Year's Eve, just to show everything is fine.

The readiness people have a delicate line to walk. Until now they have spent their time trying to jolt sleepy bureaucracies into action with tough talk about what might go wrong if banks, power companies, hospitals, government agencies and others failed to overhaul their computer systems. Now, with no time left for full-scale reprogramming, the greater danger is of setting off a system-crashing panic. "The phone system will be fine," one government official predicts, "as long as everybody doesn't pick up the phone right after midnight to see if it's still working."

Whether from prudence or procrastination, surprising numbers of Americans so far are behaving just as the worriers would like them to. In contrast to the flying administrators, some 60 percent of Americans earlier this month said they had no plans to go out of town for New Year's Eve celebrations, and 45 percent were planning to stay in their homes. There are still some large question marks, mostly concerning international networks whose overseas components may not have been fully tested, and a panic-fueled run on supplies. But the best reason not to hoard food or withdraw all your money from the bank is that you probably aren't going to need it. It remains unlikely that great rips will appear in the fabric of civilization on Jan. 1, 2000.

) Copyright 1999 The Washington Post Co

Okay, that's Jan.1, 2000 I don't have to worry about any more, on the magisterial authority of the Washington Post. But just to really soothe my fears, how about another editorial tomorrow on how I don't have to worry about chronic local, national, and global systemic failures, either...?

-- John Whitley (jwhitley@inforamp.net), November 27, 1999

Answers

I hope they do just that. Since it is now far too late to conduct an awareness campaign that would have made a difference, I would prefer that Kosky, et al, simply drive the population into next year like a bunch of mind-numbed robots.

There are a few last minute things I would like to grab (not necessities, but stuff like potato chips) without a general panic underway.

I will encourage anybody and everybody to prepare as well as they can, but a panic would just mess up my plans to be at my preferred site with as much ease as possible.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), November 27, 1999.

It's disinformation. The hyperinflation on the food is going to prevent any "runs."

Dec 1 is the date food shipments stop to BVI because there isn't enough for even this population. We only have what is already in the pipelines. A whole people are not going to be starved to death, so Americans pushing and shoving each other for Barbies, can buy bread at an affordable price.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 27, 1999.

Be prepared to be blamed....BINGO! "The phone system will be fine," one government official predicts, "as long as everybody doesn't pick up the phone right after midnight to see if it's still working."

-- UR2Blame (upower@jps.net), November 27, 1999.

I must reiterate again. I have hoarded everything I can think of and at midnight 12/31/2000 I will do my part to hoard the phone lines by picking up the phone just to see if it works.

If it doesn't..............

-- the Virginian (1@1.com), November 27, 1999.

Washington Post = manure. It is also good for fish-wrappers and lining bird cages (and Liberal cages).

Still, I hope they are right...

-- Anonymous99 (Anonymous99@Anonymous99.xxx), November 27, 1999.

I am not willing to bet my safety and security on the mindless drivel spewed out by the Washington Post. Articles like this are designed to pacify the cattle and keep them focused on their television and supermarket tabloids instead of the pending crisis.

I can promise this much. I will DEFINITELY be on the phone and the internet just before the rollover keeping in detailed contact with family, friends and associates. There is too much at stake here to trust John Koskinen.

-- Irving (irvingf@myremarq.com), November 27, 1999.

I'm sure that I won't be online at rollover. My PC wil have been unplugged well before midnight to avoid any dirty power hazards. In fact, I will probably shut off all of the circut breakers in my house except for the living room where the wood stove is. We'll have one junky TV plugged in to follow events and celebrations. Otherwise, I'll be thinking up ways to make it an exciting (and hopefully joyful) time for my kids. Ordering pizzas, playing board games, "camping out" indoors. Something for them to look forward to, rather than fear. (Meanwhile, I'll be shaking in my boots).

-- Jay Golter (JGolter@aol.com), November 27, 1999.

Several points:

Note the article is titled "Braced...", NOT "Prepared...".As in bracing for an accident or plane crash.

The really tough part about preparing as an adult is finding a way to tell the kids without scaring the H out of them and giving them nightmares.After all, this is the time when their minds are on Christmas.

Despite all the incredible spin, the herd is refusing, like stubborn cattle, to carry on as per normal. If such a very high percentage are planning on staying home, how will that translate into other actions that the spinmeisters have tried(lied) so hard to prevent, like bank cash runs, perhaps gold buying in Dec., stocking-up(whoreding), and so on?

Just a simple action like everyone tanking up in the last 2 days of the year would cause a massive panic/shortage/lineup problem. That is just ONE simple example that is almost GUARANTEED to occur.

-- profit of doom (doom@helltopay.ca), November 27, 1999.