UPDATE: George Washington University Y2K PANEL 12/16/99: "It's Not Over 'Til It's Over and It Could Go On for Years..."

Here is an updated announcement concerning the last George Washington University panel program of the year. I have also let C-SPAN know about the program. Perhaps they will decide to broadcast the panel live. If they do, I will be sure to alert the TB2000 Forum.

When: Thursday Evening, December 16, 1999

Cost: Free

Sponsor: George Washington University Y2K Group

Host: The Washington Post Company

Topic:

"It's Not Over 'Til It's Over and It Could Go On for Years: Determining Y2K and Embedded Systems Priorities ~ The Need to Continue to Prevent and Minimize Impacts Now and Into the Future."

Where: The Washington Post, 9th Floor, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC

Reception: 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Panel: 7:00 - 9:00 PM

Participants in the panel will include persons who have been focused on national as well as local Y2K concerns.

Invitees include:

Invited Panelists:

~ Dr. Gerald Poje, Member, Chemical Safety and Hazards Investigation Board

~ Dr. Mark Frautschi, Senior Analyst, Center for Y2K & Society (confirmed)

~ Conrad Mesina, Vice President, Century Corporation

~ Peter LaPorte, Director, District of Columbia Emergency Management Agency (confirmed)

~ Fred Millar, Director of Environmental and Public Safety Policy, Center for Y2K & Society and Chemical Accident Prevention Consultant (confirmed)

~ Charles Griffiths, Washington Director, The Center for Year 2000 Community Action Plans (confirmed)

Discussant:

~ Paula Gordon, Director of Special Projects, Research Program for Social and Organizational Learning, and Visiting Research Professor, George Washington University (http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon) (confirmed)

An RSVP while not required is appreciated. Please RSVP to wafa@gwu.edu or fax "Wafa" at 202 994 5225

For updates, see the Announcements page at http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon.

Please feel free to share this announcement with your friends, family, and associates or send it to other lists.

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ATTENTION MEDIA

Press Briefing

A press briefing will be held Thursday, December 16 from 1:30 - 3:30 PM in the Conference Room of the Research Program for Social and Organizational Learning (RPSOL). It will feature selected panelists who will be participating in the evening panel.

(The RPSOL Conference Room is located at 2033 K St. NW, Suite 230. The entrance to 2033 K is around the corner from 21st and K Strs. NW.)

GW Public Affairs Office Media Contact: Matt Nehmer (202) 994 6460

ALL MEDIA ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.

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If you would like to be able to view the panel on C-SPAN, can write them and suggest that they air the program.

Here are some addresses that you can send a message to C-SPAN and suggest that they broadcast the panel:

~ e-mail: viewer@c-span.org

~ e-mail: events@c-span.org

~ e-mail: on-line@c-span.org

Note: The GW panel program on National and Global Y2K Initiatives that was broadcast by C-SPAN on November 23 can still be seen online in the C-SPAN archives at http://inside.c-spanarchives.org

-- Paula Gordon (pgordon@erols.com), December 13, 1999

Answers

Paula,

Noticed that only one of your panelists has experience with embedded systems (Century Corp) and its focus is Remediation. Did you try and arrange for a representative from one the OEMs i.e., Honeywell, Siemens, ABB or Allen-Bradley to participate in the discussion? It would be interesting to hear what a Product Engineer or Designer has to say with regards to the Embedded Issue.

-- robert patrick (rpatrick@yahoo.com), December 13, 1999.

Dear Robert Patrick,

This panel on December 16 is not intended to be heavily technically-oriented. It is not on embedded systems per se. Part of the emphasis is on the implications of evolving perspectives about embedded systems for continuing efforts to prevent and minimize problems. I am trying to help the people in top roles of responsibility in the government understand how serious the problems are and what actions they should be taking and supporting in order to help address the problems on a continuing basis.

We have had three panels in the past that were focused more on the technical aspects of embedded systems. One of them is on my real video website. Another can be purchased and is available directly through Public Production Group in Washington, DC. (Info is on my website at http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon)

Some additional comments regarding your note: It can be hard to identify people with hands on technical expertise who also comprehend the policy implications of what they know, who have time and are available to take part. There are no funds in the Research Program for Social and Organizational Learning to pay people's travel and related expenses. There is also no funding available to do the kind of search needed to find people who are available and able to attend. I have relied on networks that I have developed or have come in contact with and on people contacting me. This approach has worked pretty well. Many, many people have been very extraordinarily generous with their time and energies. I am deeply grateful to them for all their contributions.

-- Paula Gordon (pgordon@erols.com), December 13, 1999.

P Gordon-

The link to c-span archives returned "Forbidden" Any clues?

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), December 13, 1999.

Thanks for pointing out the problem.

A URL that works for the C-SPAN Archives is http://www.c-span.org/watch/otherevents.htm

Once you get to that page, click on the November 23 GW panel program on National and Global Y2K Initiatives.

-- Paula Gordon (pgordon@erols.com), December 14, 1999.

There's something ringing ironic in my ear about, "ALL MEDIA ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND."

Media? What media? Oh, you mean all those vacant Talking Heads that pimp their own mastery of the English language and pass it off as journalism? Why would anybody want **them** to attend? I'd just as soon attend a confernce and sit next to Dracula. At least you know his agenda and intentions. The media? I've never seen a more useless bunch of hypocrites in my life.

Remember when we were kids how Mr./Ms. Schoolmaster used to tell us that we had a free media in the Land of the Free? Remember how they used to tell us how controlled TASS was and how controlled the Russian people were? Tell me this is any different, please. I'm sorry. I really am sorry, but I can't believe a word that comes out of a politician's mouth or a journalist's mouth unless it flies in the face of this Iron Curtain of controlled media.

Who needs a Berlin wall when you control the media?

Media **not** invited! Stay away! We'll handle this and damn well do a better job than you over educated BIMBOS! Take your damned English language skills and stick them! I'm sick of you, do you hear? You blew it. You wrote pigeon crap, and you repeated everything the politicians and CIOs spoon fed you without ever INVESTIGATING anything.

Oh, pardon me, the Inquirer recently did a fine job investigating Bill and Hillary's upcoming divorce. Wow, now there is blockbuster material right before the biggest event in history.

-- paul leblanc (bronyaur@gis.net), December 14, 1999.

Thank you Paula,

I admire your courage, and fortitude. Please keep us informed as to possible C-Span coverage. I enjoyed watching your last(?) interview. I believed at the time, I saw a very worried woman up there, as if you weren't able to tell all you knew. Being privy to "need to know" information (guessing here) has a price, huh?

Respectfully

Michael

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), December 14, 1999.