what else do some of you folks want from him... I thought he was honest and forthright. The reporters did an excellent job of asking questions. He never tried to half answer them or be evasive. In fact, I think every question that all the posters here would have asked him were asked by the reporters. The picture he portrayed of the upcoming situation was as bad as I and most of the folks here believe it will be. It is unknown as to what the final consequences are gonna be and everyone must be prepared as we all are. I think the man has done an excellent job, and was the right person for the position. And by the way, Ed Yourdon whom I have respected throughtout the 7 months I have been visiting this forum, lost a little credibility with me when I saw a preparation video he has out at my local grocery store. I wasn't aware that he was trying to make money out of this situation.

-- Vern (bacon17@ibm.net), December 13, 1999

Answers

Vern,

I would be curious to know which video you happened to see in your local store. Yes, I did make a video with my daughter and James Talmadge Stevens (author of "Making the Best of Basics," which a lot of people are using to guide their food preparations). It sells for a whopping $19.95, and I'm very proud of it; I think it's essential for members of the TV generation who either will not or cannot read the same information from a book. If you ever have a chance to take a look at it, you'll find that it's very low-key, non-hype, non-alarmist in tone, substance, and content -- i.e., it's no different than the style and approach that you'll find in our books.

FWIW, I have not made a profit on the video. The producer (Robert Roskind, with whom I have also coauthored a Y2K book) and Stevens and I each chipped in $10,000 to underwrite the cost of making the video. I think we've almost recouped our investment, but by the summer of this year, sales of the video had dropped to almost zero.

It's also possible that you saw a video that has LOTS of names and faces on it, possibly including mine, and possibly marketed by more aggressive Y2K organizations. In that case, whatever video footage they have of me is likely to be only a minute or two, filmed in a public presentation or conference of some kind. I have no financial interest, nor am I being paid, by the producers of those videos. That doesn't mean that I necessarily think those videos are good or bad -- just that I wasn't involved with them financially...

In any case, I think it's a little late in the game for you to be worried about who's making a "profit" from Y2K. Whatever profits or losses were made in 1998 and 1999 are now history; if you're worried about this sort of thing, you should be asking who will profit from the consequences of the rollover, 17 days from now.

Ed

-- Ed Yourdon (ed@yourdon.com), December 14, 1999.

Oh, Vern, comeon--even ministers get paid. As for Kosky, saw a few minutes. Yes, he always answers, but no, he paints a pretty rosy picture while always saying that might not be the case. He's no demon, but he's not an angel, either.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), December 13, 1999.

I wasn't aware that he was trying to make money out of this situation.

-- Vern (bacon17@ibm.net), December 13, 1999

"Time Bomb 2000" was on the NYT best seller list.....he already made money out of it. It does not follow logically that because he or anyone else made money, their information is not credible. Certainly there are hucksters but don't tar everyone with that brush.

-- Forrest Covington (theforrest@mindspring.com), December 13, 1999.

Kosky a hero, and Ed Yourdon a shameless huckster???

Please give me a break Vern; you CAN'T be that naive!

Have you been possessed by the exiled spirit of Y2KPro???

-- Nabi (nabi7@yahoo.com), December 14, 1999.

What more would we wnat from Kosky except honesty over the last 18 months during the (now historical and forever vanished) period when it remained possible for tens or hundred of thousands of people to prepare, for production of some essntial items and equipment to ramp up to meet demand, etc. As to perceptual engineering, would have liked him AT LEAST to not spin the whole thing away into a 3-day storm falling on a weekend, and to not have engendered mass delusion on the part of the public, for the sake of protecting the Dow, teh banks, and Clinton's "legacy". Would have liked him to act to implement, or recommend to Congress to implement, measures to safegaurd drinking water supplies, electricity, etc. etc. Glad you like him though.

-- SH (squirrel@huntr.com), December 14, 1999.

I think the man has done an excellent job

6 threads down, you may want to check out the Candid Camera skit that discovered 40% of Americans dont even know what Y2K is.

Excellent job alright. Excellent snow job.

And BTW Vern, Yourdon gave his books away for free on the internet. Then they went to press, for y2k illiterates to peruse. I guess he was supposed to give them away for free also?

-- a (a@a.a), December 14, 1999.

Vern: I cannot fault Kosky for doing the job he has done for the Prez and he has done it well. Outside of the report itself, I came away with two thoughts: 1. He answered all questions very well and thoroughly; 2. It seemed to me that the reporters were much more serious about the issue than I have seen up to this time. His explanation of the info command center and its functions , I believe, lent a much more serious tone to the meeting than he intended.

-- Neil G.Lewis (pnglewis1@yahoo.com), December 14, 1999.

...yea, the man has a right to earn a living, and the awareness he brought to the issue was needed. His efforts have helped prevent a catastrophe. But, the "video" on preparations I am not comfortable with. This information is available free from many sources, and I see it as an attempt made out of greed. As to Kosky, this is the first time I ever had the oppurtunity to watch the man do an interview. He did not try to paint the picture any more rosy or bleak than it is. His job is not to attempt to influence the emotion of y2k, bust just to report the facts... just the facts. I will tell you one thing, they are on top of this situation, and my prayers are with them.

-- Vern (bacon17@ibm.net), December 14, 1999.

A writer spends years researching a subject or issue. Night and day, he/she spends on the computer researching for facts and the truth. The writer interviews expert witnesses, he/she spends thousands of dollars and thousands of hours to educate themselves just to become a credible expert when the book is finally published. Surely, the book that Ed has written and published is deserving of some monetary award for his hard work. I've never met a doctor or dentist who offers his/her services for free, afterall, the doctor is making money off the scourge of society. Do you work for free Vern?

-- Ayn Rand Fan (AynRandFan@AynRandFAnnn.xcom), December 14, 1999.

Vern, Sorry... I'm going to be rough on ya, but you deserve it.

He portrayed a picture that will cause people to DO NOTHING as usual! Did you watch what I watched or was it a SNL skit or a surrealistic nightmare. You know, he insulted you and you don't even know it! Sir, he mentioning the "urban myths" on the Internet that people have been hearing implying that you are not smart enough to disseminate information here to distiguish between his lies and the thousands of facts, opinions, etc. that we have accumulated. He has all the answers. Maybe he's right to think you need his BS to figure this Y2K thing out.

Also, to suggest that you have lost respect for Ed based on his selling a potential life-saving video which I purchased and then commend this robotic lying bureaucrat is shameful indeed. By the way, YOU, WE pay for Kosky's lies through the trillions of taxes we pay. Why aren't you upset about that? Maybe we are getting all the lies that we paid for....

Plato: The masses are incurably ignorant

-- PJC (paulchri@msn.com), December 14, 1999.

Kosky does not get paid for what he does??????? He is not on the government payroll to spin their interests first????? He isn't making money off of Y2K??????

Let's get real, the man makes money, lots of it, doing his spin thing!

-- Sammie (sammiex0@hotmail.com), December 14, 1999.

Vern,

"I wasn't aware that he [Youdon] was trying to make money out of this situation".

Excuse me, but isn't Koskinen "making money" out of this situation? I'm quite sure he must be of Senior Executive Service grade Civil Service. You have a choice of whether or not to pay for Mr. Yourdon's advice. You have no such choice with Mr. "Kosky". He's already *bought*. And he doesn't answer to you; he was appointed, not elected.

It's up to you to decide who to believe. Just make sure you base your decision on the quality of the product, and the motivations of the seller. Is Mr. "Kosky" just trying to help you? Out of the goodness of his heart? Who does he have to answer to?

-- Spindoc' (spindoc_99_2000@HeadDown.now), December 14, 1999.

Kosky knew the crowd he was playing to. Wake up. 43% don't know what the acronym y2k stands for ... I'd venture to say 99% don't know what CSPAN stands for, let alone what channel it is on.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 14, 1999.

For more on...

John Koskinen... and... "Perception management is job number one"... see thread...

Perception management after the rollover

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 0020Di

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 14, 1999.

Vern, come on Vern. What do you want of an honest man? That he do what you yourself would undoubtedly be unwilling to do? Climb up on the Y2K cross and die for us all? Few men have stuck thier necks out as far as Ed Yourdon for the sake of this nation. Few men would have the guts to publically stand against the massive tides that sweep the nation, including quite possibly you.

And now you see a video on the shelve by this man and you immediatly assume that it is lining his pockets with gold. Do you have any idea at all how much business this little escapade into Y2K must have cost Ed? How many lost clients? No I think not.

Now I suggest you beg his forgiveness for speaking without full comprehension of the issues at stake, lest you yourself be seen as a hyprocrite of the highest standing.

Kiss and make up, Vern. Anything less and you lose respect from ninety nine percent of those who read this thread. (Excepting ladylogic, of course.)

Philosopher

-- philosopher (critical@thinking.com), December 14, 1999.

...you guys are wrong about so many things. First, the only mention Kosky made about us on the internet, was downplaying a rumor that nuke's can be fired off I believe by the President of Russia, like they have something like a heavy handed launch mode or something to that effect. I personally have never heard the rumor. You guys are also incorrect when you rant and rave about the sheeple not even being aware of what y2k is. That was true a year ago, but not today. Most people have prepared very quietly and many are doing their last minute preps as we speak. I have continued to bring up this issue with everyone I encountered over the last 7 months and I can reassure you, that at least here in the OH/PA area, almost everyone has made some kind of preparation for the rollover, the amount of preps would be the variable though. And, the 3 day storm prep scenario did not win out here. I would bet (based on talking tis issue to death with everyone} that most people are prepped for a 2 to 4 week period. If that isn't enough, then the cookie will crumble.

-- Vern (bacon17@ibm.net), December 14, 1999.

Vern...

Sorry Vern, but that just did not sound like an appology. Not at all. Now fess up. You may be right about Kos. but not about Ed.

Philosopher

-- philosopher (critical@thinking.com), December 14, 1999.

I think in hind sight, Ed would agree with me. The journey he went on with this issue took courage and mistakes are made. Thank you Ed for everything you have done. Not only for me, but mankind.

-- Vern (bacon17@ibm.net), December 14, 1999.

"Kosky knew the crowd he was playing to. Wake up. 43% don't know what the acronym y2k stands for ..."

Hmmm, looks like the job's complete.

That's the same percentage that voted for Clinton.

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), December 14, 1999.

Vern,

I am not a clever person, but I live in reality...do you???

-- Pamela Jo Kokores (changemkrs@aol.com), December 14, 1999.

Vern... don't let them pick on you. You have a good point: "And by the way, Ed Yourdon whom I have respected throughtout the 7 months I have been visiting this forum, lost a little credibility with me when I saw a preparation video he has out at my local grocery store. I wasn't aware that he was trying to make money out of this situation."

Some shyster doctor tried to tell my beloved mum that she had cancer and needed an operation, but I advised her that he makes money that way and so was just out to make a buck. Come to think of it the guy I just took my car to is making money too!! How can I trust HIS analysis??!!! OHMYGAWD!!! They're ALL making money!!! The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker. Lies... all lies... they are all just trying to get you to part with your money. All those people with college degrees just so they could find a way to make a buck! Don't believe them. Run for the hills.

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), December 14, 1999.

Anyone got a transcript, or are we just going to give each other e- wedgies all day?

Thanks.

-- Servant (public_service@yahoo.com), December 14, 1999.

still say the spin is the mark of leadership that does not have the sense to come in out of the rain on their own volition. There will either be no major problems so the spin will not be needed or there will be major problems and no spin will work.

-- Noone (Noone@none.com), December 14, 1999.

Yes, Ed..... just a few more days!

What a long strange trip it's been. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for speaking logically and from your heart all this time. Your voice of reason struck a chord in me and prompted me to prepare for my family *for any hard times* - at least as much as possible. No bunker, no tanks, just common sense preps similar to what my LDS friends have always done.

Sitting back comfortably, enjoying putting another log on the fire, writing a letter to Santa with my son. That's how I plan to spend the next few days. Will stay up to watch the rollover on the "spare" tv, but since we live rurally I have no immediate fear of riots if things go poorly. By sharing your thoughts you helped me strengthen my beliefs in a simpler life. Thanks again!

-- Kristi (securxsys@cs.com), December 14, 1999.

Here's a quote from the GAO (U.S. Gen'l. Accounting Office) dated August 13, 1998. It came straight off their website. It was Testimony before the Subcommittee on Gov't. Management Info. and Technology, Committee on Gov't. Reform & Oversight, House of Representatives.

FOR INFORMATION AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.

"Agencies cannot afford to neglect any of these issues. If they do, the impact of the Year 2000 failures could be widespread, costly, and potentially disruptive to vital government operations worldwide. Nevertheless, overall, the government's 24 major departments and agencies are making slow progress in fixing their systems."

Pay attention to the # of MISSION-CRITICAL systems mentioned please.

"In May 1997, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reported that about 21 percent of the mission-critical systems (1,598 of 7,649) for these departments and agencies were Year 2000 compliant." Placed here immediately following this sentence is a number 8 that takes you to a footnote stating, "The Social Security Adm.'s mission-critical systems were not included in these totals because SSA did not report in May 1997 on a system basis. Rather, SSA reported at that time, and again in August 1997, on portions of systems that were compliant. For example, SSA reported on the status of 20,000-plus modules rather than 200-plus systems."

Now I'll continue that paragraph began above about mission-critical systems fixed. In order to keep it in context, I'll repeat the sentence that precedes the remainder of the paragraph.

"In May 1997, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reported that about 21 percent of the mission-critical systems (1,598 of 7,649) for these departments and agencies were Year 2000 compliant. A year later, in May 1998, these departments and agencies reported that 2,914 of the 7,336 mission-critical systems in their current inventories, or about 40 percent, were compliant. Unless progress improves dramatically, a substantial number of mission-critical systems will not be compliant in time."

Perhaps what was needed was to decrease the # of systems that were deemed MISSION-CRITICAL. I could be wrong, but didn't Koskinen talk about the 2,000 mission critical systems the fed. gov't. has? Is it possible (as someone here mentioned not long ago) that the very people who work with these systems on a daily basis didn't know whether they were REALLY mission-critical or not?

Yeah, we're getting honest reporting.

-- whoskidding (whoskidding@who.com), December 14, 1999.

Vern:

Don't forget that Kosky didn't come clean and ring the warning bell on embedded chips until the first week of December 1999.

-- Dana (A_Non_O_Moose@xxx.com), December 14, 1999.

Vern
Lots of people take "paid for" advice as more real than free stuff. My company offers free info about lawns, yet we also sell lots of books for money... same info often that is available free online. People just like a video or book, cause its simple for them. It also explains in a simpler format. Everyone has to make a living, and Ed is no different from you, me or even President Clinton. Do you think that Clinton has made NO money in his job?

-- A Guy (waiting@y2kgi.com), December 14, 1999.

Kosky "honest and forthright?"

Yourdon "lost a little credibility?"

I smell a troll here.

-- (troll@alert.here), December 14, 1999.

Vern,

I'm in the city on the PA side of the border.

I can tell you that aside from the banks and one of the hospital systems, there is absolutely NO indication that anyone in the city GIs.

Yes, there is a local morning radio show which is probably single-handedly responsible for most of the GIs in the city, but their audience is not that large and most everyone else is a DWGI.

People may be prepping in the burbs, but they're NOT here in the burgh.

-- nothere nothere (notherethere@hotmail.com), December 14, 1999.

I only caught the tail end of this. Did anyone else see when asked about events happening all over the world, and just how soon they would report that news here; bottom line, they aren't going to tell us anything too soon. Geez...I sure hope the net stays up.

-- Marsha (MSykes@court.co.macon.il.us), December 14, 1999.