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Technology Stocks : Discuss Year 2000 Issues -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Mansfield who wrote (2051)	6/27/1998 2:42:00 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9818

U.N. Approves Year 2000 Warning Friday, June 26, 1998; 5:01 p.m. EDT WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United Nations urged member countries Friday to cooperate in solving the Year 2000 computer problem and asked each to consider appointing a national coordinator to fix the software glitch. The Clinton administration, in a statement issued in Washington, called the problem ''a global challenge that highlights the growing importance of information technology in the daily exchanges between countries.'' The U.N. resolution asks member nations to forge global alliances to solve the problem, and for public and private organizations to share their experiences in working on it. The Year 2000 problem will cause many computers that recognize only the last two digits of a year to fail or malfunction, because they will be unable to distinguish Jan. 1, 2000, from the same day a full century earlier. ''This is an international problem that has implications for every nation,'' said Richard Sklar, a U.S. official at the United Nations. He warned that countries that fail to act ''risk serious disruptions to critical business and government functions. ... There truly is no time to waste.'' John Koskinen, chairman of President Clinton's Council on Year 2000 Conversion, noted that the failure of one nation's computer systems could have a cascading effect. ''It is crucial that all nations work to reduce the risk of system failures in key areas such as telecommunications, banking and transportation, where failures in one country could significantly affect the world community,'' he said. search.washingtonpost.com. Regards, Ron

To: John Mansfield who wrote (2051)	6/27/1998 3:01:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9818

Awareness level - 'Best Seller List asked in the TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) Q&A Forum -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I read someone's prediction some time back that we could gauge the level of public awareness of Y2K when a book makes the best sellers lists. Just today, my daughter-in-law, who is the manager of a Supercrown bookstore in S. California, told me that they cannot keep "Time Bomb 2000" on the shelves this week...it is going onto the Crown Corp's best seller list and will probably hit the New York Times Best Seller List within the next two weeks, if running true to form for best sellers. If this is true congratulations to the Yourdons, and should we look for the beginning of more public awareness, hence more panic? What does everyone think? Asked by Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net) on June 22, 1998. Answers I think that in the U.S., the Y2k won't "hit the fan" until after the November elections. Too many incumbants like the status-quo. I don't think the Democrats can use Y2K to their advantage to re-take the House, because the Republicans would just blame the White House for letting things get so bad. Answered by anon (anon@anon.com) on June 24, 1998. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gary North just announced he's taking down his y2k web site on July 1 due to the expense of maintaining it. He also mentioned the site was getting massive amounts of traffic, which indicates growing awareness. North's appearance on the Art Bell show a couple of weeks ago got him a good deal of exposure, probably to a 'fresh' audience. I imagine a good deal of interest has grown out of that interview, which is being replayed on tape on at least one other radio talk show. I agree that the October/November time frame is a likely one for this issue to begin to approach critical mass. Y2K is already a campaign issue for the Republicans- they're trying to make AlGore the y2k poster child. If only they'd spend as much energy fixing the problems as they will trying to fix the blame... . A "monitor" at a deep south "watchdog organization" attributes the actions of the extremists out west who recently killed a cop and prompted a multistate manhunt to y2k millenialist ravings. I'd say the issue is surfacing more and more as time goes on, now that it's being "spun" in all directions.By the way, since this "connection" has been established it might be wise to be careful in your own survivalist millenialist y2k ravings. Not that I'm paranoid or anything... . Thanks for the update on how the Yourdon's book is doing. I keep giving away copies myself, it seems... . LPL Answered by Lee P. Lapin (lplapin@hotmail.com) on June 25, 1998. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clarification: North is talking about taking down his Y2K discussion and preparations forums, which are costing him about $2,000 per month. He will keep his Y2K news and comments web site. Answered by Gary Good (ggood@aol.com) on June 25, 1998. ___ greenspun.com

To: John Mansfield who wrote (2051)	6/27/1998 3:05:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 9818

Good question - 'General Motors Today, General Chaos Tomorrow ? asked in the TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) Q&A Forum -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Could it be that the present strike situation with General Motors offers and excellent preview of what may become the case with the Y2k situation. While the current gridlock of General Motors is not the result of a computer malfinction, it does seem to illustrate well the "ripple" effect so well discussed in the Yourdon's book. I find it interesting that no one in the media has made any such conection. Perhaps I am extrapolating too much, but I can see the same problem happening all throughout the economy as we approach the threshold of the Y2k disruptions. Am I crazy or is this a textbook case of the ripple effect ? ___ greenspun.com