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NHNE Y2K Report 9
Sunday, January 10, 1999
"News,
Inspiration,
& Consumer Protection
for Spiritual Seekers"
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NHNE Y2K Report 9
Sunday, January 10, 1999
NHNE is also the force behind the wild2k Website:
http://www.wild2k.com/
"The Best of the Best of Y2K"
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Our work is made possible by the kind and generous support of people everywhere
who want to solve the fundamental mysteries of life, make a graceful passage
through the turbulent times in which we live, and help give birth to a
new, more spirit-filled and loving world.
You can support NHNE by joining our Friends of NHNE program and/or through
tax-deductible donations. See the end of this update for details.
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Total NHNE Mailing List:
Last Mailing: 1680
This Mailing: 1741
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EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT
"Michael Harden, President and CEO of Century Technology Services, Inc.
and author of two Y2K books, compared Y2K to the great Yellow Fever epidemic
that struck the Mississippi Valley in 1878. The deadly disease, carried
by mosquitoes, broke out on the Gulf Coast and slowly worked its way up
the river to Memphis, Tennessee. The people in that city knew in advance
that the epidemic was on its way. They knew approximately when it would
arrive. They knew it would kill them. The government and the media said,
'Don't panic. Everything will be all right.' Relieved by these assurances,
most stayed in the city.
"Fifty-five percent of the population died. Many Catholic nuns chose to
remain to give aid and comfort to those afflicted with the disease. Most
of them perished and today they are known as the 'Martyrs of Memphis.'
The city was disestablished as a political entity and was not re-chartered
for 14 years."
--- From Jim Lord's Westergaard Year 2000 Column, "World Future Society
Holds Y2K Conference," January 4, 1999
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CONTENTS:
Y2K HEADLINES:
Y2K Bug Affects Taxi Meters
FEMA: "Get Ready Now For Y2k"
Apple Has Y2K Problems Too
Social Security Y2K-OK...Or Is It?
Airports Try to Head Off Millennium Bug Specter
Maritime Shipping at Risk
FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:
1999: Now What?
LETTERS:
Our Heartfelt Thanks
Y2K: Crisis or Blessing?
Y2K STORIES:
U.S. Firms Throw in the Towel
USA Today Commentary on Y2K Poll Deceptive
Railroads in Trouble
Potential Power Failures Threaten Chemical Plants
The "Jo Anne Effect"
The Moral Dimension of Y2K
Y2K from a Religious Perspective
Grass Roots Approach to Y2K Gaining Momentum
A Brief History of the Y2K Community Movement
Y2K RESOURCES:
Cheaper Y2K Software Fix for PCs
Macintosh Y2K Software Audit
Backwoods Home Magazine
National Registry of Y2K Activists & Projects Launched
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF Y2K:
Windows 2000
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Y2K HEADLINES:
Y2K BUG AFFECTS TAXI METERS
(Sources: AP/NEW JERSEY ONLINE, 1/3/99; AP/DESERT NEWS, 1/3/99, both via
SANGER'S REVIEW OF Y2K NEWS REPORTS, thanks to Elaine White)
In one of the first reported Y2K-related failures of the new year, computerized
meters in 300 taxis in Singapore went dead on Jan. 1 for two hours. The
new meters were supposed to be "Year-2000 compliant" according to the
supplier of the meters, which is investigating the incident. Taxi meters
in Sweden also acted up on Jan. 1, but passengers there hardly complained
-- the meters continued to work, but they gave riders unexpectedly low
fares. (JG)
Link: http://wire.nj.com/cgi-bin/nj_nview.pl?/home1/wire/AP/Stream
Parsed/FINANCIAL/f0013_AM_Singapore-MillenniumB
Link: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,30004467,00.html?
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FEMA: "GET READY NOW FOR Y2K"
(Source: FEMA Press Release, 1/6/99)
A recent survey conducted by the FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA)
of the state of Y2K readiness at the state and local levels reported that
although Y2K fixes are well underway at the state-level, the emergency
service systems of many counties and municipalities remain untested. Most
states expressed some level of concern over the possibility of power failures,
especially where power is provided by smaller utilities. Other areas of
concern cited by the states include limited or lack of resources to assess,
test and validate systems and fixes for Y2K problems. FEMA is urging the
emergency management, fire and emergency services communities, and the
public to get ready now for Y2K, warning that "while some failures will
be minor annoyances, some may have more serious consequences." FEMA plans
to conduct Y2K Consequence Management workshops around the country in
February and March to identify critical issues, assess vulnerabilities,
review contingency plans and consider policies and decisions that need
to be taken to deal with possible Y2K consequences. (JG)
FEMA Y2K: www.fema.gov/y2k
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APPLE HAS Y2K PROBLEMS TOO
(Source: MACCENTRAL, 12/24/98)
Despite the fact that the hardware and system software in APPLE computers
are not affected by the millennium bug, Apple still expects to spend $5.1
million over the next year to address Y2K risks within the company identified
as "High" and "Medium. Third party programmers, who have developed software
that does not use Apple's standard time-tracking routines, may also have
problems (see "Y2K Resources" for more details). (JG/DS)
Link: http://www.maccentral.com/news/9812/24.sec.shtml
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SOCIAL SECURITY Y2K-OK...OR IS IT?
(Sources: Press Release, Office of the Press Secretary, 12/28/98; Erich
Luening, CNET NEWS.COM, 12/29/98)
Senior citizens can rest easy, according to President Clinton and Vice
President Gore who announced that the Social Security system is now 100
percent "Y2K-OK." To make absolutely certain, the system has been tested
and validated by a panel of independent experts who verified that the
system works and that Social Security and Supplemental Security Income
checks will continue to flow uninterrupted in the Year 2000. The milestone
represents a critical step in Y2K work on the Social Security system,
which the FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SERVICE (FMS) will continue to test throughout
1999. FMS maintains systems that each year make 860 million payments with
a dollar value of more than $1 trillion. But the day after the announcement,
the commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Kenneth Apfel,
acknowledged on the "News Hour" with Jim Lehrer, that there is still work
to be done with the financial agencies it uses to get checks to elderly
Americans. 75 percent of all social security checks are electronically
transferred to bank accounts, but the banking community has yet to verify
that their complete system is compliant end-to-end.
Link: http://chkpt.zdnet.com/chkpt/y2ke9812303/www.zdnet.com/pcweek/stories/ne
ws/0,4153,382028,00.html
Link: http://www.news.com/News/Item/0,4,30357,00.html?st.ne.fd.mdh
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AIRPORTS TRY TO HEAD OFF MILLENNIUM BUG SPECTER
(Sources: Suzanne Perry, REUTERS, 12/21/98 via SANGER'S REVIEW OF Y2K
NEWS REPORTS; John Zarocostas, JOURNAL OF COMMERCE, 12/23/98 via THE YEAR
2000 INFORMATION CENTER)
Like many other industries, the air travel sector is scrambling to head
off dire consequences from the looming millennium bug. The INTERNATIONAL
AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA), the global airline watchdog, has launched
a $20 million project to ensure that all airports, air traffic system
providers and key suppliers are aware of Y2K issues. After completing
34 of 70 airport site visits, IATA has found that the level of awareness
of Y2K problems and the "robustness" of the programs to tackle them varied
widely. In a recent date rollover test by British airport operator BAA
PLC, luggage was accidentally directed down a "mis-sort" chute, airport
access cards didn't work, and a control board failed to recognize fire
alarm signals. "I don't expect the air travel industry to see major catastrophes,"
said Thomas Windmuller, Director of IATA's Project Year 2000. "Safety's
not an issue, inconvenience is." International airlines are expected to
spend $2.3 billion to ensure their systems meet the "millennium bug" challenge.
(JG)
Link: http://www.joc.com/
Link: http://guide-p.infoseek.com/Content?arn=a1577LBY772reulb-19981220&col=NX
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MARITIME SHIPPING AT RISK
(Source: CNN, 12/12/98 via GARY NORTH'S Y2K LINKS AND FORUMS)
Reacting to the news that some shippers might stay at sea on January 1,
2000, rather than risk getting stuck in noncompliant ports hit by the
computer bug, Y2K analyst Gary North had these comments: "There are no
compliant ports. Ships cannot safely stay out of port after they run out
of fuel. 95 percent of imported goods enter the U.S. via maritime shipping.
[What happens] if shipping falls to zero? How about the economies
of Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Israel?" (JG)
Link: http://cnn.com/TECH/computing/9812/12/y2k.un/
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FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:
1999: NOW WHAT?
Now that 1999 has arrived, what can we expect? For some, the arrival of
1999 is a rude wake-up call, as they realize that the Year 2000 is less
than one year away. Programmer Jo Anne Slaven predicts that very early
in 1999, we are likely to see the failure of computer programs which look
a year ahead in calculating their results, if they are not already Y2K
compliant. (An article on "The 'Jo Anne Effect" appears in the "Y2K Stories"
section of this newsletter.) This could come as a big shock to banks and
accounting firms which thought they had one more year to sort out their
Y2K problems. Then there is the problem of the "9s," as some computers
struggle to come to terms with the fact that they have been programmed
to interpret "99" as something other than a date.
People who have just woken up to the potential Y2K threat may be dismayed
when they scramble to order emergency supplies only to find that many
suppliers are backordered for months. Even if ordered today, some items
like diesel generators are in such demand that they may not be delivered
in time for the new millennium.
The financial sector, particularly banks and the those who deal with the
stock market, will no doubt be casting anxious glances at the calendar
as the number of days until Dec. 31, 1999 dwindles. This is an immovable
deadline. Work that is not completed goes undone and all affected must
suffer the consequences. Banks and the stock market look particularly
vulnerable at this time, especially to the "unknown" element. Will there
be runs on banks as customers lose confidence in the system and demand
their hard-earned wealth in cash? Will the stock market, which is totally
computerized and prone to crashes, be brought to its knees by the millennium
bug?
The 1998 Christmas travel season has come to an end. It may be the last
of the fat years for travel agents. Will anyone be booking holidays in
Third World countries next Christmas, or anywhere very far from a safe,
secure base for that matter?
What changes and disruptions will the dawn of new millennium bring? Many
fear the impending unknown. Look at the reaction of coastal cities when
there is a hurricane threat. Y2K is a hurricane that could turn the entire
world upside down all on the same day. People who have not already prepared
themselves mentally and physically could experience a mounting panic as
the date draws nearer.
At this milestone in the evolution of civilization, NHNE and similar organizations
that make up the Y2K network, stand as a bulwark against a rising tide
of panic and hysteria. This need not be a time of terror and suffering;
it can be a time of wonder and adventure. The world has become dazzled
by technology and we have lost touch with the earth beneath our feet and
our neighbors living next door. Y2K offers us a turning point that could
lead to a simpler, kinder and healthier time. Already like-minded people
are gathering together in loosely-knit communities to face the next millennium
with hope, courage and anticipation. Be not afraid. This is a marvelous
time to be alive, as we stand poised on the threshold of a new heaven
and a new earth and behold the millennium bug in the process of transforming
into a glorious butterfly.
James Gregory
Editor-in-Chief
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LETTERS:
OUR HEARTFELT THANKS
"Wanted to express our heartfelt thanks for all the time, effort and research
you continue to put into your reports. That first three-parter you sent
out with all the Y2K links has been invaluable as an on-going resource.
Have referred to it often. Through our "Building Community" newsletters,
we have recommended yours on numerous occasions as presenting an unbiased,
balanced view of Y2K. All too often, we neglect to thank people for their
work that keeps the rest of us informed. For all that you do, thank you
all!"
--- Holly and Stan Deyo, Miners Rest, AUSTRALIA
[The Deyo's emergency preparedness website is:
http://www.millennium-ark.net/News_Files/Hollys.html JG]
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Y2K: CRISIS OR BLESSING?
"Thank you so much for your weekly report and website. In my experience,
both are truly the 'best of the best of Y2K.'
"I am convinced that the Year 2000 computer problem will be an enormous
gift and a blessing to our world as a whole. While it is true that things
could initially be VERY difficult, let us remember that 'business-as-usual'
is rapidly destroying our children's chances of inheriting a clean, beautiful,
and humane world. Reflecting on the state of the world, an 80-year old
farmer once told me, 'If we don't turn around, we'll soon arrive where
we're headed.' I believe that Y2K is a gift: a turn-around point, and
just in the nick of time.
"As the Year 2000 approaches, here are some things I think we can expect
to see:
- More community-building than we've seen since World War II.
- Churches, synagogues and schools becoming life centers in their communities.
- People taking greater responsibility for their lives.
- A questioning of our dependence on technology and our alienation from
each other.
- A spiritual revival as people try to find meaning in an uncertain and
potentially-chaotic future.
- Nations, citizens and neighbors learning to cooperate and work with
each other as never before.
"No matter how mild or severe the collective impact of the Year 2000 turns
out to be (I personally expect it to be fairly serious), I believe that
future generations will look back at this time and exclaim, 'Thank God
for Y2K!'"
--- Michael Dowd, Portland, Oregon
[Michael Dowd, author and Y2K community activist, is co-founder, with
Llyn Peabody, of THE PORTLAND-METRO CITIZEN Y2K TASK FORCE. He is also
the campaign manager of the PORTLAND SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLE CAMPAIGN: a
city-funded program that empowers neighbors to support one another in
living more Earth-friendly, environmentally responsible lifestyles. He
can be emailed at: "MBDowd@bigplanet.com".]
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Y2K STORIES:
U.S. FIRMS THROW IN THE TOWEL
(Source: Andrew Hay, REUTERS, 1/4/99, thanks to Jon Roland)
The new millennium is still a year away but many U.S. companies are already
admitting they won't be ready. Companies such as CHEVRON and AT&T
say their systems may be vulnerable to significant failures as they grapple
with the Year 2000 date change. Chevron has said it cannot fix all its
systems by Dec. 31, 1999, and Year 2000 business interruptions could prevent
it from making and delivering refined products and producing oil and gas.
AT&T has acknowledged the potential for failure across its systems
and has cranked up Year 2000 spending by more than 50 percent. And while
McDONALD'S and DUPONT say they are more confident they can handle the
date change, they are less sure about their suppliers and local governments.
Analysts say companies are beginning to make such frank statements on
Y2K risks to cover themselves against possible securities litigation and
provide ammunition for their own suits.
As companies realize that they and their partners may not achieve full
compliance, they are planning back-up systems and looking for alternate
vendors. COCA-COLA, for example, has contingency plans for the failure
of power, water and phone systems that include stockpiling raw and packaged
materials, increasing inventory levels and securing alternate supply sources.
The technologically-complex telecoms sector ranks dead last in progress
toward completion of Y2K projects. Also behind are the utilities industry
and the energy sector. While disclosing such problems may protect them
from lawsuits, it won't keep the business running if the computers operated
by the companies and their vendors don't work. (JG)
Link: http://cnnfn.com/digitaljam/wires/9901/04/y2k_wg/
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USA TODAY COMMENTARY ON Y2K POLL DECEPTIVE
(Sources: M.J. Zuckerman, USA TODAY, 12/31/98; Y2KNEWSWIRE, 1/3/98)
In a recent article discussing the findings of a poll canvassing Y2K concerns,
USA TODAY chose the title, "Y2K Bug Fears Subsiding," and pointed out
that only 35 percent of those questioned now expect "major problems,"
compared to 48 percent last June. The folks at Y2KNEWSWIRE examined the
numbers more carefully, and came up with some startlingly different conclusions.
For example, while the USA Today headline mentioned only one statistic,
there are many others that paint a different picture, such as:
- 16 percent of the general public are now "very concerned" about the
Y2K problem, compared to only 7 percent a few months ago.
- More than two out of three people think the Y2K problems will last at
least several weeks.
- 25 percent think Y2K will seriously affect the U.S. economy in a negative
way.
- 26 percent plan to stockpile food and water.
But the most remarkable finding was the fact that 16 percent of those
polled plan to withdraw ALL their money from banks and 31 percent plan
to withdraw "a large amount of cash." U.S. banks currently owe depositors
approximately $3.7 trillion, so 16 percent of 3.7 trillion would be in
the order of $590 billion, with mass withdrawls of "a large amount of
cash" adding another $200 billion or so to the total. Y2KNewswire points
out that U.S. banks only have $44 billion cash on hand, with the comment
that had USA Today considered the obvious ramifications of the poll results,
the headline should have been: "Y2K To Collapse Banks." Y2KNEWSWIRE predicts
the FEDERAL RESERVE will not allow this to happen, and in the next 12
months cash will somehow be restricted, rationed, or made illegal. (JG)
Link: http://www.y2knewswire.com
Link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/ndswed10.htm
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RAILROADS IN TROUBLE
(Sources: M.J. Zuckerman, USA TODAY, 12/31/98; Y2KNEWSWIRE, 1/3/98)
In a recent article in USA TODAY, Y2K federal chairman John Koskinen was
quoted as saying, "We are deeply concerned about the railroads. We have
no indication that they are going to make it." That's a sobering quote
coming from John Koskinen, who is best known for claiming that the federal
government will have little or no Y2K-related problems. Y2KNEWSWIRE applauds
Koskinen's courage at a time when most people are trying to put a positive
spin on Y2K saying such things as, "We have no indication that 'x' might
fail, therefore you should trust that it will work."
The USA Today article goes on to say, "If railroads are forced to slow
down so automated functions can be carried out manually and to provide
a greater margin of safety, then a broad cross section of the economy,
from heavy industry to fresh foods, could be affected."
USA Today's comment assumes the trains can be run manually. "This is another
common Y2K myth," says Y2KNEWSWIRE, which claims there is plenty of evidence
and expert testimony from railroad veterans that the trains cannot be
run manually. The problem lies in the track switches -- manual switches
have long been replaced by computers. The only way to switch the tracks
manually now is to take a crowbar to them -- a dangerous procedure that
could result in derailments. Then there's the communications issue: how
do you tell the people with the crowbars when to switch each section of
track?
According to Y2KNewswire, the bottom line is this: If the railroads don't
operate, power is in serious trouble, industry is in serious trouble,
and the economic health of the nation is threatened. (JG)
Link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/ndswed10.htm
Link: http://www.y2knewswire.com
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POTENTIAL POWER FAILURES THREATEN CHEMICAL PLANTS
(Source: Declan McCullagh, WIRED NEWS, 12/21/98)
In response to a request from the Senate Y2K committee to investigate
the safety of chemical manufacturing in the U.S., the CHEMICAL SAFETY
AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARD has determined that while it's extremely
unlikely Year 2000 computer snafus with plant equipment themselves would
cause the release of deadly chemical poisons, electric power failures
could lead to unpredictable results.
"Almost everyone's contingency plans...have backup power generators as
a key component," said Norman Dean, the Director of the CENTER FOR Y2K
AND SOCIETY. One problem is that shipments of popular diesel generators
are backordered six months to two years. Another problem is that the power
output of even the beefiest generator isn't enough to slake the appetite
of a large chemical manufacturing plant. "If you're going to try to buy
enough portable electric generators to run a chlorine plant, you're not
going to make it," said Adrian Sepeda, Director of the risk management
group at OXYCHEM.
"Who is actually going to do an independent audit?" asks Erik Olson, an
attorney at the NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL. He says a worst-case
scenario -- in which power fails -- could release noxious chemicals and
"cause enormous damage." Chemical plant safety systems are designed to
handle one or two isolated failures, but not dozens at the same time.
For example, "in order for Bhopal to occur, 13 things went wrong, not
one," said Angela Summers, a consultant at TRICONEX CORPORATION. The 1984
chemical leak from the UNION CARBIDE pesticide plant killed thousands
of people living nearby. "Our greatest exposure is unquestionably in utility
failures," agreed Jordan Corn, an engineer at ROHM AND HAAS. The giant
Philadelphia-based chemical manufacturer plans to shut down its plants
in December 1999 to avoid Y2K glitches. (JG)
http://www.wired.com/news/news/politics/story/16946.html
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THE "JO ANNE EFFECT"
(Sources: Cory Hamasaki, Y2K Weather Report, 8/26/98; Stephen Barr, WASHINGTON
POST, 12/23/98)
Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have to put electronic bandages
on their computers so they can continue to pay new unemployment insurance
claims in January. The federal-state unemployment program provides one
of the first large-scale examples of the "Jo Anne Effect," so named after
Jo Anne Slaven, the programmer who discovered that computer programs which
look a year ahead in calculating their results, will fail in January 1999
if they are not Y2K compliant.
Many of the computer systems in the unemployment insurance program, which
processes claims, makes payments to the jobless and collects taxes from
employers, are more than 30 years old. Persons filing claims for jobless
benefits are assigned a "benefit year," which means that as of Jan. 4,
1999, unemployment insurance systems had to be able to process dates and
calculations that extend into the Year 2000.
Some states that have not solved their Y2K problems plan to use a simple
temporary fix, such as ending the benefit year on Dec. 31, 1999, while
other states will use different techniques that essentially trick the
computers so they will perform accurate date calculations. States which
are still not ready to operate on Jan. 1, 2000, will be forced to rely
on emergency backup plans, such as writing benefit checks by hand.
Deputy Labor Secretary Kathryn Higgins stresses that the nation's unemployment
insurance system will not suffer serious disruptions: "A year out, we
know where our problems are....It's an enormous help to have that information."
The overall repair bill for the unemployment insurance systems alone could
run to $490 million. John A. Koskinen, the President's adviser on Y2K
issues, points to the contingency planning for jobless benefits as a clear
sign that the government will be able to maintain important services and
programs, even if computer systems encounter Y2K problems.
The following companies are a few of the many whose fiscal years end on
January 31, 1999: WAL-MART, KMART, J.C. PENNY, HOME DEPOT, FEDERATED DEPARTMENT
STORES, DELL COMPUTER, TOYS "R" US, LOWE'S, THE GAP, CONSOLIDATED STORES,
SAKS, BJ'S WHOLESALE CLUB, KOHL'S, BARNES & NOBLE. For these companies,
the Year 2000 starts on February 1, 1999. (JG)
Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1998-12/23/051l-122398-idx.html
Link: Link: http://www.kiyoinc.com/WRP104.HTM
Link: http://www.sonnet.co.uk/muse/DCW-91.TXT
------------
THE MORAL DIMENSION OF Y2K
(Source: Edward Yourdon, COMPUTERWORLD, 12/14/98 via SANGER'S REVIEW OF
Y2K NEWS REPORTS)
Despite the upbeat things that many organizations are saying about their
preparedness, a number of IT managers have admitted privately to Y2K analyst
Ed Yourdon that they won't finish in time. He has written an excellent
commentary on the difficult ethical decisions that many will face next
year regarding doomed Year 2000 projects and Year 2000-remediated systems
being rushed into production before testing is finished. "If year 2000
turns out to have life-and-death consequences, then many of us will face
the most difficult moral and ethical decisions we've ever made," says
Yourdon. "We'll be hearing lots of advice from our managers, political
leaders, friends and families about what we should and shouldn't do."
Yourdon advises programmers to read the codes of ethics compiled by the
two most prestigious computing societies in the U.S.: the ASSOCIATION
FOR COMPUTING MACHINERY (ACM), and the INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS
ENGINEERS. Here are 10 of the 24 "moral imperatives" from the ACM code:
1. Contribute to society and human well-being.
2. Avoid harm to others.
3. Be honest and trustworthy.
4. Strive to achieve the highest quality, effectiveness and dignity in
both the process and products of professional work.
5. Know and respect existing laws pertaining to professional work.
6. Improve public understanding of computing and its consequences.
7. Articulate social responsibilities of members of an organizational
unit and encourage full acceptance of those responsibilities.
8. Articulate and support policies that protect the dignity of users and
others affected by a computing system.
9. Manage personnel and resources to design and build information systems
that enhance the quality of working life.
10. Give comprehensive and thorough evaluations of computer systems and
their impacts, including analysis of possible risks.
"All of us consider ourselves moral and ethical people -- it's simply
a matter of which ethics we choose to embrace," says Yourdon, in closing.
"I urge you to think about this now, because if delays and problems occur
with your Year 2000 project, the pressure to compromise your principles
may increase as we move into 1999." (JG)
Link: http://www.computerworld.com/home/print.nsf/all/98121482A6
Association for Computing Machinery code of ethics: www.acm.org/constitution/code.html
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers code of ethics: www.computer.org/tab/seprof/code.htm
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Y2K FROM A RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVE
(Sources: Robert Waldrop, 12/20/98; Judy Tarjanyi, TOLEDO BLADE, 12/24/98;
PROJECT JOSEPH website)
Shaunti Feldhahn has a master's degree in Public Policy from HARVARD UNIVERSITY
and experience as a financial analyst with the FEDERAL RESERVE BANK of
New York. She first considered the Y2K problem as just another risk to
be analyzed. Over time, she came to realize that it was one of the biggest
risks she had seen, but was unclear of her role. A friend asked, "Why
isn't the church talking about this?" and cited the story in the book
of Genesis in which Joseph foresees a famine and helps Egypt prepare by
stockpiling food. "From that day on," Feldhahn said, "I looked at everything
I saw through completely different eyes. I saw Y2K as a need for service."
Feldhahn realized that in order to effectively get the word out and be
taken seriously, she needed to write a book, which was absurd since she
had never had anything published. She decided to start organizing a book
anyway and happened to mention her book idea in a meeting at a Christian
financial planning firm. The firm just happened to have an executive on
staff who had previously worked in Christian publishing who had just spoken
with a contact at a Christian publishing house who was looking for someone
to write a book on the Y2K problem. Within three weeks, Feldhahn had a
contract, and within 50 days she had finished the manuscript for "Y2K:
the Millennium Bug -- A Balanced Christian Response." The book has just
been published by MULTNOMAH.
But a book wasn't her only goal. She also was concerned about a way to
help communities get ready for the effects of Y2K. In the same serendipitous
way she had landed the book publishing contact, she was linked to a Medford,
Oregon couple who had organized a community awareness event to help people
prepare for Y2K disruptions. After spending one day with them, she knew
"this was something I was not just supposed to write about, but actually
do." She went on to found THE JOSEPH PROJECT 2000, a nationwide effort
to help churches, nonprofit organizations, and families respond to Y2K-induced
problems.
In addition to serving as President of the Joseph Project, Feldhahn edits
a monthly newsletter, "Countdown Y2K," and speaks to groups around the
country. When Feldhahn speaks to a group, she sticks to the practical
-- telling people how to mobilize their churches to help others. "We need
to be service, not survival oriented," she said. Communities rely heavily
on churches in times of crisis, but, they need to prepare. Churches can
get ready, she says, by building financial reserves so that they can function
in a crisis; by joining with other community organizations to build a
helping network; and by offering their facilities as a safe haven to people
in need. Feldhahn says volunteers also can investigate the level of Y2K
readiness in their communities by contacting utilities and other entities
that supply electricity, water, and other services.
With Pastor Ernie Fitzpatrick of LIBERTY REVIVAL CHURCH in Houston, the
JOSEPH PROJECT 2000 has developed and adapted the following 10-Step Y2K
Ministry Leadership and Action Plan for Christian leaders:
1. Prepare yourself
2. Begin a formal prayer team
3. Get the support of your elders
4. Educate and involve your staff
5. Get the support of the lay leadership
6. Begin a Y2K task force
7. Reach out to other churches and ministries
8. Raise Y2K awareness of the church body
9. Reach out to the community
10. Have weekly briefings (JG)
Link: http://www.justpeace.org/better.htm
Joseph Project website: http://www.josephproject2000.org/
Link: http://detnews.com/1998/technology/9812/24/12240166.htm
------------
GRASS ROOTS APPROACH TO Y2K GAINING MOMENTUM
(Source: YEAR 2000 OUTLOOK, 12/11/98, thanks to Tom Atlee)
In December, the CENTER FOR YEAR 2000 COMMUNITY ACTION PLANS traveled
to Washington, D.C. to open a dialog with government officials and establish
a collective approach to helping communities through the Year 2000 transition.
Y2K analyst William Ulrich, who attended the meeting, said the group's
coalition approach would seek to create community planning documents that
could be useful in communities across the country and that roundtable
attendees "generally agreed that what we're doing is a valuable thing."
With approximately 150 Y2K community action groups in existence around
the country, "community groups are becoming energized," Ulrich maintains,
and they can be used to help "fill in the blanks" of an official response.
Ulrich points out that emergency management groups are used to working
on one isolated disaster at a time, not "thinking about the 87,000 towns
and cities around the U.S. [which] may experience the odd combination
of Y2K problems." One difference between Y2K and isolated, physical disasters
revolves around the twin issues of electric power and telecommunications
-- emergency management systems rely on both to function.
Ulrich envisions a two-pronged approach to community organizing. During
the first phase, groups attempt to assess the probability of problems
in infrastructure services. If services have a high probability of disruption,
such groups would then prepare community plans to deal with such contingencies.
Ulrich urges people to start the planning process now. "The worst time
to meet your neighbor is during an emergency." (JG)
Link: https://www.itaa.org/
-----------
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE Y2K COMMUNITY MOVEMENT
(Source: Paloma O'Riley, personal correspondence, 12/14/98)
The following edited excerpts are taken from a letter by Paloma O'Riley,
founder of the CASSANDRA PROJECT, to Y2K analyst Bill Ulrich:
"The Cassandra Project has been working with grassroots neighborhood and
community groups around the country for quite some time. The first community-preparedness
group formed about February of 1998. Since that time, at least 200 groups
have formed, several joint activities between community prep groups and
municipal orgs have begun, and neighborhood activity is steadily rising.
On average, we get about 2-3 requests a day to be added to the Community
Preparedness listing page of our site, and receive numerous requests for
'how-to' information on individual preparedness and neighborhood organizing.
In light of this, it's fair to say that the grassroots movement is off
the ground and has been for some time."
"The need for local action grew out of the perception that neither government
nor business was taking Y2K seriously enough; also, that it was unlikely
that all Y2K problems would be located and fixed in time. What was also
apparent was that there was no agency nor organization in existence set-up
to handle anything but a localized emergency. Conversations at that time
with both FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ADMINISTRATION and the RED CROSS
were extremely frustrating and fruitless. But, what disturbed people the
most was that the administration was not taking steps to inform the public
as to what some of the challenges may be. Given past (historical) reluctance
to inform the public for fear of 'panic', many people did and do not believe
that they would be told; or if told, not given the information fully nor
far enough in advance. This perception fueled a desire to be self-reliant
in the event [that] worst-case scenarios occurred. This is still
at the root of groups forming today."
"One promising activity has started recently. Multiple agency coordination
system (MACS) is a municipal organization functioning at both the city
and county level [with} the purpose to plan and coordinate activity
and functions in the event of an emergency. Here in Boulder, MACS is now
working hand-in-hand with citizens to develop a Year 2000 crisis response
plan. The local people involved know and accept that current emergency
services would be unable to handle worst-case Y2K problems on their own.
The community preparedness group's goal is to assist these agencies during
the crisis, and to work with them to develop appropriate neighborhood
plans and response. This is a wonderful step forward, one we look forward
to seeing duplicated around the country."
"Another good sign, the Colorado state government now acknowledges that
community preparedness is appropriate, and applauds the efforts of the
many preparedness groups in the state. We hope they will make this support
public soon, thereby encouraging more groups to form, and setting a precedent
that the other states will follow."
"There is a tremendous amount of work to be done, more than we'll all
be able to do. Unfortunately, in spite of all this effort, attention and
resources seem to focus on the same aspects again and again, excluding
other aspects of the Y2K problem as important. We'd like to see, not an
national organization, but a neutral way/place that all of us working
on Y2K can keep each other up-to-date on our activities, needs, ideas,
etc., and help identify areas that require attention. In this way we can
then help each other, and most effectively serve the public need." (JG)
Link: http://cassandraproject.org/
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Y2K RESOURCES:
CHEAPER Y2K SOFTWARE FIX FOR PCS
(Source: Gunars Strauts, MILLENNIUM SOLUTIONS website, 12/28/98)
In Y2K Report 8, we reported on a hardware Y2K fix for PCs that retailed
for $105. MILLENNIUM SOLUTIONS markets a software Y2K solution called
"Correx 2000" that retails at $29.95. Correx 2000 operates from a boot
disk, installs in under four minutes, and works on all DOS or Windows-based
computers. The program's first function is to check the ability of the
computer's BIOS and RTC (real time clock) to roll over and reboot in the
Year 2000, plus whether it can handle the 2000 leap year. If necessary,
the program will automatically install the fix which identifies any erroneous
dates the BIOS produces and then prompts the user to enter a once-only
correction date. The PC is now compliant. Correx 2000 has been available
in Europe since 1996, making it the longest-running software fix on the
market, and even without being heavily promoted in North America, it is
the world's leading BIOS fix. Correx 2000 is the only fix to receive a
100 percent rating from the SOLACE CORPORATION, the world's only independent
Y2K accreditation firm. The product carries a full money-back guarantee.
(JG)
MILLENNIUM SOLUTIONS website: www.y2kmillennium.com
------------
MACINTOSH Y2K SOFTWARE AUDIT
(Source: Y2K SOFTWARE AUDIT website)
Here is a diagnostic tool for testing the system's Year 2000 readiness
of your Mac: "Y2K Software Audit" compares your files to an internal database
of applications and file types, including applications, control panels,
extensions, libraries, and drivers, providing a graphical progress report
as it scans and a text report upon completion. It can check any mounted
volumes, making it easy to clear file depositories stored on removable
media. While Y2K Software Audit can't positively identify every vulnerable
file on your system, it can help you set aside those files known to be
safe and flag those with potential Year 2000 problems. The file size is
620K; the cost of the shareware license is $38; and the minimum requirement
is a 68040 processor. The developers are continually adding to the program's
extensive database, so be sure to check in regularly for the latest version.
Until registered, this program will process only 1,000 files at a time.
(JG)
Link: http://www.download.com/DD/dl/0%2C302%2C0-1229-2-007%2C00.html
------------
BACKWOODS HOME MAGAZINE
(Source: BACKWOODS HOME MAGAZINE website via GARY NORTH'S Y2K LINKS AND
FORUMS)
Want a more self-sufficient lifestyle for yourself and your family? BACKWOODS
HOME MAGAZINE (BHM) can help you achieve it. Every issue is packed with
solid, practical, hands-on information on a wide range of self-reliance
topics. You'll find articles on country living, building a homestead,
tools, gardening, livestock, alternative energy, recipes, making a living,
self sufficiency, preparedness, homeschooling, crafts, nature, how to
do it yourself, achieving independence, and much more. The most important
thing to know is the articles in BHM are written by the people who are
out there doing it. Often, they have spent many years learning and perfecting
what they write about. For example, check out the excellent article by
Jackie Clay entitled "With Commonsense Planning, You Can Survive Hard
Times" (http://backwoodshome.com/articles/clay55.html). You can order
a
sample issue for $4.00; a one year subscription (6 issues) costs $19.95.
(JG)
Link: http://backwoodshome.com/index.html
------------
NATIONAL REGISTRY OF Y2K ACTIVISTS & PROJECTS LAUNCHED
(Source: Halim Dunsky, Y2K Community Project, 12/29/98)
The Y2K COMMUNITY PROJECT has launched the "Y2K Activist Connections",
a national registry of Y2K activists and projects at the state, national,
and international levels. The registry has several goals: to help individuals
and groups become more aware of each other's specific efforts, priorities,
and needs; to promote collaboration on projects; to help reduce unnecessary
duplication of effort; and to speed up the good results of the work. Individuals
and organizations are urged to visit the website and register, and then
refer back to the page on a regular basis to stay up to date on current
projects and opportunities to collaborate. (JG)
Y2k Community Project Website: http://www.y2kcommunity.org/teamwork/
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
THE LIGHTER SIDE Of Y2K:
WINDOWS 2000
REDMOND, WA (UPI) -- Microsoft announced today that the official release
date for the new operating system "Windows 2000" will be delayed until
the second quarter of 1901.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Copyright 1998 by NewHeavenNewEarth
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