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(this is easy to write, this is easy to write, this is easy, easy, easy...)

I live in Wilmington, North Carolina. Though I can give no rational reason, I have chosen to remain here through what I call for myself "The Great Transition". Publicly, I call it Y2K.

It is not how I believe my neighbors, my community, my region will react and reorganize around the disruptions of Y2K that concerns me - I believe we will be mentally, emotionally, and spiritually resilient.

But, I am coldly concerned about our man-built systems and the consequences of stoppage. A short inventory: nuclear power generation, weapons storage, port for container ships, airport, GE (nuclear), Dupont, Dow Chemical, Corning, OxyChem, hog farms (they're really factories), water processing and distribution. These are just the "big rocks".

Tuesday night, March 9th, Barnes and Noble hosted a Y2K Seminar for "an informal POSITIVE discussion and a Q&A session." The panel assembled represented New Hanover County, the medical regional center, the sheriff's department, the Dept of Emergency Management, a bank, a super market, a local TV station (NBC), Occidental Chemical Corp, Alltel (wirelss), BellSouth. Carolina Power & Light was a no-show (in Las Vegas for Y2K meeting).

More than 50 people attended, with rapt attention. from my vantage point in the back, no one left before the panel opened up for questions (90 minutes)

Each panel member gave an overview of their internal Y2K methodology in lay terms, as well as a status report. The common concerns were the unknowns of interoperability between 'compliant' systems (there simply won't be time and resources to adequately test end to end) and everyone's assumption there will be electricty and dial tone.

As with any diverse community gathering, there was disagreement about the scope and impact of the "so-called Y2K Bug".

[snip from Morning Star]

"We're not part of the Chicken Little crowd. We think it's over-hyped. We hear people say, 'Sell your stocks. Withdraw your cash and hunker down. It's going to be a calamity,' " said Bill Clontz, head of the county's Management Information Systems. "We don't believe that."

[/snip]

The questions from the audience were of a general nature, but managed to get the multilple, cascading failure scenarios into the discussion.

The most meaningful acknowledgement came from Dan Summers, our New Hanover County emergency management director. Dan is experienced in his role. He questioned the cability of existing emergency mangement plans to handle multiple complex failures. (at that moment, I knew I'd just found another Y2K leader)

Near the end of questioning, I thanked the members of the panel for their work and concerns for Y2K, and suggested reading the Senate Y2K Report more deeply (most said the were relying on the executive Summary and media reports). Additionally, I suggested that some of us in the room had significant contributions we could bring in from our work around the country and how might we do that.

As the meeting closed, Dan and the others publicaly welcomed us to come to them with suggestions and ideas. I felt a genuine connection had taken place.

Afterwards, a gentleman introduced himself to me as active member of a Y2K group at his church. He asked if I would be willing to speak to his church. Again, another genuine connection was made.

I left the meeting feeling good. Home by 10, I felt great about how Y2k community involvement is beginning to unfold here in Wilmington.

(Wednesday was a day of travel to DC)

Thursday, March 11th. "Meeting Our Y2K Challenges Together"

I arrived at the Washington National Cathedral about 7:15am. I found unrestricted parking on a side street. This made me quite happy. (actually, inside I was giddy. My serpentine route through DC had taken me past a 7 Eleven. I couldn't help but think of Paul Milne running through these streets yelling, "if you live within 5 miles of a 7 Eleven..."

Anyway...

The doors wouldn't open until 8:15, so I found an obscure entrance. Exploring the empty cathedral, I found a chapel and submitted to silent meditation.

Upstairs a little before the "seminar police" arrived to boot me out, I scoped out the podium and seating. I wanted to put myself squarely in front of the speakers. When I was allowed back into the area, I chose a chair that would put me on the left shoulder of audience members coming forward to ask questions to the speaker directly in front of me. (The last time I had this great a vantage point was a concert with Segovia in Berlin - 1982)

After introductions and an invitation to community, Koskinen came to the front. He speaks. This is what I learned about him:

He is confident about his beliefs. He is competent managing from those beliefs.

He takes questions. This is what I learn about him (and myself).

(this is easy to write, this is easy to write, no anger, no anger, we're on the same side...

He is incapable of meeting someone at the level of their differing belief system. And, That incapacity insidiuosly deflects meaningful feedback into a spin.

I want to write more, but I can't. Meg Wheatley, as always, was so loving. But, I can't get there now.

There is a woman trembling. Her lip quivers. Breath comes to her, but not easily.

And the man. He is smiling. He has been warm. But, now he grows cold.

She speaks a question, her soul breathes out the sound from some terrible place. (I will catch you if you fall)

The man nods, speaks her name with familiarity- "Paula".

And immediately I understand. This woman is Paula Gordon.

Now, my head is spinning. Quickly, into meditation...

Grounded, then I silently asked, "Mr. Koskinen, did you just discount Ms. Gordon? Yes, yes you did. But, you know what scares me more? You didn't even know you did it, did you?"

========================

[Folks, this is all I can do tonight... The Public Safety Workshop was also an eye opener. Find the guy named Fred from NOVAY2K. If he doesn't get help right now, I'll have to start printing up "I'm a close personal friend of Paul Milne" bumper stickers...]

~C~

-- Critt Jarvis (critt@critt.com), March 14, 1999

Answers

turning off the nesting instinct.

-- Critt Jarvis (critt@critt.com), March 14, 1999.

just for good measure..

Really gotta get more sleep.

-- Critt Jarvis (critt@critt.com), March 14, 1999.


WASHINGTON, March 12 (Reuters) - A Clinton Administration official warned the nation's small towns and counties on Friday that they are playing with fire if they wait until next January 1 to pinpoint and fix millenium-bug problems.

``The theory is to wait and see if it breaks and then fix it,'' John Koskinen, chairman of President Clinton's council on Year 2000 Conversion, said. That is a ``very high risk'' strategy for communities, he said

Speaking at a National Governors' Association summit on the Year 2000 computer problem, Koskinen warned against federal and state ``Y2K'' troubleshooters being inundated with a flood of emergency calls from hundreds of localities on January 1.

``If you have 20 or 30 small towns that have one problem or another in 50 states, then you have 1500 communities'' calling for help, Koskinen said. ``We simply cannot deal with that volume,'' he said.

The Year 2000 problem stems from the early days of computers when memory was a precious commodity.

Programmers used only two digits to indicate the year, which means that if left as is, some computers on January 1 could recognize 2000 as 1900 and malfunction.

The National Association of Counties, which represents the nation's 3,069 counties, issued a sobering report on December 8 on counties' Y2K readiness.

Only half of the 500 counties it surveyed in November are ready for dangerous computer glitches that could snarl everything from ambulances to railroad signal lights to drinking water supplies, the group said.

Koskinen said Friday that his office is in a ``full court press'' to make sure every state is paying attention to the problem.

``We don't want small businesses and communities to waste money replacing systems for the sake of replacing them,'' he said. ``(But) you need to assess which systems need to be fixed and fix them now.''

Koskinen warned that with thousands of towns and businesses using similar software equipment, they should not bet on getting replacement parts on January 1.

Most states are aggressively tackling the Y2K challenge, Koskinen said. But he added that his office will not have a clear state-by-state picture until June.

He said his office posted a ``core message'' this week on its website suggesting what supplies families should have on hand on January 1.

Two-or-three days of water, food supplies, and batteries for flashlights would be appropriate, he said.

Noting he was ``stunned'' by the number of people who throw out bank, credit card and other key financial records, Koskinen said it would be smart to file them away as January 1 nears.

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), March 14, 1999.


Critt, I, too, reacted with dismay at K's dismissal of Ms. Gordon. A signal event that spoke volumes. Not only of the man's limited capacity to incorporate the views of others, but of his range of understanding of the problem. Although he may actually grasp the concepts, he displayed his dismal lack of realization that through his treatment of Ms. Gordon he dismissed the cooperative spirit of the many people who would resolutely seek solutions. The people, he disdainfully senses as incapable of providing answers, are not only capable of great sacrifice in the movement toward resolution, but are the only resource that will save us from disintegration as a nation. I share your weariness in the face of such loss. Get some well deserved rest -- tommorrow is another day....envision an awakening...

-- Shelia (shelia@active-stream.com), March 14, 1999.

Sysman, old K was burnin' rubber right up to the 'core message'...where we hit that 3 day brick wall again and disintegrate into flashlights and documentation. Too bad. The double speak is infuriating. But the comment about the 1500 emergencies and we don't have the capacity to handle this volume was interesting and surpising.

-- Shelia (shelia@active-stream.com), March 14, 1999.


Shelia, ROTFLMAO! Yea, he really is a two sided coin isn't he. Funny that he can show both faces in the same statement. Speaking of the 3 day deal, have you seen this thread...

NO LOSS OF LIFE!

<:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), March 14, 1999.


I woke up this morning thinking about Y2K (gosh, how unusual) and one of the plans for the day was to print out Paula Gordon's white paper and read it. That tought led to the question - How come Mr Koskinen would even be on the same stage with the likes of someone whose (public)perception of Y2K issues are so different from his own? I got hopeful. Maybe it was a veiled message "I'm supposed to tell you not to worry, but there really is a problem here". Critt just cleared that up for me. I guess what he might have meant to do was to publicly discredit her.

So should I be a good little sheeple and take a Sunday morning nap? Nope don't think so.

-- lilsparky (FGI@now.com), March 14, 1999.


Who is Paula Gordon, and where can I read her "white paper"?

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), March 14, 1999.

Jeanne,

Here's the link to Paula Gordon's white paper summary:

http://www.itpolicy.gsa.gov/mks/yr2000/y2kconf/papers/paper64fp.htm

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), March 14, 1999.


The following thread also relates. Despite its lengthy read it is well worth the time and effort... Summary of my Meeting Our Y2K Challenges Together at the Washington National Cathedral:br>

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and- afetch.msg.tcl?msg_id=000bU0



-- MS (helpingout@y2kawareness.com), March 14, 1999.



Try

http://www.greenspun/bboard/q-and-a- fetch.msg.tcl?msg_id=000bU0



-- MS (helpingout@y2kawareness.com), March 14, 1999.


Third time lucky.

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



-- MS (helpingout@y2kawareness.com), March 14, 1999.


Paula Gordon wrote a three part "White Paper" regarding imbedded systems that is very interesting. All three parts can be found on her home page at:

http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon/

-- CP (cmatp@aol.com), March 14, 1999.


Very interesting in that one quote that Koskinen tells small communities not to try fix-on-failure because there won't be any help for them. Yet there are some major urban centers (Denver comes to mind) that have announced fix-on-failure as their Y2K policy. Has anyone bothered to point out to Ko-skin-em that if fix-on-failure causes problems in places where a few hundred or thousand people live, it sure as hell is going to cause BIG problems where hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of people live?

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), March 14, 1999.


And how about the fact that Atlanta has just fired its Y2K remediation company... What do you suppose that tells us about a major metropolitan area of over 4 million people?

-- just sunshine (lurkinghere@home.com), March 14, 1999.


snip from Morning Star]

"We're not part of the Chicken Little crowd. We think it's over- hyped. We hear people say, 'Sell your stocks. Withdraw your cash and hunker down. It's going to be a calamity,' " said Bill Clontz, head of the county's Management Information Systems. "We don't believe that."

"And I will give him the morning star."

Why did they call themselves Morning Star? That's weird!

-- morning star (morning@star.com), March 14, 1999.


Atlanta, Detroit, Denver. San Francisco, Washington DC, Baton Rouge, Tucson, Most of California state government. Who knows who else. These are all cities or agencies that have been exposed as not ready or have admitted publicly that they will 'fix on failure'. Is it any wonder that the folks on this forum do not trust any comment / release from a government entity? All of the above mentioned agencies, cities etc have at one time or another stated that they expected to be or were y2k compliant.

There are a couple of our regulars that criticize others for being too cynical and distrusting. I think that what is actually happening is that the regulars (and several newbies) are individuals that can think for themselves. Consequently, they have become distrustful of the government and the spin the PR folks put on everything. The general public (if it does not affect their soaps, football and movies) is willing to accept almost anything just for some peace and quiet.

Is it possible that Koskinen is just a chauvinistic pig and mistreated Ms. Gordon because she's female? (I don't know--just speculating).

-- Lobo (Hiding@woods.com), March 14, 1999.


MS, you almost got it -- just needed to stick with the zeroes, not switch to "Oh"s, the third time.

As you wrote: "The following thread also relates. Despite its lengthy read it is well worth the time and effort..."

Summary of my Meeting Our Y2K Challenges Together at the Washington National Cathedral
at http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000bU0

-- No Spam Please (No_Spam_Please@anon_ymous.com), March 15, 1999.

(%!#$@*% silly forum formatting software split my second </blockquote> command.)

-- No Spam Please (No_Spam_Please@anon_ymous.com), March 15, 1999.

I thought Tom's Take was upsetting. Then I found Infomagic. And Hamasaki.

So I thought I was hardened to this by now. I was wrong. This report -- in view of all that has passed in the last year -- is truly distressing.

'Nuff said.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), March 15, 1999.


For what it's worth, Paula Gordon's White Paper is about a year old. Much has changed since then.

-- fwiw (fwiw@bystander.y2k), March 15, 1999.

fwiw: care to clarify? what exactly do you believe has changed? other than the spin...and everyone here will give that some remediation has occurred. Do you think they've found and remediated a majority of all those squirreled away embeddeds?

-- Shelia (shelia@active-stream.com), March 15, 1999.

Paula Gordon does not know what she is talking about.

As I have an extensive background in hardware/software and understand in detail it's interconnectiveness.

Coding-or what I call software, is to me nothing more than square waves "and"ing and "or"ing, one's complimenting, breaking down from 16 or 32 digits to 64 or 128 "bits" boolean logically running through integrated circuits, building up from machine language (one's and zero's) simplifying up to macro's within macro's until it "turns into" people friendly computing.

None of this runs on opinion or what someone believes should happen, could happen, might happen. It is as it is and no amount of thinking has the ability to change the physical actions that occur. It does not do what it does by a condenses of opinion, by a vote of a majority, by "researching" the web sites on the internet for a year or two. No amount of "white papers, books, forums, "if" "and" or "buts" or even prayers can or will change the laws of physics.

I realize I am in a position to understand computing and "embedded" literally down to the atomic level (theory of electronics and mechanics) which most people have not been in a position to learn.

I have no need to twist words, double-talk, badger or demand anyone believe anything I say. I have no psychological need for people to believe me, agree with me or trust me. I respect the right of people to reason for themselves, to take or reject whatever I say as they choose.

I do admit to frustration for the lack of logic and common sense some people exhibit, such as blindly believing someone like Paula Gordon who knows nothing about "embedded" except for reading web sites about it, or Bruce Beach who invents things that don't even exist about embedded chips.

My father talks of being 4 years old and looking out at the Pacific Ocean and "seeing the water as a wall that went up to the sky. It was the perception of a very young and inexperienced mind. As his mind developed and he gained knowledge, his perception changed.

The things that some people say about embedded chips and systems can sound reasonable, especially if they are skilled and know how to be convincing. This can create a perception that is believable to people who are concerned and seeking knowledge about them. But perception is not always fact. I believe that more information, especially unbiased and factual information can help hone perceptions closer to reality.

How can you believe that she has a clue about the things she says when she has no real knowledge of the subject? Koskinen refutes what she says because she is nothing but a parrot and her ideas are not based in fact.

What makes you blindly believe what she writes?

I really don't understand the reasoning behind this....

-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), October 26, 1999.


Thanks Cherri,

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who isn't blind to Paula Gordon's political aspirations. I find it somewhat hypocritical for someone who is in a position to alert the people of her "concerns" to wait until it is too late and then start pointing fingers at her political opponents in an effort to clear a path for herself. You have found proof here that the current administration has in fact alerted the appropriate officials on the state level and it is up to them to carry out their delegated responsibilities. I have always considered dishonest malicious mud-slinging to be the lowest method of climbing the political ladder, but apparently Miss Gordon is not capable of any better.

-- @ (@@@.@), October 26, 1999.


Cherri, I see you have been inspired by the chortling over Georgetown's Dr. Paula Gordon that went on at Debunking Y2K last night.

Paula Gordon now using TB2000 as a source! - Buddy 11:17:03 10/25/99 (18) That's enough, I have to go have a lie down. (nt) - Paul Davis 18:12:52 10/25/99 (2) I hope she used KOSs frequent do you like to mudwrestle? quote - I like it the best, lol...(n/t) - FactFinder 18:39:49 10/25/99 (1)

Re: I hope she used KOSs frequent do you like to mudwrestle? quote - I like it the best, lol...(n/t) - Peg 19:16:08 10/25/99 (0) Maybe Paula could do a road show : 18 show up for Y2k Conference in KC. (Guess everything is up to date in KC) - cpr 17:16:41 10/25/99 (1)

Re: Forum organizers with the President's Year 2000 Conversion Council say attendance is better in smaller rural communities, where free barbecue is on the menu. -- LOL!!! - Buddy

19:42:27 10/25/99 (0) Re: Paula Gordon now using TB2000 as a source! - Cherri 15:57:58 10/25/99 (2)

Re: Paula Gordon now using TB2000 as a source! - Peg 17:35:33 10/25/99 (1)

Re: Paula Gordon now using TB2000 as a source! - Cherri 01:18:39 10/26/99 (0)

Best ever vignette: A friend describes the Great Expert with Rolling Document Case - cpr 14:54:32 10/25/99 (2) Which brought about 2 Unforgettable comments: ......Oh by the way I am Y2K Consultant to King HenryVIII and the Emperor of China...... - cpr 14:56:36 10/25/99 (1)

Big Dog says Hey, thanks for the report from the front ROFLAMO....like these people believe they are actually on the FRONT LINES...WORKING on the Y2K problem???? (n/t) - FactFinder 18:59:24 10/25/99 (0)

Re: Paula Gordon now using TB2000 as a source! - mpc 13:28:51 10/25/99 (1) Re: sources - Buddy 13:42:55 10/25/99 (0)

What passes for common sense for the bag lady. - Buddy 11:24:04 10/25/99 (4)

Hahaha! I forgot about KOS's email address... - Buddy 11:27:07 10/25/99 (3)

Re: Hahaha! I forgot about KOS's email address... - Peg 12:34:31 10/25/99 (0)

Oh my. That is quite funny. LOL! (n/t) - Patricia 12:14:37 10/25/99 (0)

Looks like another ''thank you'' is in order for the ''Idiots of Doom''! - - 11:51:02 10/25/99 (0)

I don't know who, besides yourself, appointed you Embedded Systems Expert, Cherri, but in any case, if you're going to snigger along with your sophomoric friends at Debunking Y2K, you can't expect to be taken seriously or courteously by the adherents to this forum's focus.

By the way, what are *you* doing for your community these days? Or are you too busy completing your Ph.D. so you can teach at Georgetown, like Dr. Gordon?

-- Nosmo King (here@and.there), October 26, 1999.


"Paula Gordon does not know what she is talking about." -- Cherri

And I suppose we're to believe that John Koskinen DOES???

-- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), October 26, 1999.


Cherri, Mostly, I'm impressed with your ability to find an old thread like this one. Sometimes I wish I could do that. Sometimes not.

Anywho... now I have to choose how I might best respond to your question posed here. I've been mulling over Paula's recent writings, and they deserve a thoughtful response.

I'm off tomorrow and Thursday. Let me see what I can come up with. I'll post my response Friday. Working from the middle ground I've learned a few things since last March.

Faith,

Critt Jarvis
277 Beasley Road
Wilmington, North Carolina 28409
910-790-5677
critt@critt.com

-- Critt Jarvis (critt@critt.com), October 26, 1999.

Cherri, I see you have been inspired by the chortling over Georgetown's Dr. Paula Gordon that went on at Debunking Y2K last night.

You presume to mystically "know" how my mind works? Or are you just some chump who thinks that writing an assumption somehow makes it a reality.

19:42:27 10/25/99 (0) Re: Paula Gordon now using TB2000 as a source! - Cherri

Gee, why didn't you cut and paste what was written in the posts?

Posted by (209.245.166.128) Cherri on October 25, 1999 at 15:57:58:

In Reply to: Paula Gordon now using TB2000 as a source! posted by Buddy on October 25, 1999 at 11:17:03:

: Does the "Bag Lady of GWU" have any common sense?

(what I wrote was)

no.

snip

Re: Paula Gordon now using TB2000 as a source! - Cherri 01:18:39 10/26/99 (0)

Again what you neglected to do, cut and paste what was posted.

Posted by (209.245.170.234) Cherri on October 26, 1999 at 01:18:39: In Reply to: Re: Paula Gordon now using TB2000 as a source! posted by Peg on October 25, 1999 at 17:35:33:

: : Does the "Bag Lady of GWU" have any common sense?

: : no.

:

: Did you ever put your underpants on inside out and not really notice till ya went potty?

: Now, I said, inside out not backwards. Ya think, one could/should be able to tell the difference. Would give the sensation of things not being correct...right?

(below what I posted)

There have been times when I came home with my shirt inside out, without realising I had put it back on that way.......

(end of cut and paste)

Tell me, what does talking about having my shirt on inside out on another forum have to do with "expecting to be taken seriously or courteously by the adherents to this forum's focus"?

By the way, expertize is not "appointed", it is learned and earned.

I don't know who, besides yourself, appointed you Embedded Systems Expert, Cherri, but in any case, if you're going to snigger along with your sophomoric friends at Debunking Y2K, you can't expect to be taken seriously or courteously by the adherents to this forum's focus.

By the way, what are *you* doing for your community these days?

Or are you too busy completing your Ph.D. so you can teach at Georgetown, like Dr. Gordon?

I have no desire to become a "Research Professor" like Paula Gordon. I prefer doing work and enjoy using my brain.

-- Nosmo King (here@and.there), October 26, 1999.

**********************

"Paula Gordon does not know what she is talking about." -- Cherri

And I suppose we're to believe that John Koskinen DOES???

John Koskinen has the resources of the American Government and the obligation to find out the facts and address them. I know early on he got "burned" by publicly repeating some information that was conjecture and unconfirmed speculation and believe he learned from that experience to confirm what he was told before he believed and repeated it. So, Yes I do believe he knows what he does have the means to know what he is talking about. -- I'm Here, I'm There (I'm Everywhere@so.beware), October 26, 1999.

*********************

Cherri, Mostly, I'm impressed with your ability to find an old thread like this one. Sometimes I wish I could do that. Sometimes not. Anywho... now I have to choose how I might best respond to your question posed here. I've been mulling over Paula's recent writings, and they deserve a thoughtful response. I'm off tomorrow and Thursday. Let me see what I can come up with. I'll post my response Friday. Working from the middle ground I've learned a few things since last March. Faith, Critt Jarvis 277 Beasley Road Wilmington, North Carolina 28409 910-790-5677 critt@critt.com -- Critt Jarvis (critt@critt.com), October 26, 1999.

That sounds reasonable to me.

-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), October 26, 1999.


Cherri,

At this time, this is the best I have to offer.

Critt

-- Critt Jarvis (critt@critt.com), October 29, 1999.

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