I was down in the city on the weekend for a computer programming course. Had a quick look in one of the major computer book stores while I was there. In the 50% off bin, lo and behold, was a copy of Time Bomb 2000........

Shoot, I figure whether someone is a '2' or a '9' or whatever they should at least be educating themselves about the matter.

Obviously the book was not selling.......which leads me to think that perhaps Joe Public is fed up with the whole thing. I tend to think that there will not be much panic at all before the event but rather a lethargic wait and see attitude bred out of boredom with the whole issue. Of course, the down side to this is that very few will have made any preparations at all and if it turns out more like a 9 than a 2, well, there will be some troubling times.

-- Craig (craig@ccinet.ab.ca), June 08, 1999

Answers

Exactly Craig, Y2K just ain't sexy enough for the Nielson Ratings. Maybe we'll get another nice European War to gather the fam around on friday nights.

-- (notLarryFlint@LA.jerk), June 08, 1999.

Craig -

Did you check - was it the first edition or the revised addition? And if it was the first - did they have any revised available at the regular price? Just curious.

-- Valkyrie (anon@please.net), June 08, 1999.

Craig:

Buy 'em up! They aren't bulky and take up less room than toilet paper. Crinkle the paper up first though or you could get a nasty cut. Ouch!!

-- That Polly Guy (a.b@c.com), June 08, 1999.

Only 50% off? Sheesh, there are clearly still too many rubes left...

-- Y2K Pro (2@641.com), June 08, 1999.

LOL! So what bin was "The Decline and Fall of the American Programmer" in? Or did they just give you directions to the nearest recyling centre?

-- Computer Pro (first_minister@hotmail.com), June 08, 1999.

Last weekend, my local wholesaler (BJ's) had the following Y2K books deeply discounted: Yourdon's revised Timebomb 2000; Michael Hyatt's new book; and Bruce Webster's book from last year. I take this as a sign the books aren't moving. However, maybe their reduced prices will make them more attractive to the public now. I picked up copies of the ones I didn't already have, and they will join the pile of resources I will lend to friends as they start thinking about getting it later this year. There were other books on the table I also considered appropriate for a Y2K library, including a MERCK medical manual, and a layman's version of the PDR reference guide.

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), June 08, 1999.

These books hit the dollar store last week already. Ed is a smart guy. He knew when to back off.

-- SS (SmartShopper@bargains.com), June 08, 1999.

The awareness campaign (if you could call it that) has largely failed. The Unawareness campaign has mostly succeeded.

;~(

-- number six (Iam_not_a_number@hotmail.com), June 08, 1999.

Gold's at $262.80 these days. Down, down, down...

-- unrelated (reduction@in.price), June 08, 1999.

Come mid-January, they will probably sell for a lot less...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 09, 1999.