This is from a government employee working at a military base. It's legit. His email address can be found on the dc-y2k-wrp list server for those interested. Expect a lot of these type messgaes in the remaining 18 weeks.

From: "Miller, James Jr."

Setting here, doing this electrical panel survey. Thinking to myself..Gota get this done by October 1 for the new commander.....all of a sudden it hits me. These are ELECTRICAL PANELS JIMMY. In a few months, no one is going to need to know what circuit breaker feeds what circuit. Yeah, I work for Uncle Sam (civilian side), yes we have 4 100+kw generators, yes an almost unlimited supply of diesel. But eventually something is going to go, whether it's chips, controls, generators or fuel, something is going to run out. I'm out of a job. (nice to think, yet not nice to think)

I work in one of the telecommunications center for the US Army, and there are more contractors rushing in and out of here daily than I can count. Cursing, cursing,and more cursing. Please work, AH SH*T!!! Try again. What'cha workin on? Y2K upgrades...what idiot thought up this crap, it'll never work...go baby...take it....come'on sweetie, AH SH*T!!! Too many programmers here, working for DSA, EDS, et al. None look happy.

I know it's feasable that power is going to go out. It's almost a guarantee in my mind. I've even "prepared" for the lack of power. But for how long? Day, week, month, year? How long til I i'm looking for another job. Our family has 11 acre farmette in PA, probably usable if we can scare up the gas or horses to operate everything. Most everything is natural gas, so heat, refrigeration, cooking is a given. Not piped in far, maybe 150 feet from the well. Well is shut off and we're running off well pressure. Hell, I'd even relish the thought of having to do something different for a change. Electrician is fun, machinist is fun, carpenter is fun.

Sorry, I just got off on a small rant. It finally hit me that I'm going to have to look for another job sooner than I'd hoped. Thanks for listening (or deleting)

Jim Miller

-- (@ .), August 12, 1999

Answers

He's in the same boat as everyone else, but at least he has some usable skills that will come in handy in the future. I think I'll take up shoe repair, that will be a good trade to get into since those Nikes won't be coming across the seas to a town near me.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), August 12, 1999.

Look for a new job?

Not really .... think about it again - as the power-providing-professional on-site, you are the second most valuable person there. (The first is the power "user" who needs to do something...)

1. No program can get fixed until those generators (or any other generator!) can get it power through the copper to the load. Yes, there are programs out there doing all sorts of stuff, but they use power, they do't create it.

2. No services (lights, fuel, pumps, sewage, radios, battery chargers, radars, repair lifts, air compressors, runway lights, helicopter test modules, or even the bugle call for "Taps" can work until you can get copper (with electrons) to the right place. Yes, your site is fortunate enough to have a couple of modest generators. Guess what? Their wires are going to be needed to be run to places to solve all sorts of unexpected problems.

3. Each solution, as circumstances change, will either create new problems or solve old problems - and so the need for "creative power distribution" - without burning things up! - becomes critical.

Rant - blow off steam - but stay focused.

___

By the way - thought they claimed their "test" last month "proved" DOD would not be facing any y2k porblems......biggest integrated ever, I think the phrase was. Very successful, everything worldwide was going to work perfectfully.....

once the programs get fixed

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), August 12, 1999.