From www.drudgereport.com

Senate report predicts inconveniences, no major disasters

WASHINGTON (AP) - With 100 days left until Jan. 1, 2000, the Senate's Y2K panel says health-care systems, local governments and small businesses remain vulnerable, but computer breakdowns probably will ``cause more inconveniences than tragedies.'' The situation is more serious outside the country, it says.

``The true extent of Y2K failures will match neither the most optimistic nor the most apocalyptic predictions,'' the Senate special committee on the Y2K problem said in a summary of its final report before the new year. Rather, it said, Y2K problems will be sporadic, based more on geography, size of the organization involved and levels of preparation.

The panel, headed by Sens. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, and Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., is issuing the report Wednesday. Its report, distributed in advance, noted that the Y2K problem has been likened to a winter storm, and Americans should prepare accordingly.

The findings emphasized that while federal agencies and the nation's transportation and communications systems are in good shape, it remains difficult to judge how computer problems will affect individual lives. ``The Y2K problem still has the potential to be very disruptive, necessitating continued, intensive preparation in the time remaining,'' it said.

Many doctors' offices, small hospitals, school districts, 911 emergency systems and local bus systems could face temporary disruptions because of failures to fix computers, it said.

Some older computer systems use only two digits to designate years, and could mistake the year 2000, or ``00,'' as 1900, which some experts fear could cause computers to malfunction or break down.

The federal government will spend more than $8 billion to fix the problem, and wholesale failure of federal services is unlikely to occur.

Generally that's true of other large public services and businesses. A nationwide blackout will not occur, the telecommunications industry has spent billions on Y2K fixes, air traffic control systems are ready and banks will have functioning ATM machines and plenty of money on hand, the report concluded.

John Koskinen, President Clinton's chief Y2K adviser, agreed with the Senate assessment. The bottom line, he said, is that ``there will be some glitches, and nobody is guaranteeing perfection even in the sectors'' where much money and technical expertise has been employed.

Koskinen said he and the panel had had some differences in perspective earlier, but ``It is clear, now that we are into the last 100 days, that we are pretty much in agreement on where the risks are.''

According to the report, those risks include:

-Many physicians' offices, nursing homes and inner-city and small rural hospitals have high-risk exposure. Conversely, pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors and large-scale hospitals are in good shape.

-While the Federal Aviation Administration has succeeded in ensuring air traffic control functions, risks remain in areas such as jetway security systems and runway lighting. Disruptions resulting in delays at some U.S. airports are likely.

-Several states and many local governments lag behind. Some 10 states are not prepared to deliver such services as unemployment insurance and other benefits. Of great concern is local 911 public safety answering points.

-Among business sectors, insurance, investment and banking are doing well, but others, including education, agriculture and construction, are not. It could take three to 15 days to regain lost operational capabilities.

-Internationally, the Y2K picture is disturbing in Russia, China, Italy and several oil-producing countries. Some important trading partners are months behind in addressing the problem and economic repercussions could result in requests for humanitarian aid.

-- a (a@a.a), September 21, 1999

Answers

IMO, Americans will be inundated with much more of this boilerplate poppycock as the tension increases.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), September 21, 1999.

"-Internationally, the Y2K picture is disturbing in Russia, China, Italy and several oil-producing countries. Some important trading partners are months behind in addressing the problem and economic repercussions could result in requests for humanitarian aid. "

Man, thats pretty heavy. Humanitarian aid is usually only asked for when TSHTF and they cant handle it.

-- hamster (hamster@mycage.com), September 22, 1999.

Well, now that I think about it, being dead really is more of an inconvenience than a major disaster. I mean, I'm dead, what do I care.

LOLOLOL

-- CygnusXI (noburnt@toast.net), September 22, 1999.

Allow me to translate from my own slanted point of view. Warning: Some remarks are tongue-in-cheek.

The Senate's Y2K panel says computer breakdowns probably will ``cause more inconveniences than tragedies.'' [There will be tragedies but not as many as inconveniences.]

``The true extent of Y2K failures will match neither the most optimistic nor the most apocalyptic predictions,'' [It won't be a bump in the road and it won't be Escape From New York. Where it lands between those two extremes is anybody's guess.]

Rather, Y2K problems will be sporadic, based more on geography, size of the organization involved and levels of preparation. [Kinda like Floyd. Or several Floyds.]

. . .the Y2K problem has been likened to a winter storm, and Americans should prepare accordingly. [Whatever you think 'winter storm' means, that's what you should prepare for. A day off school, or two-hundred-year-old-oak-cracking numb cold for weeks.]

The findings emphasized that while federal agencies and the nation's transportation and communications systems are in good shape, [whatever you think 'good'means] it remains difficult to judge how computer problems will affect individual lives. [They have no effing idea what will happen.]

``The Y2K problem still has the potential to be very disruptive, necessitating continued, intensive preparation in the time remaining,'' it said. [We're screwed.]

Many doctors' offices, small hospitals, school districts, 911 emergency systems and local bus systems could face temporary disruptions because of failures to fix computers, it said. [Sick people, people needing emergency help, and poor people will be the most screwed.]

. . .wholesale failure of federal services is unlikely to occur. [They can't get it for you wholesale or, seriously, partial failures are likely.]

Generally that's true of other large public services and businesses. [But it's not true specifically.] A nationwide blackout will not occur, [but local blackouts will] the telecommunications industry has spent billions on Y2K fixes, [so they MUST be fixed, right?] air traffic control systems are ready [providing the lights stay on] and banks will have functioning ATM machines and plenty of money on hand, [but will they let us have it???] the report concluded.

John Koskinen. . . said. . .``there will be some glitches, and nobody is guaranteeing perfection even in the sectors'' where much money and technical expertise has been employed. [Now this worries me a bit. K slipped here. Look closely at what he said--that little word 'even' makes the difference. So what he's saying is he FULLY expects failures where little money and technical expertise have been employed as well as some failures where tons of money have been thrown at the problem.]

Koskinen said he and the panel had had some differences in perspective earlier, but ``It is clear, now that we are into the last 100 days, that we are pretty much in agreement on where the risks are.'' [WHERE but not how severe.]

According to the report, those risks include:

-Many physicians' offices, nursing homes and inner-city and small rural hospitals have high-risk exposure. (Reiterate--sick people are the most screwed.] Conversely, pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors and large-scale hospitals are in good shape. [But no mention here about overseas production of drugs or about JIT vulnerabilities.]

-While the Federal Aviation Administration has succeeded in ensuring air traffic control functions, risks remain in areas such as jetway security systems and runway lighting. {RUNWAY LIGHTING! Bloody 'ell, this is mission critical if anything is. And terrorists might have a field day.]

Disruptions resulting in delays at some U.S. airports are likely. [Oh imagine the joys of DFW!!! Kennedy too.]

-Several states and many local governments lag behind. Some 10 states are not prepared to deliver such services as unemployment insurance and other benefits. [Wait. TEN? as in one-fifth, as in 20 percent? Benefit checks won't get out in 20 percent of the states??? Do any of these states contain large cities, like LA or Detroit?]

Of great concern is local 911 public safety answering points. [Great concern? Is this mission critical or what? Jot down the non-911 number for your Emergency Services Communications Center; it should be under "Police" or "Sheriff" in your phone book.]

-Among business sectors, insurance, investment and banking are doing well, but others, including education, agriculture and construction, are not. [Read schooling, food, housing, road repair, building repair, etc.] It could take three to 15 days to regain lost operational capabilities. [How do they figure 3-15 days? Does this include power outages, delivery of materials, stuff like that?]

-Internationally, the Y2K picture is disturbing in Russia, China, Italy and several oil-producing countries. Some important trading partners are months behind in addressing the problem and economic repercussions could result in requests for humanitarian aid. [Funny how they say 'requests' and nothing about whether or how those requests might be granted.]

["Disturbing" is right. I find the whole damn report disturbing.]

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 22, 1999.