GW UNIVERSITY NOVEMBER Y2K CONFERENCE SERIES & NOTICE OF REALVIDEO RESOURCES: The conference series focuses the Y2K and Embedded Systems Crisis with an emphasis on high risk, high hazard sectors; high impact sectors; and underserved and at risk populations.

GW UNIVERSITY has scheduled a Y2K Conference Series for five different dates in November. The conference series focuses on the Y2K and Embedded Systems Crisis with an emphasis on high risk, high hazard sectors; high impact sectors; and underserved and at risk populations. These areas have all received inadequate attention to date both nationally and globally. One of the program segments will focus on what is really going on in the field. The program is entitled "An Update on Y2K and Embedded Systems, including Revelations from Insiders Concerning the Status of Remediation and Testing Efforts"

Time is short and rather than just refer you to the announcement page at http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon/announcements.html, it seemed more efficient to post this list of announcements concerning the conference series and some others resources that are freely available on the Web.

The first two announcements are invitations to a series of Y2K programs. These programs are free and open to all. The media is especially welcome to attend. No reservations are necessary. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. (For the Washington Post Evening Forum, reservations would be appreciated for planning purposes. RSVP for that event to waz@gwu.edu )

If there are people you think would be interested in this information, please feel free to forward this page.

Special note to the media: Please note there is a Press Briefing focusing on the Conference scheduled for Friday, November 12 at 10:30 AM. Location details are in Item 2 below.

LIST OF ANNOUNCEMENTS

Item 1: GW Y2K Group Evening Y2K Forum at the Washington Post, Thursday, November 11

Item 2: GW Y2K Conference Series November 10, 11, 12, 19, & 23

Item 3: White Paper on the Y2K and Embedded Systems Crisis by Paula Gordon, Parts 1 through 5, now available on the Web at http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon

Item 4: RealVideo Website to Expand to Include Videos from the July GW Y2K Conference at http://www.y2kapproaches.com/real/pgordon.htm

Item 5: Videos Currently Available on the RealVideo Website at http://www.y2kapproaches.com/real/pgordon.htm

Item 6: New Website Features at http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon

********************************************************************** Item 1: GW Y2K GROUP EVENING Y2K FORUM THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11

"Anticipated National & Global Impacts and Recommended Initiatives to Minimize Impacts, Particularly Prior to the Rollover" Sponsor: GW Y2K Group Host: The Washington Post Company Reception 6:00 PM Panel Program 7:00 PM The Washington Post 1501-15th St. NW (near 15th & L) 9th Floor, Community Room

Confirmed Panelists: ~ Percy M. Mangoaela, Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the United Nations and Head of the UN Informatics Working Group (with primary responsibilities for Y2K) ~ Dr. Howard Rubin, Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Computer Science at Hunter College of the City University of New York and CEO, Rubin Systems, Inc. ~ Dr. Robert Alloway,Director,National Leadership Task Force on Y2K

Discussant: ~ Paula Gordon, Director of Special Project, Research Program for Social and Organizational Learning, George Washington University and author of White Paper on the Y2K & Embedded Systems Crisis (http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon) ****************** To RSVP or be placed on the mailing list, contact .

********************************************************************** Item 2 GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY Y2K CONFERENCE SERIES

"The Y2K & Embedded Systems Crisis: Continuing Pre-Rollover Concerns & Imperatives" November 10, 11, 12, 19, 23, 1999

A free conference series on high risk, high hazard sectors, high impact sectors, and underserved and at risk populations is planned for five different dates between November 10 and 23.

Preliminary Conference Series Schedule as of October 24, 1999 Dates, Times, Locations, and Topics:

Wednesday, November 10 ~ 5:30 - 10:00 pm, Funger Hall 108 (Auditorium) GW University, 23rd & G Strs. NW, Washington, DC

Opening Program of the Series: "Nuclear Power Plants & Y2K Safety Issues:

What More Should the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and Industry Be Doing to Address Y2K-Related Safety Issues?"

Brief portions of a videotape of a July 28, 1999 panel at The Washington Post on Y2K and Nuclear Power Plant Safety will shown. The panel included representatives from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Nuclear Energy Institute, the Nuclear Resource Information Service, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. (The video was made possible by a grant for the July Conference by the Nathan Cummings Foundation.) For a review by Patrice Kaufman of that panel, see http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon/1999conference ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, November 11 ~ 6:00 - 9:00 pm, The Washington Post "Anticipated National & Global Impacts and Recommended Initiatives to Minimize Impacts, Particularly Prior to the Rollover" See Item 1 above for fuller details.

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, November 12 ~ 10:30 - Noon, RPSOL Conference Room Press Briefing With Featured Conference Speakers and Panelists (The Conference Room is located at 2033 K St. NW, Suite 230. The entrance to 2033 K is around the corner from 21st and K Strs. NW.) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, November 12 ~ 1:30 - 10:00 PM, Funger Hall 103

1:30 - 2:15 PM ~ Keynote Speaker: "High Risk / Low Probability Disasters - Taking Preventive Actions Now" (tentative title) 2:15 - 4:00 PM ~ "An Update on Y2K and Embedded Systems, including Revelations from Insiders Concerning the Status of Remediation and Testing Efforts" 4:00 - 4:15 PM Break 4:15 - 6:30 PM "Water: The Failure of Oversight & the Inadequacy of Action to Date" (tentative title) 6:30 - 7:30 PM Video from July Conference of Panel on "Y2K Environmental and Public Health and Safety Issues in the US - Additional Actions Needed" (This video was made possible by a grant for the July Conference by the Nathan Cummings Foundation.) 7:30 - 10:00 PM "The Chemical Sector and Oil and Gas Pipeline Safety" ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, November 19 ~ 4:10 - 10:00 pm, Funger Hall 103 4:10 - 6:00 PM ~ Aging and inform populations and for profit and non-profit organizations and associations that serve them 6:00 - 7:00 PM ~ Video from July Y2K Conference: "Y2K Health and Quality of Life Issues - What More Needs to Be Done?" (This video was made possible by a grant for the July Conference by the Nathan Cummings Foundation.) 7:00 - 8:00 PM ~ Update on the Health Care System and Health Care Concerns 9:00 - 10:00 PM ~ Y2K and Food Concerns ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ** Two Simultaneous Programs **Tuesday, November 23 (A) 7:10 - 10:00 pm, Funger Hall 103 ~ Family and Community Preparedness, including Attention to Preparedness Concerns for Poor and Underserved Populations **Tuesday, November 23 (B) 7:30 - 10:00 pm, Funger Hall 108 ~ National and Global Initiatives Aimed at Minimizing Impacts: Exploration of Alternatives in the Light of Political and Organizational Constraints ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For further additional details, a list of invited series speakers and panel participants, and future updates, see http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon/announcements.html.

********************************************************************** Item 3: WHITE PAPER ON Y2K: PARTS 1 - 5 NOW AVAILABLE ON THE WEB

For Parts 1 - 5 of a White Paper on Y2K by Paula Gordon, see http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon .

Part 4 analyzes President Clinton's Y2K "strategy" to wait until the rollover to assume a leadership role. Part 5 describes best and worst case scenarios for the remaining weeks leading up to the rollover. Part 6, "De Nile Ain't Just a River in Egypt" should be posted by early November.

******************************************************************** Item 4: REALVIDEO WEBSITE TO INCLUDE JULY GW Y2K CONFERENCE VIDEOS For a Y2K Audio/Video webpage of Y2K-related programs, see http://www.y2kapproaches.com/real/pgordon.htm

The videotaped proceedings of the July 1999 GW Y2K Conference will be posted there soon. For comments on the conference and copies of prepared statements and related material, see http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon/1999conference **********************************************************************

Item 5: VIDEOS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE ON THE REALVIDEO WEBSITE http://www.y2kapproaches.com/real/pgordon.htm. NOTE: Visitors to this new webpage are welcome to use the Real Audio/Video page for information, education, and training purposes. These videos are being shared with such purposes in mind. VIDEO OFFERINGS: COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS PANEL

On Monday, May 24, 1999, the George Washington University Y2K Group sponsored an evening panel program on "National and Local Y2K Initiatives: What More is Needed?" The forum was hosted by The Washington Post.

Two of the panelists, Michael Nolan and Paloma O'Riley, testified on Y2K community preparedness efforts before the Senate Committee on May 25.

Panelists: ~ Michael Nolan, City Administrator of Norfolk, Nebraska ~ Paloma O'Riley, Co-Founder of The Cassandra Project ~ Norman Dean, Director, Center for Y2K and Society ~ Philip Bogdonoff, Director of Outreach, Center for Y2K and Society and Co-Founder of the Northwest, DC Year 2000 Group ~ Curt Bury, Member, Steering Committee, Y2K Shepherdstown, West Virginia Group, and Y2K Planning Consultant, MCI WorldCom Discussant: ~ Paula Gordon, Visiting Research Professor and Director of Special Projects, Research Program in Social and Organizational Learning ********************************************************************** MARCH 26 PRESS BRIEFING WITH ED YOURDON AND PAULA GORDON on "Y2K ~ What the Government Should Be Doing"

A March 26, 1999 Press Briefing at George Washington University on "Y2K ~ What the Government Should Be Doing" can now be seen at the following website: http://www.y2kapproaches.com/real/pgordon.htm. The Press Briefing features Ed Yourdon and Paula Gordon presenting their perspectives on Y2K and the crucial role of government in addressing the Year 2000 technology and embedded systems crisis. They express their views concerning the deficiencies in current efforts and what needs to be done in order to prevent and minimize the deleterious impacts, nationally and globally, that can be expected as a result of Y2K-triggered disruptions and technological disasters. Professor Stuart Umpleby serves as moderator for the two hour Press Briefing. ********************************************************************** A DECEMBER 15, 1998 PANEL PRESENTATION BY PAULA GORDON AT THE WASHINGTON POST: "DEFINING Y2K AND TAKING ACTION"

On December 15, 1998, a panel program was held at The Washington Post on the topic "Perspectives on Y2K". The program is one in a series of forums sponsored by the George Washington University Y2K Group and hosted by The Washington Post Company. This excerpt features Paula Gordon talking about the importance of including embedded systems, connectivity and interdependency issues in any definition of the Y2K technology crisis. She also discusses the range of possible impacts that might occur as a result of the crisis and the actions that government needs to take given the nature and scope of the problem. Courtesy C-SPAN ********************************************************************** A DECEMBER 16, 1998 PANEL ON EMBEDDED SYSTEMS On December 16, 1998, a panel on embedded systems was held as a part of the World Future Society Conference on Y2K in Washington, D.C. The panel was moderated by Paula Gordon. Presenters spoke on the following topics:

~ Stuart Umpleby ~ Professor and Director of the Research Program for Social and Organizational Learning (RPSOL), Department of Management Science, George Washington University: "Introduction to Y2K Embedded Systems" ~ Dr. Michael P. Harden ~ President and CEO of Century Technology Services, Inc. and author of "Failure is Not An Option: Declaring War on the Year 2000 Problem" and "Embedded Systems and the Year 2000 Problem: A Handbook forBusiness Managers and Executives": "Y2K Embedded Systems" ~ Dr. Mark Frautschi, Shakespeare Tao Consulting and author of "Embedded Systems and the Year 2000 Problem (http://www.tmn.com/~frautsch/y2k2.html): "Embedded Systems ~ The Other Year 2000 Problem" ~ Jim Lord, Y2K speaker and writer, author of "A Survival Guide For the Year 2000 Problem (http://www.survivey2k.com/): "Y2K, Global Positioning Systems, and Embedded Systems".

********************************************************************** "The Approach One City Administrator is Taking in Preparing for Y2K" A presentation by Michael Nolan

Michael Nolan, City Administrator of Norfolk, Nebraska, describes the approach that he has been taking to ensure that Norfolk, Nebraska is a ready as it can be for the December 31, 1999 rollover. While this presentation before the World Future Society's Y2K Conference was given on December 17, 1998, it is as helpful and inspiring today as it was then. Michael Nolan speaks with unusual candor, insight, and conviction concerning what his city has been doing to prepare for Y2K. He is an example of a public official who comprehends the fact that there are countless unknowns posed by Y2K. He speaks as one who is committed without question to serving the public good in light of wide range of uncertainties associated with Y2K. His message and his example is as relevant to local and state officials as it is to Federal officials. **********************************************************************

Item 6: NEW WEBSITE FEATURES AT http://www.gwu.edu/~y2k/keypeople/gordon New pages have been added: ~ "Comments, Essays, and Op-Ed Pieces" ~ "Recent Presentations and Related URLs from the GW/Washington Post Company Evening Y2K Forum Series" **********************************************************************

-- Paula Gordon (pgordon@erols.com), October 24, 1999

Answers

Yeah, Paula, we'll push it.

Large Scale Embedded Systems (LSES) is where it is at, not these BEANCOUNTER specials called Enterprise Systems. See my remarks on the Y2k makes strange bedfellows thread below.

-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ It's ALL going away in January.com), October 24, 1999.

K.L Stevens:

I have excerpted the thread that you referred to:

"...I guess we are stuck with our area of expertise. Cory believes that it is large scale "Enterprise" systems that are the problem...Hogwash! Those are BEANCOUNTER specials...I'd much rather that those shut down than Chemical Plants do a half dozen Bhopals.

The REAL problems are associated with Large Scale Embedded Systems (LSES). The dirty little secret is that the Intel based CPU architecture has a woefully inadequate priority interrupt structure for most Process Control applications, but they were used anyway because their prices dropped to compelling levels so fast.

Van Nuys is the key. During the test, alarms were firing off at better than one every 2 seconds. Interrupt requests overwhelmed the interrupt request buffer. On a real process control machine, you would have a minimum of 256 and more likely 1024 HARDWARE prioritized levels of interrupts, and not resort to buffering at all. But remember, the Intel designs were dirt cheap due to the success of the PC, and these limitations were Programmed around. THAT is going to cost us dearly when the date rolls over!"

-- K. Stevens (kstevens@ It's ALL going away in January.com), October 24, 1999.

end of excerpt

Thanks for bringing your comment to my attention.

I would be pleased to hear more about this. Could you e-mail me directly?

Thanks.

-- Paula Gordon (pgordon@erols.com), October 24, 1999.