For educational purposes only

Volume 11 | November 1999 | Issue 11

Y2K Update & New Years Celebration

by Steve Hewitt

( steve@ccmag.com ) Many have asked me to provide some update to my position on Y2K. Honestly, there is little to say. We have seen the passing of July 1, 1999, when more than 40 states rolled over into their 2000 fiscal year. While some predicted state government computers would crash, (North, Yourdon, Hyatt, etc.) there were very few disruptions. I remember reading predictions that we would have civil unrest by now, due to state employees walking off their jobs because they wouldn't be paid due to their state's computer systems crashing. Was there any truth to that kind of speculation? Well, while speaking in the state of Oklahoma, I did hear a testimony from one man that bonus checks for state employees were 6 days late due to Y2K (and the 4th of July holiday weekend.) Once again, the speculation was much worse than the reality.

Of course by now you know that the Global Positioning Satellite system rolled over in late August. This was one of many Y2K-associated disasters that were brought out by those who sought to scare us about Y2K. But, once again, nothing much happened.

And, we all held our breath on September 9, 1999 (just kidding, of course) when the ninth day of the ninth month of the 99th year rolled around. I had stated for over a year that I couldn't find a single programmer anywhere who actually believed this could cause a problem.

I had hoped that by now, most would have calmed down about Y2K. Although I cut back on my traveling, I am still going around the nation speaking out and answering questions. And, to my surprise, I still find that there are some in panic, although the number is going down.

Recently, Peter de Jager contacted me by phone. He had been reading our Web site and the many articles we have posted about Y2K. He called to congratulate me on the content of our message and to offer his help in getting the truth out about Y2K. Peter has been one of the main persons to spread alarm about Y2K in the early years, and earlier this year, stunned the "doomers" by announcing that doom had been avoided by the great effort of business and government to solve the Y2K problem. He has spoken across the world on the subject, and has been before a varied audience. However, he shared something with me that startled me. I asked him to put it in writing, and this is a quote from an email he sent me. Peter de Jager stated, "My first direct contact with the Christian community [concerning Y2K] was at a conference at CBN, Pat Robertson's facility. I was astounded at the response... they considered me to be a 'pollyanna', down playing the severity of the problem.

The audience was NOT a technical audience, so their perception of the severity of Y2K was not based on a firsthand knowledge of the issue. They wanted me to tell them that this would be a world-changing event. They made that very clear to me both during the presentation and in numerous private conversations after the event.

I have faced much skepticism over the years and even a fair bit of cynicism, but this was the first time I had met a group of people who seemed to look forward to a severe problem and resented any information which contradicted that belief and expectation."

Peter shared with me that he was really surprised by the response of many Christians. He always felt that Christians would be positive people, leading in hope and peace, not seeking to spread fear and panic! I referred him to one of my early articles on WHY some in the Christian community WANTED Y2K to happen. The good news is that many in Christian media HAVE taken a closer look at the facts and have calmed down. However, there are some who are going to continue pushing the hype, fear and sensationalism until the very end.

Join us on New Year's Eve!

Over a year ago, Kevin Cross (my co-host on our then daily radio show CCMag LIVE!) and I announced that we would be celebrating the roll-over to the year 2000 by holding a party right in our office. And you can JOIN US! We will be broadcasting LIVE on the Internet, via Real Audio, and will be taking calls (toll free in the USA at 1-800-456-1868) from those across the country who would like to call in and join us on the radio show. We will also have our chat room up and running, so people from around the world can join us on the net as well. Check our Web site for the starting time of the party. PLUS if YOU would like to sign up to be one of our Y2K Watchers, send me an email. We are going to have certain people set up to contact throughout the evening as the night rolls on!

-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), November 13, 1999

Answers

Gee, Cherri, I thought you were always very outspoken about Christian zealots with their own hidden agendas, as you and the rest of the "de-bunkers" are always warning us about regarding Gary North. Now, you actually are promoting Steve Hewitt's stuff????

Funny, isn't it, how pollies can be very selective when it suits their purposes....

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), November 13, 1999.

"So I'm glad God's people have decided not to be overcome by the fear and panic" - Televangalist

"We've broken the back of y2k" - Canadian businessman

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"Y2K will likely cause a depression" - Ed Yourdon, software guru

"The fate of the world economy is now totally dependent on the growth of the U.S. economy, which is dependent on the stock market, whose growth is dependent on about 50 stocks, half of which have never reported any earnings" - Former Fed Chairman Paul Volcker

-- uh huh (@ .), November 13, 1999.

Cherri Babe

The only "truth" and "disclosure" I needed as proof that things are not rosy and "spin" is in: International Monitoring report on International Y2K Risk. Prepared for U.S. Senate Committe

http://www.senate.gove/~y2k/hearings/991013/gogerty_intl.pdf

[Institutional Banking] "...International Monitoring believes threats to international banking could pose the greatest Y2K risk. A separate 44-page section of the statement has been submitted that covers these risks. At this point, we do not feel it is prudent to publicly discuss the detailed risks faced by international banking in a broad media forum such as the one before us today."

Every time I have a small doubt about the possiblity severity of y2k, I just re-read the transcripts from the senate hearings.

-- 888888 (karlacalif@aol.com), November 13, 1999.

Apparently Boston disagrees with your assessment of state readiness. At least if you read between the lines. This year, Boston's First Night celebration will take place at (i think it was) 6pm. This is supposedly so we will experience the rollover in GMT. Yeah, right.

-- BeanTown (beanboy@nut.com), November 13, 1999.

Gee, Cherri, I thought you were always very outspoken about Christian zealots

No KOS, I have never spoken about Christian zealots.

Why do you feel the need to lie about what I have said?

-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), November 14, 1999.

"No KOS, I have never spoken about Christian zealots.

Why do you feel the need to lie about what I have said?

Cherri, it seems that our friend KoS is very intimidated/fearful of women. This would explain why whenever a woman starts an intelligent thread KoS immediately tries to sabotage it by asking her if she mudwrestles.

-- Mr. Nugget (catsbutt@umailme.com), November 14, 1999.