Oprah Show turned down Karen Anderson/Y2k Womengreenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread |
Here is letter earlier in month from Karen Anderson of Y2KWomen>Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 18:46:25 +0000
From "Dear Karen..." Advice for Women on the Concerns and Effects of the Year 2000 Problem (Y2K) By Karen Anderson Issue #69 November 13, 1999 http://www.y2kwomen.com
Dear Friends,
I heard from the Oprah Show and they have decided to go with "heads of agencies" (meaning government type officials) only and they will not have any preparedness experts on the show. This is definite and the show is scheduled to air Nov 29th.
The producer I was working with was absolutely wonderful and did everything she could to get Mike Hyatt and me on the show but the "powers that be" decided to go a different direction.
I must tell you that I was really disappointed - not just because I wanted to be on "Oprah" (at least I don't have to lose 30 lbs. by Tuesday!) but because I know that her show touches so many and I've always felt that Oprah was the best way to reach women in all walks of life.
Although I genuinely feel honored to have been considered, I told my girlfriend that it was sort of like being 1st runner up in the Miss America pageant - really close but just not the same (maybe I can still get the Miss Congeniality award!
). I talked with Mike and both of us feel that this is something that is much bigger than the two of us. We know that God is in control and our trust must remain there. We will continue doing our best to help people to prepare and pray that even at this late date, people will do something rather than nothing...
-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), November 29, 1999
BE HEARD!!!http://www.oprah.com/poll.html
-- BE (HEARD@Oprah.com), November 29, 1999.
What is so pathetic about the people who are attempting to cover up the reality of Y2k is that they believe it to be just another scandal. Scandals can be twisted and turned in any direction they want. When the bright light of systems' failures shine in January, no amount of words will cover up that reality.
-- fatanddumb (fatdumb@nd.happy), November 29, 1999.
It is good to see that Oprah was sticking with her high standards and providing honest and straitforward information from people who know what they are talking about.Karen should try for the Jerry Springer show where she would fit in perfectly.
-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), November 29, 1999.
Now's your big chance to take the poll, and to post a message about Y2K on Oprahs message board.Cherri: Oprah's show was like holding a trial but there was no jury, only government witnesses that were tainted from the beginning.
-- ~~~~ (~~~@~~~.com), November 29, 1999.
That was probably the most LAME, fluff filled piece I've seen on Y2K. It was sooooo bad, I fell asleep half way through...
-- RJ (LtPita@aol.com), November 29, 1999.
I understand that she also turned Michael Hyatt down! I strongly believe as I posted yesterday that if Y2k should be a 5 or better, people who have influenced the people not to prepare should be tried as war criminals. My opinion only!
-- Ruth Edwards (REath29646@aol.com), November 29, 1999.
It is good to see that Oprah was sticking with her high standards and providing honest and straitforward information from people who know what they are talking about.Karen should try for the Jerry Springer show where she would fit in perfectly.
It's starting to get a little difficult to believe that EVERYBODY is ignoring and/or covering up a "truth" that has been shown, in great detail, not to be true.
Open your eyes, it is barely a month away and unless everyone in the world is closing their eyes to the "truth" and every politician and business owner and worker is in some hugmongous "cover-up", then there rreally will not be very much of a problem due to Y2K.
And there just is not enough time left to convince the "newbies" coming here, to believe it will be bad. There are so many people who used to post here that have quietly slipped away, and let others outside of this board know that they no longer believe what is posted here.
As one wrote me and said
"I'm not going to post my new beliefs at TB2000, I'll get flamed for saying anything, I know I used to do it myself".
I guess it is a question of just "who" is in denial now?
-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), November 29, 1999.
Well "Cherri", like my buddy always says,"When the green flag drops, the bullsh*t stops.31 days to the green flag. (BTW, the failures are now occurring at an ever-increasing rate. Just ask Hershey's. Or D.C. teachers. Or Whirlpool. Or ...)
-- Dennis (djolson@cherco.net), November 29, 1999.
That was one of the slickest and conversley most depressing shows Ive seen on Y2K.Feeling very, very sad... for this whole wide world.
Koskinens karma (et. al.) will catch up with him (them)... eventually. If there is any Divine justice left in the world. May he be reassigned to work in a soup kitchen, until the time his heart is opened.
Diane
From Oprahs web-site...
http://www.oprah.com/ show/scoop.html[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]
November 29, 1999
Monday's Show: Will You Be Safe at the Millennium?
The clock is counting down to the new millennium, and the big question is: "What's really going to happen when the clock strikes midnight on December 31, 1999 - will we be safe?" Everyone around the world is anxiously preparing New Zealand will be the first to celebrate the New Year.
How well is our country prepared? Oprah hears from CNN's Wolf Blitzer, anchor of World Today, and representatives from the top of several major agencies and corporations about the billions of dollars spent to prepare our country for Y2K.
The Problem
When programmers started writing computer code, they used six digits for dates - two digits each for the month, day and year to save costly memory space. For example, October 15, 1998 would be represented as "101598." Problems sometimes occur when dates in the year 2000 are entered computer programs will read the year as "00," which could be interpreted as 1900. This could result in miscalculations, malfunctions or network shutdowns. (Source: CNN http://cnn.com/TECH/specials/ y2k/ )The Preparation
Our country WILL be prepared so it's important not to panic. Prepare as you normally would for any long holiday (such as taking out some extra cash) or bad weather conditions (for instance, making sure your gas tank is more than half full and having extra bottles of water).MONEY
Is my money safe? Yes.
Donna Tanoue, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the agency that insures your money in the bank, guarantees that your money will be safe. She says that every bank in the country has been inspected and reinspected, and that more than 99.9% of the nation's institutions are ready for Y2K. By the year 2000, the remaining 1% (five institutions) will be ready.For more information visit the FDIC Web site. http://www.fdic.gov/
Will the banks run out of money? No.
According to the Federal Reserve, you should not be concerned about banks running out of money. They printed out an extra $50 billion in anticipation of additional demands. If it would make you feel more comfortable taking out a little extra money, start withdrawing small amounts now.For more information visit the Federal Reserve Web site. http://www.bog.frb.fed.us/y2k/
Will I have any problems using an ATM machine? No.
Dennis Lynch, President of the Nyce Corporation, one of the largest ATM networks in the country, says his company has updated software and tested and re-tested it. If for some reason a machine doesn't take your card, try another one. Glitches occur even now, so don't immediately blame the problem on the Y2K bug.CREDIT CARDS
Will I have problems using my credit card after December 31? No.
Charles Fote, President of First Data Corporation, which handles more than 40 billion credit card transactions, says they've spent millions of dollars over the past three years to prepare for Y2K. From mid- December to mid-January, nine special stations have been set up across the world, 33,000 employees will be on call and there are several backup plans just in case the power goes out.POWER
What if the power goes out?
Bill Richardson, Secretary of Energy, says the United States will be Y2K ready in his sectors: electricity, oil and gas, home heating oil and gasoline. His organization has put in place an intensive two-year plan to ensure the utilities keep the light and power on. At least 99.95% of the American people will be covered.For more information visit the U.S. Department of Energy Web site. http://cio.doe.gov/y2k/
PHONES
Will the phones work? Yes.
Mike Armstrong, CEO and President of AT&T, says over $700 million has been spent over the past three years to prepare their systems. Internal systems have been tested, suppliers' equipment has been tested and overseas connections have been tested. Cordless or wireless phones operation will not be interrupted.On the night of New Year's Eve special teams will be on call around the country, and emergency backup power will be ready.
WATER
Will our water be safe to drink? Yes.
Carol Browner, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, says her agency has been working closely with the drinking water industry to ensure that systems are Y2K compliant. In the event of a power outage, the drinking water industry is prepared to operate manually.For more information visit the Environmental Protection Agency Web site http://www.epa.gov/ or call the Safe Drink Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
Will I get my mail? Will I get my social security check? Yes.
Norm Lorentz, Senior Vice President of the United States Postal Service, says preparations for Y2K started four years ago. Since then over $400 million has been spent. Every piece of mail equipment has been tested. Anything coming from the federal government, including social security checks, should arrive as usual.HOSPITALS
Gary Mecklenburg, President of Northwestern Memorial and incoming chairman of the American Hospital Association, says he's confident the nation's hospitals will be ready. Over $8 billion have been spent to prepare for Y2K. Responding to emergencies, disasters and the unforeseen is what hospitals are used to, so preparing for Y2K is no different than any other preparation.
For more information visit the AHA Y2K Resource Center. http://www.aha.org/y2k/
FLYING
Will it be safe to fly? Yes.
Jane Garvey, administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the government agency responsible for the nation's airspace, says she's confident it'll be safe to fly and is flying herself on New Year's Eve. $340 million dollars has been spent identifying, fixing and testing airport and airplane computer systems.Wolf Blitzer says traveling in the United States will be safe, but that Americans traveling abroad to under-developed countries should take precautions. There are some international countries that the FAA will closely watch all updates will be posted on the FAA Website.
For more information visit the FAA Web site http://www.faa.gov/ or the Department of Transportation (U.S. http://faay2k.com/ or International http:// 152.119.239.141/fly2k/).
HOTELS
Will hotels be prepared? Yes.
Two of the world's largest hotel chains are ready! The Hyatt and Marriott have backup power ready, food, water and emergency kits just in case.RESOURCES
Y2K Simplify New Year Preparations.
http://www.o2simplify.com/celebration/newyear/index.htmlAmerican Red Cross Supplies Kit. (202-737-8300)
http:/ /www.redcross.org/disaster/safety/supplies.htmlPresident's Council on Y2K Consumer Information. (888-USA-4Y2K)
http://www.consumer.gov/y2kCNN Looking at the Y2K Bug.
http://cnn.com/TECH/ specials/y2k/State Y2K Sites Alphabetical Listing
http://www.mitre.org/research/y2k/docs/STATES_Y2K.htmlREMEMBERING YOUR SPIRIT
A salute to everyone working New Year's Eve!
http://www.oprah.com/remember_your_spirit/ remembering_main.html
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-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 29, 1999.
Cheri, my dear, you have just made a classic mistake: NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF HUMAN DENIAL.It is a far stronger force than you give it credit for. You think all these politicians and feds and business owners are somehow more than human? They are not. They are mere humans, and as such, susceptible to the same powerful force of denial that you are susceptible to (and in your case, it seems, the victim of, as well).
And the more you have at risk (the beauracracy, the profits, the image, etc) the more powerful is the urge to deny anything negative.
Oh, and I forgot another lovely phenomenon of the human psyche.......groupthink. Ever heard of it? Read a little about it. Read about how it affected the launching of the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1986. Many, many engineers knew something was wrong with the shuttle. A few of the leading people on the project knew it, too. They did NOT speak up, despite the fact that they truly felt that the odds were that something would go wrong with the launch and/or flight. This is all documented in the literature, and it is just one example of groupthink. THE HUMAN URGE TO REACH AND KEEP CONSENSUS, AT ALL COSTS, IS HUGE.
It takes guts to look outside the box. It takes a different kind of view to proclaim that the emperor is indeed, naked. The truth is, we have f*cked up on a royal-scale. We saved some money and memory for years, assuming we wouldn't even be using this stuff by now.
One question for you Cheri: if it is such a NON problem, why the hell have billions of dollars been spent on a NON problem? Do companies like to spend millions on a non-existent problem? Seems if they did THAT very much they'd be out of business. Do you understand what a tangled web has been woven by the computers in our lives? Do you understand that technology is the very reason, no, the ONLY reason our planet is able to sustain 6 billion, 3 million souls and counting?
Do you understand? Are you able to see?
"There are none so blind as those who will not see...."
-- preparing (preparing@home.com), November 29, 1999.
Diane:Thanks so much for posting that summary from Oprah's web site. As I read through it, I slowly realised that EVERYTHING is going to be much safer after Y2K than it is now. Jane Garvey, for example, is assuring me therein that it will be 'safe to fly' after Y2K, a statement that could hardly be made about flying now, especially off the U.S. east coast...!
This is truly wonderful news! Everything's going to be better and safer after Y2K! Thank you, Oprah! You've made a believer out of me. I'm really looking forward to the troops delivering the mail after 28th December!
-- John Whitley (jwhitley@inforamp.net), November 29, 1999.
Diane. Thanks... that's as fine a collection of "memes" as I have seen... all there nice and neat in one place. Note to self.. tuck away for the trials.
-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 29, 1999.
Diane,May he have to answer to NY's Soup Nazi why he has to stock!
-- Hokie (nn@nn.not), November 29, 1999.
uh, why he has "no soup stop"**bad fingers, bad!
-- Hokie (nn@nn.not), November 29, 1999.
stock! dangit, I give up!! heh
-- Hobblin' Hokie (nn@nn.not), November 29, 1999.
Cherri thinks Karen Anderson would fit on a Jerry Springer show??? What a laugh.And I was so sure that was Cherri I saw slapping and clawing her way to fame on said show...no, maybe it was the bitchfest show...no wait, I am positive it was the "the family tree don't fork' episode.
-- (laughing@her.com), November 29, 1999.
D.C. teachers are not Y2K compliant?
-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), November 29, 1999.
First off:Cherri, keep posting. In fact, don't get out of hand and irresponsible so that you get sensored. I for one appreciate debate.
NOW!
As per Diane's post from the show,
"Will I get my mail? Will I get my social security check? Yes. Norm Lorentz, Senior Vice President of the United States Postal Service, says preparations for Y2K started four years ago. Since then over $400 million has been spent. Every piece of mail equipment has been tested. Anything coming from the federal government, including social security checks, should arrive as usual."
We are talking some major problems with the numbers folks. According to the TESTIMONY to the American People on the Oprah show today given by Mr. Lorentz, the United States Postal Service began 4 years ago and they spent $400 million. HMMMMMMMM!!!!!
ON the other hand according to this:
KARLA W. CORCORAN INSPECTOR GENERAL UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
before the SUBCOMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT, INFORMATION, AND TECHNOLOGY of the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM AND OVERSIGHT
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 23, 1999
"To date, the Postal Service estimates it has spent about $200 million to address the Y2K challenge. In its most recent report to the Office of Management and Budget, the Postal Service estimates it will spend a total of $607 million to resolve the Y2K challenge"
NOOOOWWWWWW ! According to this February 1999 statement, the USPS had spent $200,000,000.00 in 4 years! In the next 9 months, from 2/98 to 11/98 the USPS spent another $200,00,000.00. And they just happened to be $207,000,000.00 off on their 2/99 estimate of how much it would cost.
This is just one, 1, ONE! single example of why I don't trust the media (Oprah included) or the government spinners. SOMETHING IS JUST NOT RIGHT. THE IS SOMETHING ROTTEN IN DENMARK AND IT GIVES ME THE WILLY'S.
I believe that it is possible that the sheeple are being led up Box Canyon on the way to the slaughter house.
Link to USPS February Statement (at which time they didn't even know how many computers they had but could only estimate) http://www.house.gov/reform/gmit/hearings/testimony/990223kc.htm
(hope this appears ok, lots of cut and paste)
-- the Virginian (1@1.com), November 29, 1999.
I strongly encourage you to make comments on Oprah's website and maybe she would be enticed into doing another show with another point of view - http://www.oprah.com/poll.htmlHere's my response to her...
How sad you, Oprah, that you wasted such an opportunity
How sad that you, who have the attention of much of America wasted your hour as you did on Y2K! I have researched for 2 YEARS! I have read most of the GAO reports, Senate hearings (watched some on CSPAN too), Dep't of Commerce reports, Oil company reports, 10Q SEC reports, and on and on! It is not so simple as they said on your show. It is VERY complicated and potentially VERY serious. Your show was totally IMBALANCED. You presented the corporate and government party line.
I have been leading grassroots preparedness groups in our county for a year and also am on the OFFICIAL county Y2K Task Force. Our county here in California is taking the potential for problems SERIOUSLY - one of the few counties. I hope you don't regret what you have done. There is still time to present the other possibilities. What does it hurt to be prepared. Are you prepared to be wrong??? Sheri Nakken, wncy2k@nccn.net http://y2k.nccn.net
-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), November 29, 1999.
I fired this off after taking part in the poll...Dear Oprah,
I've been following the issues behind Y2k for over a year and a half. My views are not extreme in nature. I am not a "suvivalist" or am I pushing panic.
I believe you have missed a very important opportunity which could have saved lives and motivated people. I believe this is something you try to do often. Why you have had a change of heart now leaves me puzzled.
I'm very concerned about real, investigative journalism in this country but I do understand that millionaires and business people are not necessarily interested in the public good.
At one time I felt you were different. However, after your show today I see that you aren't. If you were, this show would have been more balanced. Instead, it was a perfect place to use as a tool for manipulation and spin.
The real story is still out there and even the people you hosted today, when pushed, will tell you that "no one knows" what will happen.
The real story isn't so rosey or cut and dry. And, in too few days, it may become very apparent.
Regardless, your take of Y2k only occuring on "one day" is naive and you should do more research. This is a problem that could be with us for years.
Respectfully,
Michael Taylor
-----------------
Not my best effort but I hope someone there GI : )
======================================================
-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), November 30, 1999.
It really was the show I expected from a network that gets their liscense from the FCC. If you watched it carefully you could see certain obvious patterns develop. The mail, hospitals, water etc.. departments all have emergency electrical backups that will run for at least 3 months with back up generators and deisel stored. Yet our electrical companys are 99.9% compliant!! It really is way past the point in which someone could be swayed from thier opinion anyway, and then to become prepared in a matter of weeks. Vicki
-- Vicki (Vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), November 30, 1999.
I wonder how many millions Oprah has in the stock market???? People get worried, take prudent actions, and her net worth goes down how much? A ton, I'd guess.Oprah's lookin' out for Oprah. Surprise. Sad.
-- joe (joe@adeveloper.net), November 30, 1999.
It could not hurt to write Oprah Winfrey and try to help her understand Y2K better.To write her an e-mail, you can go to http://www.oprah.com/ show/scoop.html
You can also vote in the Y2K poll.
In addition you can contribute to her message board on the topic of the Y2K program aired November 29.
I am sure that with enough people writing, that she would have more programs on Y2K. Let's hope that future programs will be more helpful to the public.
-- Paula Gordon (pgordon@erols.com), November 30, 1999.
From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, CaliforniaI already wrote to Oprah before the show hit the air, as soon as I heard who was going to be on it. Unfortunately, the second paragraph is missing the last word "books", but hopefully her staff will make out what it was supposed to say anyway.
-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), November 30, 1999.