I'm flattered by all the people who have taken the time to dig through everything I've ever posted about Y2K, looking for predictions. Thanks for the publicity!

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), December 13, 1999

Answers

We love you, Steve! We'll catch you on the air sometime and discuss whether or not any of us here are afraid of C languages.

73s!!

-- (ladybuckeye_59@yahoo.com), December 13, 1999.

Hi Steve, It's too bad that some people want to make this discussion personal and nasty. I read your debate with....(I don't remember the other guy) and I thought you did a good job of making your case -- I was impressed with the respectfullness and professional attitudes on both sides. It is a shame that this whole discussion has degenerated into name calling, vulgarity and personal slander.

By-the-way, I am now studying for my ham license (a little late, I'm afraid). I would like to invest a couple of hundred dollars in a hand- held shortwave radio that I could use to communicate with the EOC (Emergency operations center) here in Miami. I'm about 25 miles from the EOC location. Any suggestions? I realize I should invest in a regular base short-wave that could do 10, 20 or 40 meters, but I don't have the bucks right now for long-distance communication.

-- JoseMiami (caris@prodigy.net), December 13, 1999.

For a handheld 2m radio, I like the Alinco DJ-190. It's reasonably inexpensive (<$150, maybe <$100 if you find it on sale), can develop 5 watts with a 12-V power supply, has provisions for attaching a better antenna, and is relatively easy to use. I've routinely communicated with a repeater over 20 miles away with such a radio.

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), December 13, 1999.

cool. Thanks! any suggestions where I might buy one?

-- JoseMiami (caris@prodigy.net), December 13, 1999.

Candy Store . AES Amateur Electronic Supply Their 800 number is 800-327-1917 in ORLANDO. Ask for used equipment. They are at 621 Commonwealth Ave, Orlando, Fl 32803

www.aesham.com

800-558-0411 Nationally.

I hjave dealt with them MANY times in Cleveland and have found them to be Extremely helpful and professional. Just not the best price in town. Best service and best info, though.

chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 13, 1999.

RadioShack.com usually has them in stock. They're on sale for $99.95 right now. You can order online here. By the way, I have no stake in Radio Shack other than as a satisfied customer.

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), December 13, 1999.

It's the fact that you expect people to buy your books because you are a supposed expert that is the most laughable part. I think if more people were aware of your prognostications, your publishing career would be over.

You Knowwho (debunk@doomeridiots.com), December 13, 1999.

This is an excellent example of the lack of logic of "pollys", as my views on Y2K have no bearing on my knowledge of C++. But I guess I should post my resume link again so people can make up their minds about my expertise in programming. Of course, I don't expect "You Knowwho" to do the same, as he/she undoubtedly has the expertise of "Cherri" (i.e., none to speak of).

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), December 13, 1999.

So Steve Heller; Lets apply the KISS princple here: i.e. PREDICTIONS;

1--- YES, you did!!

2--- No , you did not!

Simple,Huh?

-- truth seeker (yosteve@thetruthtable.com), December 13, 1999.

Steve,,your ham web site helped me get the info I needed, along with more incentive to get my ham license in May...Since then I have upgraded and am currently now at "advanced" level....Even if y2k is a 'bump in the road',,,I have a great new hobby,,,,and met a lot of great people.

Thanks your your hard work on this web site !

-- mmmm (mmmm@mmmm.com), December 13, 1999.

Interesting. I asked Mr. Heller if he really made the quote that was posted here....my question was deleted along with the quote. Is this because there is a "pact" within the preparedness movement to "watch each others back"?

All I need is a simple answer from Steve....did you make that quote or not? Or is this another polly trick to make certain individuals look bad in regards to y2k?

"The good news? You (and all the other pollyannas who have your head stuck in the sand) will stop consuming valuable resources, like air." - Steve Heller

-- Answer (the@question.please), December 13, 1999.

Steve,

From your resume, would it be safe to say that your expertise lies only in the area of code remediation? Are you a Subject Matter Expert in other areas: power, telecomm, embedded systems, etc. Regards,

-- brian fleming (bfleming@yahoo.com), December 13, 1999.

Brian,

To find someone who claims expertise in every area you'll need to visit Charlie Reuben, the real estate salesman, over on the Debonker's website.

-- (TrollPatrol@sheesh.now), December 13, 1999.

Troll Patrol,

I do not believe that Mr. Reubens is an expert in the above fields (from what I could gather) - who here at this site is a "real" engineer (degreed) with experience in the critical areas. Have been surfing a number of sites and see alot of information and claims but usually the statements (really critical of a particular industry) are anoymous/second hand or by individuals with no formal education or experience in the field. Did enjoy the information posted by Dick Mills concerning the Power Industry - he seemed to try and really analyse the situation in a rational and even-handed manner. It would be really great if someone with his credentials (verifable) would come forward in the other areas: embedded systems, telecommunications, etc. I realize that some may claim its too late - but hopefully someone can post links to a few "real" experts.

-- brian fleming (bfleming@yahoo.com), December 13, 1999.

Uh, Steve? Really, in reference to the title of this thread....ummm....you aren't important. Really. Since very few people have any insight to what is 'going to' happen in a few days, yours is just another voice...albeit, a little louder than everyone else's.The fact that you still post after your pedictions illustrates that at the very least, you have chutzpah. If I don't get the chance in 17 days, thanks....and goodbye.

-- Bad Company (johnny@shootingstar.com), December 13, 1999.

brian:

see THE YEAR 2000 AS RACKET AND RUSE by by Nicholas Zvegintzov (he is listed on the Russ Kelly experts site.

for embedded systems expertise, contact Cherri Stewart. you can find some of her writings on this page.

-- sort (this@out.quick), December 13, 1999.

ONe last practical question, Steve, if you have'nt gotten disgusted with some of the postings on this thread already.

Do I need a ham license to operate the Alinco that you recommended? I believe you said that it was the 2 merer band. -

-- JoseMiami (caris@prodigy.net), December 13, 1999.

JoseMiami,

Steve won't be at his desk for a few hours, so I will answer your question for him. Yes, you do need a ham radio license to transmit on a 2 meter band radio. You can listen all you want without one.

Susan

-- Susan Heller (suheller@koyote.com), December 13, 1999.

It's not C I'm afraid of its those clunky VI text editors that bite. It reminds me of trying to do Calculus without a graphing calculator. With slide rules we get to the moon with calculators we run a couple million into the Martian dust.

-- Squid (Itsdark@down.here), December 13, 1999.

Hate to appear like I'm breaking my wrist trying to pat myself on the back - but I appear to have the technical, professional, personal, and/or classroom experience in each of those fields you're asking for.

Which really means I'm smart enough to know that the experts in each field I've either worked in or been trained about know much, much more than I do, and that I'm smart enough to know what are my limits in each field. However, I do have experience in these areas that are affected by y2k-induced trobules, and talk comfortably to any required level about each - at least to the level needed tounderstand the impact of computer/software/database errors in each field : industrial distribution, manufactoring, shipping, warehousing, trucking, mechanical engineering, structural engineering and failure analysis, civil engineering and waterworks/sewage plants, nuclear and fossil power, nuclear physics, radiation health, nuclear reactor dynamics, heat transfer, fliud flow, nuclear rate and accident analysis, chemical plants, pulp and paper mills, food production, refineries, oil production/extraction/EOR, HVAC and building controls, national distribution, shipping, oil transfer, loading/offloading shipping, enginerooms and diesel power/diesel generators, natural gas generators and stored power, natural gas pumping/control stations, pipelines and gas, systems controls and control theory, instruments and calibration (a field NOBODY has talked about!), electronics, electrical power, electrical distribution, communications, satellites, networks, computer (hardware), computer (software, software testing, software test design and analysis, software debugging, software spec's and sales, software design (NOT programming itself - only finding/fixing problems and keeping the client happy when programs break), remote and loacla site installations and trouble shooting...), industrial process controls, industrial efficiency management/process improvement, ISO, TQM, QA, JIT, statistical process controls, etc.

In my humble opinion - nobody has been able to see all the interfaces, and nobody has yet been able to anticipate all the problems possible. At best, many experts see much more in their individual industries than I do - but nobody is anticipating al the "failures" in the cracks between systems. Frankly, nobody is able to predict and prevent all the interfaces possible between systems.

Even with a lot of dedicated work by experts, workers, and technicians as we try to recover - and assuming no massive social disruptions - it is going to be nasty in many million unexpected ways.

We will recover - there is too much long range economic pressure for goods and services for things to fail for an extended period - but it will take a while until the recovery from this event - which could have been prevented by proper action at the proper time - is over.

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), December 13, 1999.

Interesting. I asked Mr. Heller if he really made the quote that was posted here....my question was deleted along with the quote. Is this because there is a "pact" within the preparedness movement to "watch each others back"?

All I need is a simple answer from Steve....did you make that quote or not? Or is this another polly trick to make certain individuals look bad in regards to y2k?

"The good news? You (and all the other pollyannas who have your head stuck in the sand) will stop consuming valuable resources, like air." - Steve Heller

-- Answer (the@question.please), December 13, 1999.

It sounds familiar, but I can't find it in my Web pages about Y2K. If I did say, it was in response to a series of insults from one of the "commentators" who likes to make fun of people who are preparing. If the person who quoted it will give the full citation, I think you'll see that I'm correct about the context.

As for whether anyone is covering my back, I have no privileged position on this board. The sysops make their own determinations of what is allowable and what isn't.

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), December 13, 1999.