"The Kenyan government has formed a committee to investigate problems that may be caused by the so-called millennium bug - but its final report is due to be published months after the much-prophesised collapse of non-compliant computer systems.
The Daily Nation newspaper reported that the government formed the committee on October 19 and ordered a final report on the consequences of the millennium bug in 18 months time."
Maybe they want the final report to include how effective the disaster recovery plan was.
*Quoted on Reuters Kenya millennium bug report to finish in April 2000. November 2, 1998.- Submitted by Tom Lion.
"With a self-imposed September 1999 deadline looming, Chinese government agencies and government-owned enterprises are hard at work tackling the millennium bug, the China Economic Times said Wednesday.
"The State Council, or Cabinet, decreed last month that all government computer systems must be revised by March, and millennium bug tests must be completed by September 1999. Those that fail to meet the deadlines will be punished."
Sounds like "the floggings will continue until morale improves.
*Quoted on CNET News.com China sprays for Y2K bugs October 21, 1998. Submitted by Tom Lion.
John Koskinen (once again), Y2k czar: "We have been assured that any actions taken are not all computerised. Every action - launching a missile, engaging in any military actions – requires human intervention, so that we are reasonably confident there will not be accidents in terms of systems automatically going off on their own"
Is it just us, or is anyone else bothered by the use of the phrase "reasonably confident" in the same sentence as "launching a missile?"
*Quoted on AFR Net Services Clinton's tsar clears Games on Y2K hurdle October 28, 1998.
Mark Sainsbury, President of the New Zealand Inbound Tour Operators Committee:
"When you are talking about respectable airlines like Air New Zealand, you just take it for granted that they will have that covered. They are not going to let their airplanes drop out of the sky because of the millennium bug."
Mr. Sainsbury admits ITOC has not yet talked with Air New Zealand about the implications of Y2K. "But we're sure they are working hard on the problem. Really sure. Really, really sure. No need to worry. Nothing can go wrong.
*Quoted on NZ Infotech Weekly Y2K hasn't scared away tourists booking NZ trips October 27, 1998.
Stupid Journalism
James Derk, Computer Research Editor for The Evansville Courier:
"Before we get on to reader questions, I’d just like to announce I have solved the Year 2000 crisis. Unless you live in a foxhole, you know that the world as we know it will cease to exist at midnight on Dec. 31, 1999. That’s because all of the computers and electronic devices in the world will think it’s the year 1900 instead of 2000.
My solution? Agree with the computers. We have a golden opportunity here, what we used to call a "do-over" on the playground. We simply agree that it really is 1900 again. We adjust our clocks all the time, why not our calendar?
(Hint: Take your money out of the stock market on Oct. 20, 1929, keep an eye on the Germans in the 1930s and invest heavily in IBM and Microsoft.) An electronic mulligan? Might work. And be sure to speak to Captain Grace Hopper in the 1950's so that COBOL is defined with a four digit default year so we don't have this problem again.
*Quoted on Evansville Indiana Courier Electronic Edition Y2K bug not nearly as difficult as it seems November 9, 1998. Submitted by Heather Westerfield
Stupid E-Mail Entrepreneurs
And now the unofficial list:
All those other entries who's sources couldn't be verified, but we liked anyway
I am on a Y2K committee for our company and was trying to explain to my husband the impact of the year 2000. He just could not understand how it could be such a big issue: "There wasn't a problem in 1900."
Or the other 18 century years before that, for that matter. Submitted by Melody George.
While visiting a computer store here in Toronto, I couldn't help overhearing two eager teenagers arguing about the computer purchase their mother was about to make. One teenager was sure to know every thing there is to know about the year 2000 bug, while the other one was contradicting. Right when I was about to leave one teenager said to the other "When the year 2000 gets here, the coffee cup holder won't open anymore". The salesman found it so amusing they got some free software for making his day. And also made my day. See.
We told you weeks ago to stock up on Y2k compliant coffee supplies. Submitted by Hector Tamm.
I am working on Y2K for one of Australia's leading private hospitals. Part of the process involves checking the compliance of all of our suppliers. One, a small goods supplier for one of the hospital's kitchens, returned this response: "It won't effect me, I'm a supplier"
Good news!* Apparently if your company is a supplier you are off the hook. * Submitted by Tony.
I own a radio station here in Florida. I went in to see one of our advertisers recently and asked, "Have you heard our daily show about Y2K?" She thought for a minute and replied, "You mean the breakfast cereal?" Snap, crackle, pop!
*Submitted by A.D. Whitehurst.
Another in the long line of infamous "unnamed vendors": "we're not worried about Y2K, because all of our systems are fully redundant." In this case, that probably means their systems will fail twice.* Or be twice as expensive to fix.* Submitted by Trevor Holyoak.
A lawyer for one of our clients recently asked for a copy of our Y2K compliance statement. I mailed a copy to him, but he bounced it back. He wanted all references to "the year 2000" changed to "the year 2000 A.D.". Submitted anonymously by someone obviously too close to attorneys with too much time on their hands.