There have been a series of "Y2K Mile Stones" representing (http://wbn.com/y2ktimebomb/Computech/Issues/hyatt9840.htm) points in time after Jan 1, 1999 and before Jan 1, 2000 that would test the Y2K-computer-catastrophe thesis. The following from borderlands.com is commentary (in brackets) on those Y2K Mile Stones as outlined and explained at the URL cited above: ================================================== http://www.borderlands.com/y2k/nothinghappened.htm ================================================== Borderland Sciences will be updating this as the critical dates pass. Results so far: Nothing much happened. This was sent to me by Bob Roman [EMAIL PROTECTED] Michael Hyatt's Famous Predictions from October 1998 and His use of the word "WILL" Y2K: It's Closer Than You Think By Michael S. Hyatt October 12, 1998 Nine Millennial Milestones That WILL Signal the Chaos to Come Many people think that the disruptions stemming from unresolved Y2K problems WILL begin suddenly at midnight on January 1, 2000. Not so. The technological problems WILL begin in early 1999 and continue through at least February 2000. This WILL result in a gradual unraveling as things begin "coming apart at the seams." There are at least nine millennial milestones that you need to watch for: Milestone #1: January 1, 1999. On this date, testing is scheduled to begin for systems all over the world. As you have no doubt heard, many infrastructure providers and businesses have promised that their systems WILL be ready for testing on this date. According to the Gartner Group, 80 percent of the companies that have announced they WILL begin testing on this date WILL miss it. The travel industry WILL also get its first live test as it begins accepting reservations for dates into the next century. In addition, some business planning systems WILL fail as they begin processing dates beyond Y2K. To add insult to injury, the European Common Currency system goes online. This WILL create its own level of chaos and continued drain on Information Technology resources that could be used on the Year 2000 computer problem. As these problems and others begin to surface, you can expect the media to begin covering Y2K and a significantly more intense level. [Result: Nothing Happened!] Milestone #2: April 1, 1999. On this date, Canada, Japan, and the State of New York begin their fiscal year. This WILL, of course, include dates beyond Y2K. As a result, planning systems, especially budgets that have not been repaired WILL fail as they attempt to process Y2K dates. Since New York City is the media capitol of the world, problems there WILL grab headlines worldwide. Problems in Japan WILL remind everyone again of how interconnected our world is. The Japanese WILL also be forced to admit that there systems might not make it. I expect the stock market to react and begin (or continue) its downward spiral. Public confidence WILL continue to wane and the number of Y2K optimists WILL continue to dwindle. [Result: Nothing Happened! Other than there may be more Y2K optimists.] (Borderlands Note: See http://www.bakersfield.com/top/i--1276597210.asp as it appears some things did happen) Milestone #3: July 1, 1999. On this date, forty-four U.S. states begin their fiscal years. The problems that began in New York WILL now spread exponentially across the country and around the world. The public WILL feel the global and pervasive nature of the Y2K Problem for the first time. This WILL be further exacerbated by the fact that many states have not had the resources to adequately address their Millennium Bug problems. Consequently, the failures WILL be real and widespread. We WILL begin seeing the public begin to panic - particularly where there has not been strong local leadership. [Result: Nothing is happening. Not much public panic. More people believing it is Hoax!] Milestone #4: August 22, 1999. On this date, the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) technology WILL fail in receivers that are not upgraded or replaced. The GPS system consists of twenty-four satellites that transmit signals to earth, which are in turn picked up by electronic receivers to determine a vehicle's exact location and velocity. They are installed in both military and civilian vehicles and devices, including fighters, bombers, commercial and private airplanes, helicopters, trains, ships, submarines, tanks, jeeps, missiles and other "smart" weapons, police cars and ambulances, and some newer-model cars. Unfortunately, this system has a date-related error in its receiver technology. There are some 10 million of these receivers installed throughout the world. Those that are not upgraded WILL produce inaccurate data that could prove to be dangerous and even life threatening. While not specifically a Y2K related problem, this computer glitch WILL add to the chaos and confusion. [Result: Nothing much happened again] (Borderlands Note: See "GPS rollover avoids Y2K-like mess") http://www.msnbc.com/news/299602.asp Milestone #5: September 9, 1999. On this date, many computers WILL encounter the infamous "99" problem. For decades programmers designated the end of a file or the termination of a program by entering a series of four nines in a row (i.e., "9999") in a date field. Much like the Year 2000 Problem, programmers thought that the programs they were writing would surely be replaced before they actually encountered this problem. Unfortunately, they underestimated the longevity their programs would enjoy. This code, like the Millennium Bug, is embedded in millions of computer programs throughout the world. Unless it is tracked down and removed, these programs WILL abruptly terminate - often with unexpected results. [Result: Nothing Happened!] Milestone #6: October 1, 1999. On this date, the federal government WILL begin its fiscal year. According to the most recent estimates by the House Subcommittee on Government Information Management and Technology, thirteen out of twenty- four key federal government agencies WILL not make the deadline. Computer systems operated by the Defense, Transportation, Treasury, and Medicare Departments, among others, WILL begin malfunctioning. All the smoke and mirrors WILL be gone. The government - and the administration - WILL be forced to admit the truth. There WILL be no place to hide. The naked truth WILL be evident to all. [Result: Nothing Happened] Milestone #7: January 1, 2000. On this date, all non-compliant computer systems WILL fail or generate corrupt data, propagating it across systems and bringing down many computers that are compliant. The world WILL watch with anticipation as the systems fail, one time zone at a time. How big WILL it be? No one really knows. It depends on how many systems are repaired between now and January 1, 2000. Perhaps more importantly, it also depends on what kind of contingency plans we have in place in order to mitigate the damage. [What do you think the result will be:] Milestone #8: January 4, 2000. On this date, the first business day of the new year begins. Many businesses, utility companies, and government agencies WILL not open - many WILL not be able to open. Many that do open WILL be swamped with customer complaints. Chaos and pandemonium WILL reign. [What do you think the result will be:] Milestone #9: February 29, 2000. On this date, leap day occurs. Most people assume that every fourth year is a leap year. However, every fourth turn-of-the-century is a leap year, too. The year 1900 was not a leap year; the year 2000 is. Therefore, if the computer doesn't account for the fact that 2000 WILL, in fact, have a February 29, then all kinds of calculations WILL be off, including billing cycles. Unfortunately, many programmers were unaware of this rule, and their programs WILL stumble over this date, increasing the chaos. The bottom line is that you have much less time to prepare than you think. As these dates come and go, the chaos WILL increase, increasing public awareness and, possibly, even public panic. Supplies WILL become more scarce and prices WILL escalate. You cannot afford to wait. You must begin making contingency plans now, before things start unraveling. [What do you think the result will be:] Article found at: http://www.y2ktimebomb.com/Computech/Issues/hyatt9840.htm [ http://wbn.com/y2ktimebomb/Computech/Issues/hyatt9840.htm ] Back to Y2k Hysteria pages =============================================== http://www.borderlands.com/journal/millenni.htm =============================================== ------------------------------------------------------------ GODDARD'S JOURNAL: http://www.erols.com/igoddard/journal.htm ____________________________________________________________
