Getting Ready for Y2K

[Blade]

Survey time: what's the view on the looming Y2K problem -- some folks are predicting catastophic shutdowns of vitals services while others say it will only be a minor problem inside the next 12 months.

For those who don't know, Y2K refers to the "mellennium bug" where computer systems are unable to recognize the Year 2000 causing problems with a time/date based computer systems and networks.

Ross Anderson of Cambridge University's computer security division says, "Next year we will see periods of calm broken by occasional news stories predicting computer systems failures." He adds, "My own feeling is that around August or September panic will start, with hoarding of food, weapons and bank notes. Then the whole thing becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy."

We talk here of being prepared! What's the take on Y2K? At least if technology as we know it goes belly up, we'll be armed!

-->BLADE


[This message has been edited by Blade (edited 14 December 1998).]

 

[Jim March]

There's lots of this sort of thing all over. My opinion, it's overstated, at least in the US. I'm a bit worried about the creaky old centralized data processing of the old Soviet states and maybe China; if I'm right we'll have annoyances but we might end up with a whole bunch of little "Somalia-style" brushfights.

I'm particularly skeptical of the so-called "string of nines" glitch, see also www.gunforums.com Y2K forum.

Jim March (PC/Mac/LAN tech support specialist and LAN admin, resume on request, last four months at a major bank.)

 

[Hal]

Blade: Like Jim, I work *in the business* and from what I have seen so far is the total shutdown of humanity as we know it. People eating their children and pets. People trying to scrape dust into their flour to extend it just a bit ,,,,,,,sorry got off on a tangent

The truth is that no one knows for sure what will happen. I expect minor disruptions, followed by major hysteria and over-reaction. As for myself, I am stocking up on bargins where I find them on stuff I would normally buy anyhow( Ammo, medical/first aid, reloading supplies, KNIVES, canned food,..etc). I may even consider that generator that I have put off buying for the last 10 years. My plan is to plan for the worst, within reason, and use the stuff after if I don't need it.I can't see how being prepared, without going the way of the '50's bomb-shelter route, is such a bad thing. 99% of the stuff I am getting is what I would eventually buy anyhow. This could be an excellent thread covering what items would be good to have if things went wrong, and how these items could be used if nothing happens.

 

[Blade]

Great idea Hal, lets open this survey up to not only what people think Y2K will do but also what types of "Millennium Bug" survival preparations might be made.

We can have some fun with this thread and just might generate a few good ideas along the way

:0

Let the Millennium Games begin!!!!

-->BLADE


[This message has been edited by Blade (edited 14 December 1998).]

[This message has been edited by Blade (edited 14 December 1998).]

 

[chance]

Checked with the manufacturer of my furnace thermostat - it's OK. gonna get a generator, can always use that anyway. Might get a supply of gasoline. already got a MG, handguns, KNIVES, ammo etc. Can't eat my pet - love him WAY too much and besides... he's old and would be tough

Could be a good excuse to clean up the neighborhood, though.

 

[Tristan Trelaine]

There's a newsgroup that talks all about this type of stuff. You can get to it through deja-news. It's another newsgroup like rec.knives. Here's the address:

www.my-dejanews.com and look for the group misc.survivalism.

As for me, I think preparing for things to be bad (not total world shutdown) is not a bad idea. Buy more of what you buy already, and be prepared to have disruptions in electricity and all the things that electricity grants us.

 

[Joe Talmadge]

I don't have a good feel for what will happen, but since many people more informed than me feel that something probably will happen, I am preparing for y2k just like I prepare for an earthquake that may or may not occur. Like Jim, my gut feel is that the local effects won't be that bad; the macro effects on the global economy I'm not so sure about.

What I'm basically preparing for is some not-too-heavy local effects. Perhaps some short-term disruption of electricity, etc.

My basic preparation? Prepare for a week's worth of disruptions, and by "prepare" I mean to live it out fairly comfortably. It isn't much different than my earthquake preparations, quite frankly. A week's worth of food, pet food, medicine, light, cash-on-hand, some way to stay warm, some way to cook the food, some way to be able to listen to the radio even if the power is out, some way to purify water. Some way to handle a small fire (disruption of service, remember?). Some way to communicate with my small circle of like-minded and trusted friends.

Basically, a cross between preparations for a weeklong camping trip and a big earthquake. Even if I'm overreacting, I won't feel too silly, because my prep is all applicable to earthquake prep in this area anyway. It's allowed me to think about my earthquake prep more, and to make sure I'm a bit more comfortable than my previous spartan preparations.


Joe
jat@cup.hp.com





[This message has been edited by Joe Talmadge (edited 16 December 1998).]