Overall advice and thoughts
Steve Bergen (sb@teachingcompany.com) 12/18/99

(1) Following the lead of the MIT article on 12/17/99, we at the "Summercore" Teaching Company will be turning off all computers on Thursday 12/30 and not turning them on again until Monday 1/3/1900 or Monday 1/3/2000 (whichever comes first) .. in my role as computer coordinator at Noble and Greenough School, I will say that we are following the same policy on campus with all machines

(2) Anyone with a PC should do a bit of checking to find out if his/her computer model is Y2K compliant BEFORE 1/1/00; below the picture below are links to all manufacture sites, as well as several free testers to test your PC. If the BIOS chip has not been reset (and needs to), then some PCs will not start up after 1/1/00 and things get more complicated to fix.

(3) Sample statement from one manufacture (Compaq) "If you purchased your PC hardware on or after October 7, 1997, Compaq warrants that it passes the National Software Testing Laboratories' (NSTL) YMARK2000 test"

(4) Anyone with a Mac need not worry, even though some software anamolies might occur (e.g. older version of ClarisWorks) in the year 2000

(5) Anyone with an older VCR might want to set the year to 1972 (same year that Boston Bruins last won the Stanley cup) since the days of the week of that year match the days of the week of the year 2000

(6) In terms of personal preparation, I love the metaphor of preparing for Y2K as if it were predictions of a major winter storm. I have purchased about $100 of batteries (serious) and water and some quality flashlights. I am thrilled to shut off all computers for 4 days and get off e-mail. This past fall, I took a 3 month sabbatical and went without any e-mail or web access. It was incredibly refreshing and I expect a mini-version of the same on the weekend of Y2K. For years, I have used the metaphor of "Templeton effects" as part of the law of unexpected consequences when fixing computer hassles. I know there will be some "Templeton effects" around the world regarding Y2K. There have to be unexpected consequences. My only hope is that they are simply amusing stories (e.g. Larry Bird and Bill Laimbeer locked in an elevator for 24 hours) and nothing of major consequences (e.g. complications in hospitals re medicine delivery).

(7) This tip has been circulating the internet and may be of help to some of you;

===> You may think your PC is "Y2K" compliant, and some little tests may have actually affirmed that your hardware is compliant, and you may even have a little company sticker affixed to your system saying "Y2K compliant"... but you'll be surprised that Windows may still crash unless you do this simple exercise below. Easy fix but something Microsoft seems to have missed in certifying their software as Y2K compliant. This is simple to do, but VERY important. Click on "START." Click on "SETTINGS." Double click on "Control Panel." Double click on "Regional settings" icon (look for the little world globe). Click on the "Date" tab at the top of the page (last tab on the top right). Where it says, "Short Date Sample," look and see if it shows a "two digit" year format ("YY"). Unless you've previously changed it (and you probably haven't) -- it will be set incorrectly with just the two Y's. . . it needs to be four! That's because Microsoft made the 2 digits setting the default setting for Windows 95, Windows 98 and NT. This date format selected is the date that Windows feeds *ALL* application software and will not rollover into the year 2000. It will roll over to the year 00. Click on the button across from "Short Date Style" and select the option that shows, "mm/dd/yyyy" or "m/d/yyyy". (Be sure your selection has four y's showing, not just "mm/dd/yy). Then click on "Apply." Then click on "OK" at the button. Easy enough to fix. However, every "as distributed" installation of Windows worldwide is defaulted to fail Y2K rollover.

A few useful sites for checking your PC

• Visit the web site of your computer hardware company to see if your specific model is Y2K-ready or if you can download a patch to reset the BIOS chip .. this particular link is for Compaq
• Download a free program to check the BIOS chip
  1. test 2000 from rightime
  2. tic-tocpro
  3. ontrack
• Excellent compendium of manufacturers so you can check your specific model

Y2K Links (for those of you who want to worry)

• Explanation of "The Basics" from www.coggan.com
• Translated from a Roman scroll 2BC .. a bit of y2k humor
• More Y2K Humor ... this time from www.coggan.com
• More Y2K Business Implications from Business Computer Ltd
• Get yourself a fee e-mail report on Y2K
• Headland Financial Associates will put you onto a regular e-mail update list and sells a $39..85 PC only program ... The Wall Street Journal calls it "the most expensive industrial accident of all time." ...In just a little more than a year, the false feeling of world stability is going to come crashing down around you - and there is absolutely nothing you can do to stop it. (e-mail: Y2K@headland.com)

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I have been reading the excellent book called The Y2K Survival Guide by Bruce Webster (e-mail: bwebster@osgcorp.com). Bruce Webster maintains his own site and states that his published info on his web site can be freely used and copied as long as credit is given. We have used info on this excellent web site as part of the Y2K video from Kim Ritter. The web sites below have been recommended by Bruce Webster (pages 482-501)

1. Daily Y2K Press Clippings .. this is amazing .. a listing of Y2K articles for each of the most recent days!
2. Experts on Y2K and ratings on whether or not their latest prediction is better or worse than earlier. Fascinating web page!
3. www.y2ktoday.. a collection of Y2K articles
4. www.y2knews ... articles, radio shows, video store, and so on .. lots to buy!
5. www.cbm.org
6. www.y2k.links
7. netcom
8. www.yourdon.com
9. www.year2000.com

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   Don't Think
   
   It's All Right
   

   original song by Bob Dylan of course, new lyrics 2/99 by Steve Bergen
   guitar help from Bob Lasher

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   Seth Fischer (rainday@earthlink.net) writes: "Your song is getting rave reviews by my colleagues here....(even your singing). This is good stuff!"

   Edie Carey writes: "Thank you for passing those along --such clever lyrics!"

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   Copyright pending .... I have sent in Form PA to Library of Congress for the lyrics of Don't Think Y2K ... I am planning to contact Bob Dylan's agent for permission to use the music ... I have been told that section 107 of the Copyright laws contain info about the use of parody in terms of constituting a musical exception ... Steve Bergen 3/27/99

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   Listen to Bobby L sing verses 1&2 (849K) or perhaps verses 3&4 (899K)
   If you have an MP3 player (perhaps from musicmatch) feel free to listen to download Bob Lasher's MP3 versions verses 1&2 (624K) ... or verses 3&4 (661K) or a CD quality version mp3 (3 meg) of the entire song! This is perfectly legal and honest unlike what a MEGA-number of college students are doing these days! See the music page for more links on MP3!

   Other Songs on the web by Steve Bergen and Bobby Lasher with MP3 files that you can download (2-3 meg)

   1. The Ballad of John Templeton
   2. Recovering Files is Hard to Do

   
   • Note#1: if on a modem, each audio segment may take 1-3 minutes to download and play!
     
   • Note#2: sometimes audio trouble is related to what version of Netscape or Internet Explorer you are using!
     
   • Note#3: these sounds were recorded using Ultra Recorder as AIF files and then converted to AU files with ConvertMachine to 11025Hz, Mono to keep file size small
   • Note#4: with tech overview from Alex Slawsby, I have learned to make MP3 files using the PC software from musicmatch jukebox ... I was disappointed that the file size reduced from 900K to 600K, not more