I found this on CNN's financial section on their website, if anyone is interested:

http://www.cnnfn.com/specials/y2k/

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), January 03, 1999

Answers

As General MacAullife(sp?) said to the Germans when asked to surrender during the WWII Battle of the Bulge: "Nuts!"

No reflection on you, but this article is just so damned typical! I'm not in any mood tonight to hear once more that, "Airplanes will crash from the sky." - no matter in what context that silly-ass remark is made. It's the all-too-common stereotype used by a writer who wants to ascribe that image to the the "Y2K maniacs" like me, I guess.

I just got off the phone with my son who just graduated and got a nice job in Bloomington, MN as a computer graphics artist running the graphics department for a small printing company. He is scared to death of Y2K, but is a logically based straight thinking "10". We talked for over two hours. Other than keeping our heads, planning for survival, etc., the other main subjects were, as always: 'When will the government stop lying to us and when will the press get it?' Though there have been some improvements in the TV press of late, but it's peanuts compared to the scope.

As a father, I am as concerned that his future may be short changed.

BW

-- Bob Walton (waltonb@kdsi.net), January 03, 1999.

>As a father, I am as concerned that his future may be short changed.<

Boy Bob, as a mother, do I ever relate. My daughter graduated this last year with a graphics art degree and is working for a printing company in their art department. This morning we had a talk on the phone long distance, also about Y2k. It makes me so angry to think that any of my children are going to be "short changed". All I know what to do is comfort and encourage and make plans. If you have any other advice, I'm willing to listen.

Cary

-- Cary Mc from Tx (Caretha@compuserve.com), January 03, 1999.

Well, in keeping with the graphic artists theme : )

I'm a self-employed graphics designer/art director in Los Angeles and, more importantly, I'm the father of a 2 1/2 year old. All my hopes and dreams are right there in his smile and his tears and the way he reaches for my hand. I simply cannot express in words the fears and helplessness I feel at times when contemplating his future.

I have seen such a catastrophic degradation in the opportunities and benefits provided to young people that I think it will take a major step backward in order for my son to one day have the same opportunities my parents had in the 1940's, 50's and 60's.

I don't know where, when or how it became acceptable that parents could allow their children to live in a world where they would not do as well as they themselves did.

I wish all children well this year and beyond. It's not too late to put their future ahead of our own and leave a legacy we can be proud of. Y2k shouldn't be the last chapter in their life's story.

Mike ==========================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), January 04, 1999.

Well said, Michael!

I echo all of your thoughts. Why indeed must we "suffer the slings and arrows" of this "outrageous fortune", Y2K, that could have been prevented long ago were it not for utter greed and stupidity.

BW

-- Bob Walton (waltonb@kdsi.net), January 04, 1999.

Our culture has taught us that the so-called civilized life is the only life worth living. Where almost every product has it's price in pollution and menial labor, where urban noise and ugliness make up our sensory background. Where most people only enjoy themselves for two weeks a year "on vacation". Where the pace is so fast we don't even realize it unless we can get away to a remote location for a month or more. If you prepare well you will be able to live with, and enjoy your children, instead of sending them off some place to grind out a living. Just LIVING is ok. We don't have to GET SOMEWHERE.

-- David Hammer (davidone@worldnet.att.net), January 04, 1999.

David,

You had me going right up to the point you say,

Sorry, can't buy that definition of "living". To quote Desiderata: "With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world." My son doesn't consider his career to be just "grinding out a living". He is very excited to have a challenging job that he enjoys every day.

Life is meant to be experienced. Holding children close to the nest, as your post implies, is not my idea of enabling them to experience life and grow. In so doing, you limit their progress to your own views and biases, be they good or bad. Further, your life's scenerio would preempt all exploration, which built this country. Much too pessimistic, even in light of this Y2K damnation we face!

BW

-- Bob Walton (waltonb@kdsi.net), January 04, 1999.