From today's news...

--On the interconnectedness of the global economy:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/f/AP-Economy.html

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The trade deficit shot up to $15.5 billion in November as American exports of aircraft, computer equipment and farm products fell sharply while imports climbed to an all-time high.

The November deficit was up 14 percent from a revised October figure of $13.6 billion, the Commerce Department reported today. U.S. manufacturers continued to be battered by the global financial crisis, which has cut deeply into their export sales while triggering a flood of cheaper imports into the United States.

In fact, with one month still to be counted, the U.S. trade deficit in goods and services has already hit an all-time high of $153.9 billion, surpassing the old mark of $153.4 billion set back in 1987.

--On the more frightening aspects of "Democracy":

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/p/AP-Quayle.html

By The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- Former Vice President Dan Quayle reportedly will go on cable television tonight to outline his plan to seek the Republican nomination for president in 2000.

``I am uniquely positioned and prepared to be president. I can assure you I am serious. I am committed,'' Quayle said in today's Indianapolis Star and News. He is to discuss his plans tonight on CNN's ``Larry King Live.''

--On the "Nuclear Question":

http://www.southam.com/ottawacitizen/newsnow/cpfs/national/990121/n012101.html

Roche warns of nuclear threat with Y2K bug

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. (CP) - Thousands of computerized nuclear weapon systems in Russia and the United States could be activated by the Y2K bug, with potentially disastrous consequences, says Canadas former disarmament ambassador.

Senator Doug Roche said Wednesday that the 5,000 nuclear weapons each held by Russia and the U.S. are on alert status and can be fired with 30 minutes notice but an accident is possible if theyre not taken off alert before midnight Dec. 31.

"A lot of people are very concerned," said Roche. "If something goes wrong, it could jeopardize the planet."

He said pressure is mounting worldwide to remove the alert status.

"Why take a needless risk?" he asked.

-- On the National Guard:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPlate/1999-01/21/075l-012199-idx.html

Some Plan to Call Out National Guard for Y2K

By Steve Vogel Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, January 21, 1999; Page J03

As the countdown to 2000--and to the millennium computer problem-- gets underway, a few states are preparing to call out the National Guard to cope with civil disorder or breakdowns in essential services that some fear will result from computer failures.

In Washington state, the National Guard is getting ready to mobilize half its ground troops for the new millennium. About 3,000 troops will be on duty at 39 armories across the state on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 as a precaution, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported recently.

In Wisconsin, the state assembly earlier this month advanced legislation that would mobilize that state's National Guard to respond to so-called Y2K emergencies.

Under the legislation, guard units there would be ready to provide security, emergency shelter and medical services, transportation, water distribution, cleanup services, search and rescue services and portable generators, according to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

So far, at least, there are no real plans to put National Guard units in the District, Maryland or Virginia on the streets when 2000 comes ringing in. But no one is ruling it out, either.

In Maryland, mobilization for the computer problem is being "talked about in theory" but will not be considered until the spring or early summer, according to Capt. Drew Sullins, a spokesman for the Maryland National Guard. "We haven't started planning in earnest at all," Sullins said. Such planning would depend on getting a warning order from the governor's office, he added, and none has been received.

The Virginia Guard also has no plans to mobilize, according to Maj. Tom Wilkinson, a spokesman for the Guard. "That's the first I've heard of that," Wilkinson said. Officers with the D.C. National Guard have been meeting with the District's Emergency Management Agency, which is developing a plan to prepare the city for Y2K. Thus far, there is no talk of mobilizing troops, according to Lt. Col. Phyllis Phipps-Barnes, spokeswoman for the D.C. Guard. "That's premature at this point in time," she said.

"As far as the D.C. National Guard is concerned, right now there are no plans for doing any kind of mobilization," Phipps-Barnes said. "When it comes to be next September, maybe we'll feel differently."

--More on the Global Economy: (this is probably the most important story of the day)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-01/21/048r-012199-idx.html

Foreign Nations Trail U.S.On Y2K Fixes, Expert Says

By Stephen Barr Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, January 21, 1999; Page A23

Most foreign countries trail the United States in addressing potential Year 2000 computer problems, raising concerns that the "Y2K bug" could disrupt maritime shipping, air transportation, oil supplies and other sectors of world trade, a top government intelligence analyst said yesterday.

Lawrence K. Gershwin of the National Intelligence Council, a group of government and private-sector experts that reports to the CIA director, said Eastern Europe, Russia, Latin America, the Middle East, Africa and several Asian nations show little progress in resolving Y2K problems.

But Gershwin, the council's national intelligence officer for science and technology, declined to spell out what Y2K troubles abroad would mean for the U.S. economy and government.

"We cannot yet provide good answers or predictions that would be meaningful on the consequences," he said at a House hearing on Y2K readiness.

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), January 21, 1999

Answers

Hey, look on the bright side. Mayby if they cant import, our trade deficit will go down. Ok, well it thought.

Rob or any of you other financial wiz kids, what's the buzz on the streets. When is this fortold financial earthquake??ww

-- WAYNE WITCHER (WWITCHER@MVTEL.NET), January 21, 1999.

Thanks for making me feel so positive about our future today pshannon.

grumble, grumble... let's go through some more preps.. NOW...

STFrancis

-- STFrancis (STFrancis@heaven.com), January 21, 1999.

Dan Quail as the President of the Untied States has always been a fritening prospect. He would probly appoint Gary North as Secretary of Re-education.

-- Bill Bradley (Former@Senator.Gov), January 21, 1999.

I have a quote hanging on my wall from the then VP Dan Quayle. "Whenever someone brings up the possibility of our entire computer-based economy collapsing because of this year 2000 thing, it just makes me laugh. All Congress needs to do is instead of calling the year 2000 the year 2000, call it 1950. That way, we have another 50 years to solve the problem."

-- sam (we're@theend.com), January 21, 1999.

Sam -

What's your source for that quote? Quayle was VP until 1992. Was there actually any high-level discussion of Y2K back then? Surprising...

Quayle's image was and is as much a media contruct as that of any public figure (and more than most), and his Midwest conservative views, country-club demeanor, and bland (and frankly a bit boring) style made him an easy target. Spelling errors? Geez, scan this forum. Some of us make Quayle look like the winner of the National Spelling Bee. Our current VP makes statements about the environment in his book that are breathtaking in their wooly-headedness, and absolutely no one in the media keeps hammering him about that.

Some outlets had to reconsider their stance later on. To quote the Atlantic Monthly back in 1992: "Dan Quayle Was Right!"

Wouldn't vote for him m'self, but not because I believe what the flacks have written about him. Haven't we all seen enough Y2K spin to realize that what we read is simply what they want us to read? Didn't the TIME article teach us anything?

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), January 21, 1999.

pshannon,

Thanks for your hard work finding those links. You helped save me a lot of time today! :-)

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), January 21, 1999.

pshannon, Yes thank you very much for all of your hard work. Im new to this forum, but already recognize you as one of the cornerstones.

Mac, No, have no good source, I've had it for a year or so, forgot where I got it.

-- sam (we're@theend.com), January 21, 1999.

Dan Quayle said that recently (within the past 1 1/2 - 2 years) as a former vice pres. I remember the quote too. It was all over the forums.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), January 21, 1999.

pshannon has always been cornerstoned on this forum.

*****love ya, guy******

-- Lisa (lisab@shallc.com), January 21, 1999.

Thanks, gang...just trying to do my little part...i've been cornerstoned in all sorts of places...

Don't forget to check out the thread Paul Milne started about the "Foreign Nations Trail U.S.On Y2K Fixes, Expert Says" story from the Wash Post.

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 000PVv

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), January 21, 1999.

pshannon, Thanks for the post most of us might miss from the newspapers and such. I do have a question: I have been reading the papers about the Prez "State Of Union" except I haven't read anything about the UN and all the National Parks that they will be owners of because of The USA's debt to the UN . HAve you located any news concerning this ??? Just would like to know ? Thanks again for doing what you do so well. Furie.

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), January 22, 1999.

Thanks pshannon for your links. If you don't mind I'll use the same thread since it's a good subject for a couple links I have and I hate to start new threads to add to the maze.

All those links can be viewed at fredom.gov Y2K page

1/20/99. President Needs Y2K Focus Majority Leader Armey called on the president to produce a real plan to adress the Y2K problem: "The Year 2000 problem will hit us in 343 days, whether we're ready or not. Paying only lip service to the issue won't make it go away. The president needs a real plan to ensure that our nation's closely entwined computer networks are ready." [Source: Armey Response to State of the Union, 1/19/99]

Congress Urges President to Budget for Y2K In a letter, Congressional leaders urge the president to budget the money needed for fixing the Year 2000 computer problem up front. The problem is a known one and one that can be solved, the letter argues. We must not wait until it's too late. [Source: Letter to the president, 1/14/99]

Congress to Conquer Y2K Ahead of Schedule "Even though the rest of the nation may not be ready for the problem known as Y2K, the 106th Congress appears well on the way to completing the necessary conversions to avoid a computer disaster on Jan. 1, 2000." The article cited below goes on to mention Congress' Y2K Team, which has acted to ensure that all phases of the Y2K compliance program will be completed by third quarter 1999. "Unlike Congress, the rest of the federal government is, for the most part, unprepared for the potential dire effects of the Y2K scenario," the article continues. [Source: B. Jonathan Osborne, The Hill, 1/6/99](no links given)

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), January 22, 1999.