I came across this today,sure wish the U.S. would treat us like adults .

Government Launches Y2K Awareness Campaign

OTTAWA (AP)  What kind of glitches are waiting to strike in the average Canadian household because of the millennium bug?

Will the dishwasher go haywire? Will the security system shut down? Will the VCR catch the afternoon soaps?

At least some of the answers to these questions appear in a new government brochure, being mailed to 11 million households as part of Industry Canada's year 2000 awareness week starting today.

The main message is: don't panic. Most electronic equipment and appliances are safe from the computer failures that will have businesses and governments spending millions before the end of this year.

The guide being sent out this month includes information on what kinds of products are at risk of malfunctions, how to do tests at home, and who to call for help.

Appliances such as fridges, washers and dryers, vehicles, garden equipment and non-digital household systems like thermostats will not be affected by the bug.

VCRs, video cameras, and security systems, however, could be at risk if they can be programmed to include a date. Advancing the date to Dec. 31, 1999 at 11:59 p.m and waiting to see if it turns to 2000 is one way of determining if there is a problem. Otherwise, calling the manufacturer is the best idea.

 Sorry don't know how to get the url--it was buried in A.P.

-- maji (abc@prepared.com), February 08, 1999

Answers

Maji, I don't recognize your "handle", so I assume you are new to the forum. Some gentle advice. You may not want to read the responses you get to this post. Most of us on this forum are very concerned about preparing for infrastucture failure, that is: No power, no food, no heat, no telephone, no medical services. Most people who post on this forum, including myself, could care less whether a VCR worked next year. Any news article that deals with household appliances is seen as potentially deadly, because it will distract the average person from considering whether they will starve or freeze to death next year. Thanks for the post, but my advice would be to forget household appliances or consumer electronics when you're on this forum.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), February 08, 1999.

Maji, I forgot to add, the only other concern I have other than those mentioned above is whether my net worth will evaporate. See why we don't care about the Nintendo?

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), February 08, 1999.

I understand what your saying but my point would be at least there telling the people. There are far to many ppl in the U.S. that don't have a clue.

-- maji (abc@prepared.com), February 08, 1999.

I agree Maji. The US government should be doing a lot more to inform people of the risks. I wrote Sen. Bennett and asked him to light a fire under the executive branch (Koskinen) but we can only wait and hope.

-- Puddintame (dit@dot.com), February 08, 1999.

Well Maji and Pud, the Canadian gov. isn't really doing any more than the US already has. What this pamphlet is really doing is playing the game of addressing Y2K with the most unsubstantial problem of home appliances, and stressing to not panic. Clinton has said more serious stuff in his brief comment during his televised address, which was viewed by more people than the total amount of Canadians who will bother to read the mailed pamphlets that will be just chucked into the trash along with the other junk mails.

The Canadian gov. had a jump start on talking about Y2K, i.e., operation Abascus etc., but the US has cought up within a couple months. As much if not more media coverage has been done in the US. I have read Clinton Y2K comments/addresses, but still have not seen any of Jean Chretien, Canada's premiere. I've read the canadian papers and watched the t.v. there the past 4 months. Canadians aren't any more aware.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), February 08, 1999.

Dear Chris, it is so nice to see you again.

-- hat chou (hatchou@yahoo.com), February 09, 1999.

Being a Canadian, I feel that we are way behind the Americans as far as awareness of the problem. I am still having a time trying to find serious articles in the news pertaining to Canada.

-- Elly (kusyanto@telusplanet.net), February 09, 1999.

Elly, Second that...

-- westcan (preparing@can.ca), February 09, 1999.