Today's USA Today has a review, written by Robert Bianco, of the upcoming NBC movie, "Y2K". Bianco starts out the review by saying, "Here's my bet on what the fearsome Y2K bug will mean to most of us. Nothing. Oh, there may be a few small, scattered computer-generated disruptions. But otherwise, the whole Y-do-it fuss is just an excuse for computer geeks and headline writers to run amok. It's the millennial version of that great 1973 celestial dud Comet Kohoutek: big buildup, little payoff. So enjoy your paranoia while you can." Bianco then goes on to trash the movie and ends by saying, "Maybe the computers will all crash on Jan. 1--but I don't buy it. And if I'm wrong, I'll apologize to the fear-mongers at "Y2K". Not in print, though. How could I, without a computer? What do you think about this view? Is this guy on the ball or what?

-- Newsreader (newsreader@usatodayrules.com), November 19, 1999

Answers

Does anyone know who Robert Bianco is, and what his credentials are? I believe that some of the media publications are also asking "legitimate" technology-literate experts (e.g., Dr. Howard Rubin, who has testified before the Senate Y2K committee, and is the author of the Cap Gemini surveys on corporate Y2K readiness) to comment on the movie after it airs Sunday night.

-- Ed Yourdon (ed@yourdon.com), November 19, 1999.

Sorry about the typo. The Bianco quote ends with, "How could I, without a computer?" Is this guy right to view Y2K as a trivial issue?

-- Newsreader (newsreader@usatodayrules.com), November 19, 1999.

Bottom line: The more hysterical the denials and smears become (in general), the faster and more thoroughly we need to prepare...

Remember the "ABA sermon", and the forcing from the airwaves of Y2K- related commercials? Methinks I smell rats...

-- Dennis (djolson@cherco.net), November 19, 1999.

Perhaps since Mr. Bianco is so convinced that Y2K is a non-event and "just an excuse for computer geeks and headline writers to run amok", instead of wasting his time on a made-for-TV-movie, he should be writing editorials and petitions against the kooks behind the gov't's $50 million Y2K "communication center" [a bunker by any other name...].

And who cares about his credentials... how 'bout his address! [to congratulate him on his accurate prediction after rollover... of course]

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), November 19, 1999.

I can't figure out what his personal opinion about Y2K has to do with a movie review. Would he have roasted "Deep Impact" based on his opinon of astronomy?

-- Jamie Davis (jdavis@recruitmax.com), November 19, 1999.