Y2K +5

Happy New Year! Its 2005. Given the hysteria five years ago, it's remarkable that we made it to this point (and I say this while acknowledging the great earthquake / tsunami disaster of a week ago and the events of September 11, 2001).

Just so you remember some of the dire predictions for the millenium (which really didn't occur until midnight January 1, 2001!), here are some:

• The electrical power grids would crash (that didn't happen until August 2003)


• The banking networks would collapse


• The air traffic control system would be inoperable and airliners would have to land unaided

Happily, none of that ever happened (to my knowledge) and now it looks like a fit of overconcern on everyone's part. Of course, all the work done leading up to the event may have had something to do with why nothing ever happened. Imagine the reaction if nothing had been done and even one of these disasters had occurred!