Previous | WC Home | WC Index | AGA Home | Next

"Are you doing anything special to prepare for Y2K?"
(asked at the Kirkland Library on 06-02-99; published in the EJ on 06-06-99)

Earl Thurston, Semi-retired, Kirkland

"No. My computer is Y2K-compliant and I'm not on the Internet. I use a friend's computer to access the Internet and his is also Y2K-compliant. I do plan to take out cash before the year ends. I've heard these are the things to do: set aside some cash -- a few hundred dollars; lay in some perishable food, and water; and have a radio, of course. I have a little wind-up radio that's solar-powered, too. I'm all set, but I'm not really worried about it."

Dan Weber, Software engineer, Kirkland

"Nothing beyond what I'd do to prepare for an earthquake, or a tornado -- the same things I would do for a power outage, in case power might be out for up to a week... And I've made sure my computer system is compliant. My machine is relatively new and I keep track of the vendors' updates."

Kristen Benda, Food & beverage sales, Maple Valley

"My company is taking care of my computer. But I'm personally not doing anything, not taking out cash or anything like that... It doesn't bother me at all, really. But I won't be flying that night -- with everyone saying how crazy it's going to be out there that night, I'll just stay home."

Maureen Dobson, Flight attendant, Mercer Island

"No, I'm not doing anything special because I don't think it's going to be that serious of a problem."

Bryan Hildebrand, Surgical technician, Kirkland

"I work in the E.R. at Valley Medical Center and as a department, we're preparing for the potential of the inevitable, like upgrading computer systems... Personally, I think the Y2K problem is far too overblown and the media has perpetuated a non-existence -- has made it a bigger issue than it may truly be."

Louise Gales, Reference librarian, Lake Forest Park

"No, we're not going to be doing anything special. My husband works with computers and by and large he doesn't really foresee any significant problems. I think the only thing we might do is have a little extra cash in case it's harder to write a check."

© 1999 by the Bellevue, WA-based Eastside Journal newspaper.

If you'd like to comment on this Q, you can e-mail EJ Editorial Page Editor Craig Groshart by clicking here. Please be sure to include the following in your message:

1. The title you see at the top of this page.
2. The question to which you're responding(!).
3. Your name, home (aka snail mail) address and daytime phone number.

Thanks for stopping by and reading "The water cooler"!