X-Message-Number: 10120
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 11:21:59 +0100
From:  (John de Rivaz)
Subject: Y2K

Whereas there is obviously a lot to be said in favour of caution over Y2K, 
it is also true that the news media and people in general seem to love a 
crisis. There is an awful lot of money to be earned in persuading people to 
spend money over fear of a crisis.

The local press in Cornwall are having a field day over the 1999 full solar 
eclipse visible here. It is even suggested that the Army be called in to 
control the traffic, shops will run out of food, bank machines will run out 
of cash and so on and so forth. The fact remains that the first few weeks of 
August are usually cloudy, and even if not the local conditions will 
probably mean that a mist will precipitate during the partial phase of the 
eclipse rendering the total eclipse and corona invisible. I have lived here 
for 20 years and cannot recall an 11th August when it was not cloudy (being 
aware for a long time that that is the date of the eclipse).
http://www.earthview.com/timetable/1999aug11.htm

If there is an event in a local town such as the Tall Ships race in Falmouth 
lawyers acting on behalf of local authorities take out huge adverts in the 
papers announcing traffic restrictions (much bigger than adverts actually 
announcing the event). Despite the authorities' best efforts, (park and ride 
etc) some visitors to the event took 7 hours to get out of the town, 
according to press reports.

I think the real risk to cryonic activities of any such people made event, 
is not the event itself, but the news media and the authorities' reaction to 
it. Fortunately liquid nitrogen is not a household item, and most people 
will not therefore stockpile it. The main risk, as identified in another 
cryomessage, is if its manufacture is interrupted for a long period. The 
chances of this, I suggest, are low. However if this were to happen, lawyers 
and politicians could enforce restrictions on supply. 

-- 
Sincerely,     * Longevity Report:  http://www.longevb.demon.co.uk/lr.htm
John de Rivaz  * Fractal Report:    http://www.longevb.demon.co.uk/fr.htm
**************** Homepage:http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/JohndeR
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        because giving information does not decrease your information.

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