Y2k

[jeff marx <marxj2@OREGON.UOREGON.EDU>]

  I have been following this thread with mild interest, waiting for the
inevitable tongue-in-cheek remark about the possibility of a
hardware/software disaster on January 1, 2000.

At 11:24 AM 11/19/98 -0500, you wrote:
> Of course the computers will fail in 2000.  That is a nice, new,
> operational, and culturally powerful definition of a millenium :-).

  I have a list of topics covered in the media, that I hold up to my
physics students, which serves as an example of why informed citizens need
strong analytical and reasoning skills. I argue, even if one does not
engage a scientific career, one still needs many of the tools learned in
science classes. (Many may call this "scientific literacy"; I avoid that
phrase.)
  Recently, I've made following media coverage of the Y2k bug a small hobby
(read: new way to waste time). The press and the internet have generated a
tremendous amount of sensationalism surrounding the debate about what will,
or will not, happen. As a result, I've added the "millennium bug" phenomena
to my list. Indeed, I have had a number of students raise concerns about
the possibility of some of the "worst case scenarios."
  I am curious to have list members' input on facts about theY2k bug. And,
to bring the discussion back towards the realm of physics education, I
would be interested to hear some ideas of how this issue, and other issues
like it, fit into the bigger picture of trying to improve the citizenship
of our students.

Thanks,
        Jeff Marx