The Y2K bug
Even small business operators — even home
owners with microchips in their microwaves —
need to know how to adjust
It’s going to be interesting to see just what kinds of nuts the millen
nium drives out of the woodwork.
The coming of the 21st Century and the beginning of the Third
Millenium ought to drag out just about every gloomer and doomer
around.
But, the truth of the matter — as it is becoming ever clearer — is that
we probably can't go to bed the night of December 31, 1999, and
expect to wake up the next morning to things just as they were.
There will be some dramatic, and maybe terrible, consequences to
face with the beginning of the next millenium.
The problem, dubbed the Y2K bug, is set to strike that morning.
Depending on whom you talk to, the bug could bring with it every
thing from an international monetary crisis to stalled elevators, burned
toast and cold coffee.
The problem of the millenium bug, or Y2K bug, is one that is a con
sequence of our highly technological age. It seems when the early
computer nerds were beginning to do their business back in the 1960s
the decision was made to conserve memory by making computers
recognize dates expressed as two digits. So, 1998 to a computer is
simply, 98.
That’s going to be problematic on January 1, 2000, when computers
start reading the date expressed “00.” The computers may think it’s
1900 or they may just be so confused they will shut down or process
wildly out of control.
Although government and industry, having recognized the Y2K
problem too late, are way behind in efforts to make corrections, there
are solutions to the pending Y2K dilemma.
Those solutions, and a greater explanation of the depth and breadth
of the Y2K problem, will be the subjects of an multi-agency forum
sponsored by the Brunswick Community College Small Business
Center on Thursday.
Even small business operators - even homeowners with microchips
in their microwaves — need to know how to adjust to Y2K.
It’s good to see Brunswick Community College in the forefront of
this critical public education need. We have a lot to learn in the next
15 months.
No bounds
Our community suffers from the same prob
lems related to poverty that other counties,
states and nations face
In a county where the tax base is $6.15 billion this fiscal year, it’s
often taken for granted that our residents each enjoy the good life,
too.
But in Brunswick County, our community suffers from the same
problems related to poverty that other counties, states and nations face
regardless of the influence of our beach towns and ever-growing
retirement neighborhoods. It’s good to see our elected leaders and
agency directors don’t overlook this fact.
An application due on Friday for possible federal funding would
upgrade living conditions of 12 families in our county based on
receipt of $389,000. County commissioners held a public hearing
October 5 to receive input on the application but, as expected, no one
spoke. That doesn’t mean the need doesn’t exist,Just that a certain
segment of our population is silent when it comes to asking for
things.
County public housing director Thurman Everett identified 15 to 20
homes that could benefit under the Community Development Block
Grant scattered site application, and 12 were targeted for the county’s
application. They were picked based on the severity of the housing
conditions, income level of the occupants and grant amount the coun
ty can apply for. It is persons like Everett who speak for the silent
victims of poverty, for he witnesses first-hand what the needs are
everyday. .
This project would include rehabilitation of nine homes, the leveling
and relocation of three homes and installation of septic tanks and
bathrooms at six houses. The county applied for $350,000 to do that
work and another $39,000 to remove outhouses and install running
water in homes which lack such basic needs.
For the total of $398,000, the county would match $17,500 if the .
application is chosen between February and March of next year. Each
application is rated on a point system in order to distribute about $6.6
million.
Support for the grant indicates that, while our county officials must
manage a $97.1 million annual budget and collect about $42 million
in property taxes for 1998, they do not take for granted that all our
residents are living at ease. Their support for this project may have
been a bit silent, but it hasn’t gone unnoticed.
IF
The State Port Pilot
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Published every Wednesday by The State Port Pilot Inc.
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FORUAUOIEEN,
I’M GOINS/SA
SELF-RISHTBOUS
REPUBUCAH.
\
1
Not exactly news
Yet again we must speafc' iff praise of the
weekend’s weather. Saturday was a beaeh
goer’s dream, and we went there to see
bathers and anglers and strollers and dream
ers all enjoying themselves immensely. The
spot flotilla at the east end of Oak Island was
enormous; watching water-jet riders rocket
ing through the Lockwood Folly sky was a
thrill. Outdoors was the only place to be. The
forecast for later this week promises a winter
wakeup call, but by the weekend it looks like
smiles again — though this time wearing
shirts and socks... One of the best views
we’ve had of Southport harbor recently came
from a chair at Ross’ Hair Care shop, a good
long way from the shore. Bill Ross recently
had a mural of the harbor painted there which
is so realistic you half expect to see a ship
slide thrbugh... “Fall back” is the Saturday
night watchword. Set your clock back one
f hour, go to sleep and enjoy the, extra 60 min
utes of rest. You’ll have to give it back next
spring when Daylight Savings Time resumes.
The N. C. Oyster Festival last weekend at
Shallotte found one of . our staff members
shucking shells for the first time. Though not
a difficult task to learn, she said she felt a lit
....... ^.5.» ".■>. f*
tie inferior to the seasoned veterans who
showed up with brown bags of their own
condiments. Saltine crackers, vinegar and
Texas Pete hot sauce separated the pros from
the amateurs at the event. However, it’s good
to learn a new skill, she said, and she was
proud to discover that a whole bucket of oys
ters isn’t hard to get to the bottom of... Lisa
Bellamy, champion shucker of the 1997
Oyster Festival, won this year’s U. S.
Women’s Oyster Shucking Championship in
Leonardtown, MD. Saturday. She shucked
24 oysters in 2:50.24, a good time we pre
sume, to beat her nearest rival by a fifth of a
second.
“Love a Fair” was used several years ago to
promote the North Carolina State Fair, and
while slogans change the feeling is the same.
The annual ten-day event runs through
Sunday at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh,
and it’s worth the trip. Our favorite exhibit
always is the art and photography, but if
there’s not something for everybody at the
fair, then you may be too hard to please.... A
parting shot of Hawaii: Overlooking Waikiki
Beach, on the second floor of an office build
ing behind full windows, was an athletic club
J
with the walking machines lined up facing
the brilliant blue water and sandy beach.
Now if that doesn’t push a walker to go the
extra mile, we don’t know what would...
Perhaps it would be the new set-up at Oak
Island Sports Center, where exercisers will
soon get a view of, er... golfers. Linda Miller
tells us new equipment will be added this
week, expanding the facility to include the
former gift shop.
If the Atlanta Braves had won the National
League pennant — and they didn’t come
close — the World Series might be a contest
because of pitching. The New York Yankees
wandered through the American League
playoffs before finding their bats in the Fall
Classic this week against San Diego. The
Padres may win a game, maybe two, but
we’ll be surprised if they do... Comparing
modem-day teams to those of 40 years ago is
foolish - everywhere except baseball. While
time and training has made football players
bigger and faster, and basketball players
taller and more athletic, baseball skills have
remained much the same. These Yankees, as
good as they are, can’t hold a candle to the
Bronx Bombers of old.
Together
To the Editor:
I think it will be nice for Long
Beach and Yaupon Beach to join
and become one Oak Island. People
should be willing to work together.
I wasn’t surprised to see a few
opposed, however. They always
say, “If you are for it, then I’m
against it.” Maybe if they changed
the name to Allen Island or
Allentown, they would be pleased.
And I wouldn’t worry about those
poor retired senior citizens on fixed
incomes. Considering those long
trips and cruises they take, they
probably have more money than
anyone else down here.
Jennifer Taylor
Long Beach
Samaritans
To the Editor:
I would like to thank the couple
who helped me when I had car
trouble at Supply last week. I wish
I knew their names.
At first, they tried to help me tape
up the gash in my car’s radiator
hose, but when learning that I need
ed to travel to Southport with my
two youngest children they decided
to assist us even further. They left
and returned a little while later with
a new hose, which they installed in
my car.
I felt disbelief that two strangers
could give of themselves, their skill
and their time so selflessly. They
accepted only baby wipes from me
to clean their hands.
I was able to continue on, picking
up my son from school and my
husband from work. We all made it
back home safely, thanks to these
Good Samaritans.
Upon telling this to several peo
ple, I heard these responses: “Only
in the South ...;” and, ‘There is still
some good left in the world.”
Thank you for reminding us all of
that today. May your kindness and
generosity be returned to you ten
fold.
Mrs. Satu Harris
Long Beach
■:
if a®
gLetters to the Editor...
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public interest. Letters should be limited to 250 words; longer letters‘l
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1
Child abuse
To the Editor:
I beg all teachers from the first
grade through at least the 11th
grade to please at some point talk
to each child alone and see if they
are, or have been, abused in any
way and have been told that they
would be beaten up if they told
anyone.
I truly believe some of them may •
tell you something very shocking. :
You could be the only one a child
has who could help, and I am sure ■
they can count on their teachers.
I do not know of anything worse,,.,
than a child molester, except.a par-!*
ent who is too scared to report this’;
I have tried to help someone, it I i
seems all by myself. :*
Kids need our help. . J
John Ganey iJ
Boiling Spring Lakes
v;; I
n
Winner of more than 170 NCPA awards this decade