As we head
relentlessly into the year 2000, you may have detected a wee bit
less volume from the Y2K doom profiteers. This might have something
to do with many governments having already entered fiscal 2000.
Canada and
New York state, for example, survived their April foray into Y2K
with only minor accounting glitches. Many other states start their
Y2K in July, and if New York's experience is any indication, the
crepe hangers will be a least partially discredited, along with
their hallelujah chorus.
Internationally,
things look relatively good, as well, according to AP coverage
of a UN conference that occurred on June 22nd.
Hopefully,
the positive experience of fiscal Y2K will put a stake in the
heart of these apocalyptic movements of utter hopelessness, that
seem to be so popular. Indeed, so much of what happens to us is
a self-fulfilling prophecy that we might as well burden ourselves
with optimistic prophecies, don't you think? Remember the power
of positive thinking?
Even the trial
lawyers' lobby couldn't prevent Congress and the White House from
putting together a compromise bill to limit Y2K related litigation.
Heck, that's an real accomplishment!! And you thought the government
was completely worthless...
On the entertainment
front, Wild Wild West has opened to nearly unanimous negative
reviews:
"Wild Wild
Worst" (New York Post headline)
"...Wild,
wild waste of time." (New York Post body copy)
"...Wild wild
mess." (USA Today)
"How the Wild
Wild West Was Dumb" (Washington Post)
The pic opened
at number one, but many predict that word of mouth will kill it,
and it won't begin to cover its production cost, estimated at
$160 million. Maybe the movie-going public has finally tired of
all special effects and no story. All-time champ George Lucas
didn't exactly blow the doors off the box-office with his latest,
either.
Although director
Barry Sonnenfeld complained that negative comments on the Internet
created the bad buzz for his would-be blockbuster, he should now
try looking in the mirror.
Meanwhile,
the nanny state is alive and well. Cartons of eggs will soon be
carrying warning labels, to educate those among us who have been
eating them raw:
The proposed
label reads: "Eggs may contain harmful bacteria known to cause
serious illness, especially in children, the elderly, and persons
with weakened immune systems. For your protection keep eggs refrigerated,
cook eggs until yolks are firm and cook foods containing eggs
thoroughly."
And in the
world of high finance, the winner of a $150 million multi-state
Powerball jackpot, the fourth-largest lottery ever won globally,
purchased the ticket in Minnesota, a lottery official said Thursday.
"They haven't
called yet, whomever they are, so all we can do is wait. We're
all pretty excited here, just waiting for that person to call,"
said Jenny Kurz, public relations officer of the Minnesota ticket
office.
Haven't won
the lottery? Not to worry. It's exciting just living in this incredibly
fast-paced environment, where millionaires are created overnight,
and our options appear unlimited.
Y2K, here
we come!