Y2K: An Autobiography

Peter de Jager

It's been 20 years since the successful completion of the world's largest IT project. Join Peter de Jager as he looks back on more than a decade of effort (and controversy).

  • 1 hour 17 minutes
    Episode #28 - Last Episode - The Directors and Producers of HBO’s Time Bomb Y2K

    It's been a long time since our last episode. The reason is simple, Y2K has become History - what better way of closing this project than by highlighting the latest, and best in my opinion, Y2K Documentary 'Time Bomb Y2K' produced and directed by Brian Becker and Marley MacDonald and now airing on HBO.

    TBY2K took an interesting approach to presenting the Y2K saga - they told the story via archival found footage. No current interviews, no commentary in hindsight, just an honest look at what it was like to live through the decade that was dominated by Y2K.

    Join us for the last episode of my attempt to tell my tale of Y2K.

    If you wish to contact me, do so via [email protected]

    if you wish to watch all the Interviews with Y2K Luminaries? Head over to www.vimeo.com/ondemand/Y2K

    and subscribe for a month or so, there is more commentary from others involved in Y2K, and the visuals help simplify the story.

    IF your organization would like to obtain the complete podcast for your archives AND as preparation for future Y2K like challenges, then contact me directly and we can make that happen. 

    If you worked on Y2K, then I offer you my personal thanks. Y2K was, from the start until the end, a group project. 

    Cheers
    Peter de Jager
    Toronto, Ont
    December 2023

    27 December 2023, 1:53 pm
  • 1 hour 14 minutes
    Interview Interlude - Vincent Balouet - Y2K In France

    An Interview with Vincent Balouet - the former Y2K leader in France. If you wanted to know WHY the situation in France was so very different than in the rest of the world? This is the Interview to listen to. Vincent is a French consultant, he specialized in computer science and risk management (ESIEE Master); He  started his career with Y2k, as a computer science expert and wrote most of the French reports and publications between 92 and 99. He was successively called and appointed by computer security associations, CIO associations, French business associations and the French Government. He founded in 2013 maitrisedescrises.com, a French digital consulting online service to large businesses, addressing large systemic economic risks.

    You can view this and all the other premium content at: www.vimeo.com/ondemand/y2k

    16 April 2021, 11:40 am
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    Interview Interlude - Michael Mainelli - Sheriff of London

    Fascinating interview with the Sheriff of London... who was deeply involved with Y2K Efforts in the UK

    11 December 2020, 3:16 pm
  • 44 minutes 19 seconds
    Interview Interlude - A second Interview with Prudential Insurance

    This is an Interview with Chuck Sevola - one of the leaders within the Prudential Insurance Y2K Project - He was involved in the Offshore Outsourcing to Tata Consultancy Services

    3 November 2020, 1:31 pm
  • 23 minutes 6 seconds
    Episode #16 In Closing

    Final Episode of the Audio part of this Podcast
    There are additional episodes available at: www.vimeo.com/ondemand/Y2K

    Please send your feedback on the series to [email protected]

    19 October 2020, 7:22 pm
  • 42 minutes 33 seconds
    Episode #15 The Question of Italy

    In this episode we explore the big question - Why? Given that we believed that Italy (and others) did very little Y2K remediation did they experience no Y2K problems in the Year 2000?

    and? James Lauber will talk about a problem potentially larger than Y2K - and one we can do little to mitigate. A Carrington Event. 

    29 September 2020, 4:26 pm
  • 1 hour 21 minutes
    Interview Interlude: Maryfran Johnson - a Computerworld Editor's Perspective of Y2K

    The former editor-in-chief of CIO magazine and Computerworld, Maryfran is highly respected throughout the IT leadership community nationwide for her engaging stage presence, deep understanding of business technology issues and extensive network of Chief Information and Digital Officers. 

    In addition to her previous editorial leadership roles with IDG publications, Maryfran also served in 2016-2017 as an adjunct researcher for International Data Corp.’s IT Executive Programs. She holds a Master of Arts in Journalism from The Ohio State University's Kiplinger Program and a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Florida. Prior to joining IDG, she spent 10 years as a reporter at daily newspapers in Florida, Washington State and Ohio.

    15 September 2020, 12:07 pm
  • 53 minutes 55 seconds
    Episode #14 Articles as Artefacts and How Computers Fail in Strange Ways

    Three articles this episode
    1998 Dec 14th - An UNreal Question - report from the UN
    1999 Apr 14th - How Bad, How Long, How Likely - a look at Y2K Preparations
    1999 Dec 20th - A Best Kept Secret - A look at the HTC - High Tech Consortium

    And James Lauber explores how computers fail in Strange ways

    26 August 2020, 4:15 pm
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    Episode #13 Articles as Artefacts and something new

    In this episode I look back at a few important articles that appeared on the year2000.com website - My Testimony to the US House of Representatives, Doomsday Avoided - and my responses to the responses to that somewhat controversial article. 

    In addition? We're introducing a new feature - Tangential IT Issues with James Lauber - where we start exploring the 2038 problem in some detail

    6 August 2020, 2:15 pm
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    Episode #12 A Trip back to the LOMA 1995 Systems Forum

    This is the entire keynote I gave at this conference --- it was one I called 'The Two by Four' talk. 

    An uncompromising, unrelenting talk designed to get the listener to either take action and start fixing the problem, or storm off in a huff determined to prove I was wrong (and then contact me later to say I was correct)

    Enjoy. 


    14 July 2020, 2:29 pm
  • 1 hour 12 minutes
    Interview Interlude: Robert J. Sawyer: Y2K the long View

    If you'd like to view the video version of this interview? Head to: www.vimeo.com/technobility/bonus

    Robert Sawyer is a SF Writer with dozens of books to his credit - and both Hugo and a Nebula awards as bookends to his work. One of his novels, "Flash Forward" was made into a TV series, so it's more than likely you know some of his work already.

    I'm pushing the next regular episode of the podcast out to July 7th 2020 as I take a small holiday in the midst of the lockdown

    Enjoy, spread the word and leave some feedback please.

    16 June 2020, 9:35 pm
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