Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/11/11/millennial_roundup_bug_fever_begins/

Millennial round-up: bug fever begins

It'll all be fine, oh no it won't, oh yes it will

By Kieren McCarthy

Posted in On-Prem, 11th November 1999 10:27 GMT

Bill Clinton isn't worried, nor are fund managers, so why is the US building a £25 million disaster bunker and pulling its diplomats out of countries prone to the millennium bug infestation? Like the passengers on a troubled plane we are constantly (too frequently?) being reassured that the millennium bug won't strike. Bill Clinton has told his fellow Americans not to bother hoarding food in the first ever online chat by a US president (gasp!). Not only that but two-thirds of fund managers worldwide say the UK and US are completely prepared. That's all right then. But look out the window - is that smoke coming out the engine? Was that a piece of wing that has just dropped off? The US government has built a £25 million bunker just two streets down from the White House which will "monitor" the effect the bug has across the world. It has also recalled its officials from Russia and other countries it believes will be hit hard come the year 2000. The undeniable fact remains that not even Big Bill has a clue what's going to happen. That is little comfort to Business Post, however, whose shares have fallen nearly 10 per cent because no one is buying computers and so no one needs them shipped anywhere. ®