-Caveat Lector- September 7, 1999 Microsoft, IBM, the White House: Who Isn't in on This Conspiracy? By REBECCA BUCKMAN Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL And you thought that cute year-2000 commercial from Kia Motors America was tongue-in-cheek. The television spot, which ran last month as part of the Korean auto maker's "Yes to Kia" campaign, spoofed the millennium computer-bug issue. It showed a Kia spokesman at a news conference fielding the question, "Is there a Y2K conspiracy?" The commercial suggested culprits ranged from software companies to politicians. Turns out the commercial tapped into some widespread suspicions. According to an online public-opinion survey conducted in July, 15% of Web users think "a person and/or company is hiding the solution to the Y2K bug." Of those, according to Greenfield Online Inc., a market-research firm in Westport, Conn., 60% thought the conspirator was software giant Microsoft Corp., and 33% blamed the White House. "Wow," says Jack Gribben, a spokesman for the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion, when told of the results. "Rest assured, if there was a silver bullet to solve the Y2K problem, and we knew about it, we'd certainly be letting people know." Microsoft's director of Y2K readiness couldn't be reached. To be sure, Microsoft and the White House were on a preselected list of answers provided to respondents, who are part of Greenfield's vast base of Web-using guinea pigs. Other suggested culprits chosen included International Business Machines Corp. (30%), independent computer consultants (33%), don't know (22%) and other (8%). (Respondents could pick more than one answer.) The survey was large, with more than 10,000 people responding. And the Internet-savvy people Greenfield polls generally have somewhat higher incomes and "slightly higher education" levels than the U.S. population at large, says Gail Janensch, the firm's director of public relations. Tricia Rosen, Greenfield's product manager of digital consumer research, says the results suggest that fear about Y2K may be worse than previously thought. "I've heard people think that Bill Gates has this big plan and he's going to let the solution out on Nov. 30," says Ms. Rosen. "We have someone in our company who has purchased a generator." She adds: "I think it's very surprising that 5% of people think life will never be the same again, and 1% think the world's going to end." Maybe. But 72% of respondents said the millennium would bring only "small changes," and 85% thought "the hype about the year 2000 is overblown." ================================================================= Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, YHVH, TZEVAOT FROM THE DESK OF: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> *Mike Spitzer* <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ~~~~~~~~ <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Best Way To Destroy Enemies Is To Change Them To Friends Shalom, A Salaam Aleikum, and to all, A Good Day. ================================================================= DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om