Y2K: 'The Systems Will Break, This Is a Certainty'
DC Y2K Weather Report, 1999: 'The Best Possible Case for Which There Is Any Hope Is Another Great Depression'
Mainframe programmer Cory Hamasaki's paid Y2K newsletter promised certain system failure, with outcomes ranging from 'Mad Max' to 'Little House on the Prairie.'
What was said
“I think it is going to be very bad. In fact, the best possible case for which there is any hope is another Great Depression.”
— Cory Hamasaki's DC Y2K Weather Report (Hamasaki and contributors) · said 1999 · due January 1, 2000 and the months after
Y2K brought scattered glitches, not systemic failure. There was no Great Depression in 2000; the next U.S. recession, from March to November 2001, was among the mildest on record.
The fine print
Excerpts compiled by journalist Declan McCullagh from the 'DC Y2K Weather Report', which carried essays by Hamasaki and other contributors, so individual lines are attributed to the newsletter. Others: 'The systems will break, this is a certainty. It is uncertain whether the consequence is rioting, looting. "Mad Max" and "Escape from New York" or "Little House on the Prairie".' McCullagh: 'Alas, he has not yet posted his post-1-1-00 report.' Other Y2K entries: y2k-2000, yourdon-beirut-2000, north-y2k-2000, milne-y2k-beirut-2000, hyatt-y2k-2000, de-jager-doomsday-2000.
Sources
As of Oct 9, 2026
since it didn't happen
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