Let's Talk 2000™
"The heartbeat of 2000 A.D. from cyberspace"
March 1, 1997, Volume 3,
Issue 4, a bi-weekly bulletin
Topics covered in this issue:
The Millennium Doctor Speaks
News from the Field:
Talk from the Forum:
New Millennial Sites:
Contact Information
The Millennium
Doctor Speaks:
"Taking
the pulse of 2000 A.D."
Just thank your lucky stars you get it first from "Let's Talk
2000™." After we did our Part One on Millennium Marketing in mid-February,
U.S. News & Report called me, as well as the guests I interviewed to do
their feature on this issue. Enclosed is our Part Two on the subject from
a corporate market consultant.
Speaking of the leading edge? Remember how in December we talked about how
Israel was putting a lid on Bethlehem 2000 and the entire peace process
by moving forward unilaterally to build Jewish settlements in Arab east
Jerusalem? Well, the planned Har Homa, built on confiscated land in the
Shepherd's Field was the leading foreign news in major market papers last
week. Clinton and Arafat just had a pow-wow on it, the first time he has
ever received Arafat alone at the White House. Clinton said, "I would
have preferred the decision not have been made [by Israel] because I don't
think it builds confidence. It builds mistrust." The day after, Arafat
took his argument to members of Congress, who give Israel $4 billion a year.
More on the internal dynamics of Bethlehem 2000 in our next issue.
Our Talk 2000 Forum section carries a feature on "Igniting Jupiter--Urban
Legend." This is the second time in 15 months this space tall tale
has been brought to the attention of our hallowed collegium of millennial
authors and activists. This time, it appears a conspiracy theorist himself
posted his spin on this alleged fiendish NASA plot to save the world from
a coming Ice Age in the name of Lucifer. His fantastic tale illustrates
how urban legends are fed by millenarian fear.
Our second feature looks at apocalyptic programming at Fox TV. American
entertainment is using millennial sensationalism, paranormal speculation
and a host of other useless apocalyptic past-times to boost ratings.
Somehow we need to turn the corner from millennial hype and join the conversation
of civilization over how we need to change as a people if we are to be worthy
to enter a new century and pass on a legacy to our children.
In view of Easter at the end of March, the next issue of "Let's Talk
2000™" will feature Holy Land 2000™ news, and the dynamics
at work in Israel/Palestine which are working towards a commemorative peace
process to bring global focus to the region where the first millennium began.
If you have any religious news on Christ's 2,000th anniversary in the Middle
East, or elsewhere around the world, please forward it to us today at talk2000@rmii.com.
News from
the Field:
"Here is the latest news on year 2000 efforts."
FROM HYPE TO HOPE: MARKETERS CHART THE USA
COURSE (Part Two)
Here is the second part of our interview with America's leading millennium
marketing experts. We asked them how they see the USA charting its course
in millennium preparations from now till New Year's Eve 2000. This issue
of "Let's Talk 2000™" features consumer researcher, Skip Kitchen,
who is developing Millennium Celebrations™ (http://www.2000celebration.com/).
T2k: In this free market system, who are America's "Millennium Market"
shapers right now?
KITCHEN: Let's begin with the city level. Many cities have formed planning
committees and we see this activity continuing to increase. New York, Las
Vegas and Seattle, for example, have strong efforts underway. But whether
civic, non-profit or commercial, there are no clear market leaders in the
U.S. yet!
T2k: What can you tell us about commercial efforts?
KITCHEN: For example, Disney / ABC hasn't shared their millennium plans.
The same holds true for American Express, Coke, AT&T and CNN to name a few.
That doesn't millennium. I would say that most of the top 100 companies
in the Fortune 500 likely have a strategic planning effort in place and
are investigating options. They are asking, how can they position themselves
as leaders, in their respective commercial categories, into the the next
century.
T2k: How about the rest of the world?
KITCHEN: The world will sell out on New Year's Eve, in 1999. As your forum
has shared, there are many, I would say many more international efforts
underway. Tourism, travel and economic development are important to many
countries. Government officials are asking how they can position themselves
to ride the millennium wave of awareness. The key issue to be dealt with
here and also in the commercial efforts is do you want to go it alone?
T2k: What do you mean by "go it alone"?
KITCHEN: Millennium efforts that will leave a lasting impact on a worldwide
basis, will be those which consolidate their respective efforts in a coherent
partnership with others, reaching across borders and cultural differences.
Millennium clutter will be left to those whom compete on 'name' alone.
T2k: With all this millennium activity, how will the U.S distinguish itself
in celebrating the new century?
KITCHEN: The millennium, whether in hype or hope is an obviously complex
phenomena. Opinions, interests and efforts run the gamut. At times they
conflict with each other. I think America has a great opportunity to be
known by and through its millennium diversity. Don't laugh! It will distinguish
itself, not through some large central commission or driven by one company,
but through the splendid diversity of millennium activities and tolerance
we have in the face of societies conflicting agendas. Essentially a celebration
of diverse mankind. Millennium Celebrations Inc. was created to facilitate
and bring meaning to that on an international, national and local level.
T2k: Is the United States behind in millennium preparations?
KITCHEN: Although it looks as though we are behind as a nation in millennium
planning, our business driven culture can move forward quicker and more
creatively than those nations who put the millennium into a programmatic
straight jacket.
T2k: Any last thoughts about millennium hype and hope?
KITCHEN: Although not as active as some, I really appreciate Talk 2000.
It is one of those internet innovations which is a millennium marketing
lesson in itself for 2000. The lesson is that the speed of knowledge attained
today far surpasses our ability to manage it. I dream of being able to bring
about a partnership of complementary endeavors in pursuit of this millennium,
from both a commercial and cultural perspective. This will truly be "one
magic moment."
Talk from
the Forum:
"Here
is a recap of recent conversations"
IGNITING JUPITER--AN URBAN LEGEND
Will NASA "fulfill its occult destiny" by turning the planet Jupiter
into a Blazing Star? Will this millennial explosion come 2000, produce an
Anno Lucis or 'Year of Light', which in turn will lead humanity into a second
mythic "World Order"? Will the new Blazing Star heat the whole
earth sufficiently to eliminate a coming ice age? Or will this scheme fail
which will lead to the transfer humanity off this planet?
These were the trolling questions which conspiracy believer, Dan Sale (dsale@southeast.net),
raised on Talk 2000 last month. One response compared Sales' allegation
about NASA on Talk 2000 akin to going onto a Pet forum and asking, "How
many ways are there to skin a cat?" But surprising, Sales trolling
on Talk 2000 only dregged up logic and good humor, rather than consternation.
Part of Sales opener was this:
> Galileo will deliver its payload of plutonium, igniting Jupiter. The
> Plutonium will then be pulled in towards the center by gravity....
When
> the center gets dense enough and hot enough (a few x 106K), nuclear
> fusion begins.... A star is born.
> Because Jupiter's atmosphere is the same as our sun's, this new,
> heavenly body that is to enter our solar system will be a 'blue star'
> and will be considered a second sun.
Even-keel Bob McClenon (rmcclenon@syncorp.com)
came back: "The reported plan by NASA to turn Jupiter into a star was
first documented in this digest in November 1995. It has apparently become
an 'urban legend' with a life of its own. " McClenon then went on to
give a full six point line of reason refuting this Urban Legend. I summarize:
1. It is scientifically impossible for a NASA payload, if it was carrying
plutonium, to ignite Jupiter, given the atmospheric dynamics of that planet.
2. If there were scientifically possible, which is not, it would not produce
a second sun of any magnitude with reference to the earth, as our Sun would
approximately be 25,700 times brighter than a supposed Jupiter Star (based
on surface and inverse square of distance).
3. A second sun of the size of Jupiter would have less effect to extend
the earth's growing season than than moon, which has no effect.
4. If any increase of light and heat came to Earth from a Jupiter Star,
which is unlikely, would only add to global warming.
5. No NASA launch manifest has ever been released listing quantities of
weapon-grade plutonium, instead American spacecraft have relied on solar
panels or fuel cells to power their crafts or space probes.
6. Detonating a nuclear explosive on or in the vicinity of Jupiter would
be considered a nuclear explosion in outer space and would violate the Moscow
limited test-ban treaty of 1962 (Treaty of Moscow).
McClenon saw no truth in this supposed New Age scheme to inagurate a Luciferian
age, but he had no doubt it would "continue to be repeated until 1
January 2000, when people will look to the sky to see the new star."
One of Talk 2000's leading B.S. busters, John Morse (morsej@nasd.com)
chidded Sales for falling for this fable, and added to McClenon's reason:
> Let me point out a repercussion or two if NASA attempted such a thing.
> They would never get another budget through Congress.
Conspiracy theorist Sales countered:
> Some have connected the event with a supernova explosion to which the
> Egyptians viewed as Osiris the sun-god, 'Lucifer' (who was not a
> person), Illustrious son of the morning.
> Well, the world leaders happen to all be members of the Millennium
> Society who are meeting at the Great Pyramids at the turn of the century.
> Some suspect the opening of the hall of records, and the return of
the
> new Blazing Star will ring in the Millennium. If such is true, Congress
> would have absolutely positively nothing to do with any part of it,
as
> it would go much higher than them.
I felt this masquerade had gone on long enough. I searched the web and found
Sales had posted to various fundamentalist listservs which were taken up
with the notion of mega-conspiracy theories with elaborate tie-ins to the
Masonics or Illuminati. I responded to his allegation against the good name
of The Millennium Society this way:
> It appears Sales has made a leap of faith based on his religious
> fundamentalism. There is nothing inherently wrong with being a
> conservative Christian. But in this case Sale's conclusion about The
> Millennium Society is flat out wrong and grossly misinformed.
>
> Each December The Millennium Society invites 15 people or so they
> nominate as "Most Inspiring" to Millennium Ball in Egypt
scheduled for
> 1999. It is a public relations stunt for news coverage.
> So I get it.... "the world's leaders happen to all be members
of the
> Millennium Society," because this Society must be connected to
the
> "Illuminati" or "Masonics." With all that attention,
> there has got to be a tie in somewhere to the Anti-Christ! Yes, I can
f-e-e-l it. :-)
>
> The reality is 180-degrees in the opposite direction. The Millennium
> Society, (which I am not a member of) is largely a volunteer run group
> with an annual budget under > $100,000 (discounting the money they
raise
> for educational scholarships). Some "Illuminati."
Unfortunately, Sales chose not to respond to this post. His fundamentalist
fable about the year 2000, leaned up against New Age legends, is not the
first, nor probably the last. This Urban Legend, it turns out, was recycled
from William Cooper's book Behold a Pale Horse (1991).
One Talk 2000 participant summarized Cooper's "sources as worthless."
T*m TaT*m (splatter@io.com) went onto
conclude: "Cooper is a charlatan, making a living off the gullible,
who has fabricated/exaggerated a background for himself. I extend my sympathies
to those he's hoodwinked."
APOCALYPTIC PROGRAMMING AT FOX
Dereck Daschke (dasc@midway.uchicago.edu),
Univ. of Chicago PhD candidate asks Talk 2000:
Has anyone noticed how the Fox Network is angling to corner the market early
on network apocalyptic programming? Aside from "The X-Files" and,
of course, "Millennium," the Chicago news division last week carried
a feature on Nostradamus' endtime prediction for May 5, 2000, and last Friday
featured a gloriously histrionic and gratuitous "Doomsday: What Can
We Do?", about the likelihood of "doomsday" bombs, viruses,
asteroids, earthquakes, volcanoes, and climate changes hitting specific
"Target Cities" in the US.
I'm sure much of this recent fare is counter-programming to NBC's "Asteroid"
(which I saw the first time about 10 years ago when it was called "Meteor").
But it also makes me wonder... does Fox owner Rupert Murdock think he's
playing a John the Baptist role for the billennium? Or, given the likes
of "Melrose Place," "When Animals Attack," and a continued
outlet for Tori Spelling, is he preparing the way for That Other Guy?
MICHAEL GROSSO, PhD. (mgrosso@warwick.net),
author of The Millennium Myth, responds on Feb. 18th:
On the question of Fox Network cornering the market on apocalyptic sensationalism,
it's not just Fox--it's pretty widespread and symptomatic of a general appetite
for lurid excitement. The main point is that it sells. While I would not
quite want to make comparisons with the degraded sensibility of late Roman
times, one cannot help noticing a continually descending spiral of taste:
the emphasis on gore, graphic violence, the grossly and perversely sexual,
the mingling of the sensational and the supernatural, and so on, are all
of a piece, and suggest to me a tired and at the same time anxious consciousness
that needs continually to be battered into a sense of liveliness.
Fox Network did a special, by the way, on prophecies of the millennium.
It was supposed to be aired February 15 but instead they had their doomsday
special. As it happens, I was interviewed for the dropped or postponed special
on the millennium. I knew what to expect and I told them I didn't believe
in Nostradamus or that the world was going to end and that I was not given
to sensationalizing. They still wanted to interview, so I thought, why not?
Take a crack at it. I might have a chance to say something useful.
They came to my house and for well over two hours grilled me with questions
that baited me to say something they could use. They kept wanting me to
play up the fear angle and I kept saying most people are too busy with ordinary
life to enjoy the luxury of metaphysical or apocalyptic fear. I said that
people find endtime fear, like ghost stories, entertaining, a distraction
from the real withering angst of personal existence, loneliness and death,
and so on. I have no idea what they used of my remarks or if the show died.
New Millennial Sites:
"Here are new
sites in cyberspace"
ARTS MILLENNIUM: Community Projects for Boston 2000
Here are some ideas for community based arts, humanities, internet projects
to serve the Boston area as it celebrates the new century.
http://www.codman.org/boston2000
EARTH CONCERT 2000:A Global Telethon to Bring Humanity Together
The time has come to revive the Great Hope of a coming together of humanity
as One United Family, celebrating with conscious intent the beginning of
a new era of Peace, Sharing and Unity for all beings on Earth." This
Canadian site contains the Earth Rainbow Network, The Earth Proclamation
and Meditation Room.
http://www.cybernaute.com/earthconcert2000
Contact Information:
"Your link to the
third millennium"
Talk 2000 Forum Home Page: http://hcol.humberc.on.ca/talk2000.htm
Talk 2000 Newsgroup: bit.listserv.2000ad-l
Subscribe to daily Talk 2000 E-mail Forum: listproc@usc.edu
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Submissions of newsworthy items: 2000ad-l@usc.edu
Publisher: Robin Wainwright, chairman, the Magi corporation
Editor: talk2000@rmii.com
Jay Gary, aka The Millennium Doctor
author, The Star of 2000
(719) 636-2000 Phone
Publication keywords: media, millennium, events
This issue of "Let's Talk 2000" is copyright © 1997 by Bimillennial
Press, Inc.
All rights reserved. LET'S TALK 2000 is a trademark of the Magi corporation.