July 17, 1999
Doug Berman, Executive Producer
Car Talk
Dewey, Cheetham & Howe
P.O. Box 3500 Harvard Square
Cambridge, MA 02238
Dear Doug:
We need your help!
NPR is comprehensively assessing all of its systems, equipment and programming to ensure that Y2K will not bring any problems or surprises. As part of that survey, we need information about Car Talk's Y2K preparation and readiness.
Attached is a letter from Amy Fleishman, who has responsibility at NPR for this important work; a version of this letter is being sent to all companies with whom NPR has relationships. She asks for you to provide NPR with information on Car Talk's planning and action with regard to Y2K. Please call me at 202-414-2000 if I can be of any help to you in responding to her request.
The Program Services staff (Jamie Crowne, Jennifer Kinloch and I) will be contacting each program individually to discuss and plan special delivery arrangements for all programs scheduled for distribution December 31, 1999, through January 3, 2000. We will also be requesting evergreen tapes of all programs.
Thank you in advance for ensuring that NPR can smoothly deliver Car Talk to our member stations into the next millennium.
Sincerely,
Steve Yasko
Programming Operations Manager
Mr. Steve Yasko
Programming Operations Manager
National Public Radio
635 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20001
Dear Steve,
You'll be happy to know that, as of today, Car Talk has been declared completely Y2K compliant. Here are the areas that have been tested and approved for Y2K compatibility at Car Talk Plaza:
Banking--As you know, the Car Talk Capital Depreciation Fund guarantees a 50 percent return of a person's investment. As such, should our clients' balances suddenly show "zero" on January 1, 2000, they will simply be delighted that we have exceeded their expectations and achieved not just 50 percent, but 100 percent depreciation.
Electricity--Since the lights and computers serve only as an annoyance during the workday and get in the way of an otherwise relaxing work experience for our employees, the lack of lighting and electricity should not in any way alter our normal productivity. The only electrical concern would be air conditioning, but since January 1 usually falls on or around January 1, we don't anticipate that being a problem either.
Fax Machine--Since our fax machine ran out of paper in February 1988, we anticipate no change in our inability to receive faxes.
Manufacturing--Unfortunately, due to overly optimistic projections, we currently have a four-to-400-year supply of Click and Clack porcelain miniatures on hand, and we see no need for the production line to be running during the December 1999-January 2000 period. We do, however, anticipate restarting the line some time late in the next century, so this may be a Y3K issue.
Payroll--We do anticipate a possible disruption of payroll services, so we are requesting that NPR pay us in advance for the entire 21st century. If you would be so kind as to forward a check by December 1, we can cross this little issue off our list.
Broadcast Services--In what has proven to be a wise and insightful decision, our home station, WBUR, has opted not to upgrade its broadcast equipment during the last four decades. We have checked with the manufacturers of this equipment-the Acme String Company and Dixie Cup, Incorporated, and both companies have assured us that our broadcast equipment will continue to function as is, with no Y2K repercussions.
Should you have any other questions, please feel free to contact our Millennium Planning Manager, Vera Faroff, here at Car Talk Plaza.
Very sincerely yours,
Hugh Louis Dewey
Chief Counsel
Dewey, Cheetham & Howe
