THE GOOD NEWS AND THE BAD
The Year 200 computer glitch¹ has proved surprisingly troublesome.

美专家谈电脑千年难题带来的好消息与坏消息

(1) Four years ago. We still felt that the "Year 2000 Problem" was a minor² technical glitch『技术性毛病』that would probably be fixed³ long before that year 2000.
(1)4年前，我们觉得，计算机2000年问题（即千年难题）不过是个小小的技术问题，大概到不了2000年，这个问题就能迎刃而解。

(2) We were wrong: The Year 2000 Problem (or Y2K) was more serious than we thought. Very soon what seemed like a minor technical problem to us-and to most other people at the time-had set off a furor⁴『喧闹；狂怒』and even created a new industry for consultants⁵『顾问』and programmers.

(2)但是，我们错了。2000年问题比我们想象的更为严重。不久，这个在我们和当时其他大多多数人看来不过很小的技术难题，就将引起一场混乱，甚至会给顾问和程序设计员带来一个崭新的行业。

(3) Experts say that it's not exactly clear what problems non-compliant⁶『不会发牢骚的；缄默的』computers will create over the next few years. They may make lots of mistakes. Humans may catch many of the computers' mistakes, but most humans are too busy. That's why we have computers keeping track 『轨迹；轨道』of things and telling us what to do, like taking expired『失效的』foods and medicines off the shelf.

(3) 专家们指出，现在尚不太清楚今后几年存在2000年问题的计算机会产生哪些问题。它们可能会造成许多错误，人们也许可以找出这些计算机的错误，但是大多数人都太忙碌。这就是为什么我们利用计算机来记录事情，并利用它提醒我们做把过期的食品和药品从货架上取下来等等的事情。

(4) The Year 2000 Problem affects not only computers (mainframes『大型电脑』, minis『便携式的』, and micros), but the myriad『无数；大量』of microchips embedded『把嵌进；埋进』in many of our products, including airplanes, cars, microwave ovens『微波炉』, etc, points out Y2K authority 『专家；权威人士』John Whitehouse, president of Change Wise, Inc, in Jacksonville, Florida. Furthermore, as he notes in his recent audiobook『有声读物』The Year 2000 Is Coming: What Do I Do? the year 2000 is a leap year, a circumstance『情况；事实』that also will have at least some consequences『结果；后果』: Banks, for example, would fail to calculate『计算；测算』one day's worth of interest (February 29), which is significant when you are dealing⁷ with billions of collars.

(4)佛罗里达州杰克逊维尔的Change Wise公司总裁、2000年问题专家约翰·怀特豪斯指出2000年问题不仅将影响计算机（大型机、小型机和微型机），而且将影响无数装在产品－如飞机、汽车和微波炉等－内的微芯片。此外，他还在最近出版的声音读物《2000年即将来临：我们该做些什么》中指出，2000年恰逢闰年，它至少还会产生几个后果：例如，银行可能无法计算2月29日这一天的利息，如果你在做几十亿美元的交易，这是一笔很可观的数字。

(5) Even if you don't think you have a big problem with your own computers, of if you solve your own Y2K problems, you will still have to deal with countless『无数的；数不清的』other individuals, businesses, agencies, and governments who may not have solved the problem in their systems. Computers, businesses, and governments are highly interconnected『互相连接；互相联系』today: A problem anywhere has the potential『可能性』for global consequences, and there may be many, many problems emerging『出现』as 2000 arrives.

(5)即使你觉得自己的计算机不会出大问题，或者你自己能解决2000年问题，但是你必须与其他人、企业、机构和政府打交道，因为他们的可能并没有解决这一问题。当前，计算机、企业和政府之间是密不分的：任何一处出现问题都可能导致全球性的后果，在2000年来临时也许会出现许许多多的问题。

(6)Still, there is a potential bright side:

(6)机遇 尽管如此，这一问题也可能有好的一面。

(7) "For those who come to understand and accept the issues, for those who take decisive『坚决的；果断的』 action, this can be the opportunity of a lifetime," says Whitehouse.

(7) 怀特豪斯指出：“对那些了解和接受这些问题并采取果断行动的人来说，这可能是一个千载难逢的机遇。”

(8) A disaster almost always presents profitable『有利可图的』opportunities. The hundreds of billions of dollars spent on fixing the Y2K Problem will wind up『结束』in somebody's pocket. Expected Y2K winners include:

(8)灾难几乎总会带来有利可图的机遇。用以解决2000年问题的数百亿美元最终会流入某些人的口袋里，2000年问题可能的获益者包括：

【额外成就感】

*to wind up:
He wound up the evening with a drink.
(他喝酒度过了夜晚。)
They are winding⁸ up a company.
他们正在清理一家公司。）
*profitable:
The farm is a highly profitable business.
（这农场是非常有利可图的。）
Selling that piece of property was quite profitable for me.
（出售那笔财产对我相当有利。）

(9) Programmers and consultants. Anyone with the technical skills to solve the problem is now in high demand. Y2K guru『导师』Peter de Jager identifies『鉴定；确定』a wide variety of consultants ready to provide services, including planning consultants for tools assessment⁹『估价；估计』, testing consultants, contract service consultants to estimate the costs and plan and implement『执行；履行』the code redesign『重新设计』, legal consultants, and recovery consultants.

(9)程序设计员和顾问：目前对于掌握能解决这一总是技术的人需求很大。2000年问题专家彼得·德耶格尔对准备提供服务的各类顾问进行了分类，其中有从事工具评估的计划顾问和测试顾问；从事成本估计、制定并执行编码重新设计计划的合同服务顾问；法律顾问以及追偿顾问等。

(10) Information providers, including publishers and Web site developers. The Wall Street Journal, for example, recently sold eight pages of advertising¹⁰ in a special section devoted¹¹ to companies offering "Year 200 Solutions".

(10)信息提供者：包括出版商和万维网网址设计者。例如，“华尔街日报”最近为提出“千年问题解决办法”的公司开辟了8个版面的特别广告专版。

(11) Investors¹³. Wherever new businesses bloom, investors are sure to see prospects¹⁴ for fast growth. Unfortunately, it's already late in the game to invest in Y2K companies: You'd be "buying high," and it's always risky¹⁵ to chase headlines for ideas on short-term speculation¹⁶『投机』.

(11)投资商：无论哪里出现新行业，投资商总能看出迅速发展的前景。不幸的是，现在抢着投资解决2000年问题的公司为时已晚：因为这是在“追涨”，而以短期投机炒炸作为题材，风险往往很高。

(12) Lawyers and litigators『诉讼人』. Individuals and businesses stand to lose a log of money and time because of the Y2K Problem; therefore, they will want to sue『控告；诉讼』anybody they consider responsible for creating the problem.

(12)律师和诉讼当事人：个人和企业都会因2000年问题而亏损很多钱、浪费大量时间；因此，他们希望起诉造成这一问题的责任。

(13) To get started in solving your Y2K problems, John Whitehouse of Change Wise recommends building a "systems inventory¹⁷『目录』." Analyze¹⁸ your computer dependency『依靠；依赖』-what do you use to get through the day, what outside systems do you depend on? What alternative『替代的；供选择的』sources of goods and services are there?
(13)对策 怀特豪斯建议建立一个“系统目录”，以解决2000年问题。分析你对计算机依赖程度：白天你用什么设备工作？使用哪些外部系统？有哪些可替代的商品和服务来源？

(14)Similar procedures need to be done at home and at work; specifically, Whitehouse suggests:

(14)在家和上班时，应采取类似的。怀特豪斯特别指出：

(15) Individuals and family heads should check out『检查』 personal items that contain computer chips. Examples include heating and air conditioning systems, home-security『家庭保安』systems, telephone-answering machines, TVs, VCRs, cell phones, cars. And of course, your home PC: The operating system itself may not work.

(15)个人和家长应查看装有计算机芯片的个人物品，如供暖和空调、家庭安全、电话应答机、电视机、录像机、蜂窝电话和汽车等。当然也包括你的家庭计算机：操作本身可能会停止运转。

(16) Now test the devices. Enter 2000 in your VCR, or change the system date on your PC (after backing up the data). Send letters to manufacturers to see if their systems are Y2K compliant. Record on inventories『清单；目录』where you still have risks, and develop a course of action, such as identifying alternative providers.

(16)现在来测试一下这些装置。把2000输入录像机，或改变个人计算机的日期（在对数 据进行备份之后）。致函制造商，看是否存在2000年问题。记下仍有危险的目录，制定行动方案，如确定可替代的供应商等。

(17) You should also check software such as Access 95, Excel, personal schedulers『安排程序』, financial programs like Quicken of Money, communications software, etc. And remember that you could experience problems with outside services you use: the phone company, utilities, supermarkets, banks, gas stations, airports.

(17)此外，还应该检查一下软件，如Access 95, Excel、个人调度程序、Quicken和Money之类的财务程序以及通信软件等。记住，在接受电话公司、公用事业公司、超级市场、银行、加油站和机场等外界机构提供的服务时，你可能会遇到问题。

(18) "Forget flying to see Grandma on January 1， 2000," warns Whitehouse. "Two major airlines have already said they won't be flying."

(18)怀特豪斯警告说：“不要想着在2000年1月1日乘飞机去看望祖母了。两家主要的航空公司已经宣布到时他们将停飞。”

(19) If you are an investor¹², your money is in places you can't control, so you should inventory『编制目录』all your assets (equity, debt, and fixed tangible¹⁹『固定资产』). Check with the companies to find out their Y2K status『情形；状态』and record the results.
(19)如果你是个投资商，钱放在你无法支配的地方，那么你应该盘清所有资产（股本、债务和有形固定资产）。对这些公司进行核查，查明2000年问题的现状，并记录有关结果。

(20) One worry is that there may be runs on banks when people fear the Y2K impacts. Whitehouse goes so far as to suggest that investors begin hedging『套购保值』with fixed tangible assets: "Buy some gold and silver."

(20)一个令人忧虑的问题是，人们在担心2000年问题造成的影响时，可能会向银行挤提存款。针对这一问题怀特豪斯建议投资商利用有形固定资产进行保值，“买进黄金和白银”。

(21) Businesses should set up an organizational task force to address『对付』the issue, including managers from each area of the enterprise. "Problem ownership" should lie with the chief financial officer because of the many financial and legal implications『牵连；涉及』. The task force should consider questions like cost, impacts on daily activities, competitors『竞争者』' actions, opportunities, effects on stock prices, etc.

(21) 企业应有组织地建立特别工作组解这一问题，其成员由企业各部门的经理组成。由于这一问题牵涉到许多财政和法律方面的问题，因此应给予财务总临“处理问题的权力”。特别工作组应考虑的问题有成本、对日常活动和竞争者行动，机遇的冲击以及对股票价格的影响等。

(22) The lesson of the Year 2000 Problem is obvious: Most of the problems we face in the present are the result of someone (OR everyone) in the past failing to think about the future. Y2K is a problem basically because mainframe『大型的』computer programmers paid little attention to the long-term future.

(22)2000年问题的教训是显而易见的：我们现在面临的问题，大多是由于过去有些人（或所有人）没有考虑到将来而造成的。2000年问题产生的主要原因是大型计算机的程序设计员对未来的长期使用没有给予足够的重视，问题由此造成。

(23) We can smugly『沾沾自喜地；自鸣得意地』congratulate ourselves for being smarter than our technologies, but meanwhile, technology is biting us back.

(23) 一方面我们沾沾自喜地庆幸人脑比人类发明的技术高明，但是同时，我们发明的技术有束缚了我们的进步。

【疯狂翻译练习】

1. Very soon what seemed like a minor technical problem to us-and to most other people at the time-had set off a furor and even created a new industry for consultants and programmers.(2)

2. That's why we have computers keeping track of things and telling us what to do, like taking expired foods and medicines off the shelf.（3）
3. Y2K is a problem basically because mainframe computer programmers paid little attention to the long-term future. （22）

4. We can smugly congratulate ourselves for being smarter than our
technologies, but meanwhile, technology is biting us back.（23）

5. 专家们指出，现在尚不太清楚今后几年存在2000年问题的计算机会产生哪些问题。（3）

6. 任何一处出现问题都可能导致全球性的后果，在2000年来临时也许会出现许许多多的问题。（5）

7. 灾难几乎总会带来有利可图的机遇。（8）

8. 企业应有组织地建立特别工作组解这一问题。（21）