Our Y2K prognosticators predict your future

Who really knows? Perhaps it will be the end of the world or maybe the beginning of a new age of man. Will it be the collapse of mechanized civilization, or just the end of a great marketing opportunity for computer programmers, generator salesmen and tabloid newspapers?

Let it not be said that we here at the Round Top Register let our readers stumble into the new millennium unprepared. In order to help our loyal subscribers survive what could turn out to be a once-in-a-millennium anticlimax, we have assembled a large group of expert Y2K psychic prognosticators who offer all the answers to your questions about the world to come.

We asked the fourth, fifth and sixth grade students of Round Top/Carmine Elementary School to share their psychic projections of life in the future. These brilliant young oracles offer the answers to any question you might have about the new age to come. So, you can quit worrying and go back to purchasing your canned vegetables and stringing your concertina wire.

Where are we going to live on the moon, in houses, will the earth be destroyed? Will we ever know. Will probley have store problems like money problems, not anuf food.

Stalk up on clothes like jeans, socks, sweats, shoes, and shirts. Stalk up on food like meat, water, canfoods, beafest (breakfast?). Have a good year 2,000.

Christopher Paul Varnado
Grade 4

In the year 2000, we will have problems. Power blackouts will be all over the world. Vault doors will be locked and will not open for five years. Computers will shut down everything. Stores will have to close. Hospitals will shut down. We will have to read by candlelight. No more gas will be pumped, and we will have to grow our own food.

So take care in the year 2000.

Chance Schoenst
Grade 4

When the year 2000 comes, I think World peace will end because if other countries don't talk to each other it might make them mad.

NO electricity can lead to No water No heat No ac No TV No light No gas which comes to my next point No gas means not a lot of car trips.

Tips

1. Buy canned food
2. The day before Y2K fill your car with gas

Follow these tips and be Y2K ready.

Brit Harper
Grade 4

There also might be a loss of electrical power in the whole U.S. from coast to coast. Luckily though this scenario might not happen. Through the right computer programming U.S. computers won't fail. Elevators hopefully should continue working and airplanes won't crash.

However third world countries such as Banglendash and India could present major problems. There might be chaos which would lead to riots or civil unrest. Then that could possibly lead to wars with other countries.

In the U.S. there might be some problems but it probally wouldn't be that bad because the U.S. has been preparing for Y2K by fixing computer problems.

Through it all, Y2K probally won't be the end of the world.

Andrew Hardin
Grade 6

Of the 21st century? Well, there are all kinds of possibilities of problems for the 21st century.

There could be no power which could lead to no playtime on computers, cooked meals on a stove, or no lights. If you had oil lamps you could use them to light your way. With the absence of electricity, no air conditioning or heaters to keep us cool or warm and no televisions or movies to watch.

People might be out of a job which could lead to not having any money to buy things, such as food. We would not be getting an education and live our lives without electricity. There would be no work for the adults, so they cannot support us in going to school.

We would have to stay home and read our books. Our food would run out and then there would not be anybody left on the earth.

Are you ready for the 21st century? Well, I'm ready to head for it. Here we go.

Kori Weyand
Grade 6

Guess what? It is the end of the 21st century on December 31, 1999. I think it is going to be cool and exciting. What do you think? I am so excited.

I am going to be 12 and I don't the computers to go down. This is almost my first time to begin a century.

It is going to be a fun year I think. I also like it because it will be in a different year and a new century. Are you going to like it? If you don't, you better get ready for it.

You all have a wonderful 21st century and also a good year too. Have a fun and exciting year.

Ashley Marburger
Grade 5

Is Y2K a crisis or a fraud? You decide. Sure there will be problems but how big?

Could traffic lights fail, possibly? Could banks malfunction? Could home data be lost? These are questions we ask ourselves everyday. When the news comes on and you hear Y2K do you listen?

Well listen to this. You may think this is a major deal but guess what, some people think Y2K is a fraud. Do you really believe in Y2K kits?

The problem was discovered in the beginning of 1998. Everybody took charge and bought programs to save information on their computers. Some home computers may not fit for the new millennium.

I think people are using this just to make money.

So the next time you see a Y2K news report on T.V., think about my opinion.

Brooke Eckert
Grade 6

Year 2000! What a year! But really, will it change us that much? I think people are imagening a bit to much.

Sure there is going to be more electric cars probably. Why they might even have people living on the moon. But to me, it wouldn't change my life that much. Though I don't know about the rest of the rest of the world. Besides, people worry to much.

Year 2000, I think there's going to be no manual labor. Everything is going to be operated by computers. It's going to have electric cars to lower pollution. But, people living on the moon is a little drastic. But, I think it would be neat to send a letter to the moon.

Still, I don't know. I'm just saying what I think. You can think of what it would be like yourself.

Elizabeth Drescher
Grade 5

You can eat what you want and vegetables don't exist.

We can do what we want when we want to do it and there will have a robot and last but not least, every thing will be floating.

Kody Fox
Grade 4

In the 21st century I think we will have a practically whole different world. School, for instance, will have more field trips! Each student will have their own roll around chair. So that you don't have to carry books around. We will just put our books on it and roll to the next class! 4th, 5th and 6th grades will have recess, too, like the little kids. We would have our own playground.

Think about phones and clocks. They could be built into pens and pencils. Then you don't have to wear or carry one. Transportation, now think about it. Instead of having to drive, we could have automatic cars, so then nobody would have to drive.

Or, it would be easier if we had transporters. You just type in someone's phone number on the buttons on the side. Then a dazzling bright green light comes down on you causing you to close your eyes. Then zap!!! When you open your eyes, you would be at the house you dialed.

Stores would have them too, so you don't have to walk from store to store. Clothes would be bright colors that glow in the dark!

So next time someone asks you what you think will happen in the 21st century, think about some of these things!!

Katie Warburton
Grade 4

The life in the 21st century could be weird or the same. I think it will be both. The vehicles would be automatic. If you were driving and you got tired, you could push the button that makes your seat lay down and you could go to sleep, but first you would have to push a button on the steering wheel that made it go automatically. You would still be traveling.

The vehicles would be spaceships, and you could fly. If there was a traffic jam, you could fly right over it.

The people would probably be the same, but some of them might be aliens.

Some hotels would be very, very weird and small. They would be about as tiny as an ant. So then ants could stay in them too.

There would be shoes about 5 inches off the ground. Some might be made out of slime. If your feet were hurting, you could "ooze" around in slime. The water would be slime. When you take your bath, you would be taking a bath in slime. You would still be clean when you got out. The clothes that you wear would also be made of slime. It would keep you comfortable.

The jobs would also be weird. All you would have to do is float around in the air. However long you stayed in the air is how much money you would get. If you stayed in the air for 15 hours, you would get $1500.00. That is how I think the 21st century will be.

Catherine Meinke
Grade 4

Life in the 21st century is going to be great, I mean we're going to have floating cars, floating houses, restaurants and stores.

We'll have clothes like they had in Star Track and instead of driving on the road, we'll be driving in cars on thin air. We'll have machines that will change our clothes for us, do our chores for us, do our homework for us, play with us, feed your dog, and all sorts of stuff like that.

It is my opinion that in the 21st century, it will be a breeze, and before you know it, it will already be here.

Oh, I almost forgot, we will also have automatic showers and the machines will also wash and dry the car for us and give the dog a bath. Lets just put it this way, they will be doing everything for us and we won't have to pay them and they won't ever get tired.

This will be the best time of my life and maybe the best time of my friends' lives too.

Nicole
Grade 5

Hi, my name is Scott Woytek. Age 11, 5th grade. I go to Round Top Elementry and I'm going to tell you about the Y2K!

First off, the cities will be 1 million times its regular size and there is only 2 cities; San Francico and New York. They are called MEGACITIES, because the rest of the U.S.A. is covered by sand and rock. The mega cities have very tall buildings, plus all the people wear really shinny clothes and they can clone people.

The cars are Gold, Silver, Black colors and they are electric and some run on wheels and others run on tracks.

Lets talk about the neighborhoods. The houses are all different but one charistics (characteristic) they all have is silver roofs and white walls.

The cool thing is that you press your thumb against a divice and if you live there, you can go in but if you don't, you need a key card.

The really good thing is that the crimes that happen only happen once in five years.

Scott Woytek
Grade 5

I sort of agree, but most computers are Y2K proof. But look on the bright side, there will be different things to look forward to……………

There could be new restaraunts and new shopping centers. Also, there could be more malls, candy stores, toy stores, and accessory stores with glitterbug jewelry and new glow-in-the-dark accessories, such as glow-in-the-dark key chains, rings, earings, and necklaces.

Another stimulating thing about it is all of the new technolagy from brand new safety devices, to robotic devices and even to more safisticated pocket-sized computers.

Just imagine all of the new furniture there may be! Think about a waterbed with real fish, or maybe even remote control sitting chairs that you can use for everyday life.

Imagine making dinner while sitting down at the same time! Another great thing about the new helpful and interesting people there will be (authors, nurses, doctors, scientists).

Although, there are some things that might not make the new life very well. In malignity of all the new technolagy I was talking about, unhelpful technolagy may be created that just uses up our electrisity. Also, people may take advantage of this and suddenly start to get lazy.

You know, if you think about it, anything could happen in the 21st century. Anything! What I said a while ago could be wrong, but it could be right……..

Lauren Schoenemann
Grade 4

I think in the 21st century my life will totally change! I think in small areas it will be old timey. The gum will cost only one cent again and the cars will be putt-putt cars and houses on the prarie.

But, in big cities, the skyskrapers will be taller then they are today the cars will be as fast as light. Some will even as fast as a cheata.

The houses will have automatic appliances. Like the toilet will have an atomatic flusher and the sink will have an atomatic faucet. You stick your hands under, and it will turn on.

People will be pretty much the same. The fashion might turn back a couple of centuries but besides that everybody will pretty much stay the same.

When people go to school, binders will be all one color in one class and another color in another class. The pencils will be all macical (mechanical or magical?) pencils. Maybe kids will have a little radio for school.

In our classes there might be a certain color outfit. Every boy will have to wear nice pants and a nice tuxedo shirt.

And girls will wear dark green or navy blue skirts with a nice white shirt, with the collar of whatever color skirt. The boy's shoes will be like men's church shoes. And girls will be high heels in either white or black.

Rachel Rice
Grade 4

THE ENVIRONMENT

But, we are having problems like the pouplation is 600,000,000 people and if it keeps gonging up to 900,000,000 or 1,000,00,000, then NASA will be building spaceships that can carry 20,000 people to colonize planets like Mars, Luna, our moon, and other moons. It will take thousands of years to do that. That is why we must control it.

The world has a lot of industrial areas but the U.S. has the most industrial areas. That is why it poulluts the air and water. It also helps the world. Since the world's population is 600,000,000, we are running out of resources like gold, iron, and oil. The world is warming up, causing more hurrcanes, toranadoes, and twisters. But we can track them with channels like 11, 3, 13, 26, and 24.

Aaron Moore
Grade 5

Have you ever wondered what life would be like in the 21st century? Have you ever wondered how much your homes, or how your cars could change, or how your pets might change? Well I have and this is my story about the 21st century.

The cars would be the same type like Ford, Chevrolet, or Buick. See, the tires: well you wouldn't have any tires would you? They would be hover-crafts with no tires-just powered jets. There would be roads and sky traffic, if you were wondering.

The water: well we just don't have a lot of it anymore do we? So, I think scientists should start looking for a new kind of liquid. Like a kind of like water but not water, like a new kind of resource that could act like water, and do the same thing that water does with all the right nurtrients, so to put a long story short and sweet just another product that replaces water when we run out.

Now here is my subject: Computers. I think that computers are fine right now, but in 2000, when every thing starts changing with life, you would be able to talk into microphones instead of typing on a keyboard. Also, the computers wouldn't be as big as the computers now. They would be smaller, and on-line surfing would be 10 times faster and more fun.

Homes would be like being in a sci-fi world, with computers that make your dinner, and computers that you can talk to. In the house there would be a holographic wall where you could go to the ocean in seconds. The computers would wait on every beckoning need, even in your bedrooms.

The land: now we all know that the earth is being used up and not a lot of space remains. Well, I think they should be researching the moon to see if people could live up there. If they could, they should start building domes with everlasting air.

Then, when they're done with that they should declare that four lucky families get to start a new civilization on the moon. And after a few months they get to send more people up there.

The animals: Some would still be flesh and blood, but most of them would be robots. Just think-no more letting out the dog or cat. No more feeding or grooming them.

Sarah Wyatt Stringfellow
Grade 5

HEALTH

In the future they might have some kind of medicine to make you stay young like when you are 40 you look 30, and they might have a new technique that when you are born you are very smart.

And at stores, things that you want that cost maybe 50$, in the future they cost 30$ or 40$ and the people who make computers, they can make ones that will talk back to you when you ask a question or if you need help you ask the computer for the help.

For instance, have you ever watched the news and they are trying to help a non-cureable person get well? What if in the future they could help people with a disease or cancer that can't be helped?

But then again I could be wrong and it could be just like this year.

Sasha Menconi
Grade 5

One day I was thinking what the 21st century would be like. Then I thought of some good things. I thought that we would play outdoors. Maybe games like cricket. You would play it by hitting a cricket with your hand.

Girls may wear 10-inch shoes. They would have fur on them and is very light.

Doctors would know how to cure smoking. They would give you medicine that would go to you body and cure your heart, liver, or your lungs.

We will live in the sky. The house will be a spaceship and you can have it on the ground or in the sky.

Schools will start at noon. When we get there we will eat lunch and get a snack at four. Even the children will drive cars to school!

Every one will have a computer and there will be no Y2K problems. They will be in every house and in every desk at school.

We will have flying cars. They will have new names and a new design.

That is what I thought it would be like in the 21st century.

Emily Bates
Grade 4

That is why I invented something I'd like to call Jet 2,000.

This jet has a propeller at the front and a cockpit in the middle. The hard part about it is that it's kind of a wind-up thing.

At the back there is a hook with a ruber band on it which leads all the way up to the propeller. When wound, the jet takes flight, This is the best thing for transportation because it does not need fuel!

Dakota Robinson
Grade 4

Have you ever thought about life in the 21st century? What kind of cars and things like that will be around. This is what I think it will be like.

I think the cars will be awesome. I think the new cars will not run on fuel and not run on any wheels. Or the newer models will look even better then before. I like those automobiles like Blitz Electric cars. I don't know exactly what they look like but the name is good enough reason for me. (But they better go fast).

I like to think that you won't have to ride the bus home;I can just step into a portal and zap right into my room. I'm talking about traveling around the world and being able to just stop when I want to.

That's how I would like to see the 21st century. You might have a different approach about it then I do, but that's good because it would be boring if we all thought the same thing.

Ryan Sterman
Grade 4

I think paper will be circular, or triangular.

Cars names could be Hover, Grasshopper, Cricket, and Bugles.

I think some horses might be yellow, red, brown, black, and white.

I think there will be no shoes at all; rocks will be circular, or square. I think clocks will go backwards and not forward - dogs will be brown, white or red.

I think people’s hair will be black, red, white or brown the only languages spoken will be English, German, Spanish, and French.

Alyson Hinze
Grade 4

I think that in the twenty-first century everyone will see the need for knowledge in science, engineering, and math. Because of this, eletricity, solar power, and nuclear power, and other different eneriges could be in use everywhere.

Even though you don't think of women as repairmen or contractors, it might happen more often.

With ladies learning mechanical and scientific things, some would want to build or repair more larger projects such as skyscrapers and space shuttles. We could use women's advice and thoughts to improve deeply the design of our homes, stores and other buildings.

Better nuclear warheads, subs, and bombs would defend our fights and country. With this technoligh, the United States of America could be the first to make mach six or seven possible.

Some day we may need to decide where others should live, because of this highly populated planet. We, or others could live in a city under the water, in the air, in outer space, or possibly on another planet.

Some may think I ponder a great deal. That is fine, but I know others wonder about these things too.

Kary A. Brinkman
Grade 5

I think that anything that needs a lightbulb won't need one. The reason is so all of our electric bills will be lower. I believe pencils won't have to be sharpened. The reason for this, is so the lead in the pencil is always sharp.

Teachers, principles, superintendents! Have you ever wondered why all the books are getting torn up? They won't be after you've got this...METAL BOOK COVERS! Sure, they’re going to be heavy, but us kids need all the extra muscles we can get.

If Y2K really happens, just remember, some of these might have been looked into. That's what I think is going to happen in the 2 triple 0.

Jeffry A. Hinze
Grade 5

Did you ever think about life in the 21st century? Well, I did and here is what I think about it.

I think that each student should have their own ATV or four-wheeler to haul books and other stuff on. They should be dark green with a bit camouflage on them.

I think there should also be automatic lockers that are portable and with a remote control. Automatic rolling, battery powered chairs would be nice too. Even a fast moving belted sidewalk would be cool!

Much cooler sports cars sound good. But, they would need to be maroon and faster to influence Aggie's to buy them. Can you tell that I am an Aggie's fan?

I would also like no school. I hope people are just born smart. But, if there had to be school, then I would like most of the day to spent playing games and talking to my friends. That is one of the best parts of school now in the 20th century.

Now, that's what life should be like in the 21st century. I wish!

Cody Marburger
Grade 4

The Y2K problems aren't joking matters. When the year 2,000 comes, the computer bug could if your computer is not Y2K compatible. Computers could stop working; important computer data could be erased, including student grades and school and bank files. Bank computers could stop working, or the accounts could get lost.

Also, school bells are programmed to go off at the right times or might not even go off at the right times or might not even go off at all.

The kids could be late for class. See why the Y2K problems aren't a joking matter?

Candice Noak
Grade 4

I think year 2000 is going to be a blast! My sister thinks there are going to be flying cars, people will live on different planets, we'll find a new planet, and each kid at school will have there own pocket-sized computers.

That would be neat but it will probably be sum what the same. Since there is almost 6,000,000 people on earth already, they might pick a planet and get it ready before 2000, and then starting year 2000 sending people up there.

That would be cool but what if people thought they could have more kids? Then what would happen? If each kid had their own pocket-sized computer, that would be cool! Then they could do all there research and writing on it. And when they needed to print they could send it to the teacher’s printer. They wouldn't always be complaining to the teacher, “I don't have a pencil.” That would be neat!

Tara Menconi
Grade 4

Lets start with school. I think we will still have school Monday through Saturday. On Monday through Friday we will have P.E. every day because the computers might not work so the teachers can't keep grades.

On Saturday we will stay until lunch and eat ice cream and instead of regular chairs we will have rolling chairs.

Next, we go to the clothes we wear. Our pants will have peace signs and we will have tie dye shirts like in the 60's.

Now we move to our houses. EVERY HOUSE WILL HAVE INDOOR POOLS. Some will float in the sky and some will be underwater. Food and drinks sounds like a good topic. We will have pizza, ice cream, and fast food for super and soda water but especially NO VEGETABLES.

We are going to move on to our pets. They will stay inside and have their own room, own bed, and they will eat at the table.

Finally, lets get to our cars. They will be solar powered and they will be automatic so no one will have to drive them, all you have to do is press the button and some will fly at night.

That is what I think 21st century is going to be like and I really hope I'm right because some or all of these things are "cool". But, my favorite is the part about school because the weeks are longer but more fun. I am ready for the 21st Century if it is going to be like that!

Kayla Peters
Grade 4

I woke up in my new home and got ready to go to school, but when I looked out my window it looked like a totally different world!

There were little green cars that flew around in the air, and some even went the speed of light.

Then all of a sudden I saw a motor cycle that looked like a limozine with 8 wheels, and in the back the President was fallowing.

The next thing I saw was an 18 wheeler driving on the railroad tracks! It had 18 loads of products fallowing behind him.

Screeeech the school bus haulted to a stop. I grabbed my lunch and got on the bus. On the way to school I saw tall green skyscrapers with a yellow, glowing light. I also saw a couple of businesses. Some people going to Mars and others going to the moon.

When I got to school I got off the bus and walked slowly to the door. Inside I saw a kid with the letter G on his forehead which I guess ment Genius.

After school, I walked home and sat in front of the TV when I realized that it was 3D! Then ,all of a sudden, a snake came right in front of my face while hissing! I figured that was a little to scary so I turned off the TV and went to go play the computer. When I got there, and turned it on I found out that you can tell it what to do! I had a lot of fun!

Then brrrrriing off went my alarm clock. I hopped out of bed and went to go look out the window. It was still the year 1999. Thank Goodness!

Katterli Brinkman
Grade 4

Well, it was December 31, 2000 one more day and then the 21st century. I went to the bathroom and brushed my teeth., then got my nightclothes on that were my red shorts with my purple knitted cotton shirt. I set my clock for 2:00 because that's when I was going to watch TV then pulled back my covers, and got into bed. Not long after that I was asleep.

Then my clock rang, I went to my TV and turned it on. About 25 minutes after that I heard noises like “beep, beep, honk, honk.” I got up and looked out the window. I saw a shinny, meatal, bight spaceship.

Then a ladder shot down from the door and out stepped an eight foot three inch Alien. He was green and looked like a human but his head was diamond shaped. He was waving at me. He told me to go with him.

I said "Yes" and walked out to his spaceship, he gave me a real lazergun. We got in and flew to Merrcy (Mercury). Before we got there, he handed me a pair of shades.

When we got there it was got and bright. I never walked on a planet besides Earth. I was there about 36 minutes and then I said "I have to be going." We got in and flew back to earth I went back to bed and when I woke up I found it was just a dream.

John Makowsky
Grade 5

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