pretty sure Y2k was a ritual...to start it all...
hindsight via 'ai':
The year 2000 was defined by the turn of the millennium, the peak and crash of the dot-com bubble, and significant cultural, sports, and political events. Major highlights included the Sydney Summer Olympics, the launch of the PlayStation 2, the controversial U.S. presidential election, the first crew on the International Space Station, and the mapping of the human genome.
Key 2000 Highlights & Trends:
Technology & Science: The dot-com bubble burst, leading to a market crash. The PlayStation 2 was released. The first resident crew arrived at the International Space Station. The first draft of the human genome was completed.
Politics & World Events: George W. Bush won the U.S. presidency following a Supreme Court decision in Bush v. Gore. Vladimir Putin was elected President of Russia. The Second Intifada began in the Middle East.
Sports: The Sydney 2000 Olympic Games took place. Tiger Woods became the youngest golfer to win all four major championships.
Pop Culture & Entertainment: Jennifer Lopez's green Versace dress at the Grammys became iconic. Destiny's Child, Britney Spears, and Eminem dominated the music charts. Gladiator and Cast Away were major films, and Survivor premiered.
Tragedies: Air France Flight 4590 crashed in Paris. The Russian submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea.
The year was marked by high optimism for the new millennium mixed with the anxiety of the "Y2K bug," which ultimately caused few major issues.