Hey, my transponder stopped transponding yesterday for about 40 mins while
passing between Richmond and Raleigh. I was whipped into a frenzy when
Center told me that RDU wasn't going to want to take me without a
Transponder and 400' ceilings. I was whipped up at that point. Went to
Raliegh approach and they could see me fine.

Does that count? :-)

Well, that flare is due here today. The news media are hysterical, talking
about the enormous danger to aircraft navigation systems. NPR has gone
absolutely ballistic. The general public should be whipped into a frenzy,
fearing that it will start raining airplanes any second.