This, as well as other message boards, Web sites, books, etc are full of how to prepare for Y2K - a lot of people are making a lot of money cashing in on the fear. My question to the True Believers is this: What will you do if after all your preparations, Y2K turns out to be the biggest non event of the century? How will you feel? Will any of you feel dissapointed? Sad? I know this line of thinking upsets a lot of people, but perhaps we should be preparing for what happens if nothing happens.

Best regards,

Mr. notparanoid

-- mr. notparanoid (drluv73@hotmail.com), March 04, 1999

Answers

Doesn't upset me. As I said once before, if you're right and I'm wrong, I get a nice deduction next year. If I'm right and you're wrong, well...

-- Vic (Roadrunner@compliant.com), March 04, 1999.

Most of my preparations focus on food and water storage. I can't imagine myself in 2000 looking at it all disgustedly and saying, "Look at all this food and water! Whatever will we do with it? Oh no! I won't have to go to the grocery store for months and months. Woe is me."

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), March 04, 1999.

Mr. notparanoid,

My question to the "True Non-Believers" is this: What will you do if after not preparing, Y2K turns out to be the biggest event of the century. How will you feel? Will any of you feel disappointed? Sad? Cold, thirsty or hungry?

I know this line of thinking upsets a lot of people, but perhaps we should be preparing.

If my preparations weren't needed, I just won't need to go to the grocery store and hardware store as often in 2000.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), March 04, 1999.

well, let's see - wont have to go to the grocery store, the hardware store, or the like for at least a year or so...and I'll have developed a closer relationship with my fiancee' (who will then be my wife) through working together on the common goal of preparation.

it sure looks like all positives to me. Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), March 04, 1999.

What lame-assed troll-bait.

Yup we will all be so sad we will be suicidal.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), March 04, 1999.

http://www.sjmercury.com/svtech/news/breaking/merc/docs/027317.htm

Y2K may spark unrest, economic pain -US Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The year 2000 computer bug may set off civil unrest in poor countries, undermine economic growth in Asia, Latin America and Africa, and disrupt global trade in oil and other commodities, a Senate panel said Tuesday.

While there was a low probability of an accidental nuclear weapons launch, the committee said missile systems and other high-tech weapons in other countries could malfunction. The Senate was also warned that terrorists might strike against U.S. targets next Jan. 1 to take advantage of weakened security.

``I have a nightmare of CNN cameras in villages or cities where there is no power, no telecommunications, the banking system is broken down, widespread rioting,'' said Utah Republican Sen. Robert Bennett, chairman of the Senate's Special Committee on the computer problem.

[snip]

For the United States, Y2K disruptions should be manageable, the Senate panel concluded.

``The committee has no data to suggest that the United States will experience nationwide social or economic collapse, but the committee believes that some disruptions will occur, and that in some cases Y2K disruptions may be significant.''

Bennett said the U.S. military might experience some minor computer glitches, ``but its mission-critical, war-fighting capability will not be compromised.'' U.S. intelligence services would also be ready in time.

The U.S. health care industry may be the least prepared, according to the panel, which said the nation's Medicare system was in ``serious trouble''.

The committee complained that U.S. airports started preparations too late, and warned that shipments of goods by sea could be disrupted because the maritime industry was running behind. But it said a prolonged nationwide blackout was unlikely, although local and regional outages were possible.

In case vital services were temporarily cut off, the committee said Americans should stock up on bottled water, canned goods and other essentials, as they might to prepare for a winter storm lasting two to three days. People should also keep copies of their financial records in case banks run into unforeseen problems.

The committee said the most serious computer problems were likely to strike other countries next Jan. 1, because many of them started preparing too late or not at all.

The report singled out Japan, Mexico, China, Germany and Taiwan for falling nine months to two years behind schedule in preparing for the year 2000 bug. The committee also said that major oil producers Venezuela and Saudi Arabia were 12 to 18 months behind schedule.

``Disruption of flights and global trade between some areas and countries may occur,'' the committee said.

In a closed-door briefing for senators, Bennett outlined the Y2K threat to national security.

``There is a low to medium probability of terrorist exploitation of Y2K. However, we must remain vigilant in case some of our security systems malfunction,'' Bennett said afterwords.

But he added: ``There is a medium probability of economic disruptions that will lead to civil unrest in certain sectors of the world, particularly where their economies are already fragile or there is political uncertainty.''

He told senators there was a ``high probability'' that widespread computer glitches would compound economic problems in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

``In some countries it will be more serious than others,'' Bennett said. ``The unknowable question is what will be the impact on the United States.''

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), March 04, 1999.

How will I feel if I've overprepared? My goal is that I find out.

-- Codejockey (codejockey@geek.com), March 04, 1999.

Well let's see.

My Generator, propane refer, and sine wave inverter can all go into the bus I'm converting.

All the food can go in my tummy.

All the self reliance info I've learned can help my blood pressure and anxiety level, so no shrink costs.

I guess the only thing I won't need will be the solar panels. I can't fit all of them on the roof of my bus. Oh well, Guess I'll have to sell them for 90 cents on the dollar. *sigh*

Jolly

-- Jollyprez (Jolly@prez.com), March 04, 1999.

As Greybear once said, I may have to lick the egg off my face. Except for that, same as above. Not much shopping, more money in the bank, etc. <:)=

PS - What if we are not wrong?

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), March 04, 1999.

I'll feel pretty darn good! I won't have to do hardly any grocery shopping or hardly any shopping at all. I'll still be raising that garden to add fresh foods to go with my canned and stored foods.My social security check will start and I'll be able to spend it on frivolities if I so choose since all my basics have been taken care of.

I'll have returned to a simpler non-hectic lifestlye and should be a lot healthier. I'll be less dependent on modern consumer goods.

If it wasn't for the bad things that could happen to the unprepared, it would be a win-win situation.

-- Sue (deco100@aol.com), March 04, 1999.

Mr. Notparanoid:

You ain't too creative, either - we can tell this is you as well:

Have you ever thought about the fact that you, just like the weatheman predicting a snow storm, have just compounded whatever problem may occur. Thanks to people like you, most of us won't be able to buy a loaf of bread, a quart of milk, or a roll of toilet paper. I think if you really cared about the problem (?), you would have kept publicly quiet and worked with powers that be to solve the problem (?) What do you think?

-- Ron Brook (tealgull@skyhigh.com), March 04, 1999

But to answer your question, if it is all for nothing, I will STILL be less humiliated than people stockpiling beanie babies. Go pick on those people, here.

Is that amazing? BB lovers have chat rooms?

-- Lisa (lisa@vegas.yep), March 04, 1999.

If I'm wrong, I'm gonna throw an "Oops, I Was Wrong" bash. There will be lots of food to go around, lotsa wood to burn for the barbeques, and some of my GI buddies are going to pitch in for the kegs. :-)

We'll stand on the stump and let people harass/jeer if they want.

However, if I'm not wrong...party's off.

BTW, I spent most of my life in the country, so keeping reserves is just a way of life for our family...we're just stocking "a lil' extra" this time around...the power goes out from time to time when the wind and the ice storms hit out here, so we're used to that as well. We're used to going to the stream to gather water and boiling it if it's necessary. No biggie. I can live in the modern world, or manage without all of the electrical doo-dads.

Can you say that? Nothing will ever happen? You expect each day to be the same? No where to go but up? Nothing bad will ever happen again? The economy will always be bright, we'll never have outside threats? We ARE invincible? Untouchable? We have no vulnerabilities? Nothing or no one can stop us? Even if the rest of the world goes down the toilet, we won't be effected at all?

Hmmmm...apparently, my family has been paranoid for over three generations then.

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), March 04, 1999.

If I'm wrong, I will stand on the community stage in Kennesaw and admit it - publicly, and openly. Jan 21, 2001 - noon. It's in my calendar.

If you're wrong, will I see you there?

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), March 04, 1999.

In nutin' goes wrong:

Well, over at the Bear Den we'll still be eating beans and rice and roasting our Spam over the camp fire. I rekon we'll still be shooting at neighbors too. We'll also still be trying to bring about the fall of western civilization by buying some more groceries.

Oh, yeah, I forgot, we'll still be trying to break the back of the banking industry by teeping our $8.42 under the mattress.

--Greybear, who forgot - and dancing in the streets, shouting for joy, wearing a sigh that says "I WAS A DUMBASS", and thrilled to the bone about it all.

-OTOH if we're right, I suspect, sadly, we'll be diging a lot of graves.

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), March 04, 1999.

I think mr.notparanoid is new to thinking about all this. I remeber people asking this question a year ago when I first started investigating this problem, and the answers then were pretty much the same then as now. "True Believers" will be prepared with extra "stuff" even if it's just a bump in the sheets. Nobody that I'm aware of (though I'm sure there are some extremists) wants this to turn into a disaster. Implying that those of us who think it may be one will be disappointed if it's not, is sloppy thinking at best, and certainly more unfair to YOURSELF than to any "True Believer."

mr. notparanoid, I hope you take steps to protect yourself, just in case. I would feel disappointed and sad if you were forced to live on whatever you could scrounge, or maybe from the local FEMA soup kitchen.

Best regards...

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), March 04, 1999.

"Y2K news articles and items for newcomers"

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000UdL

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), March 04, 1999.

I have never once regretted not using my life insurance.

-- art welling (artw@lancnews.infi.net), March 04, 1999.

I'll be crying tears of shame in my hot shower.

-- Blue Himalayan (bh@k2.y), March 04, 1999.

Dear Llort,

Well I'll be happy to play your little "one size fits all" game of intellectual dishonesty.

1. I will have gotten rid of that 15+ year 3600 RPM generator/AC welder that ran on gasoline was completely manual that my wife never could figure out how to run right and replaced with a nice 1800RPM diesel genset with fully automatic start-up, transfer, cooldown, and weekly runup and a nice AC/DC 240VAC welder that will hold a better spark.

2. I now have some better emergency stoves and lights and cook sets than the ones I bought 8 years ago when I was the school scoutmaster.

3. Since I live close enough to the New Madrid fault line my 10+ year old stock of Morman 4 is now supplimented with fancy stuff like soup mix etc. God forbid that the price of food will go down (rotflmao).

4. I've dusted off and renewed old skills acquired a decade ago from ISC that should have been dusted off half a decade ago.

5. I'm appreciating the wonders of our advanced technology and not just taking them for granted like most of the brain dead zombies in our society.

6. I'll soon have a library of music in CDs, not just my LPs.

Whew, all of the above is just tragic I tell you. That's so awful I just better stop before I cry.

[insert fading giggles here]

-- Ken Seger (kenseger@earthlink.net), March 04, 1999.

NotParanoid,

If I'm wrong I'll be ecstatic, over the moon!

It will mean that we have averted what could have been a great disaster, and make no mistake, if we had done nothing to repair the code a great dusaster is what we would have had. Personally I don't like Spam and Beans all that much but the local soup kitchen will find a use for it, I bet.

-- Ron Davis (rdavis@ozemail.com.au), March 04, 1999.

NotParanoid,

If I'm wrong I'll be ecstatic, over the moon!

It will mean that we have averted what could have been a great disaster, and make no mistake, if we had done nothing to repair the code a great disaster is what we would have had. Personally I don't like Spam and Beans all that much but the local soup kitchen will find a use for it, I bet.

-- Ron Davis (rdavis@ozemail.com.au), March 04, 1999.

Oop's! Sorry! In trying to correct a typo I wound up sending twice.

-- Ron Davis (rdavis@ozemail.com.au), March 04, 1999.

We will all be called stupid many times during our lives. We will only be called dead once. Fellin Lucky?

-- Scotty (BLehman202@aol.com), March 04, 1999.

We will all be called stupid many times during our lives. We will only be called dead once. Feelin Lucky? Sorry for the repost.(typo)

-- Scotty (BLehman202@aol.com), March 04, 1999.

notparanoid -

My family will have supplies that will keep for months, will be needed if "The Big One" hits here in CA, and can be shared with others in need...

We'll be power-grid-neutral and nearly debt-free...

I'll have skills like "First Responder" training that may help save a life...

I'll have strengthened my relationships with my family and friends through all the dialogue and planning for Y2K...

That's what "being wrong about Y2K" looks like to me. Looks darn good, frankly. Thanks for the opportunity to write it all down like this. I feel even better about it!

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), March 04, 1999.

I told people they can dump buckets of raw eggs over me if there is no TEOTWAWKI because I'll be the happiest guy in the world. I'll do cartwheels and dance on tables. There are not many who enjoy life more than I because I always go the the mostest, the bestest and the fastest. Because I have lived the worstest.

Might even roll around in cow manure if so requested to do so. Some of you know how much I like THAT stuff.

P.S. Are you disappointed that your house did not burn down, you did not get cancer, smash your car decapitating your _____ and you did not get any return on your insurance preminum.

You are so stupid, you paid thousands of dollars for insurance and got nothing in return.

If you have food insurance you can always eat your premiums.

-- Not Again! (seenit@ww2.com), March 04, 1999.

Mr. Notparanoid, now that you've had our answers as "True Believers", lets turn the question around.

My question to the Not Paranoids is this: What will you do if after all what you've said to us, the same facts you've read as we did and argued oposite opinions and deduced an non-event of Y2K, Y2K turns out to be TEOTWAWKI? How will you feel?

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), March 04, 1999.

"Getting Ready for Y2K"

http://www.abcnews.go.com/onair/WorldNewsTonight/wnt990302_y2k_story.h tml

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), March 04, 1999.

Chris, my friend -

Might I suggest that TEOTWAWKI is too broad a term? Let's be specific here. Suggest that we assume a "WDCY2K 7": Political crises; regional supply/infrastructure problems and social disruptions.

NOTE: "social incidents" and "disruptions" have to do with demonstrations, work stoppages, strikes, organized vandalism, looting, and riots

NOTE: "supply/infrastructure problems" have to do with food shortages, fuel/heating oil shortages, disruptions in public utilities (power, gas, telecom), disruptions in transportation (airlines, trucking), and so on.

Let's make it easy on you: assume serious disruptions last only 3 months, with long, slow recovery for next 9-12 months. Water, power, food delivery badly disrupted. Serious economic impacts, etc.

What will happen to you and yours if this scenario is true? Would you even be ready for a 1 month loss of reliable services?

Looking forward to your reply.

-- Mac (sneak@lurk.com), March 04, 1999.

I shall use my wisdom and knowledge for the next diaster.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), March 04, 1999.

<>

But Ron - he's saying that there won't be any programming errors in 1 trillion dollars worth of rushed, emergency computer repairs.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), March 04, 1999.

I think I might feel the same way as the American Red Cross, FEMA, the US National Guard, the Military, etc. -- RELIEVED.

With all their Y2K emergency preparations underway they're going to look a damn sight sillier than us. Do you think they'll receive the eggs in their faces first. If so, maybe if we're lucky there won't be any eggs left for us.

-- Preparing (here@home.com), March 04, 1999.

Remember Pascal's wager.

Paraphrased:

When faced with a choice choose the option the outcome of which causes least harm.

Paid your insurtance? done your preps? Sleep well!

-- Bob Barbour (r.barbour@waikato.ac.nz), March 04, 1999.

I'll be damn happy that I'll be able to go back to work if nothing happens.

-- d (d@usedtobedgi.old), March 04, 1999.

Oh, man, you guys took my answers, I hate arriving late!

Disappointed? Sad? Don't insult the people that gather here.

"perhaps we should be preparing for what happens if nothing happens."

How do you prepare for nothing?

If nothing happens I will fall on my face and thank God in Heaven that I was alive to witness a MIRACLE of Bibical proprtions. Because if nothing happens it will not be due to the efficiency of humankind.

Do you believe in miracles?

If you don't I would suggest you prepare for what happens if somthing happens.

-- Deborah (info@wars.com), March 04, 1999.

Fran again, less than three years ago. Those transplants in this area who had lived in hurricane or earthquake country got in some candles, Sterno, lamp oil, nonperishable foods and batteries. The vast majority blew it off, pun intended. They were absolutely helpless during the two to five days most were without power. Many were unable to make even a cup of coffee on their electric stoves. Those out of power longer were in the country and made it through with the help of in-town relatives and friends. We were among those who bought supplies. It wasn't the first time. Probably about the tenth. On those other ten occasions, nothing happened. Didn't feel like a fool, just realized I was getting better and better at shopping for a storm. Y2k preps are the same thing, just on a larger scale. It'll take a bit longer to consume the supplies, that's all. With the money we save over year 2000 grocery prices, I'll buy myself a T-shirt, saying, "Year 2000: Just a bump in the road." In fact, I think I'll buy that T-shirt now.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), March 04, 1999.

I'm going back to the 70s, Mother Earth...:) Nothing to wonder at all, I've allways wanted too so now I am....

-- Jenny (NatureWomen@thewoods.com), March 04, 1999.

I'm going to stand in the 10 items or less checkout and reminisce.

-- uriel (gotfood@home.too), March 04, 1999.

Not paranoid will most likely join the HUNGRY MARAUDING GANGS IN 2000!!!! Have fun buddy! If you try to bash in my front door, I have a shotgun waiting for you!!!

-- Freddie the Freeloader (freddie@aol.com), March 04, 1999.

In 1961 I had the only fall-out shelter in a town of 10,000. It was on the front page of the local paper. We did not a have nuclear war and so here I am in 1999 and I am "at it again". Many who know me do not think I am "playing with a full deck" and sometimes I'm not sure if I know "shit from shinola". But I'm a believer and my gut says something evil this way cometh! If I am wrong about y2k I think I will just stay prepared this time around because while researching Y2k I found other future potiental problems. Got shoe polish?

-- tc (trashcan-man@webtv.net), March 04, 1999.

The largest chile bash AZ has ever seen. All those beans have got to go somewhere. The longest hot shower, since 12/31/1999. Plus, I'll put enough money back in the bank, I may even get a free toster!

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), March 04, 1999.

If y2k is just a little bump in the road, I will be ecstatic!

1)I will know what is happening with my daughter in California 2)No grocery buying....whoopee!!! 3)All the money I will save on groceries next year will be spent on things we want! 4)I will get to keep my job 5)I won't have to worry about seeing others go hungry 6)I won't have to.....

Gee this could go and on! I don't think this will require any effort to prepare for!

PS I like that line - edible insurance!

fingerscrossed

-- fingerscrossed (mybit@cyber.space), March 04, 1999.

If y2k is a non-event I will build a 50 ft. Lenin-style statue of DeJager in my backyard, and name my firstborn Zvegevinski (sp?).

But really, what a stupid question.

-- humptydumpty (no.6@thevillage.com), March 04, 1999.

I'll book my flight to Fla, to the party at Unc's!

(And be thrilled to bits to meet all these friends, in person)

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), March 04, 1999.

If it's a non-event, I'LL

never eat in a restuarant again without thinking of the luxury of it all

never think the same way about our government (not that I did anyhow)

take a long trip to see this wonderfull country of ours

talk to more people, make more friends, cherish the ones I got

never go fishin' again without being thankfull that I don't HAVE to

hug my kids more (grown boys - they just LOVE that!)

And, oh yeah, I'll kiss your butt on the courthouse square, and give you a week to draw a crowd! :)

-- Lon Frank (postit@here.com), March 05, 1999.

I'll sleep better.

"A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them."

-P.J. O'Rourke

-- Steve Hartsman (hartsman@ticon.net), March 05, 1999.

If this Y2K shindig turns out to be a bust I will be very grateful as my husband and I are within 10 years of retirement and we both have fair sized nest eggs that are not liquid in our IRAs and 401Ks. I think it would be nice to be able to use the money that we saved for our future. We are in the middle of a house remodel that I personally would like to finish, to at least preserve our equity in it at the minimum.

As you can see, we have a significant monetary interest in Y2K being a non-event. Even a moderate sized recession could singe our plans for the future, even though we have worked to protect/shelter our assets as much as possible. We may need to work for more years than we are able (due to mandatory retirement age in our chosen profession) to recoup our losses if Y2K's effects are widespread. I am very happy with my life right now (especially pre Y2K GI) and I resent the fact that piss poor planning on the part of many segments of government and business may render years of our planning moot at the worst, or at the very least, expose us to haggling over the values/balances of our assets. Will I be sad, dissappointed? You tell me.

Preparing for a 4 or 5 but not happy about it...

-- Ramp Rat (Aviation_R_us@noname.nocity), March 05, 1999.

Might I suggest that all this happy-talk by the doom-and gloomers is the flip-side of their usual rancor and near-homicidal tendencies when confronted/disagreed with. I've seen hideous name-calling and worse when the doomer philosophy was challenged on this forum and others, and I'm certainly not the only one who has observed this.

Maybe you'll be happy if nothing/only a little bit happens. But what about the people with little or no resources whom you have persuaded, through your blind paranoia, to overspend resources they could not afford, in pursuit of an overprepapration that was unnecessary to begin with? What about them? And don't even try to tell me that such a case doesn't exist. (Like the man said in 'The Outlaw Josey Wales', "don't piss down my neck and tell me it's raining".)

-- Chicken Little (panic@forthebirds.net), March 05, 1999.

Well Chicken Little, it sounds as if you're having a bad day. Did you even notice some of the phrases you used?

'usual rancor'

'near-homicidal tendencies'

'hideous name-calling'

'blind paranoia'

Are you disappointed by our civility? Would you be happier if we acted like crazies?

-- Paul Revere (calm@home.now), March 05, 1999.

Hmm, Chicken Little, I haven't had anyone on this forum tell me that I should buy things I can't afford. Most tell me to buy food, and recommend the cheapest way to do that. Perhaps you're thinking of heat source? I guess someone could overspend on that, but I remember some pretty good advice on low-budget heating; tenting, it was called, I think. Maybe water? Pretty hard to overspend on water following the advice here. Then there's always the fact that this is a free society, and you won't get me to believe that there's a single person posting here who's held a gun to someone's head to get them to buy something! If you know someone who's overspent, chances are he/she'd overspend without Y2K, and at least the things bought for prep are useful. No, if you want me to feel guilty about persuading someone to prepare, you'll have to do alot better than the nebulous accusation made here.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), March 05, 1999.

A little off topic but: I was 3 miles from the tornado that hit Rochester In. and Ohio in 1975 and caused widespread devastation and several deaths.

I was in Calabash, N.C. when Hurricane Hugo hit the coast and we had millions of dollars worth of losses but my house was spared.

I went to Orlando to help elderly friends in case Andrew hit there and again we were spared but helped a lot of refugees.

Do I feel that lucky again? I hope so, but I won't count on it. More beans--if I don't need them maybe someone else will.

-- Sue (deco100@aol.com), March 05, 1999.

Ahhh . . . Sue . . . where are you planning to spend New Year's Eve? Just want to make sure I'm not within a state or two when y2k hits, just in case you happen to be at ground zero :-)

-- David (David@BankPacman.com), March 05, 1999.

My favorite answer to this question.

If I'm right, I'm OK. If I'm wrong, I'm OK. If you're right, I'm OK. If you're wrong, I'm OK. *You* on the other hand...

As for scaring someone who "can't afford" to be scared; all of this is actually teaching how to live very cheaply. For instance, we found that two people can eat three solid and healthy meals a day, for six months, for $200.00 and less.

Certainly there are reasons other than this y2k that people are drawn into preparing. Those with the Attention Deficite Disorder Syndrom are perhaps enjoying a welcome "diversion". Others just enjoy the challenge of trying to cover "all angles" of any difficult situation. Sitcoms, Lewinsky following or furbie collecting doesn't fulfill everyone. IMHO preparing will not cause people to overspend beyond what they truly want and can afford. "Denial" will prevail to allow *not* spending when economically or otherwise unable.

In the end, and for the most part, "preparing" is something we should all do/have anyway. Personal priorities will come from the thoughts and wants we've held for years. I for one am grateful for the opportunity to be "forced" into buying some of the things I've always wanted. A battery backed up sump pump for instance. After all this time, I'm happy its finally in place. Will it go to waste? I hope so.

Lastly, there is evolution. When confronted with environmental changes, other beings or situations, those who are not able to handle it, just disappear. The rest (of us) adapt.

I'll see some of you on the other side. :-)

Me.

-- Floyd Baker (fbaker@wzrd.com), March 05, 1999.

Hey Floyd, could you please let me know where to find information on how to back-up your sump pump with a battery? I've always wanted to have that, Y2K or not. Power always goes off in a thunderstorm. When do you need your sump pump? In a thunderstorm. :-)

Thanks!

-- David (David@BankPacman.com), March 05, 1999.

Maybe the best answer that I can give is from the quotable quote: "I'd rather be a fool than an idiot." I will soon be relocating from the Washington D.C. area to Northwest Arkansas (closing the Ark property the last week in March, though still have my D.C. area house on the market!). I have spent a lot of money getting ready, with still a lot more to do once I get there. If Y2K turns out to be a fizzle, then yes, I will feel pretty foolish, but very relieved. If it turns out that it is anything like I expect it to be ... I'm sure that you can figure that one out for yourself.

And maybe this is why, as the time grows very short, there seems to be a lot more friction than usual between the Doomers and the Pollyannas. Because, each Doomer, now matter how sure, underneath it all, feels that indeed s/he might in fact be a fool. And each Pollyanna, no matter how sure, underneath it all, feels that indeed s/he might in fact be an idiot. And it is highly unsettling for everyone!

(BTW, I highly recommend the following realtor if you are looking for Y2K survival property in NW Arkansas: Jeff Elliott of Lindsey&Associates, (501) 521-6611. He knows that area completely, understand the Y2K needs, and is all-round great to work with.)

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.net), March 05, 1999.

Chicken Little, how can poor people overspend on food, water and heat? These are the basic necessities to everyday life. They save on food by beating next year's inflation if Y2K is a non-event, and they have a stockpile of basic necessities if their meager source of income gets cut off for whatever reason, such as getting laid-off from work, prolonged sickness etc. Also, preparing for the worse case scenario motivates poor people to prioritize and spend their money wisely; such as learning how to shop for best prices, gardening, canning, cooking from scratch with raw cheaper ingredients etc. And all these activities gives one a sense of acomplishment, self-confidence, self-reliance, and control which is usualy lacking when one is poor.

I've learned from this board that we all live hanging by our nails, rich and poor, and that we should have been prepared for the worse even without Y2K. We've been lulled to sleep by good ol' over-protective papa-gov, and we've become whining dependant wimpy little spoiled brat kids who can't tie their own shoes.

-- Chris (catsy@pond.com), March 05, 1999.

Interesting spin (and the usual false but utterly liberal heartstring tug) there from Chicken Little about the "poor":

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Bluntly - would you, Chicken, prefer that nobody prepare in order that everybody suffere equally if the troubles occur? Or would you prefer that the poor have to compete with the "rich and middle class" for impossibly stretched federeal and state resources if troubles occur? Or is it better that no body prepare at all? Why? If any body prepares for power and services disruption, then there are more resources available to support those who chose not to prepare.

If, as we suspect, the federal government is simply and physically unable to take care of everyone who will desparately need life support (heat, water, food, and shelter), do you want the "poor" to simply crawl away and die?

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), March 05, 1999.

I will continue living.

-- Linda A. (adahi@muhlon.com), March 05, 1999.

Hey all....To those of us old timers on this forum, I have a suggestion, let one of you (not I, I'm not that smart, and anyhow, Robert, your humor is the greatest by far, along with Greybear) start a new thread on Where we will meet and eat all of our stash? I suggest somewhere nuetral, close so we can all get there in the open area of a national park, and have a MASSIVE COOKOFF....If any leftovers are available, we can pass onto Diane who can then help in way of relief for the less fortunate in Ca.? Gayla can keep an eye on us (she does excellent job of keeping us all in line) and other suggestions are welcome....Of course after watching C-span earlier today I have NO doubt whatsoever now that we wont be able to 'use' what we will have as it appears foreign countries are in serious bad shape. The $$$ we have saved alone purchasing while inexpensive will be worth it all.

-- consumer (private@aol.com), March 05, 1999.

David

The battery and sump pump system was bought at Home Depot.

Its called the Basement Watchdog. Sells for about 125.00. The pump is good for 33.3 gpm level or 16.7 gpm at a 10 ft lift. I'm looking at a height about half way between. There is a monitor panel which tells if the pump was activated, if the charger is working, if the battery is defective and/or if the battery needs water. There is also commercial power battery charger included and we picked on a deep cycle marine battery as the backup power for about $90.00.

Me.

-- Floyd Baker (fbaker@wzrd.com), March 05, 1999.

Dear Mr. notparanoid,

If after all my preparations Y2K turns out to be the biggest non- event of the century, I will sigh oh so deeply. My heart will sink into my digestive tract & quickly (hopefully) be excreted.

I will be terribly disappointed. I've been living in the Twilight Zone for too long - intensity has heightened these past 14 months.

Maya is kicking me in the slats. Enough already!

A part of me wants the insurance companies to go down. Hard! Same with the insurance company doctors/shills! Be gone with you're blackened souls!

Too much pain, too many asleep at the wheel; not enough love. Look into their eyes, what do you see? Emptiness!

Time to shock the sheeple says me - Y2K disaster is OK with me.

Someone had to say it.

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), March 09, 1999.

But I'm selfish and pragmatic - it'd be too cheap, too close to home, and wouldn't have any good food if I planned it - Imean it'd have lots of food, but it wouldn't be "you know" cooked food or anything fancy like spagettio's or pork and beans or hotdogs.....

Besides my loverly bride would want to drive/fly/water-ski someplace else than our backyard .... and we'd have to get the kids to clean their bedrooms - and that's too hard - I'd rather do something easy like getting the whole country through a piddlin' little problem like Y2K than ever face those bedrooms again.

However - centrally located for fun and general good spirits - I'm leaning towards N'orleans far as central goes, but Uncle De's place in March on the atlantic Lake would be nice....but further North is more convenient to some yankees and canadianians.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), March 09, 1999.

consumer,

I have been saving this plan for future implementation. But since you asked, here it is.

I have made rough estimates of the amount of supplies probably stored by the regulars on this board. (What the lurkers have stored is held in reserve)

If Y2K is a bump, my plan is as follows:

We will all wait for the next flood on the Mississippi. We will then rush our supply of beans and rice to the area to be used, not as food, but as flood supression material. I personally have enough beans and rice to soak up a small local flood. Collectively I think we can stop Ol Man River next time he get rowdy.

And we will have made our mark on the world. When all those beans and rice swell up we not only will have stoped the flood we will have created a new geographic feature - a mountain equal to or exceeding the Rockies. I want to be first to suggest that we call it Mt. Yourdon in honor of our host.

And then there is the Spam.

If Y2K is a bump, my plan includes saving it until we send the first brave folks on an interstellar journey. They will have to go into the "deep sleep" for a few centuries to make the multi light year journey and will be hungy as all get out when they wake. We will have the Spam waiting for them. They will be hungry enough to eat it and actually like it. This will be an historic first. Besides, it will still be good by then. No other substance known to man can fill this need. I am a little concerned about them lighting camp fires while still on board ship. We'll work out these small details later.

I will proceed to fininsh revealing my plan for the other stored but not needed supplies at some point in the future.

So you see, none of this stuff goes to waste what ever happens!!

--Greybear, planer extrodinaire

- Got Can Openers?

-- Greybear (greybear@home.com), March 09, 1999.

I am mostly a lurker. This seems to suit my personality. But I feel like part of a great family. Though I am older than most (certainly not all!), I feel like a younger member of the family, looking up at those with more "know-how." I appreciate all your comments. Something that Paul Milne said somewhere sticks in my memory: "If you prepare there are no bad consequences."

Yesterday my wife's father died. This is a blessing for him as well as us. He lingered for 4 years after a stroke immobolized a very active outdoor life. But now that he is gone, I think my wife will feel more comfortable in relocating (finally).

Our only regret is that we will need to take our children out of a very good Waldorf school. (Yes, I am an old git with two youngins at home!) If Y2K is a bump we can always return somewhere, someplace where the children can continue in Waldorf education.

-- PJ (Just@here.com), March 09, 1999.

PJ-

Condolences to your wife. May his soul and all the souls of the departed rest in peace. Amen.

Blessings...Mercy

-- Mercy (prepare@now.com), March 09, 1999.

greybear, great plan

J

-- jlinsey (jlinsey@nowhere.com), March 09, 1999.

notparanoid-

I will quit having nightmares about running out of food for my immmediate and extended family.

I will be able to afford that vacation to Hawaii that I have always wanted to take-because I will be able to use the money that I would ordinarily have to spend money on food, TP, hygiene, medications, etc.

I will able to go off Prozac.

Would to God that I am wrong. Scared spitless@home.com

-- newbiebutnodummy (Linda@home.com), March 09, 1999.