Consumer Reports: How to Prepare for Y2K

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The May issue of Consumer Reports is urging preparation similar to the Red Cross. One thing in this article really stood out to me. The reporter said, "I've come to the conclusion that this is way too much trouble and I just don't have time to worry about it." How many others have the same attitude? He makes several other sarcastic remarks. I wonder if someone MADE him write this story?

Link

Preparing for panic

April 28, 1999

Tim Chitwood

News Columnist

All those Y2K warnings we've been hearing just got a credibility boost with the May edition of Consumer Reports magazine -- not your usual source of computer-generated paranoia -- which features a special report on "How to prepare for Y2K."

The article includes tips from the American Red Cross, another credible source for disaster preparation.

But those tips are the same ones the Red Cross advises for any emergency, and the magazine predicts no apocalypse: "While anticipating inconveniences is appropriate, panicky stockpiling of essentials or a drastic rearrangement of your personal finances is not," it says.

The Red Cross recommends you prepare as you would for a big storm that might cut your electricity for three days: store three gallons of clean water per person per day; a three-day supply of food; an extra set of clean clothes; a flashlight, battery-powered radio, can opener, toiletries, sleeping bags, signal flare, etc. I'm not sure why you need a signal flare. I guess that if you have an emergency, you can run outside and set off a flare, and then the police will come, and arrest you for setting off a flare. That can't be legal in Columbus.

Having read all the Consumer Reports tips on how to prepare for possible disruptions caused by Y2K computer malfunctions, I've come to the conclusion that this is way too much trouble and I just don't have time to worry about it.

But because so many other people do, local leaders here are planning a Year 2000 Town Meeting for 6-8 p.m. May 20 at Columbus State University's Davidson Student Center auditorium, where they'll reassure everyone that everything here will be just fine, unless everyone here panics, and then there could be trouble.

Their primary concern is that the fear of a Y2K disaster could become a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy, resulting in a Y2K disaster. For example, if millions of people cower at home New Year's Eve and at the stroke of midnight run to their phones to test the line, that's going to overburden the phone system and it's going to crash. If the phone system crashes and that causes everyone to panic and run to the bank machines to withdraw cash, that's going to overburden the bank machines. You let one panic fuel another and the next thing you know, crazed mobs will be out in the street waving signal flares.

So we can only hope residents here won't be so reckless as to stay home testing their phone lines New Year's Eve when they should be out drinking like responsible adults.

If you want to get the local outlook on Y2K at that May forum, call (706) 568-2134 to make a reservation.

It won't cost you anything, but organizers want to know how many folks will be there, so they can be prepared.

I guess they want to be sure they've got enough signal flares to go around.

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), April 28, 1999

Answers

Another thing that I noticed was they they don't want you to check your phone lines when you "should be out drinking like responsible adults".

Something gets me here, since most will drive home afterwards. This is very irresponsible for this reporter to write this. Gayla, if you live in the Columbus area, I hope that you write to that paper in anger about a reporter wishing more people go out drinking.

I do believe in a little drink now and again, but always when I am at home, and never when I need to drive. Clip that article and save it for the possible law suits that will come from that advise.

-- (cannot-say@this.time), April 28, 1999.


Another thing that I noticed was they they don't want you to check your phone lines when you "should be out drinking like responsible adults".

Something gets me here, since most will drive home afterwards. This is very irresponsible for this reporter to write this. Gayla, if you live in the Columbus area, I hope that you write to that paper in anger about a reporter wishing more people go out drinking.

I do believe in a little drink now and again, but always when I am at home, and never when I need to drive. Clip that article and save it for the possible law suits that will come from that advice.

-- (cannot-say@this.time), April 28, 1999.


Oops... sorry for the double post.

-- (cannot-say@this.time), April 28, 1999.

HUMOR HUMOR HUMOR HUMOR, BEWARE MORE HUMOR!!!

Lighten up it's HUMOR. Ya know the tounge in cheek kind? If you read a couple of his past articles, you'll get the picture. Oh, I forgot you DOOMIES don't like Y2K HUMOR.

-- not a polly (tounge@in.cheek), April 28, 1999.


Interesting post! I was relieved (??) this morning when I checked out our local y2k web site. We do not have to worry about y2k because the meeting that were scheduled to happen have been cancelled due to lack of interest. Here, in this county, we seem to have the sense of an ostrich...we just put our heads down and ignore the dangers around us. I guess I am not in with the right people as I continue on to read and explore the news and in doing that I see that we may have some problems ahead. I am not a doom and gloomer but am doing a bit more on having some emergency supplies around. The chicks are settled in their 'new to them' hen house and are growing like weeds. The garden is coming along and we just got some diatomaeous earth to put around to get the earwigs and sowbugs. I also am going to plant a garlic clove around some things as I have heard it helps keep the bugs away. I thank all of you for the informative posts that are helpful in making preparations. I love the research information that Old Git gives us. He's a good guy! Anyhow, if you live in my county...have no fear...there in a lack of interest and we should not worry about y2k.

-- Old Gramma (Gotitincalif@webtv.net), April 28, 1999.


Not a polly, call it what you want. I call it irresponsible journalism. BTW, my grandmother and aunt were killed by a drunk driver. How about you?

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), April 28, 1999.

Gayla,

I find it irresponsible too.

Tell him what you think in an "e" Tim Chitwood chitwood@ledgerenquirer.com and be sure to copy his editor ... Mike Burbach Exec. Editor/Vice Pres. mburbach@ledger-enquirer.com

Also gave him a "D minus."

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), April 28, 1999.


Gayla,

My sympathy to you. Innocent people are killed by drunk drivers. Everyone knows that drinking and driving are against the law.

My point is just that EVERYONE KNOWS THAT DRINKING AND DRIVING ARE AGAINST THE LAW.

The over all tone of the article is poking fun at an article in the May edition:



-- not a polly (tounge@in.cheek), April 28, 1999.


Link

-- not a polly (link@link.now), April 28, 1999.

Gramma if your sig is accurate, you and Old Git share at least gender.

C

PS Gayla, SSSSSLAP him around for me too. A a medic, I HATE drivers who have ETOH on board when I get to unbelt and board them.

-- chuck, a Night Driver (rienzoo@en.com), April 28, 1999.



The Consumer Reports piece is well-written--although it's Red Crossish, it's easy to read between the lines.

As for the critique article, there's a certain kind of so-called humor that's not funny, like the guy we knew who "joked" like, "Yeah, Cindy's nose was big enough to ski down till I got it fixed for her, wasn't it honey? We'll get the luggage under the eyes next!" (ha ha). This humor reminds me of that guy--snide, dishonest, belittling and discomfiting. Cheap shots. Is Tim Chitwood a nom de plume for a certain writer who occasionally posts on this forum? They would seem the type to write a humorous article on, say, spousal abuse, then wonder why others didn't think it was funny.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 28, 1999.


There is nothing irresponsible about being out drinking on New Year's Eve. There is plenty irresponsible about driving after, or while, drinking, on NYE or any other night. Learn the difference.

-- Comeon Eileen (common@sense.com), April 28, 1999.

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