Bennett said something at the Press Club press conference yesterday that made me quite aware that this forum is being monitored. No doubt at all. He was making fun of the ideas set forth here regarding martial law and Clinton's desired third term. Diane mentioned something earlier, too, about knowing of monitoring. Anyone else have examples? Hi, federales...

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), September 09, 1999

Answers

No example but anyone with interest in Y2K monitors this board and that has to include the FBI anti terrorism unit. If I was on that unit I would watch this group! But most of the provacative statements here are nothing more than bravado and bluster.....right guys and gals just bluster......

no one here but us chickens

Not totally crazy just half a bubble off.

-- LM (latemarch@usa.net), September 09, 1999.

Awww, I think Bennett's doing the country a favor, folks. Everyone knows the news shows up here FIRST! (and sometimes never shows up elsewhere) He's just keeping on top of what's going on. Just like we are. Shucks, if he weren't reading these boards I'd be more worried than I already am.

-- mommacarestx (harringtondesignX@earthlink.net), September 09, 1999.

I used to think the idea of the feds monitoring this particular forum was just a fanciful bit of hubris, on the part of a few over-imaginative posters. I mean, why THIS forum, out of all the others.

Then I went and visited a bunch of the other forums. They all seem to use that delightful on-post-at-a-time format, that is such a pain in the buttocks to use, especially when you want to reply to multiple posters at the same time.

Monitoring here certainly would let the feds get the biggest scope, without a lot of bouncing around.

-- Bokonon (bokonon@my-Deja.com), September 09, 1999.

I agree that this place is being watched. Don't let it bother you, unless, of course, you are making plans to do something naughty.

-- uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 09, 1999.

Mara, Thomas Barnett, Director of the Naval War College, has posted here on occasion.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 09, 1999.

The senator may laugh at the idea of martial law, but it wasn't anyone who posts to this forum who issued the EOs.

The Sec of Defense stated that the US was not going to intervene in Timor. Wanna bet that the real meaning is that troops won't be going for another week or so?

BTW, does anyone know if the American soldiers ever returned from Haiti? Wasn't that supposed to be over in a year?

Just wondering,

gene

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), September 09, 1999.

Hi Uncle Sam! <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), September 09, 1999.

Mara

On the US Naval War College site they have internet chat rooms as the first stop for looking at Y2K indicators among the public. CSY2K would be more useful to go to than here because of the search abilities of Deja News and more militant stances of the members. But they are here also. Any Canadian Gov. types? :o) Isolators and Cascaders To Watch During Y2K Season

U.S. Naval War College
Year 2000 International Security Dimension Project

GroupSystems Inputs for
3-4 December Y2K Scenario-Building Workshop

V. "Isolators" and "Cascaders" to Watch
During Y2K Season/Event

Internet chat rooms

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 09, 1999.

I don't remember where I recently read this, but the model for Uncle Sam was a butcher during the Civil War.

I think it's fairly clear that there is some monitoring going on. Probably some intern in a D.C. office who snips the "interesting" posts and then forwards them to whoever is on the list. Also, don't forget how quickly Steve Davis posted here after the Navy Report story broke. He probably told Koskinen on the phone how nutty it got here that day. Wouldn't be surprised if Kosky lurked that day himself.

Hi John! Remember me from last night? I was the guy with the pony- tail.

I've also wondered about some of the names that get automatic e-mails forwarded of each post. That's why I usually hit the back button in my browser before it starts sending them out. Unless it's something that I WANT "them" to read...

-- pshannon (pshannon@inch.com), September 09, 1999.

Hi Uncle Sam! You're alright most of the time, except when you're lying your a** off. Sure wish you could do more towards protecting our liberties instead of engaging in arrogant empire building.

-- coprolith (coprolith@rocketship.com), September 09, 1999.

"That's why I usually hit the back button"

It may not matter ps. Most likely it's a task that keeps running. Mr. Greenspun may be able to tell you for sure. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), September 09, 1999.

Uncle Sam ain't worth a damn.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), September 09, 1999.

I've always thought it would be very enlightening, entertaining, and just plain interesting to know just 'who' visits here on a regular basis. Maybe the 'old man' himself? Who knows?

Hubby and I were discussing this very thing this evening. When we're at Sam's or WalMart and see someone else obviously laying in some prep supplies, are they TB2000 lurkers? Are they someone we've become 'acquainted' with via this or another forum? I dare say we all might be really surprised by who we share our 'soapbox' with.

But, as I reminded my spouse, if anyone *important* was really interested in what I have to say, it'd be a first. As much as we've gotten involved in local matters, written letters, etc., no one seems to pay much attention to what this middle aged, peace-loving grandma has to say.

Oh, well. Their loss. : )

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), September 09, 1999.

I do think we are being monitored. Pshannon's example of the rapid response when the Navy report surfaced is a good example, as is Brian's pointer to the Naval War College.

What bothers me about this is their motive. Since it's painfully obvious that TB2000 is NOT representative of mainstream America's view of potential Y2K impacts, monitoring the forum does not help them to "keep their finger on the pulse", so to speak. It's also pretty obvious from the history of posts here that, as a group, we are unlikely to have any perceptible influence on the vast majority who expect a BITR (if that).

Reading more and more lately that the government's main concern at rollover (including Bennett and Dodd's latest)is cyberterrorism and millenium extremists taking actions to bring about TEOTWAWKI. My suspicion is that the feds surveille this forum because they consider us to be potential terrorists. I try not to let that bother me, but I do resent it.

-- RUOK (RUOK@yesiam.com), September 09, 1999.

I'm no terrorist, only a pathetic satirist.

Please don't delete me, officer, I'm beside myself.

If you wait a bit, I'll jump back in and log off.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), September 10, 1999.

Sure, they lurk here, and allude to our concerns with sneers. However, they're actually jealous because w'all discuss the issue with passion, humor, creativity, and intelligence. They think it should be none of our business; they think it's "their" turf. But tis us weeples who will be impacted more than the .govs with their taxpayer-stockpiled bunkers, at least at the beginning.

Remember Koffinsky's remarks that his presentations were not as interesting as "discussing the end of the world?" Guess who/what he was thinking of :-) By the way, it's TEOTWAWKI, As We Know It. When a Kosky-Polly leaves the ending off the End, know they are falsely trying to pigeonhole, label, diminish, and ridicule the realists.

By lurking here they do get a pulse and certainly do learn a lot. It feeds their doubletalk comeback spins, teaches them what type of questions to anticipate and deflect. But of course they can't waylay the Forum itself, so continue to read here and enjoy for the real scoop.

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), September 10, 1999.

Well, I would think that the "inventor of the Internet" would definitely be a regular lurker :)

-- a (a@a.a), September 10, 1999.

Actually "lurking" in a manner of speaking would be kind of pointless. What an entity would do is download the whole forum on to their hard drive and do word searches. I could do it myself overnight (got cable) with no problem and use sherlock (on a mac) to get a overview on differant subjects. Then a entity would only have to down load the "new answers" to get updates on how we think. Piece of cake. I would need a larger hard drive to do it myself but was considering trying it out with the Prep Archive I built.

Is that a bit of forum insight or what eh?

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 10, 1999.

Your impudence will not be met with impunity!

KOSKOBOT HAS SPOKEN! *beep!*

-- KOSKOBOT (koskobot@lizardlair.com), September 10, 1999.

One of our regular posters who works for a "branch" of the government was called into the BIG boss's office and told to be careful what he said on this forum. (I'm putting it nicely!) He now posts under a different name. There are definitely some "big wigs" who keep track of us. :-)

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 10, 1999.

Let's see now, how do I link that "SEARCH function to Brian's machine... <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), September 10, 1999.

Brian, we'd love to have *that* !
How on earth do you "download the whole forum onto your hard drive?"
We're running a RevA iMac with a 4G HD, 96 RAM (finally!), MacOS 8.6, Sherlock elation!

Gotta get some zzzzzzzzs now but please please please tell us how to do this! Oh to be able to search!

Enough Yourdynamites have Macs to make it worthwhile to post the method here, but if you'd rather eMail it to us that would be fine too :-)

Drooling at the possibilities ...

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), September 10, 1999.

RUOK,

I agree with you, I resent being linked with terrorists just because I see a need to prepare. I'm also a Christian, but that does NOT mean I'm believe homosexuals are to be beaten and killed or Jews are to be hated. I'm sick of the media treating Christian believers who can make sense of Revelations at doomers. We have the greatest hope of all ( a hereafter with our Lord Jesus Christ) despite what we understand to be part of the future. I DO NOT want Y2k, God didn't make the Y2k problem, man did. I do not want to have 20 folks to move in with me. I do not want to deal with mass panic. I WILL NOT be running off to Jerusalem to get TEOTWAWKI on the fast track. So, Uncle Sam, if you are watching, I'm a 48 yr old female, living in the midwest, 2 grown children, wife of a retired military officer, who is doing no more than my grandmother did just 50 years ago to prepare for a winter caring for her family. So, please get off my back.

-- Tess (preparingfortheworst@prayingforthebest.com), September 10, 1999.

Demographically, we do represent a very interesting mix of people representing a wide variety of age groups, beliefs, educational backgrounds, ethnicities, financial resources, income levels, morals, professional experiences, political affiliations, races, regions, religions, residences, etc. Additional information can be identified somewhat easily in terms of where users (lurkers included) are accessing the web, isp, town or city, state, time, time spent on forum, frequency of visits, etc. It has occured to me that we may be a test group in the sense that they make find insight in our responses to news and other information. I don't think our individual responses and behaviors would be of much interest, but you never know. I sure would like to know, however, what kind of metrics are being used.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), September 10, 1999.

A&L

Oh the Mac addicts. If you want to run a business I guess you would use windoze but if you are on the net Macs rule hands down for versitility. Specially with graphics.

And this is one cool tool. I use ICab in combination with Netscape 4.6. Each has their good and bad points but ICab is PPC natural so it is VERY fast. Good for poking around the internet and has an awesome download feature. Not only that it has been just upgraded and there is a new thing on the gentlemans site that is some sort of web archive thingy that I have not checked out before. ICab is still in the developement stage so it is quirky and crashes.

By the way I have 8.6, Thank you Steven Jobs for raising Macs from the grave. There is now a G4 mac out and the top model is three times faster than a 600 pentium.

I need a new machine. Just have a 6400/180. If you want to do 3d rendering a FAST machine is needed.

iCab - Internet Browser

 iCab - das Internet-Taxi f& uuml;r den Mac
 
 

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 10, 1999.

Bingo Stan.

;-D

I can guarantee we have a "fascinating" set of posters, from all walks. And that the TBY2K ripples... spread globally.

Now... if "they" would "get" that a prepared peoples, have no need to panic, then operate "publically" under that assumption, we might still have a chance to avoid the worst of the global submerged Y2K iceberg. Or not.

*Sigh*

Suspect we're close to learning how well we can all cooperate, and/or to fix a planet... on failure. Next year. (Call it "on the job" creative problem solving).

Could have been better. Hopefully, it won't be worse.

Choices.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 10, 1999.

Di, your polly is showing again. It is a tad too late for openness and transparency to carry the day. Just hunker down, can all fall, and pray.

Chcuk

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), September 10, 1999.

Just call me an optimist, Chuck.

Since it's not something I'd expect... it COULD happen.

*Grin*

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 10, 1999.

Let's not forget the incident of C4i.

Thomas Bennett of the Naval War College showed up here to belittle that series of threads as quickly as the Koskinen spin surfaced concerning the Naval Papers.

Isn't it great to be noticed?

-- Jon Williamson (jwilliamson003@sprintmail.com), September 10, 1999.

I'm on record as not buying into the Fascist NWO theories, and that most of the problems with the gov't are due to ignorance, apathy and an entitled attitude that it is the people's job to kiss the gov'ts butt, rather than the other way around. Between my wife and I, we've had lots of experience with a big city municipal and large county gov't. And rightly or wrongly, we do extrapolate this to be representative of what you get, at any level.

This does not mean, however, that we think the gov't is full of nothing but cloddish, but affable, Charlie Chaplins and Buster Keatons. Quite a few of these people are petty and mean spirited and not at all beyond using their positions of influence to "reach out and touch someone", who has pissed them off.

Just a little word to the wise, from someone who has rubbed elbows with a portion of your "gubmint".

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), September 10, 1999.

Thanks for one of the funniest threads I've read here. I can't stop laughing. You guys are wacko with an attitude.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), September 10, 1999.

Let um watch! I still say get some rope!

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), September 10, 1999.

I think the fed monitoring this and other forums is a good idea. First of all, it's impossible to keep any secrets (as if we had any) in this day of electronic communication. You have all heard of Project Echelon? There is yet another project underway too of similiar nature, but the name escapes me. Secondly, since the feds ARE monitoring all communications (phone, email, fax, Net, etc.) they obviously have a pretty good idea of what people are doing and what we are thinking. This can be a good thing. Clearly they understand our concerns, or at least know about them, and they can see that many of us are very informed on the issues. Not all of us can be bamboozled by the media spin. Therefore the feds monitor these forums and can gauge how a segment of the population feels about the "news". What they do with this information is anybody's guess - more media spin?

-- Ray Shuster (shusters@montanasky.net), September 10, 1999.

We are not terrorists. Terrorists go after innocent people to make a point. We just want to hang the "gubmint" boys! And not to especially make a point. Its simply a matter of getting rid of vermin. They are nothing but modern day cattle rustlers and need to be delt with as such. Taz

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), September 10, 1999.

Thomas Bennett of the Naval War College showed up here to belittle that series of threads as quickly as the Koskinen spin surfaced concerning the Naval Papers.

Isn't it great to be noticed?

-- Jon Williamson

Jon

I do believe that Thomas was requested to comment on the Naval Papers. Someone contacted him from the forum. (was it Critt?)

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 10, 1999.

Uncle Deedah: Define "naughty". :-) ("Naughty" is in the eye of the beholder -- what you may consider innocuous and/or a rightful exercise of your rights, the pigs likely consider "naughty".)

-- A (A@AisA.com), September 10, 1999.

Brian:

My apologies. I was imprecise.

Thomas Barnett appeared rather quickly (for the first time, I think) on the forum to downplay the c4i threads. For those who were not addicted to this forum then, this was a set of four threads that played out one afternoon several months ago.

It was supposedly sent by someone in a think tank. The first thread stated categorically to expect 2-4 week blackouts in January, depending on the area of the country.

It went on to discuss other "expected" problems and government actions.

The remainder of the threads wandered around quite a bit.

Apparently, the first thread WAS from a .mil site. The rest were not, except for one posting that was apparently from the same site as the first thread.

Linkmeister:

Do you possibly have that close at hand?

-- Jon Williamson (jwilliamson003@sprintmail.com), September 10, 1999.

Not quite precise Jon,

The c4i saga (interesting dot mil) brought an amazing number of folks out of the woodwork (and shadows), in addition to Dr. Thomas Barnett, who had done some earlier forum posting, when someone first pointed out the Navel War College site.

The post also caused a scramble behind-the-scenes, resulting in a few people "de-cloaking," as it were, to myself and others.

That trend has continued.

But, even more impressive, was the whole swirl around the Jim Lord web intro of the Y2K Pentagon Papers. Ever since then, this place has become downright fascinating!

Welcome newcomers and old threaders all!

This fall season is just gonna get... curiouser and busier, IMHO.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 10, 1999.

AisAisA,

I have fond memories of the first time my wife and I snuck out to a motel. (before we were married) I showed her my "pee pee". She thought that was "naughty".

But that's not what I meant.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), September 10, 1999.

Diane,

You wrote>>"Ever since then, this place has become downright fascinating!"

Many times I have had my doubts about your intentions in monitering and or deleting posts here. This statement is excactly what I want to hear in a moniter. Your absolutely right. This is fascinating!

My apologies if my doubt is/was offensive.

-- R. Wright (blaklodg@hotmail.com), September 10, 1999.

If the government monitors this message board, then I want them to know this:

WE NEED MORE BANDWIDTH!

Got T3?

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), September 10, 1999.

Do they only monitor? Or perhaps a more active role in the conversations might be taken? Twenty-Five Rules of Disinformation - The Politicians Credo

-- Linda (lwmb@psln.com), September 11, 1999.

Linda,

No, there are lots of "interesting" people who also post. That's part of what makes this place a Y2K "hot" spot.

A full-spectrum rainbow of opinions are available. (Causing more than a few groans!)

;-D

R. Wright,

No problem. My intentions as Sysop, when Ed Yourdon turned over the reins, was to try and allow the forum to "morph" the same way Ed did, but with a bit more attention paid to deleting flaming rude trolls and the clearly obscene.

Since one volunteer can't possibly read everything, I added on another Sysop (as back-up system who prefers to remain anon), and created a Moderator team of about 15 people who alert the Sysops if something needs attention. Then, recently we added on Chuck, the Mad Deleter, as an additional Sysop, because he's a great guy and had additional training as part-time Sysop over on the Prep Forum that we split off from this forum in early July. If the TBY2K forum continues to escalate in "busi-ness" we may add on another Sysop from the MoD team to help out, as needed.

We're trying to let this thing be pretty organic, because Y2K is more than just an embedded chip, hardware and software date code problem... the potential repercussions are global, political, societal, and local... effecting all aspects of our lives. Systemic is probably the appropriate word. So, we try to let this place be fairly representative of *most* facets in the planetary diamond.

And the truth is... were all in this one together. *Big Sigh*

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 11, 1999.

Oh, and Linda... of course, there's a full spectrum, from amateur to I suspect "professional," disruptors, too.

Such is life on the internet.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 11, 1999.

"Professional" disrupter Pro, punching in for duty...

"I have seen the face of the enemy. The enemy is our government".-- Ray Shuster

September 09, 1999.

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), September 11, 1999.

The CODE is the Enemy

(FRLians, try to contain yourselves ;^D )

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), September 11, 1999.

Sorry Y2K Pro... but you, and most the DB'ers, are amateurs compared to the "real" professionals whose ISP's go into firewalls and/or bounce all over the globe on a trace. They mostly come out and "play" when the VERY big newz hits... like c4i and Jim Lord's Navy spreadsheet.

I like to remember that the CIA, NSA, and any of the other "ghostly shadow people" et. al., have families and children too.

It's our common link and common concern.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 11, 1999.

Boogam booga,

Poor Di thinks that anyone in officialdom is interested in the goings on of this little forum. Tinfoil arrogance I suppose...

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), September 11, 1999.

Diane told Tempest that she "did not care who posted from where" "believe that" she said. NOW she admits to trying to track down "disruptors" (that would be anyone that disagrees with the end of the world loving freaks, and tells them so)

what a hypocrite.

-- super polly (Fu_Q_y2kfreaks@hotmail.com), September 11, 1999.

Diane has nothing better to do than sit on this forum. And now she is tracking down disrupters???? Bwahahahaha What ya gonna do Diane, throw em in jail, or tell Ed Yourdon? bwahahahaha bwahahahaha

-- (gomper@tinko.com), September 11, 1999.

super polly,

Diane has access to IP information, the same IP information POSTED on the troll, err, polly sites where you hang out. What's your point?

Tick... Tock... <:00=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), September 11, 1999.

In the very un-PC, and heavily scapegoated 60s some guy, (Abbie Hoffman, or another high profile type...One of Tom Hayden's cronies, BTW) said: "If your name's not on a list somewhere shame on you."

Everyone stick their heads out the door or window of their house...look up and smile for a satellite photo. :-)

-- Donna (moment@pacbell.net), September 11, 1999.

Sysman:

Yes, Diane has access to IP addresses. But if she "doesn't care" where you post from, could she have noticed these firewalls or shifting sources just kind of, like, by accident? Otherwise, she must have cared, and therefore been (Gasp!) deliberately misleading!

But that's OK, because Diane's opinion is "right". If *I* were to pull that, of course, I'd become a liar. We no longer even pretend that standards are applied equally.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), September 11, 1999.

The Naval War College's concern on Y2K is with foreign nations. It was addressing foreign nations and those who would be dealing those nations. It's on the alert as nations collapse for "Answer Man" thus bringing more rogue nations into being I suspect. Or worse, which are Answer Men in already nuclearized nations.

The "chatroom watch" is most likely to be on enemies of a given nation. Such as those groups that want a social break down in order to achieve their own revolutionary aims. People deliberately playing out the Orson Wells' War of the Worlds panic inducer.

"Panic" was defined by those using it as every person seems to have his or her own defintion of it. It was defined in the publicity stunt: Government Y2K Committee Speaks With Press. They stated openly there is the possibility that a window for the War of the Worlds mass hysteria could open. "Panic" is not preparations. None of us would qualify as citizens in panic. To further validate that, in seemingly ancient articles leading up to Koskinens hiring and then the formation of the Senate Committee, Senator Bennet openly states that the people cannot be told the truth about Y2K because there is a risk of mass hysteria, and the Committees job is to say things like, "Everything is fine!"

We are not clever slithering beings defying government and its spins on the masses with our preparations. It was decided in early/mid 1998 to cause a bit of a pre-activation in hopes that those who would prepare would do so at that early of a date. These people, they reasoned, would be lured up like guppies from the pond, wreck their havoc, and then go away.

We all noticed a stop was put into effect. As we guppies went through the Y2K "truthful" door, that door was slammed tightly shut behind us. No, the Feds did not want our help "waking up the neighbors," and no the Feds did not want us to "reorganize our local communities," and no the Feds did not want "our assistance."

People have pointed out only 2-3% prepared? Obviously, though our walks of life are different, we are not of the general population but do beat to a different drummer. We do know the "truth" already just from the published old articles in which "the truth" was told...so one can conclude the last thing the Feds want to see in the "chatrooms" as the general population feels a bit betrayed is ourselves pointing out, "Yap, they lied, see this old article, and isn't it a shame it killed off your whole family?" The person then marches out the door with a rifle crazed beyond belief. This may be something also watched for at the time.

Preparations were just that as we did them. One can't confuse that with the propaganda being used on the 97%. It isn't meant for oneself. Oneself was the result of the deliberate Fed effort to get those who would seriously prepare to do so at a very early date. You've all got to move off the propaganda meant for others. Who cares that you prepared? But plenty care if you announce your meeting December 25 to "rally the people to prepare."

Those old articles say it was hopeless for a nation as large as the American population to all prepare as they might see fit. There may be truth to that because the 2-3% did cause jamming and shortages. None of which was wrong. Somebody is going to buy the generator for a blackout. The system barely handled the 2-3%. I think some of us are in denial about this. People who sat and read the generators were being rationed, some companies no longer accepting orders, survival food companies back ordered, gold, rifles and ammo in shortages etc, and then turn around and yell, "Everyone should be told "the truth" and prepare! They have to lead and guide 97% through a terrifying and dangerous time with a supply chain already fractured that barely could/ can function under the weight of the 2-3%.

I am predicting that if that 2-3% does not go happily off snug and comfy "saved" from the worst, but instead "rallies the people" as we enter more closely to "D" day, those individuals will be paid a visit, and it may even be by covert assassins. I do not think the Feds will bat one eyelash taking out a hair in the soup of its "get the 97% through this" plan.

One of the reasons the door was shut behind us in a rather nasty and biting fashion, I suspect, is because some amongst us have not seen the ugliness of the world. If the Navy is talking about *military* run Relief Centers having to control the people, keep them from congesting about them and so forth, than quite obviously, one is not handing a plate of beans and rice out at the church to the starving masses, or at the school, or the community neighborhood stockpile because to even help large crowds of people in crises requires an armed military. We saw that in the Serbian War. To help the ethnic Albanians did require armed and policing personnel. Y2K'ers failing to grasp how many * millions* of people live in L.A. alone and how many of them are no better than animals coming forth with numerous ideals out side of reality. If there is going to be a military run Relief Center the Feds and military no doubt wish to pick that location themselves. Babbit said the United States is now at 300 million people. 97% of 300 million have to be controlled through crise so the USA remains the USA.

Another point to consider, it is illegal in America to start a bank run. Like it or not folks you cannot state publically what your perception of the banks is if it could instigate a run. That law applies to Senator Bennet, John Koskinen, Bill Clinton, the Admiral of the Navy, the FBI agent etc. No one is exempt from that law. Those law breakers are watched for like a hawk I am sure. I think they will be watched for in those "chatrooms" especially as the time nears more.

I am not a Christian. I do not turn my check ever. I have no difficulty in watching and interpreting the signs of the times. You were putty in the Feds hands, you did exactly what they wanted you to do which was to wreck havoc at a very early date, you are supposed to have completed all those preparations, you as people vowing to be so Y2K informed, savvy and in the know, were expected to have read those articles which talked about the reality of 97%, and you are expected to rise above juvenile emotions, use your head, and with quiet intelligence begin to make your exit, and leave Y2K and the 97% for the Feds to handle. Your assigned Y2K role, which you accepted when you activated to prepare, was to keep yourself and loved ones in a measure of security and out of harms way. The nation is entering a volatile time period so stay out of the stores, stay out of the banks, and stay out of the "chatrooms."

If you can't go cold turkey than go into a withdrawal until your off. I am in my own withdrawal as we speak. But whichever, do it to mean it.

97% have to be escorted through a scary and dangerous period of history, the nation has to survive it all with flag, capitalism, and Republican democracy intact, and martial law is probably going to occur in some areas depending on the scenario. We read articles about the Florida food distribution warehouses being under armed protection, and yet this doesn't suggest to you that you might be grateful for martial law? You with your cans of ravioli as the mobs storm a warehouse for a can of ravioli?

No Fed is going to take your cans of ravioli. It may not have been the agenda, but if you think about it, what the Feds managed to do was get all its discontents, fringe folk, activatists, those too in the know about Y2K (CIO's & Programmers), and Internet loud mouths prepared so they haven't any reason to be out there making what it might perceive as trouble. Don't claim the Feds were out to get you as you sit the 2- 3% prepared and spared misery.

One thing to know, and you really can't be emotional and not intellectual people about this. The CIA is the most powerful espionage entity on the globe, and in working with the American people, it has experienced what is called a "backfire." If you go forth "waking up" people who do not want to be woken up you might find yourself in a "backfire." Gary North has already mentioned threats he recieves. Art Bell had a caller telling him the individual was going to steal Arts' food. Those good ole Americans you all want to "save" may come at you in a "backfire" you could not foresee or predict. *President Reagan found out how careful one has to be. He went forth with a famous speech called "The Threat" to wake up Americans, tell them "the truth," and lay out his plan of action to "save" them all. He went forth to a religious community and gave his speech. The people became dangerous and it went into an unruly mob. He fled back and it took people from Los Alamos to eventually work out "The Threat" speech to the point it could be said without being dangerous. If President Reagan and the Los Alamos staff couldn't predict a backfire how would any of you? Maybe that is why "Y2K war games" were conducted? How can the trigger button be so known and predictable when Reagan had to flee a church community for telling the people The Truth?

Cool it. Just cool it. A part of growth is finding out you didn't know it all afterall. If you have such a love for "the masses" and such a deep concern over the nation, and such horror martial law may called to control irrational beasts, "chatrooms may be monitored," then get rid of all your preparations and actually be "one of people." No one is stopping you. You can go forth robbed in your bedsheets, you head shaved, and "lead the people" thus preventing all your claimed obvious things. Just remember Reagan has SS all around him. You won't. Go on. Go ahead. Spread your gospel all across the Internet all you who did not fit the mindset of the 97% but claim to know them and what is good for them.

I myself am going off with my preparations, will not be drawing attention to myself in a chatroom or otherwise, and leave the 97% to the Feds. It expects the possibility of serious and acute mass hysteria. I don't intend to be in front of that train when it starts rolling. And that 97% mass hysteria all hitting the Internet is probably what the "chatrooms being monitored" is really all about. Hysteria is overwhelming terror that overides all reasoning ability. Picture that going at it in the "chatrooms" January 1. People who have never been in a chatroom now on spreading the word that "the aliens have landed with high powered weapons-I saw it for myself in Bradford, Illionis!" People in total hysteria don't see the truth. They look out with eyes altering reality and rearranging it. They go on the net with a system fracturing in their local community, be the 97%, and will read, "Yap, if you didn't prepare for a year you're as good as dead and that's a fact."

I am going to repeat this naysayers. You broke "the system" as the 2- 3% who prepared. The days of Little House of the Prarie ended over 100 years ago. This is not or could ever be a "system" that can handle 300 million, (6 billion globally), to suddenly play "Prepare for the long winter." There are 3rd world nations still in the days of Little House on the Prarie and due to overpopulation the people "living off the land" with their Victory gardens and chickens are starving to death. Not even the old systems could possible have managed 300 million people preparing for a long winter. You all know it and yet you deny it. So just what do you want to say in the "chatrooms?" "6 billion people prepare?" To the Asians who will die after working as slave labor to make the Powerpacs, flashlights, lamps and batteries you bought to save yourselves? Urge buying the rice from the paddies the workers could not themselves afford to buy for even daily use? A globe that already doesn't have enough food for daily use? To America in which one-third of the children already live with chronic hunger?

So accept the horror the Feds might know what they're doing. You have your revenge already for any "beef" you might have with the Feds. It's comfy, cozy, prepared Y2K surviving population is a bunch of radicals, activists, headaches, and all the last the other nations hope would survive a terrible crises.

It's hard to quiet down. I know. I've been out there the worst of em myself. All I had to do was go back to the 1997-to mid 1998 articles to realize a few things. Don't thank your gods, thank the Feds, who lite a match under you, you now sit prepared, and leave them and those HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS of eating machines they have to control alone.

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), October 08, 1999.

I've had my cartoon out now for seven years and said some of the most outrageous statements without a knock on my door. Essentially, I'm as harmless to the feds as a fly, as I have no intention of ever playing offense, if you know what I mean. If I need to defend my family, however, it will be a different story. But I think we'll all have our hands full with the roving hoards of inner-city slugs when the balloon goes up. The feds are probably waiting to bat clean-up.

-- Patrick (pmchenry@gradall.com), October 08, 1999.

I like you, Paula.

-- Klar (klarbrunn@lycos.com), October 13, 1999.