In Ed Yourdon's thread "Letter to Greenspan," someone was asking what Paul Milne's qualifications were. Found a couple newspaper articles on Paul so read for yourself.

www/bergen.com Click on the The Bergen Record. On the right hand side of web page click on "search entire sight," type in "Paul Milne" (be sure to use the quotes). It will take you to the articles.

FYI, Paul Milne was a successful commodities trader who once lived in Somerset County, NJ, has 3 children and now lives in Virgina.

-- Media Junkie (mediajunkie@mediajunkieee.com), September 19, 1999

Answers

The Bergen Record piece is an good example of egregious mis- reporting. The reporter asked me what would happen if bad guys attacked us? I said that a potential for a self-defense situation existed and that I was prepared to defend my family. How did that play out in his article? Here is the begining of it...

"Seven years ago, Paul Milne was a successful commodities trader living in Somerset County. He had a Cadillac in the garage, three children in private school, and a Little League team he coached on weekends.

Today, he lives on a 10-acre farm in rural Virginia, where he raises cows, hogs, and rabbits. He grows vegetables, churns his own butter, and makes his own soap. He has enough food to feed 20 people for two years.

And he says he will kill anybody who tries to steal it."

Of course, this kind of writing is pure bullshit. But wait, there's more crapola...

"Paul Milne is a survivalist."

No, I am not.

" He believes that at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2000, a programming quirk known as the millennium bug will bring many of the world's computers to their knees. "

No, I do not.

"He bought a propane-powered refrigerator.."

No, I did not. But now, he finally gets close to what i actually said...

"He said if someone needed food and asked, he'd gladly provide a meal; if someone tried to steal it, he'd stop him."

And that was turned into "he'll kill anyone who tries to steal it." Much of what people think or believe of me is based upon inaccuracies in magazine and newspaper stories. Then, those opposed to my views distort these reports even more and the distorted nonsense spreads. Unfortunately it sticks in many cases, having NO basis in truth at all.

If anyone has any questions about me, it is best to come to me. My e- mail address is real and I answer all e-mail.

http://www.bergen.com/cgi-bin/SFgate? language=english&verbose=0&listenv=DL&application=search&convert=&head line=November%201%2c%201998%20%20%20%20%20Back%20to%20low% 20tech&waisurl=news1998/HTML/19980/1=cgi.bergen.com% 3A9565;2=./news1998;3=0%2019980% 20/usr/local/www/bergen/htdocs/news/survive2519981101.htm;4=cgi.bergen .com%3A9565;5=./news1998;6=0%2019980% 20/usr/local/www/bergen/htdocs/news/survive2519981101.htm;7=%00;

Paul Milne "If you live within 5 miles of a 7-11, you're toast"

-- Paul Milne (fedinfo@halifax.com), September 19, 1999.

And according to Paul's brother Gary, the "successful commodities trader" in real life was a 9-month stint as an unsuccessful telemarketer at a commotidites firm. But who can you trust anyway?

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), September 19, 1999.

flint-boy, When people refuse to stick to the facts and evidence and try all manner of subterfuge to discredit you becuase they do not like your views, they have a world of malicious lies to chose from. Gary was no exception. Perhaps you did not know that his rhetoric was so sick that he was booted off his ISP?

But you chose to post this same kind of crapola in the same kind of perverted attack. You perpetuate filth and lies. It speaks volumes to your character.

Paul Milne "If you live within 5 miles of a 7-11, you're toast"

-- Paul Milne (fedinfo@halifax.com), September 19, 1999.

And your point being Flint?

-- Media Junkie (mediajunkie@mediajunkieee.com), September 19, 1999.

I don't give a rats ass what Milnes background is. I find his take no prisoners shoot from the hip analysis of polyspeak bullshit to be astonishingly refreshing after a generation of "spin" and corporate owned government controlled media. Of course the fact that I share his views on taxation, the fed, and the constitution might influence my opinion a LITTLE. Time to flip Flint, your ass is getting a little red.

-- Nikoli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.com), September 19, 1999.

Admit it Flint - you're just jealous because Milne's stash is bigger than yours.

BTW - Milne is on record as saying y2k will be a disaster; you say it will be insignificant. In about 100 days we will have a winner of this contest. Hope you like crow.

-- a (a@a.a), September 19, 1999.

there is an old saying flint:

you can choose your friends... but you can't choose your relatives.

-- marianne (uranus@nbn.net), September 19, 1999.

a: The winners will be the survivors.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), September 19, 1999.

Media:

My point should be clear -- all information about Paul that comes from any source other than Paul himself is lies, some of them vicious. And as I recall (but I don't have links handy, I admit) Paul's tales of his past aren't consistent either. But few people view themselves dispassionately -- I certainly don't.

And I'll also admit that from what I read of what Gary Milne wrote, he wasn't glued together quite right either. I don't think Paul's past is particularly salient here, but whatever it is, it's subject to, shall we say, wildly different interpretations.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), September 19, 1999.

"Much of what people think or believe of me is based upon inaccuracies in magazine and newspaper stories. Then, those opposed to my views distort these reports even more and the distorted nonsense spreads. Unfortunately it sticks in many cases, having NO basis in truth at all."

Are you complaining you're not getting any respect?

Here's my free spychologist advice; (I'm not a psychologist but I slept well and feel smart today)Try treating people with respect, much as Ed "molly-coddling" Yourdon does. Then see your smarter-than-Ed's-message get across.

-- Chris (#$%^&@pond.com), September 19, 1999.

Hey Flint - I read on another thread that you were a homosexual (not that there's anything wrong with that). Because someone said it, should I believe it? Are you gay or what?

-- lurker (nothere@nope.never), September 19, 1999.

Flint, I would take what Paul Milne has to say any day over what you have to say. Paul Milne is one of the most intelligent and thought provoking individuals I have read on this forum. You have the propensity to become one of those individuals, but your stupidity and arrogance keeps you from rationalizing what is the truth. Deep down you know what the truth is, but you get your jolly's by always being the devil's advocate. You have about three more months and then your time is up, too bad for you.

-- Media Junkie (mediajunkie@mediajunkieee.com), September 19, 1999.

Yikes Chris,

When addressing the unmitigated Mr. Milne I trust you have your Victoria's Secret Asbestos Specials firmly fastened.

-- flora (***@__._), September 19, 1999.

lurker:

The source of your information is obviously critical. The source of all information about Paul is Paul, except for what his brother wrote. One presumes Gary Milne's information (and he posted quite a lot of it, check deja news) was based on some independent observation. But Chris is right -- you reap what you sow.

So far, I have personally met two people who post here (Ken Decker and Robert Cook), narrowly missing Big Dog twice from sheer bad luck. Nobody else knows anything about me at all, except what I've posted. For what it's worth.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), September 19, 1999.

Flint, have you met Paul's brother Gary? Did you hear first hand from Paul's brother anything he said about Paul? It's all heresay isn't it? I'm sure you don't like it when people say derogatory stuff about you now do you? "Nobody knows anything else about me at all, except what I have posted. For what it's worth." At least Paul Milne is not afraid of who and what he is. He is a far better man, father and husband than you could ever be. The article states he "was a SUCCESSFUL commodities trader." He was so successful that he as able to take care of business and his family. I think that's what you are jealous of, someone elses success.

-- Media Junkie (mediajunkie@mediajunkie.com), September 19, 1999.

Flora, I wear Victoria's Secret only for the deserving kind. I don't need flame-proof underwear, my cute derriere is already flame-proof. Milne tried his best last year and quickly gave up. I'm just a "fool" to him now. So that makes me a peer to him.

-- Chris (#$%^&@pond.com), September 19, 1999.

Paul's message gets across loud and clear that's why people don't like his approach to issues. What difference does it make if you say sh*t or crap, the message is the same. The truth is hard to swallow, but I am a far better person for knowing the truth than a half lie.

-- Media Junkie (mediajunkie@mediajunkieee.com), September 19, 1999.

Flint doesn't want to hear the truth because Flint can't handle the truth.

-- A Lurker (noone@nottelling.com), September 20, 1999.

Flint is not a nice person.

Wouldn't trust him as far as I could spit.

He's shown his true colours many times on this forum.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), September 20, 1999.

"Much of what people think or believe of me is based upon inaccuracies in magazine and newspaper stories. Then, those opposed to my views distort these reports even more and the distorted nonsense spreads. Unfortunately it sticks in many cases, having NO basis in truth at all. "

Well Paul, if you feel the media is not treating you fairly why don't you try this....DON'T TALK TO THEM! Why does the saying "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." come to mind? If you feel the media burns you, AVOID THEM. Do not grant interviews.

It is a pretty simple solution that seems to work for North. Why not join him?

(this post meant as an honest suggestion. It could be taken as a flame, but that is not how it is meant. I have a cold and I am grumpy as all get out)

-- your (choise@useit.com), September 20, 1999.

All I want to know is what was the trigger event that propelled Paul out of his old lifestyle into his new lifestyle. Something happened.

-- Amy Leone (leoneamy@aol.com), September 20, 1999.

The same thing that is propelling us GIs and that's the will to live and survive. It's just something about us that we can't stand to see our children die before our very eyes. Flint lacks the will, there will be some who would be better off dead than alive.

-- Media Junkie (mediajunkie@mediajunkie.com), September 20, 1999.

Amy, Probably he just could not turn off his head and do the routine. He seems like the kind of person who wants a consistency in life..to believe in what he is doing. Maybe he found out that the market is a fraud-sters paradise these days???

-- ..- (dit@dot.dash), September 20, 1999.

Simply my opinion, based on my observations of what Paul Milne has written:

Paul's message is sincere. He believes what he says. But he often indulges himself in some very extreme rhetoric, including a lot of invective against anyone he perceives as a pollyanna. From time to time, he slips over the line into some pretty crude flames or some grossly overreaching hyperbole. Or sometimes, he just exhibits a piece of bad judgement. This makes him no worse than a lot of us.

When he does cross the line, it is common for someone to call him on it. I find that people's flaws aren't really indicative of their character, but how they react when they are caught with their flaws in plain sight is pretty revealing. Paul's most common reaction to being chided is to claim that the person misunderstood the actual meaning of his words, along the lines of 'I never said I would be glad if so-and-so died, I just said that his death would make the world a better place. Quit twisting my words around.'

Paul hates to be wrong. The problem is, he's human and can't help being wrong now again. When that happens he squirms, he justifies himself yet more loudly, he changes the subject, he attacks, or he slinks away in silence. What he *never* does is own up to his mistakes. In my opnion, Paul Milne would make a great jailhouse lawyer.

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), September 20, 1999.

Well, that article can't be right because I saw a picture of his family and the oldest can't be over 10. So how could he have had three kids in private school 7 years ago?

dot dash - that crossed my mind - nonetheless I'd like to hear it from the horses mouth.

-- Amy Leone (leoneamy@aol.com), September 20, 1999.

To 'choice', I do not 'complain' that the magazines get it wrong in their articles. Unfortunately they are many times grossly inaccurate because they sensationalize or they are careless. I continue to let them interview me in the hopes that a warning may get out. But, I also understand that very very few will actually do anything at all. Those are the odds and those are the risks.

To 'Amy',

Not every picture that the papers use include the whole family. We are not always all here when they come.

Matt is 18, Doug 14, Jake,10, Emily 7 and Ben is 2. I am very proud of having delivered Ben here myself. Of course, my wife Lynda, had some part in it too. : )

Paul Milne "If you live within 5 miles of a 7-11, you're toast"

-- Paul Milne (fedinfo@halifax.com), September 20, 1999.