http://www.canoe.com/CNEWSHeyMartha9911/16_two.html

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), November 17, 1999

Answers

[Fair Use: For Educational/Research Purposes Only]

Tuesday, November 16, 1999

Y2K shelter filled with tuna

MANASSAS PARK, Va. (AP) -- Whatever else changes when the year 2000 dawns, city officials are sure about one thing: There will be tuna.

The city is stuffing a generator-powered Y2K shelter with canned tuna, chicken and other food items to feed 450 people for up to six days.

The $85,000 bill for the shelter, tuna and all, isn't sitting well with some residents.

"I think it's all ridiculous to begin with, the whole Y2K thing," said Lou Bello. "Doing things like this, like planning for so much disaster, is just likely to cause panic."

Expenses include $45,900 for two new generators to power the shelter, to be located in the Manassas Park Middle School. The city also bought tuna and other goods for $19,200.

The gas and power companies that serve the city say they're not expecting any Y2K problems.

If disaster doesn't come, the council hopes to sell the goodies to the city's schools. Superintendent Thomas DeBolt said that may not work so well.

"There's only so much canned chicken and tuna that teen-agers will eat," he told the council Monday.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), November 17, 1999.

We don't want teenagers with good taste, we want teenagers that taste good!

Kook

-- Y2Kook (Y2Kook@usa.net), November 17, 1999.

These officials who are making plans to help the people in their community in case there are Y2K problems are getting a lot of flack for their efforts.

It sure would be nice if there were an easy way for us to communicate with them and offer our encouragement and thanks.

-- walt (longyear@shentel.net), November 17, 1999.

In a post at the end of August, I wrote about the Fairfax County Y2K meeting, in which it was all "happy talk". I approached the coordinator of the Y2K effort and asked her if we could not do on a county level what the small, wise City of Manassas was doing for its community, in preparing a shelter for needy residents. They didn't wish to attempt such an undertaking, unfortunately, and would only "choose a location when we see where the biggest need is and then open a school there for a shelter."

The City of Manassas is to be applauded for their forward-thinking, pro-active approach to what could be a disastrous time. I only wish our county had the same foresight and deep concern for its citizens!

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), November 17, 1999.

That must stink to high heaven by now. I can't imagine what it will smell like in January..a whole room full of decaying tuna and chicken! Yuck!!!

-- ..- (dit@dot.dash), November 17, 1999.

450 people for 6 days won't be threatening others over food. I think it was a small price to pay for that peace.

Ah, just one question, how many millions live in that county?

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 17, 1999.

If, by some quirk of fate, it is a BITR, they can feed to tuna to school kids...so what is the problem. In the more likely scenario, they'll need the tuna sooner or later.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), November 17, 1999.

Fairfax County has upwards of 800,000, I believe. Manassas is in the southern part of the country, about 30 miles from D.C., give or take a few.

-- Kurt Ayau (Ayau@iwinet.com), November 17, 1999.

Well said, walt. Sure, it's hypocritical of government (in general) to derive individual preppers and then go ahead and hoard themselves, but the reverse ALSO applies. We should be cheering and applauding these sensible preparations. Of course, we should ALSO be asking why they weren't done six months ago so more food could have been distributed in the meantime, but at least they're doing SOMETHING.

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 18, 1999.

This story ought to be sung, not spoken, to the "tuna" Octopus' Garden.

That was a sorry-a** pun. Excuse me. Now back to your regularly scheduled banter.

-- coprolith (coprolith@fakemail.com), November 18, 1999.

Fairfax County has population of 800,000 and growing constantly...can't keep up with classrooms, and constant building of same.

O.T. Fact told to our homeowner's association by the Fairfax County Police Gangbuster's Unit: with that population, we have 80 gangs with 800 members...and growing. Most have records. Not comforting with Y2K coming, since we've had to hire off-duty to police our grounds in good times.

-- Elaine Seavey (Gods1sheep@aol.com), November 18, 1999.

BUT IS IT DOLPHIN-SAFE TUNA?

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), November 18, 1999.

When a kid depending on you for food refuses to eat the food that is offered to them you say "Fine", take it away, and offer the same thing to them again tomorrow (same type, prepared fresh if safety is concern). Problem solved in most cases; if not, repeat until it works. Dogs and cats have enough brains that this works, and presumably most children are at least as intelligent.

www.y2ksafeminnesota.com

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), November 19, 1999.