1/4/2000

Welcome to the discussion forum for the upcoming book,

The Toilet Paper Chronicles: Gallows Humor from the Y2k Underground

Veteran Forum regulars from Ed Yourdons Timebomb 2000 forum (also hosted by Phil Greenspun) will find this a friendly place to hang out in the months ahead.

Why?

Because while I wont initially password protect the forum, I WILL do so if it starts to resemble a bar-room brawl. :)

This book--begun a long, long time ago--is still in the revision process, although some of the forum regulars over at the original TB2000 forum have reviewed some of the chapters, and Ive incorporated some of their suggestions.

I cannot yet estimate a new ship date for the book, but just this morning I received an inquiry from a major book chain, so its clear that I need to rev up the engines on the release.

I hope to offer you all the opportunity to review chapters after theyve completely passed through the editorial review process.

Ive already received a most-welcome offer of help from one well-known Y2k veteran (dont ask me for identities--Im not telling just yet) who has offered to set me straight in case I've made any technical mistakes. (In general though, the book is written in language us "regular folk" can understand.)

Likewise, any offers of help and ideas to expand my brand new (accordingly quite small) home page will be most appreciated.

Who am I? Well, like Linda Tripp said, Im you. (But lets leave Monica out of this, O.K.?) In addition, I have been a professional writer for over twenty years. This is, however, my first book.

I went through this wild ride with many of you and I made the decision to write this book because I thought it was an important time in history, and -- as regulars on the TB2000 forums (main discussion forum, prep forum, and the roller coaster we came to know as the alternate forums during the last few days and hours before magic midnight.") well know -- an important time for the Internet as well.

How many of us had ever explored a Senate Web site link before? Who could have ever predicted that so many of us we would begin to recognize government employees by their "nick-names?" LOL! Who among us knew what diatomaceous earth was before, and what the heck you were supposed to do with it? Ah, the things we learned along the way. . .not all of them related to Y2k

While Y2k (when it is finally over) will go down in many history books as many things, it is my hope that for those who gathered together at certain Web watering holes (that were faster than the Associated Press, sometimes funnier than Comedy Central, and always representative of everyone who ever tried to educate him or herself on this issue), you will not only recognize yourself in this book, but will have a concise and good natured reference for the grand kids and anybody who couldnt figure out why you may have added a tin foil hat to your wardrobe in the late 90s. The 1990s, that is! (Gotta stop usin those two digit dates. Maybe I could remember better if I took off that tin foil hat. Geez! Where is that darn manual can opener? ) :)

Theres much more I could write at this point, but these are the basics.

I know the ride isnt over yet, but Im grateful to have survived the first onslaught. Hope you faired well, too.

Welcome aboard!

MM

January 4, 2000

:)

-- Marianne Michaels (scipublic@aol.com), January 04, 2000

Answers

Hey Chuck!

He DID ask me!

(I was anonymous, then however. Plus--I waiting for dIEter's invitation for the first "mud dance.")

Hee!

:)

-- FM/MM (scipublic@aol.com), January 05, 2000.

Ah, so, Mr. Cook.

So YOU are the reason Barnes and Noble kept calling me! You persistent thing you.

Email me and we shall discuss.

:)

-- Marianne Michaels (scipublic@aol.com), January 12, 2000.

Do you like to mudwrestle?

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), January 04, 2000.

Somehow Chuck

But didn't you ever get around to asking her on TB2K????

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), January 04, 2000.

...I really DO see those extra troop carriers and Humvees at our Armory...oh, well, back to choir practice Wednesday...HEY get Andy and Arlin and Libbyalex back here to report in!

-- churchorganist (swedishmusic@webtv.net), January 04, 2000.

Where am I? I keep clicking my heels together and nothing happens...

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), January 05, 2000.

>> ...discussion forum for the upcoming book...<<

Ahem. How does one discuss an "upcoming book" if one hasn't read it? Sorry, Marianne, but however much you have toiled over this ms, and however often my name may appear in it, I can't think of a single reason why I should spend time in this forum discussing your upcoming book.

Good luck though. Every author works hard enough to deserve success!

-- Brian McLaughlin (brianm@ims.com), January 05, 2000.

Coin of the realm being TP, I presume? Two large cases of industrial- strength single-ply in storage, plus cases stashed about the house that hubby knows noting about. I feel so secure...

-- Liz (lizpavek@hotmail.com), January 05, 2000.

Hey, Brian!

It's all gonna come out in the wash! Stay tuned! This "forum" was just "born yesterday!"

Hey, Liz!

TP, coin of the realm? Not necessarily. Got corned beef? Got transcripts of Senate reports? Hee!

:) :)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), January 05, 2000.

Nov 20. So I go to order the book on Nov 20 at Barnes & Ignoble - Nice, seemly friendly salesperson types everything in - "It's on order, sir. It will be about a week. We'll call you when it comes in."

Groovy.

Dec 4. But nothing comes in.

Dec 14. A-week-and-a-half later, still nothing. "It's on order, Sir...we'll call you. It will be about a week."

Dec 22. A little later - too late to wrap and mail for Christmas - "It's still on order. It will be about a week."

Dec 31. Too late to cuddle up and read for New Year's Eve while watching "Mad Max" or "Maximum Overdrive" - "It's still on order, we'll call you. It will be about a week."

Jan 4. "Ah..... Sir, we found out the order form never processed - it got hung up in the computer somehow and never actually submitted the order ..... but was "on order" - it just never got ordered."

Jan 7. To be continued.

-- Robert A Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), January 10, 2000.

Jan 18: Went to Barnes and Ignoble Brokestore. No book. No message, no report - but a computer message saying that the store had "contacted me" (?) had said "Book not available."

Hmmmn.

Jan 20. Got a postcard from Barnes and Ignoble Brokestore. (Perhaps this was the "contact" the earlier computer message was referring to?)

Card said "Book is not yet published."

Oh. Guess you guys who have already read it didn't actually get it. Or maybe you were reading a different book?

---...---...---...

Think I'm going to give up on Barnes and Ignoble Brokestore. They are close by the house, but don't appear to be able to actually order books successfully.

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), January 20, 2000.

Robert,

I sent you an email last week. Looks like you didn't receive it. Email me the best address to reach you, and I'll try again.

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), January 20, 2000.