I live in Iowa. Not too bad if your fond of mosquitos and bitterly cold wind. In researching this thing, I of course wanted to know where my state government was in its own Y2K preparedness. I'm pleased to announce we're right on top of the issue...

State of Iowa Official Y2K Page

..or, uh, will be any day now. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

David

-- David Hume (dh001@usa.net), October 07, 1998

Answers

Well...David, I live here in Iowa. Mosquitos don't really bother me that much. Now the cold does really concern me! If I can just figure out how to stay warm...I think I can get through this thing. I live in a small town and really do feel pretty safe here...can't say the same for the big city that I left in California. With gangs hanging out in our park only a block away from our house while we lived there (we were there before the park was put in!) fear of drive-bys looming, not to mention robberies....I find a lot of peace living here in Iowa. I doubt that the hoards of people will migrate here when things get bad. Don't know what town you live in but mine's not bad. :-) Blondie

-- Blondie Marie (Blondie@future.net), October 07, 1998.

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But I like the neat blinking light on the "under construction" sign....

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 07, 1998.

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Blondie, mosquitoes look for warm spots to bite, (more blood flow, I guess) which explains why you have no trouble with them. You're always cold! :-) I have the exact opposite problem. I am always warm and the mosquitoes LOVE me. And in Texas they are HUGE!

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), October 07, 1998.

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Yes, it was good to see that Iowa is spending its time on communication about Y2k issues on the really important stuff, like the blinking emergency light. There must be some hidden meaning in the warning that light is giving.

-- Dan Hunt (dhunt@hostscorp.com), October 07, 1998.

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Come on, give 'em a break. They probably didn't even know they had a problem until yesterday!

-- Beltway Buddy (DC) (buddy@bellatlantic.net), October 07, 1998.

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Gayla, the 'squitos in Texas are pretty big, but in Louisana they have a red light on one wing and a green light on the other! I've heard that it has to do with the "Dracula Gene". . .

-- "C" Student (blood@suckers.com), October 07, 1998.

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Going to reload after posting this,... hoping to close the blockquote tag. Great post I intend to finish reading.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), October 07, 1998.

Last night I attended the special city council meeting on Y2K in my city in S. California.

Good news and bad news.

The city council and mayor visibly alarmed despite the work the city has done on it's own computer systems and checking with vendors and suppliers. That is the "good news"...that, and the city is done remediating and almost done testing.

The bad news is that each rep who spoke to the council from the county supervisor and his asst CEO of IT said...we'll be just fine as long as the power does not go out for extended period of time. US Congressman's rep was a bozo reading text, who didn't know the name of Y2K Fed Czar.

Pacbell was there. Found out they have backup power for 2 weeks...wonderful and a little hard to believe...

Gas Co there..also saying "we are all doing the best we can."

S. California Edison declined to attend, as did the FAA (large private aviation airport here).

In the meantime I've emailed the city council with thanks for the meeting, (televised on cable),..and offering to help organize community/neighborhood preparedness.

Oh,...head of IT for the city was asked if she was preparing by storing food and water...and she said: no...don't think it's necessary.

The city has done nothing about preparing the residents, but is now convinced it needs to do something about emergency water. I'm soooo relieved. Three of four council people skeptical of assurances that all is well. I think I will be able to get something started...we shall see.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), October 07, 1998.

Be careful, Donna, that IT chick may be at your house if the lights go out. Still.....sigh....we know they won't be coming here to Iowa.

-- Melissa (financed@forbin.com), October 08, 1998.

I have incredibly mixed feelings about proceeding with my plans...I think the city needs a Community Y2K Ombudsman/Liason. There are major corporations here too...I paraphrased Paloma O/Riley from Cassandra Project..."I am as safe as my neighbors preparations..."....I love my city...been here 14 years...my gut tells me that with preparations and caution, and courage we can come out on the other side of a 6.0 or so with a nuew purpose...I am unapologetic of my philosophy. Now my wishes into the great C-4 (Cosmic Coicidence Control Center) are about the city seeing that they need me. In six months..I may need again to decide to move to S. Carolina where there are loved ones, a well and a generator. We shall see.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), October 08, 1998.

C student:

Our state bird is "Boudreaux" the 5 pound mosquito isn't it?

-- sweetolebob(La) (buffgun@hotmail.com), October 08, 1998.

We're hoping that the village hall, school, church, the former "Old Comrades Club", the 2 pubs, butchers, photo studio, hairdressers post office, 2 local stores will be compliant here in the village of Warnham, Sussex UK. There's not much else, no mosquitos, no gangs, no y2k committees, too quiet really.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), October 08, 1998.

Oh I don't mean the hairdressers Post Office they don't have one to themselves. Anyway they are fortunately of the "Hair Cut Sir" military variety. We all sport cropped hair in Warnham, no only kidding. No I forgot there is an antiques shop of course selling mostly fakes.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), October 08, 1998.

Oh yes and the gym, dance studio (which is the noisiest thing in the village) except for my stereo, deer park, farms, local squire (yes we still have one, Mr Lucas), millions of rabbits, wild deer, land rovers.

-- Richard Dale (rdale@figroup.co.uk), October 08, 1998.

Your village sounds like a bit of paradise Richard. Thank you for the snapshots.

-- Donna Barthuley (moment@pacbell.net), October 09, 1998.

Many, many years ago I had a friend take a look at a piano that I had inherited from a relative. My friend was in the fefinishing business and after looking over my piano, he said, "Oh, my God, I can't believe this. I never thought I'd see one of these!" What, what??? This is a Shostonobiabeeni (or whatever). This piano is worth a quarter of a million dollars! "Really?", I asked excitedly. Pause. "Really?" "Well, no. But for a second there, didn't youfeel great?" Ditto to you on your Y2K news from Iowa. You're evil!

-- D. Krstulovich (dideekins@hotmail.com), October 10, 1998.

No but we do like to snicker at the ignorance and innocent "funnies" that occur we people don't think about real issues.

Good to hear from you Diane, welcome in.

Robert

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 10, 1998.