Worried? Need a different perspective on y2k?

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I was happy to "fall" on this website http://www.equipped.com Go in y2k sanity check I would love to have your opinion on what you read there. MERCI!

-- Daniele (daniele@aiservice.com), April 30, 1999

Answers

IMHO:

Not very enlightening. For instance, a snip from "IS THE SKY FALLING?":

Persons with health problems that are critically dependent upon a constant flow of power would do well to take extra precautions, including having access to self-generated power. Again, anyone with an ounce of common sense who was in such circumstances should already have considered that possibility and be adequately covered. Even in the normal course of events power outages occur.

Food, water, and similar supplies are always a consideration when preparing for the possibility of any manner of disruption, natural or man-made. The Equipped To Survive Earthquake & Disaster Preparedness Kits lists contain all you'd need to be prepared for nearly anything. For those less inclined towards that level of preparation, just be sure your larder is stocked with a week (or two) of food that can be easily prepared only with the resources you may find available if the power goes out. It may be the perfect excuse to fire up the barbecue in January for a New Year's Day celebration. These can range from specially prepared survival foods, to military MREs, to plain old canned and dehydrated/freeze dried foods and even many fruits and vegetables that will keep adequately for weeks without any special storage. Water can be purchased in 2.5 and 5 gallon containers, and if not used can be consumed later, as can the perishable food. See the ETS Retail Resources page for sources for disaster preparedness supplies [Use the "Find" command (Ctrl-F) and search for disaster].

If you have family or friends that might be especially vulnerable, maybe you ought to consider inviting them over for the New Year's holiday. Or, conversely, maybe you ought to consider visiting someone in better circumstances than yourself if you are especially vulnerable yourself. Someone living in a rural single family home has far different concerns and self-help capability than someone who lives in a 30 story high-rise apartment in the middle of a large city.

A Positive Result

From my point of view, if Y2K concerns prompt more individuals to think seriously about preparations for a natural or man-made disaster, then that's all for the best. Too many people never give it a thought, denying any personal responsibility and expecting someone else to take care of them. If Y2K causes them to wake up and become better prepared, we'll all be better off.

Don't believe all the Y2K hype you hear and read, look at it critically and with due skepticism. Ask questions, look for agendas, never accept media reports at face value. Don't forget that we humans rarely let even major, devastating, and unexpected disasters get us down for long; Y2K will likely be little more than a ripple in our history. So, take prudent measures to be prepared, don't be surprised by the inconveniences that occur, and don't worry too much--the sky is not falling!

**** END ****

In essence, he says we could have power outages and food shortages, but we Americans are so resourceful and brilliant we'll overcome it. Many are resourceful and bright, but that won't make up for no food or water for a few million or so people.

In other words, he realizes there may well be problems, but is almost blind to the real, logical consequences of those probems. Some good advice, but to most people "you ought to consider visiting someone in better circumstances" is close to "The sky falling", and what if those people don't really WANT you to visit?

"We will hit that iceberg, but this ship is unsinkable." - in other words.

Same for other articles, or worse.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), April 30, 1999.


'Didn't have a chance to read everything, but I thought it was interesting that this CNET url is still "hot."

http://www.cnet.com/Content/Features/Dlife/Millbug/ss02.html

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), April 30, 1999.


Daniele,

I jumped over an was delighted to see the Leatherman "Wave." I received one as a gift for Christmas last year. It is superb, a real improvement to a great tool.

Regards,

-- Mr. Decker (kcdecker@worldnet.att.net), April 30, 1999.


FM

That CNet link had to be the most stupid news report on the Y2K problem. Just thought I would post a quote for a bit of humor. Now I wonder if the FAA big wigs will be flying during the rollover. The site is almost 2 years old. One would wonder why they would have it still up. Of course maybe China has the right idea. And of course there is little chance of the US goverment systems failing. Who needs GAO reports. Just a waste of time.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sally Katzen is the director of the Office of Management and Budget for the President and is the point person for millennium bug fixes in 24 federal agencies. Katzen has no indication that many--or any--government systems will fail. "We have a high degree of confidence that the important services and benefits will continue through and after the new millennium. It is my expectation that when we wake up on January 1 in the year 2000, the millennium bug will have been a nonevent," says Katzen. Raymond Long, director of airway services for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), says the same thing. He is so confident that the bug won't affect air traffic that he's planning to fly cross-country at midnight on doomsday. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

-- Brian (imager@ampsc.com), April 30, 1999.


Hum hello again :) The article i was refering to, that got me to think differently was actually http://www.equipped.com/y2kbug.htm Article called: Why the millenium bug wont bite. Maybe i just NEED a bit of positive in my thoughts. I still would appreciate your impression. I thought it sounded so reasonnable. Maybe i am naove. I do appreciate everyone's postings Merci!

-- Daniele (daniele@aiservice.com), April 30, 1999.


He is incorrect in his guesses - made, incidently, in 1998. When we had a small chance of getting enough done to minimize harm.

You can either assume he knows what he's talking about or you can take his comments as one opinion. Worth nor more, and no less, than anybody else's.

Now, assume you really want to listen to him - and each sentence could be analyzed in enough detail to show you he is either wrong, is making a wild assumption from facts that are no longer true, or he is simply exaggerating to discredit people who recommend you prepare..

Or you could treat im with a discerning, skeptical eye.

Now, what does he gain by making you weak and helpless? What does he gain if you are unprepared for some troubles next year? The answer: the willing support of the Clinton administration and the banks. Is this worth money or power or influence to him? Maybe, maybe not.

What do you gain by making enough preparations to ensurer peace of mind and security next January?

Your freedom, your comfort, your health, your safety, your family, and the ability to manage on your own without having to go to a squalid, unheated, unlit, messy government shlter where they are trying to feed you leftover rations from the 1950's bomb shelters. Now, is he worth listening to?

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), April 30, 1999.


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