Hi, King,

I feel like I'm the only one in this country who has any concerned at all about Y2K. The weirdest thing is that I work for a software company (for crying out loud!!!!). I work with about 60 programmers and/or engineers (I'm a programmer too). What's goin' on here? There's no way on earth I'm that much smarter than all of them. I would understand that attitude from a whole bunch of factory workers, or even professional people from other fields, but not from programmers and engineers.

I don't talk about my preps because I'm certain that they will laugh at me. I have heard their sarcastic comments about the people who are preparing (mainly from the States).

On the other hand, I have the feeling that things will be worse here than they will be in the States.

What do you think? Do you work in the trenches? Do you have any information from the progress made in this country (if any)?

I remember 6 years ago when there was a sewage spill in the city of Barcelona, and a few streets in the downtown area were flooded with sewage. I think that was caused by a technical failure, but I'm not quite sure. Can you imagine Barcelona or Madrid if the sewage stopped working for...say....a couple of hours? And what if the traffic lights go crazy? Rush hour is already crazy here on a normal day. Give it 5 minutes of traffic lights not working in Barcelona, and I'm sure it would take days to get things back to normal (and that's if nothing else happened to fail at the same time, such as power, emergency systems, or anything like that).

Anyway, it is so obvious that we are going to have problems that I cannot figure out why nobody else is taking this thing seriously. I just feel like I'm in the twilight zone.

Am I missing anything...?

-- The Outcast (Somewhere@southerneurope.eu), June 23, 1999

Answers

Hi Outcast

I know the feeling! I'm in the same situation, maybe not quite as bad but just remember that beyond y2k you've prepared for many other emergencies. These other programmers(co-workers) are into denial that is why they ignore your pleas for preparations. They cannot afford, to switch grears, they are not mentally ready to, and they are the ones that will blame you for the problems. I'll bet that you are a doer and you don't make a good case with words. I've found that most people in denial are the one who travel through life building casltes for words, they convince everyone of there gread abilities but when push comes to shove they make sure that its you pushing. Hang in there justthinkin

-- justthinkin com (y2k@justthinkin.com), June 23, 1999.

Dude, I normally don't talk about my personal preps. Buts lets just say that I've got MY little bug-out villa out in the countryside ready for the big double-0, loaded up with 10 years of de-hydrated food, diesel generator, 2000 gallons of fuel, zillions of gold and silver coins (left my I.O.U. in the royal vault, of course), the finest in lesbo mudwrestling videos, and a contingent of commandos standing by to take care of any would-be "Zorros".

Thats how I spell "Y2K preps"....

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), June 23, 1999.

justthinkin, thanx for the encouragement.

King, thanx, I can read between the lines (BTW, I'm not a dude, I'm a lady)

-- The Outcast (Somewhere@southerneurope.eu), June 23, 1999.

Wow! Do you like to mudwrestle?

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), June 23, 1999.

Never tried it, but it sounds like good entertainment for those days when "Via Digital" is no longer an option. I'm sure my husband will love it.

Now I'm even more paranoid than I was before. I was hoping to hear something totally different from you, like "it's not gonna be so bad". It's hard to accept reality as it is. I just wanna wake up and think "it's been a bad dream".

-- The Outcast (Somewhere@southerneurope.eu), June 23, 1999.

Well, hell, if you wanted the OFFICAL word on it, why didn't you just ask?

The Spanish government began work on the Year 2000 problem many years ago and has been proactive in the elimination of any potential problems as the result of the inability of computers to handle the rollover into the next century. Virtually all utilities and the banking system are expected to enter the year 2000 with no expected problems. All are on-track and continuing to work very hard on the Year 2000 problem.

There ya go. Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention that in my bug-out villa, in addition to my 10 years of food, I've got 20 years of wine. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), June 23, 1999.

okay King of Spain -

Been tuning in for a while now and I just have one itsy bitsy question for you....

DO YOU MUD WRESTLE?

hehehe justme

-- justme (finally@home.com), June 24, 1999.

Did you see the special on Channel 2 last night?

I have a bug-out villa too (I happen to live 50 km away from the city). So far, I have a few months worth of supplies (basic foods). But now, after listening to you and the report on TV last night, I'm running to the hypermarket to buy a couple of car-loads of toilet paper. Maybe we can swap wine for toilet paper some time.

-- The Outcast (Somewhere@southerneurope.eu), June 25, 1999.