This morning I talked to the factory superintendent about Y2K, and he said at the end of this year he plans to be very drunk, as in three sheets to the wind. But not in northwestern Ohio.

He plans to be partying away like crazy in Las Vegas with his wife, boozing, gambling, boozing, eating seafood, and, of course, much more boozing.

When I mentioned there might be problems such as airports closed or no power while in his hotel room -- no lights, no water, no working elevators, he declared that was the whole reason for getting smashed: he wouldn't worry about these problems when he's stinking drunk!

If he and his wife are stuck there WTSHTF, surrounded by mobs of angry, drunken gamblers, what's he gonna do? Find another fifth or run for his life?

If you can, please relate any true accounts of people's crazy party plans for Y2K.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), August 11, 1999

Answers

I keep reading that cruise lines are booked solid in spite of their having raised prices for New Year cruises. Last January I was on a cruise ship (probably my last--they aren't that much fun) in the Carribbean which ran out of fresh water and had to serve us desalinated water. YUK! Thank goodness we could order bottled water at meals. I couldn't help but think how horrible it may be on those New Years cruises if they run out of water, food, a place to dock, etc. Does anyone have any opinions as to what might happen to those cruise ships if Y2K really screws things up?

-- Pearlie Sweetcake (storestuff@home.now), August 11, 1999.

Pearlie, perhaps some people on those cruise ships will be watching video tapes of the Titanic movies during rollover (not implying capsizing).

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), August 11, 1999.

This is technically not news about Y2K party plans, but shows the type of poor judgement common to people who have heard about Y2K, and are planning no increase in cautiousness whatsoever.

I remember reading about this, but a quick Web search didn't turn up a specific news article on these suicidal idiots, or I would have posted it. (Sorry) When Hurricane Camille crossed from the Gulf of Mexico onto coastal Mississippi on August 17, 1969, the shore had not been completely evacuated in time. As the maximum sustained winds of this storm were later officially estimated to reach 201.5 miles an hour, with a storm surge up to 24.2 feet above mean sea level, this was unfortunate. Although nearly 100% of residents in the predicted path of the storm had left, there were some people who had chosen to greet the most powerful hurricane of this century at the beach, presumably toasting it with adult beverages. I do not remember if any changed their minds in time, before it was too late to get far enough away to have any chance of survival, but I do remember that some of these partiers definitely did die. Presumably, their bodies were never found. People who know about Y2K and still plan to be in urban areas of the largest U.S. cities at rollover into 2000 seem IMO to be intellectual relatives of these historic Darwin Award types.

www.y2ksafeminnesota.com (newly updated)

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), August 11, 1999.

Hey, Italy (which is in the process of forming an exploratory committee on the Y2K problem) is holding the Jubilee Celibration in Rome that evening. I think they're expecting something like 10 million tourists.

I'm thinking of going, because I'll obviously only be able to use a one-way ticket, and it's cheaper that way.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), August 11, 1999.

Hi, Doggone, how's the hot water project?

Two friends of mine are driving to Guatemala so the female half can bone up on her spanish at two language schools (one in Antigua, one in Quetzaltenango) They plan to return in March (him) and April (her). I'd thought about joining them, as we've had lots of fun before in Mexico, until I realized the ramifications, y2k-wise.

Another group of my friends are planning to celebratge the millineum in the Puerto Vallarta area (another group I have travelled with to nearby Sayulita, plus a few newcomers to our travel friends) Believe it or not, the airlines are getting over $700 for a round trip ticket. Same ticket when we went last year was $250 or so. And we've gone for as little as $199 not that long ago.

Mrs Lloyd and I were planning to celebrate the rollover in either Macchu Pichu (a very COSMIC spot, I must say) or some equally exotic place. y2k wrecked those plans. We're staying home, having a millineum party in the privacy of our own home with as many people as want to show up. All within a couple of hours of their homes, except our daughter and son in law, who are coming here for security and safety reasons (I'm sure they'll party hearty too, though--they do that quite well.

I've advised my friends whoo are "going south", about, among other things, the travel advisories issued by the state department, and the more specific alerts the DOS plans to issue in September. Some of my friends are reexamining their plans; others think I'm full of shit.

Al

-- Al K. Lloyd (al@ready.now), August 11, 1999.

Dog Gone, you reminded me of that White House Mall celebration with the special "magic" according to President Clinton.

Will there be crazed swarms of DGIs foaming at the mouth, black helicopters dumping laughing gas, naked pagans dancing and splashing in the fountains and pools?

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), August 11, 1999.

Al, you're not full of Scheisse. You're exercising common sense and prudent caution.

The manufactory superintendent does advance planning on assembly, and apparently, partying, but he gets uncomfortable whenever I discuss Y2K and the forthcoming collapse of the stock market. He's been losing money all year and doesn't want to hear ANY negative stock reports.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), August 11, 1999.

Just a random thought...if bin Laden really does have those 20 briefcase nukes that he plans to unleash on the U.S., maybe those DGI's who REALLY DGI and have chosen to party in Mexico will actually be better off. Ironic.

-- CD (CDOKeefe@aol.com), August 11, 1999.

The best (or worst) party example is the outdoor, Washington Mall party! Consider the average night time temperature that time of year in Washington...but Hillary wants it...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), August 11, 1999.

The stupidest thing about all these millenium parties is they are a year early!

-- Bill S. (arlene@inreach.com), August 11, 1999.

How about the one million pagans and "free-thinkers" allegedly gathering in Death Valley for the Prelude To The Millenium? These are the same sponsors of the annual Burning Man festivities (Group Orgy in Section 36 at 2 P.M., Free Lecture: Satanists are people, too 4 p.m. in the dining hall-don't be late!) There is also supposed to be a 5 day Woodstock type music concert in the final planning stages for the end of the year. It will take place on a 4,500 acre ranch in S. California that will feature music for "everyone" on various sound stages. Anticipated attendees: 1 million +

-- Greg Lawrence (greg@speakeasy.org), August 12, 1999.

If Y2K is an 8 or above, Las Vegas is in deep trouble. They have no industry other than gambling. Nothing else! Oh, I forgot, a few ladies of the night. Or, maybe they're not ladies.

-- freddie (freddie@thefreeloader.com), August 12, 1999.

There is a line offering an Antarctic cruise to kick off the turn of the year. You will greet the midnight sun on the southern continent, an inflatable boat having taken you to shore from the mother cruise ship. There, bundled in your parka, you will toast the new year. I kid you not.

-- Spanky (nospam@spamfree.net), August 12, 1999.

The Camille story is true - it's kind of a tourist-interest point down on the beach, there. Bunch of young people, none survived I believe. There are quite a few bare slabs still along the beach road, where houses were.

-- bw (home@puget.sound), August 12, 1999.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr near Monterey, California

I'm not sure if this one would qualify for the stated topic of the thread, but it's close...

My husband doesn't want to do anything special for New Year, but just what we always do... a ski trip to Lake Tahoe. He's not totally oblivious to the danger, since we got stuck one recent Thanksgiving for three days waiting to get over at... Donner Pass!

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage.neener.autospammers--regrets.greenspun), August 13, 1999.