"The Y2K Personal Survival Guide" by Michael S. Hyatt

Publisher: Regnery, Washington

Distinction: One of the best-selling Y2K guidebooks at Amazon.com.

Getting ready: There are five areas of preparedness -- information, supplies, shelter, money, protection.

How bad could it get? At least a 12-month disruption of basic goods and services, including periods of no electricity, no clean water, a stock market crash and general lawlessness.

Over the edge: "Menstrual pads and tampons are inexpensive and never expire," Hyatt writes, "These ... can be used as effective barter items in an emergency situation."

How many are actually doing this? What would be a reasonable amount to stock up? A year's supply? What would be the exchange rate for five tampons? Two cans of soup? Sound reasonable?

-- Maria (anon@mous.com), August 12, 1999

Answers

Pretty funny, coming from a chick. Remember the old days, when women used "rags" and had to wash them out? Or before that, when the women in the tribe (who usually menstrated at the same time) isolated themselves from the rest of the clan during "that time of the month"? I thought not...

No, I think the "Worst advice ever about Y2K" is "Don't Worry, Be Happy."

-- (on@the.rag), August 12, 1999.

Gee, I thought the worst advice (information?) I ever heard was something like....'MCI is completely ready'. From someone who claimed to be an insider, working on the system. Sound familiar, Maria?

Anita Evangelista

-- Anita Evangelista (ale@townsqr.com), August 12, 1999.

As Karen Anderson sez: "She who has the most maxipads wins!"

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), August 12, 1999.

Anita commented:

"Gee, I thought the worst advice (information?) I ever heard was something like....'MCI is completely ready'. From someone who claimed to be an insider, working on the system. Sound familiar, Maria? "

Ooooouch !! Wonder how many more of these surprises we have on hand??

Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), August 12, 1999.

A friend of mine from a middle eastern country told me that tampons are VERY popular party favors there, because of their rarity.

-- flora (***@__._), August 12, 1999.

There is also the washable replaceable latex "plug" which is really a cup, which can be washed and re-used. I forget the name, but Mrs. D will PROBABLY be getting a couple of these......

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), August 12, 1999.

ah, Anita the keeper of the rules of disinformation. Did you ever re- read my post where I said I don't know or do you feel that is unnecessary for your rules?

Chuck, I guess the quote should be expanded to include these re- usable plugs. Imagine their barter power! You might get a month supply of canned soup!

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), August 12, 1999.

Maria commented:

"ah, Anita the keeper of the rules of disinformation. Did you ever re- read my post where I said I don't know or do you feel that is unnecessary for your rules? "

Maria, would you mind reposting that thread. I'm sure Anita was confused because of the HUGE number of times you said all was well.

Your Pal, Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), August 12, 1999.

The little rubber cup is called "the keeper" and works great. There are two sizes -no baby and after baby. It is easy to use and very reliable, no need to stock pads or tampons.

-- Army Girl (aGirl@ag.com), August 12, 1999.

Gee, Maria, I guess I missed the post you said you "don't know". Sure did see all the other times when you told us you did know, though.

-- Anita Evangelista (ale@townsqr.com), August 12, 1999.

There is something about discussing soup and pads....a joke from middle school....I can't quite remember it....I know it was gross....oh yuck! No! No! No! Don't write it! NO! STOP!

Whew! That was close!

-- J (jart5@bellsouth.net), August 12, 1999.

Was it the one about used tampons being tea bags for vampires?

-- (yuck@gross.disgusting), August 12, 1999.

Anita oh confused one, in was in the very thread that you kept reminding me of the rules of disinformation. See what I mean by re- reading my post.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), August 12, 1999.

Here it is sweetheart

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0018kU

I state in my very first response on that thread "Frankly I don't know about foreign...."

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), August 12, 1999.

[It was tomato soup.] Don't barter tampons for homemade tomato soup.

-- J (jart5@bellsouth.net), August 12, 1999.

Maria:

On the specific thread you mentioned, you said exactly:

"I've worked on Y2K for one of the biggies since 1997. We've completed unit, component, system, interface, integration, and "cross-company" testing. We have an independent contractor doing his thing right now. With all this, we've only found minor glitches, the majority of problems come from setting up the envrionment. I'm so confident that you'll be able to make phone calls on 1/1/00; it will be a non-event. The only problems that may pop up deal with the ma and pa LECs. If you live in a rural area, I'd suggest to make it a point to get them to remediate their systems. Frankly I don't know about foreign progress on Y2K. Do you?"

You may have used the words, "I don't know" -- but on foreign progress on y2k, NOT with regard to domestic progress, NOT with regard to "one of the biggies" for which you "work". Notice, please that you DID say "minor glitches...I'm so confident...non event" with SPECIFIC regard to "one of the biggies", the one for which you work. Furthermore, the "only problems that may pop up deal with the ma and pa LECs...."

Gee, I didn't realize MCI was a "ma and pa" operation.

By the way, by rereading the ENTIRE thread which you directed us to, it becomes pretty clear that you never answered any of the questions originally posted there. If I were you, I'd have been pretty embarrassed to direct people to see what a mess you made of things.

Hm....I wonder which Rule of Disinformation Maria will use next? #2: Become incredulous and indignant? #5: Sidetrack opponents with name calling and ridicule? #18: Emotionalize, Antagonize, and Goad Opponents? Answers can be found at: http://www.trufax.org/research2/disinforules.html

Anita Evangelista

-- Anita Evangelista (ale@townsqr.com), August 12, 1999.

Anita, answer this, "when did you stop beating your children?"

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), August 12, 1999.

Before you start citing rules, the point, my little grasshopper, you must ask a direct question to receive a direct response.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), August 12, 1999.

Looks like it's #18! :-)

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), August 12, 1999.

Hm...I make that a #17:

"Change the subject....find a way to side-track the discussion with abrasive or controversial comments in hopes of turning attention to a new, more manageable topic. This works especially well with companions who can "argue" with you over the new topic and polarize the discussion arena in order to avoid discussing more key issues."

But, not terribly original.

Anita Evangelista

-- Anita Evangelista (ale@townsqr.com), August 12, 1999.

Maria commented:

"Anita, answer this, "when did you stop beating your children?"

Maria, Maria ...... dipping into the bottom of the barrel againI see. I think your best bet here would be to bail out and swallow what's left of your pride!!

Your Pal, Ray

-- Ray (ray@totacc.com), August 12, 1999.

Maria, when it comes to having blood running down my leg for 5 days, I'd trade a gold coin for a box of tampons. However, I won't let that happen because I have stocked up, not for me because that's been taken care of, but for my daughter and for barter. It's just one of those items that always comes in handy, not only for periods, but they make excellent gauzes for emergencies.

-- taken care of (takencareof@takencareof.com), August 12, 1999.

I lurk on the forum and occasionally have been known to post. There is a product called glad rags, which are reusable cotton menstrual pads. They are great. At first I thought gross, but soon found out no big deal. The keeper is great also. Much better than using disposable products and perfect for y2k. I don't miss buying tampons and pads at all. You can find glad rags at www.gladrags.com

-- Kathy (i_think_so@hotmail.com), August 12, 1999.

Kotex makes an effective bandage. Put some in your first aid kit.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), August 13, 1999.

Wow ! I sure hope King of Spain gets here soon; we all know how much he loves Mud Wrestling.

-- Yan (no@no.no), August 13, 1999.

Tampons, the long lasting chew. The more you chew it, the bigger it gets...: )

rummagin' the trash can...

The Dog

-- Dog (Desert Dog@-sand.com), August 13, 1999.

Anita,

You win! I reread and concur with your assessment! I remember Maria stating many time things were y2k ok with tellies!

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), August 13, 1999.

If you don't believe anything will happen, next year, then ALL of the advice, is the WORST advice.

However, if you think there's even a chance that something may happen, then it's actually pretty good advice. Like Monk said, they make great bandages, for large wounds and, if you expect to stay sane, convenience items are just as important as survival items.

Your post kinda reminds me of guys I know who refuse to have a prostate exam, because they can't handle the idea of the doc sticking his/her finger up their butts. Just because something offends your delicate sensibilities, doesn't mean it's a bad idea.

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), August 13, 1999.

Desert Dog,

AAAACK!!! Baaad dog...baaad dog!

-- RUOK (RUOK@yesiam.com), August 13, 1999.