I know some of the posters on this forum are from AROUND the burgh. Question is do any of you have a CB and should we set up a local communication ring? As you know, my e-mail address is real. Let me know. I can transmit about 15 miles on a quiet day on AM side. Also have GOOOOOOOOOOOOD side band. Should also have a HAMSTER involved in this.

-- FLAME AWAY (BLehman202@aol.com), August 25, 1999

Answers

I purchased two hand-held radios which supposedly have a two-mile range for family use, especially in case of bugout. I have yet to test them, and would welcome the possibility. Have been considering the CB and Ham thing as well, but I have little experience with either.

-- nothere nothere (notherethere@hotmail.com), August 25, 1999.

I think this is an important part of preparation. I bought a small CB for my car about a year ago. We're going to buy a handheld soon also.

-- Dan G (earth_changes@hotmail.com), August 25, 1999.

I mail ordered a pair from the Sportmans's catalog. Two Cobra HH-33 units for only 79 bucks. Both are hand held and come with a plug to the lighter for the car. Back in March, seven of us went in and purchased seven solar 21watt panels with charge controler for only $175. We just, each of us, purchased these twin pack Cobras, one as a base hand held, the other as a mobil. The solar will also run RV 50watt 12 volt light bulbs that are regular sized light bulbs. Thus we can use lamps that plug into walls, to plug into our 12v system. The solar will also run a bilge pump to pump out our sumps in the basement. Kmart, RULE 850 brand the best and best cost. Here in Buffalo, winters a big. snow melts a great deal. need to pump that water somewhere else. PLUS, even after roll over, there is a good chance of rolling brown outs and black outs in areas that could last a day or two at a time. Others will need a bucket and watch the sump hole all night. NOT me!

Joe Martin, Buffalo, Ny

-- Joe Martin (nospam@nospam.com), August 25, 1999.

Hiya Flamer. When it rains, it pours, doesn't it? I am glad to see that I have returned here to find that so far, none of the prophetical implications predicted for August have come to pass. Imagine my shock if the world really would have shifted off of its axis (nostradamus) or had the mayan prophecy of a day of wonderous mystery for mankind actually taking hold would have happened while I was at the beach.

Maybe Louis St.Louis can explain it all to me....why all of the blather was wrong again, yawn, and why his gut feelings about economic market upheaval and collapse never saw the light of day.

Point is, the more time rolls by, the more I sense that what we have here is a huge concoction of individuals either proclaiming doom is at hand while peddling their wares, and others who have some religious/psychological agenda to push as we draw closer to the date rollover.

Look, I know that misery loves company, especially when it is in the pre-game stages. It all amounts to the validation of one's own way of thinking, but the logic is escaping me these days.

Yes, I've made some basic preparations that'll last me, my family and the non-believers in my little corner of the Burg for a couple of months, but going beyond all of that is a tough sell here. At the very least, should a major storm hit, at the very least, I can drink and eat, have some provisions for light and possibly---since I live in the woods---have some provisions for heat with my fireplace via firewood. But just like someone telling me 'all is well', I have sincere suspicions about those trying to sell me something to 'care for my family during y2k'.

They're just now starting to come out of the woodwork.

How bout those Steelers, eh?

Yins take care and 'at.

-- Bad Company (johnny@shootingstar.com), August 25, 1999.

That would be Picksburgh, right? ;-)

-- Lane Core Jr. (elcore@sgi.net), August 26, 1999.