If you want to hear my voice, and Mara Wayne's voice, listen to this "All Things Considered" piece about the local "Community Conversation." Also, Joseph Lohta, the NYC deputy mayor of operations addresses my question... (Real Audio required.)

http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/19990910.atc.16.ram

-- pshannon (pshannon@sangersreview.com), September 11, 1999

Answers

We heard it on our car radio coming back from vacation yesterday! Interesting piece! Even more interesting that NPR was playing it.

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), September 11, 1999.

I couldn't believe. I just absolutely could not believe it. This, on NPR of all places. What interesting times we live in.

-- Rockafeller Skank (rocky2k@x-networks.net), September 11, 1999.

Yes, this was a very interesting package, seemed very anti-koski. I dont know how many people listen to NPR, but its going to make a few people sit up and take notice.

-- stasher (stasher@stashit.com), September 11, 1999.

Very interesting piece. I wonder if we'll see more of this coming from the networks. Most likely, if the government plans a push beginning in October.

I'm still troubled by the "three day snowstorm" analogy though.

Does that mean a three day snowstorm in my warm house, with the water running and the lights on?

I certainly hope they'll clarify this in the time remaining. Most folks I know wouldn't think of storing water for a three day snowstorm.

Good for you Patrick! Your voice was heard.

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), September 11, 1999.

Also--good question Mara.

Did anyone ask where the volunteers would come from to assist those folks who might need help getting down the stairs?

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), September 11, 1999.

This NPR report reminds me a lot of the Community Conversation I attended in June...

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000yTU

...at which most of those in attendance worked for state government or were representing some kind of organization. It wouldn't be much of a stretch to imagine that, both times, the goal was to calm city or state workers who would later be talking to co-workers who probably already perceive these city or state workers as "Y2K experts."

By coincidence, a friend of mine who works for a local radio station was at work yesterday evening when a fax came in about four upcoming Community Conversations for Louisville and Jefferson County, Kentucky to be held between September 14 and September 22. The fax was received from the Louisville/Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency. I'll post the press release and the schedule for the "conversations" on another thread.

Pshannon made an good point about the relative lack of publicity about these events, which are already heavy with spin. You'd think that at the very least, copies of the American Red Cross Y2K pamphlet could be mailed out to the public. Did New York City indicate what methods it's planning to use to get the message out to the public in October?

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), September 11, 1999.

FM, There would be many questions to ask, if we were taking any single question seriously. One answer mentioned serving food. But where is the food? Is it here? Is the Red Cross bringing it? Do they expect to buy it later? Of course, how can they get the frail elderly out of the high rises? The answer will be--they can't! It's heartbreaking. Yet, remember, mass tragedies are an integral part of human history. We've been very sheltered. (I like it that way.)

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), September 11, 1999.

Also see this thread:

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=001O8P

"Report on NPR tonight from NY re recent community meeting with President's y2k Committee"

-- Linkmeister (link@librarian.edu), September 11, 1999.

And if there are mass tragedies, there will be Congressional hearings.

I--for one--hope I won't be viewing anything like that on the History Channel during the years ahead.

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), September 11, 1999.

I just listened. It's a good report.

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), September 11, 1999.

Pat,

Did anyone mention the NAVY REPORT for the love of GOD?

Did anyone mention the risk that millions of people would DIE without just one basic utility, let alone everything else that could happen?

I'm amused at the efforts in diplomacy with these PR people when they should be asked the questions that appear on this forum and DEMAND action to save lives.

Why aren't people angry? Is that how we going to go out here?

With PR flaks leading the masses unknowingly to their deaths?

THIS IS TOTALLY F--K--' NUTS. NUTS.. Does anyone have the balls to expose these liars?

Read the latest Horn report....Kosky: The government's in good shape.

This man needs to be equated with genocide.....

re m lflakrn

ieslithoutare at

-- PJC (paulchri@msn.com), September 12, 1999.