I've been a "regular" here since February, and know most of the other regulars, "doomers" "pollys" and "trolls". But I have seen many new names in the past few months, a post here, and a post there.

Please, don't be shy. Check in. Tell us a little bit about yourself. Nothing personal. Why are you here? Do you think that this may be serious, or just a bunch of hot air? How many of you are out there?

Or are we just preaching...

Tick... Tock... <:00=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), September 21, 1999

Answers

To the top, or to recent answers, or to wherever... <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), September 21, 1999.

OK Sysman, I will be counted.

Been lurking most every day since early Dec 98. Have posted a few times when I felt moved to contribute.

As far as my y2k scale, I am about a 50% 9-10, 40% 7-8, and 10% 5-6, nothing at all in the BITR category.

I live in so. CA suburbs and despite all efforts to convert family and relocate, I am stuck here with all family and friends in the DGI crowd. I am hanging in with them to face whatever it brings but considering where I am, I feel like we are sitting on the bullseye.

I have not been employed and so have spent very long hours researching y2k all year and have read, do read, everything at least in part.

I spent 10 years in computer maintenance and 3 years recently teaching myself internet, web page building and various computer skills.

My oldest son is in college to become a programmer and husband has nearly 30 years in IT and now manages. Youngest son just started high school.

I really appreciate this forum and feel like I know many of you. I will be here with you all, hoping for the best and fearing the worst and doing all I can to prepare where I am.

Best of luck, Lora

-- Lora (artemis45@hotmail.com), September 21, 1999.

i have been reading this forum since about february also.i have only posted a few times myself,usually banking and financial type questions. i have become more and more concerned about y2k as time goes by and i truly feel it will be a major problem. still have quite a bit of prepping to do.we pulled out of the market in may,and feel we that we have our finances in order(hopefully!)we also bought some gold when it was at 268.00 an oz. i sure hope all you gold optimists are right! would make a nice return if you are.i think this forum will stand out, after the dust settles, as a group of truly individual minded americans who sounded the warning bells before anyone else was willing to listen. every day i appreciate all of you, and what i have learned from the variety of subjects goes way beyond y2k.thanks to all! dory

-- dory (crtwheel@eburg.com), September 21, 1999.

I have been reading posts here for a few months. Most people I know think I am crazy and that nothing much will happen. I have stocked up and gone beyond what most do to prepair. I guess I need a life as I am told but I think it is better to be a fool now rather than later ! I live in the foothills above a place called Fort Collins Colorado. I think things will get real bad soon so am glad to be able to read the thoughts of others that feel the same. I feel crazy some days but the feeling does pass. Thanks for all of you beeing here !!!!!!

-- Chazzzzzzzzz (riz010@msn.com), September 21, 1999.

Ok, I'll be counted and say a few words.

Yes, I started a couple of threads, 'Flint & Decker's complex adaptive systems' and later on 'Computerization obeying the law of entropy'.

I've never spoken about myself primarily because this forum for all its irreplaceable value has the taste of people who are a little sick of each other at times. This sickness is perfectly understandable given the nature of the topic, it just seems better as with all things technical to leave personalities out of the debate as much as possible.

Fortunately my background enabled me to see the potential of y2k.

I grew up in the extreme wilderness by most standards, that exposure showed me the fragility of life, particularily in the absence of all the modern conveniences.

Later, I worked as a R&D technologist in the petroleum industry. Oh yes, I learned all about head office, the leviathan (sp) nature of mainframes, and how hard it is to sell bad news in an organization. I had a real blast being the rep from the engineering group "interfacing" with the programmer analyst.

Some time after that I went on to be a power engineer in a new manufacuring complex. Some days I was control room operator, 27 computer screens, 50 process flow pages,7000 sensors that can alarm, 4 keyboards and a chair on wheels. Yet, six people run this facility. I think a great deal of the public has no idea how automated the world has become.

So yes, I can envision many things becoming less than optimum as this event unfolds. My prediction? Don't have one, sorry. All I can say is you need insurance. How much? Sorry, you have to make up your own mind about that, it's called being an adult.

As I said this forum has great value, and I thank all who contribute.

-- Will (sibola@hotmail.com), September 21, 1999.

OK...

I've been "mostly lurking" every day since around April '98. I'm a computer technician in my organization and was assigned our Y2K project for assessment and review.

All I can tell you is that our organization has locations on all the major islands of Hawaii, but does not directly impact the general public...

I've posting in the past as Oh Boy@y2k.com but that was a long time ago...

Aloha!

Forum Regular

-- Forum Regular (Here@y2k.com), September 21, 1999.

We are senior citizens. USMC/USAF RET.. Intl. Relations major. Owned wholesale electronics company. Worked as After Mkt. Mjr. for a cooling tower co..3 children, all married,5 grandchildren,2 aged parents. Located SW of DFW area 50 miles. Expect 7 level disruption. Biggest fear is not Y2K, but terrorists use of NBC agents. See US/ world as morally corrupt, mentally unstable and physically gross. See God as about to make a "market correction" to his investment. We have enjoyed reading the inputs for the most part. Consider 50% of the answers to be childish and emotionally unstable(both viewpoints).

-- Neil G.Lewis (pnglewis1@yahoo.com), September 21, 1999.

Hi. Lurking since June, 1998. This forum is a hoot to follow. I enjoy the point/counterpoint debate between the polly's and the doomers.

Y2k? My opinion is primarily an economic disruption which inb itself will result in the end of the world as we know it. Similar to what my grandparents went through in the Great depression.

I have prepped for a six month disruption and have made backup contingency plans for more. I am an Eagle scout and have always had the mantra be prepared in my head. My father built a fallout shelter in 1968 and had Murphy's laws posted next to his workbench. I readily admit that his viewpoints have colored mine. I wish he was alive today (died in 1993) so i could get his input.

y2k awareness? There is none in my circle of friends, family and acquaintances. I have presented credible reports from the govt etc. and they have been ignored. I chose September 1 of this year as the day I would quit talking about it. Since then, many have asked me why i am not spouting off about y2k anymore.. I tell them that "ive been instructed not to say anything more about it by them". Actually, it is easier on my mind to just prep myself. I dont like being the odd man out on this and my decision to not bring it up anymore has been a good one. I'll just finish my preps and let the chips fall where they may.

The study of Y2k and all of the various permutations it has created has been a valuable learning experience for me. I no longer trust the govt and the media. MY EYES HAVE OPENED.

What i see coming in 101 days: or shortly before or thereafter.

1. economic disruption such as i have never experienced in my 41 years.

2. a lot of angry pissed off people that have been lied to by TPTB.

3. $5-10 gas(per gallon)

4. The watershed event of my life and my children's lives.

5. Shortages of the basics (food, water, etc.)

It saddens me to think that this could all have been handled so much better with better leadership. I do believe we will all learn from what is coming. I feel for my family and friends that are not preparing. They just dont see it like i do.

I live in Minnesota and if we end up without heat for even a few days many will suffer or die in -30F weather which is common around January 1. You cant survive long in -30F with a -70F windchill factor without heat. Hypothermia is an enemy to be feared. The fall is already much cooler than usual and this morning we had our first hard frost. We have had very mild fall and winter seasons the last 2 years. I sense that this one will be more severe than the prior years.

Thanks to all of you that post regularly. This is the best forum going on Y2k.

Where has Dieter been?--I miss his posts.

-- incredulous (cantbelieveit@aol.com), September 21, 1999.

I have been lurking here for about a month. I live in Northern California. After asking a lot of questions about my company's Y2K policies for customer software retrofits, I read one of Ed Yourdon's books (TimeBomb 2000) in the summer of 1998--and stayed up all night to finish it. I was still working then--one of those Silicon Valley jobs with a lot of hours and ugly amounts of travel. I started using my grocery store loyalty card to stock up. Now I am sort of retired. My background is in voice and data communications--mostly from a sales and marketing perspective with some time as a data network engineer trained by the Bell System. While I know a little bit about what it takes to fix code, (and fix the fixes),I know more about transporting data and pretty much understand the business and economic issues.

Call it naive, but I am preparing for a 4-6, but am blessed with a large garden, and have reasonable confidence in the local water company. If it is worse, well at least I live in an area that is more than 5 miles from a 7-11 with a moderate climate...

I have converted some friends and family. Others think I am nuts. While there is, shall we say, a mixed bag of postings here, I find this forum fascinating except maybe on Friday nights when Animal House takes over.

-- Nancy (wellsnl@hotmail.com), September 21, 1999.

hello i've been lurking for about a year. been working on preps about that long. i live in ne pa. it gets cold here. in a small 70,000 city. on a main street. 75% done. a few clients gi. only one in family has made a few [very few] preps . rest think i'm nuts. i'll just keep at it though. vicki

-- vicki (vmozeleski@aol.com), September 21, 1999.

Stumbled across this eclectic conflux of free thinkers a few months ago, poster named dieter and one calling himself @@@.@ cracked me up...had to hang with it a while to see what it was about....learnin' to love it...beats the heck out of most other media, eh wot? Born again Christian since '70, started seein' the handwriting on the wall about '97, started preppin' summer of '98 after hearing a guy named Chuck Missler (et al) speaking out on the Y2K embroglio...his advice still sounds pretty good..."make all the preparations you possibly can, but don't depend ultimately on them; depend on the Lord Jesus Christ!" Jesus has been my strong tower most of my life, and has brought me and my family through other messes; looking forward to watching Him at work in the coming years! Rave on, ya'll!

-- Jay Urban (JURBAN@BERENYI.COM), September 21, 1999.

Hi! I used to hang out here more at the beginning of the year. I have since spent more time at Gary North's and Mike Hyatt's site. There is less junk on those sites. Junk would be posts that are worthless to increasing and analyzing Y2K information. But now and then I do find something at this site that is not at the others.

-- apple (apple@orchard.usa), September 21, 1999.

Hi sysman:

I'm here every day, even though I don't contribute anymore. We have some very diligent posters here who cover the world and it's events quite thoroughly.

If anything truly significant happens in my corner of the world, you will be the first to know about it.

I am still buried in Y2K remediation and I am expecting the real dam to break after rollover when all these "FOF" pollies finally get hit in the chops with this.

Anyway, it gives me a good felling to come here and read the words written by familiar handles. We are probably making friends for life on this forum, in a "cyber" sort of way.

Mike Cumbie

(31 years experience programming mainframes, lans, wans, pc's) (7 to 9 on the Yourdon scale) Hi Old Git and Diane - Where the hell is Greybear?

Hey, trolls, byte me.

-- Michael H. Cumbie (Mikecumbie@yahoo.com), September 21, 1999.

Been visiting this forum since early 1998, mostly but not always lurking. My '98 posts were of the Polly troll kind, not very sophisticated and rather pathetic behaviour when I look back on it. But Y2K has been a marvellous educator and I've matured in the sense that I can now hold my head up and tell myself I'm being honest, I'm not in denial. I now post under my real name. Not committing to a fixed position but well aware of the shit that could happen. I'm expecting a 4-5 and preparing thus. I don't have the resources to do more, and my community has neither the awareness, resources or time for more than a fix-on-failure response if it gets worse. I've carry a heavy burden of guilt that I didn't do more earlier to raise the alarm and because I have failed to convince anyone in my circle of family, friends and acquaintances that Y2K could be serious. I've never met anybody in my offline life who is aware of Y2K and what it could mean to them personally. Nevertheless I'll face the music together with them all, in the middle of the city. I'm not worried anymore about Y2K itself, though the build up is nerve wracking. I've volunteered for the local government emergency services, though they don't know why - they too are largely unaware of the potential of Y2K. I'll just be there, a ready and willing pair of hands - and for anyone who cares to learn more, I'll point them in the right online direction. This forum is a useful source of information, links and discussion. However, as a politically left-wing person, I do feel very uncomfortable at times with some of my Y2K bedfellows. But I've learnt to understand how this issue can drive people to extremes of mistrust. I'll be glad when it's all over or we are in the thick of it. At times I feel privileged to be living through it.

-- Christopher (christopher@philosopher.net), September 21, 1999.

Hi Sysman,

I post mainly on the prep forum, but check in here daily. I've refrained from posting mostly because I don't want to be asked if I mudwrestle...etc. Had a long conversation with Rep. George Grindley a few weeks ago (chairman of Georgia's Y2K task force for the House of Reps) and his bottom line was "whatever you think the worst will be...double it." Have wanted to share other information we discussed but in light of the hassles/doubts the last postings created (in fact, that's why I called him myself), I just haven't done so. Thought about e-mailing Ashton & Leska, Diane and you privately, but have just hesitated...

Right now I'm so weary of Y2K and preps that I need these forums to keep me moving. Wish it would just get here and we could get it over with!

Don't know what the last year would have been like without the insight on these forums. So glad to hear from some other "lurkers."

-- Jill D. (jdance@mindspring.com), September 21, 1999.

Been lurking for a couple months. Post when I am inspired. My family is GI. My Dhs employees are semi GI since he gave them a letter and some info. Some of them have started asking questions  one has plans to ride out the turn of the century on a tropical island. This is the same employee who asked what Dh was smoking when he wrote the letter. Cant tell if my neighbors are preparing. Ive discovered, by chance, more people are prepping than are showing it. Im glad. I think it will start out as a 5 and cave in on itself. By March an 8 By June 2000 I see at least an 9+. By September total economic shipwreck and a "new system"- one that will be the beginning of the end. My biggest fear is that I haven't prepped enough and will have let down those who are so important to me. I'm still trying to decipher something I wrote in haste on my prep list -looks like cheilerbuy or churlbury maybe it is cheelebury???

Ill take this opportunity to tell each of you how much I appreciate your intelligence, intuitions and good humor. I know in the coming months I will often wonder how each of you are fairing and will be wishing you well. Though Im not "one of the gang" I feel much closer now that KOS has asked me if I mudwrestle. Thanks all for your time invested here.

-- April (Alwzapril@home.com), September 21, 1999.

I've been lurking here it seems forever and posting occassionally. I greatly appreciate all of the info and advice that has been posted here.

I am an IT professional with 25+ years of experience in analysis and programming on every thing from mainframes to client-servers to PCs. At one time I also owned my own company where I configured PCs from components and wrote custom software applications to run on them. I am well aware of the possible disruptions that Y2k can cause.

Since sometime in 1996, I have been working on remediation. I believe my employer's applications are in good shape for the roll over and I know a lot of time, effort, and money was spent investigating and remediating imbedded chips at our mfg facilities.

I'm married and we have two teen aged children. We live in west cetral NC where the climate in the winter is usually quite mild. I have been prepping for about 1 1/2 to 2 years now. Most friends, family, co-workers (IT professionals), and even my wife and children think I'm nuts. I must say though that recently my wife has become a GI, at least somewhat, which makes prepping a lot easier.

My prediction is that there will be problems. To what extent, only God knows. My guess, from an insider's (IT professional) perspective is it will be worse than a 5. I pray that we are all wrong and it is only a "bump in the road" or an absolute non-event.

Keep up the good work of getting the word out. I'm sure that everyday some "newbie" comes across this forum and finds a lot of what I consider good information. If your efforts help only one person, then those efforts were well made.

MAY GOD BE WITH US AND HELP US THROUGH THIS TIME OF UNCERTAINTY AND POSSIBLE TURMOIL. WITH HIS HELP AND GUIDANCE WE WILL BE ABLE TO SURVIVE Y2K, WHATEVER IT BRINGS.

-- John (southeastern@my_deja.com), September 21, 1999.

April--LOL! At first I had my list on a white board--until one of the cats jumped on it and erased or smeared most of the items! Duh! As for not being "one of the gang," don't be silly! In my not so humble opinion, if you think you need to prepare a little or a lot, either for a natural or a man-made problem, then you're one of THIS "gang"! Good to hear from y'all and look forward to more posts. Make sure you check out the preparation forum as well, won't you? Hotlink is under "About".

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), September 21, 1999.

Hiya Sysman. Been lurking in this forum for over a year. Post when i can,but lately it's tough to beat the new posters to the punch. I work in engineering department for a foreign owned company. I fully expect problems~ to what extent i like many can't predict. Live in a rural setting with three young boys and a very understanding wife. She doesn't believe Y2K is possible,but she goes along with it. Prepped well enough that i sleep soundly.

-- kevin (innxxs@yahoo.com), September 21, 1999.

I've been a daily addictee of the forum since March '98. I can relate to almost everything the posters above have said...

I'm preparing for a 9. I don't really know what I expect will happen...who can even IMAGINE?? Sometimes I find myself making plans for "next spring" or "next year", then remembering that maybe.....well, I don't even know what "maybe" means.

Hubby fortunately is a GI, so we're in this together. We've been BLESSED with so many advantages.....we moved to a rural area 5 yrs ago and so we are pretty well established here now. We've learned a lot about rural life, have a well & septic system, forest and creek, lots of room for a vegetable garden. Shortly after learning about Y2K we bought a diesel generator and had the house wired for it.

My GREAT FEAR is that my four grown kids will end up stuck in So. California. I've invited them all for Christmas, but they don't think Y2K is going to be anything more than a BITR, so I don't know if they are coming or not.

I have mixed feelings about having them here. I DREAD having a housefull of disgruntled "prisoners" if they get stuck here. I DREAD having to be the "warden" rationing the food/toilet paper/soap etc.

But the alternative of them being in So. CA. with no preps, TERRIFIES me. I recently went through the experience of having my 18 yr. old son alone in Orlando while Floyd was threatening......BELIEVE me folks, it's NOT FUN not knowing if your loved ones are safe and having no way to find out.

Sometimes I get soooooo frustrated and angry at the kids for putting me through this!!! Othertimes, I understand WHY they DGI. They are all just starting out in life, with great dreams and hopes. They don't have the resources to prepare for much of a catastrophe. They didn't grow up with parents who'd gone through the Depression as I did. They've never known any *real* want......they just can't imagine things not rolling along as usual.

I want to survive Y2K. I want to be part of the *new world*. But I don't want to if my kids....well, I can't even type those words.....

-- Sheila (sross@bconnex.net), September 21, 1999.

Been lurking here for months and months, never posted. Have to read everyday though it is depressing. Have prepped and continue to do so as much as possible, but finances have limited me to be comfortable only to a level 3 or 4. Have very basic necessities to live through a 9+ but it will be extremely hard. Fortunately was already in very rural area but 50 miles from Houston. Spouse is GI other family members are sorta GI but not enough. Have grown daughter, her spouse, 2 year granddaughter living with us and expecting another grandchild in March which is very wonderful and very scary. When away from this forum I think in a DGI mode quite often because it keeps me sane, yet every grocery, Wal-Mart, Sam's trip brings home more stuf than I can really afford. Really wish 1-1-00 wasa tommorrow so we could just get it over with, am tired of worrying so much. Wish you all the best of luck.

-- (Wishingin@one.hand.com), September 21, 1999.

I have GI since Dec !998; barely heard of it before then. For 6 months I went to various prep nites. I didn't know about forums and do not visit forums other than this one. It is habit forming and sometimes I kid myself that I have "done" something just because I come here several times a day. I am disabled and live alone without family near. None of my friends are prepping, as far as I know. Church is doing nothing. So this forum is psychologically valuable as well as practically valuable. I will be glad when y2k is finally here and we can see what we are dealing with.

-- Lars (lars@indy.net), September 21, 1999.

Hi all, I have been in and out of here for the past few months, mostly lurking. I have posted a few things, most recently the thing about Norwest. I have been following the Y2K issue since September of '98. When that GAO report came out I downloaded it and made copies for all my neighbors. They blew me off. Not much has changed since then, except that I have made arrangements for anything from a 4-5 to a 10. I have two levels of retreat arranged, one on the grid, the other 11 miles from a paved road and 8 miles from the grid. Both of these communities are populated now. I am now engaged in contingency planning in the event that Y2K is no big deal. I have been accused of being a troll, doomer and part time secret polly, which just goes to show no one really knows how it is going to be, especially me. At this time I am guesing we have a 50% chance of coming through this thing ok, maybe even in better shape than ever. It seems beyond question that there will be an economic impact of significance. To me, the whole danged industrial world seems like a wild roller coaster ride racing into an unknown future and the light at the end of tunnel may, or may not be a train. My life would be a lot easier if I trusted govt and big business more. Waco, Ruby Ridge, Kent State and the drug war, for a start, have left me feeling powerless and somewhat hopeless. Finally, Y2K or not, this society seems destined to self destruct sooner or later. The corruption and greed that is rampant make it very hard for folks with integrity to prosper, in my opinion. For a good checkle, and example of what I am saying, just follow Mitch Ratcliff's "Daily Fix" for a while. Perfect example of a sold out drone, grinding his way through life, benefitting from his "Go Along" stance, yet, under the surface one can sense his terror...

-- Tim Castleman (aztc@earthlink.net), September 21, 1999.

I've been working on this problem for seven years. Up at the top of very large enterprises and governments. Currently focusing on contingency operations, transition services and disaster recovery.

I've been lurking and occasionally posting here for 2 years. Before that I used to lurk on the Silicon Investor Year 2000 Impact on Society and Investor Thread, which was the most credible and useful discussion on the net IMHO until it got spamed to death by Pollys.

It is important to me to be able to gather real information. Doomer polly discussions are interesting but not useful. On the other hand, identifying and decrypting "spin" is important, because "spinners" are trying to modify behavior with other than the truth. Transparency is necessary for effective preparation.

-- ng (cantprovideemail@none.com), September 21, 1999.

I am only posting now so I can get an invitation to Mud Wrestle - May/98 opened my eyes to potential problems and it became the push to get us from the city of 60K to an acreage outside of a small village. Had to install a new well and have 2 woodburners for heat, though we will have to retreat to a small cabin at the back of the property. Learning a lot about being rural and expect a 4 or so in Alberta, Canada, but anticipate 8 or 9 in some large U.S. cities. My grown children will come here and they are all GI's but need financial help. Husband will be retired next few months and we will just batten down the hatches against the Canadian cold.

-- Laurane (familyties@rttinc.com), September 21, 1999.

I would like to here a little from the non-lurkers. Everybody knows your opinions, but not much background since many of you made it clear a long time ago. Can we hear from KOS, Diane, etc. also?

I am not a reqular poster, although I certainly enjoy short interjections. I GI'd in July '97 looking for investment opportunities and major-league GI'd (panic phase, forget making money and worry about preserving it) in July '98. Teach chemistry at the University level. (Like taking complex things and trying to make sense of them using gut level logic; perfect for y2k.) Have always felt that brains and education should not be confused with each other; y2k confirms this in a very big way.

Prepping for a Russian economy (not infomagic). Most money will stay in institutions (T-bills, money markets, CEF gold fund, and Prudent Bear). Think BITR is VERY unlikely. Can eat for a year without outside intervention. Living off the grid after that? Not gonna be easy.

Total forum addict. Tried to leave. Hope this is a passing thing. Not really looking forward to extensive psychotherapy.

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), September 21, 1999.

Howdy--

Long time lurker, infrequent poster. Nice to hear from everyone, as I always wondered what size iceberg lurked under the small number of regular posters. Like many others, I've found myself rather addicted to punching up this site several times a day. This site has such a widespread network of posters that it always seems to get the news first. I was amused to see the ABA bank sermon story on CNN roughly two weeks after it was first posted here.

Myself, I'm single, with parents and sibs who refuse to get it. Had resigned myself to sticking it out in North Dallas with the folks since they are rather obstinate, but now the plans are for the whole family to be in semi-rural New Mexico for the rollover.

Which I thought was a great idea when travel times were a week before and a week after New Years. Now it's down to 3 days before, 2 days after--with all attendant concerns about gas availability, family DGIs travelling by air, preps left behind untended in Dallas, etc, etc.

Gotta love the parents. (I think they are paying me back for all the grief I caused them as a child.)

Been expecting a 5 for months, and haven't seen anything to change my thinking (with all due respect to other opinions on the board). For what it is worth, I work as an IT recruiter, and STILL am not hearing any panic on the phone.

Good luck and best wishes to you all, and you guys down in the Southeast--hang tough!

-- William in Dallas (bcheek@onramp.net), September 21, 1999.

I've enjoyed reading everyone's story, but Christopher in perticular gave me a lump in my throat.

Christopher, you've erased all the anger and frustration I've ever felt about trolls on this forum and made it all worth while. Best of luck to you and your family. You're a true Yourdonite and I'm glad to know you.

Dave, if you click on the "misc" category in the archives, and then with your browser's find-in-page function look for subjects with "what about you", you'll find several threads where old timers and non-lurkers have talked about themselves. The first one is in

There's 4 or 5 more.

-- Chris (#$%^&@pond.com), September 21, 1999.

Don't think I qualify as a regular, although have posted and responded off and on since 1/99.

Still go back and forth on severity, but decided to prepare anyway and have about 4 months food (little dehydrated though)(also have many farmer/mennonite neighbors and friends we get chicken and eggs from) --- longer term water supply and fuel (about 3 years wood, which I have burned for heat a few years anyway).

Here mostly for news of all sorts - like many I'm grateful for the wide variety of news/information - seldom bother to listen to the spin/lies (about MANY things, not just Y2K) on TV. Haven't had much luck convincing others so seldom talk about it elsewhere.

Won't regret a second here even if Y2K were a 1.

Unfortunately, the world situation seems to be moving to a 8 or 9 no matter what Y2K brings.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), September 21, 1999.

I can't think and do html with a lump in my throat.

Lets try again:

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

Don't miss the others.

-- Chris (#$%^&@pond.com), September 21, 1999.

Sysman:

I've been lurking since the Spring of 1998, after I bought Ed Yourdon's book at the University of Utah book store, where I was a secretary. I became a GI after reading the book and tried telling all my family and friends and the people I worked with about the Y2K problem. About 95% of those I talked to thought I was nuts. I became so convinced that I sold my home in Salt Lake City (I'm not LDS and didn't think even Salt Lake City was safe) after also convincing my Mother who lived in Bozeman, MT that we should be living together. She sold her home in Bozeman and we combined our money to buy a house in a small town in Nebraska. So a Grandma and a Greatgrandma have been doing the best they can to prepare. We have stored food, water, and purchased a wood stove. Our preparations our modest with me making a low wage and my mother living on Social Security, but we are doing the best we can to prepare for our family. My daughter and son-in-law and three grandchildren live in the city and will be here for Christmas and until after New Years. They have not been able to do any preparations since they just had a baby last month (with no insurance) and their income is low, plus they don't think Y2K will be that bad. My fear is that they will leave here and be back in the City too soon. I fear Y2K will be a 7 or 8 and am praying my assessment is wrong. I want to thank Ed Yourdon and this web site for all the information I have received and will continue to receive up to 1-1-2000. I think the worst part of Y2K, if it is bad, will be not being able to know what is happening to the rest of the world and to our family and friends if phones don't work, e-mail doesn't work, the Post Office doesn't work, etc. I know the people in this small town will work together, but I'm afraid they are not preparing for Y2K so it will be rough here too, but at least we are not in a big city. There are grain silos in town, filled with wheat and corn, and a lot of hard working people, somehow we'll get though this I pray.

Sandra McGuire

-- Sandra McGuire (scmcguire@webtv.net), September 21, 1999.

This place is addicting, no one can leave or be away from here very long without checking back in. You have entered Ed Yourdon's Twilight Zone, the people are real, the stories always change.

-- TZ (TZ@TZZZZ.com), September 21, 1999.

Hi...It wasn't until this past May that I ran into a new article on the web about Y2K. After doing some initial searching and then running into this forum, I talked to my wife and we decided to not take any chances and prepare. We had to wait until August to start, (our private mortage was completely paid in July after 10 years). We are preparing for a 9 and will be done first week of Oct. All of your information and thoughts have helped us immensely(sp!). Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. God bless

-- thomas saul (thomas.sau@yale.edu), September 21, 1999.

Sysman,

Have been a lurker for about a year now. I am a data warehouse developer working as a contractor for the state of Arkansas. I don't post much because a lot of the time the level of pettiness is a little too much for me. This forum provides valuable info of all kinds but one much sift through the undesirable threads. I work with Information Systems everyday and we are going to have problems. How many no one can really say?? The domino effect is going to come into play, but it is very hard to visualize any specifics. I have several different contingency plans patterned after the advice in Cory's wrps.

good thread.. I look forward to seeing what the other "lurkers" have to say..

-- kergan (debunker415@hotmail.com), September 21, 1999.

Have been lurking here with a few posts since summer of '98. From the moment I GI (which really WAS a moment, which stretched into weeks and months as I spent huge blocks of time investigating and researching, trying to disprove to myself that which seemed irrefutable) I've needed this forum to help overcome the psychological distress of the disconnect I see around me. I want to thank each and everyone of you who have brought information, reasoning, intellect as well as your personal expressions of fear, doubt, hysteria and humor. You all have become my "other" family, community. I'm not alone. This daily input has given me the energy and courage to continue to prepare.

But I think even more importantly, this forum has given me the stuff by which my perception of the world we live in and what's happening to it have evolved to a place where the focus is not JUST on rollover and the implications of bad computer code. Y2k is a symptom, not a cause. This perspective is allowing me to make changes in my life that are surprising and, I hope, better for the long haul.

Working hard at learning to live with uncertainty. Trying to learn to be fluid, fleet-footed. Have given up trying to second-guess whether it will be a 4 or a 9. Trying to be ready for anything, not by having enough "stuff" but by being willing to let go of most stuff. But still a survivor. Simplify, think smaller. Can't change the world, can only be responsible for my own actions, my own attitudes. Filter out noise, cut the crap, and cut to the chase. I'm in an evolving state of readiness, until I die.

Got homilies?

-- cat (ccordes@ashland.baysat.net), September 21, 1999.

Sysman and all the regulars and others

I have been lurking for about a year. I find it very difficult to believe that this can happen. But I don't feel I can take a chance with my family's wellbeing. I have been prepping for about a year. Sometimes it is difficult because everyone in the family thinks I have gone a little nuts. Every day I read this forum and sometimes leave it laughing and sometimes leave it frightened. We live in Northern California. I have many in my family who will need help when it happens. My one daughter helps me and my husband tolerates my preparing. I only pray it won't be as bad as I fear it will be. Thank you each and every one for being there. I know that without this forum it would have been much more difficult. Love Nana 2

-- nana2 (nana2@frightened.aol), September 21, 1999.

Posted a few times. I always like to get to the point.

Lurking around on this forum gives me a lot of information about the concerned and unconcerned words that tells me we are in big trouble.

I am a 10-have always been a 10- and will be a 10 although anybody in that area is a nut. I frankly think the people have gone nuts and don't know black from white, Truth from a lie, or their neighbors name next door to them. If we don't know our next door neighbor how do we know about others?

I am not sorry that y2k will forever change peoples lives. We as a population in USA have taken for granted all the blessings of The Almighty God has, Instead of making us thankful, We have acted the opposite. Its time that we understand how other parts of the world lives, and not be so highminded as if we justly deserve all the blessings like spoiled children, then we will realize our inheritance we have had from the beginning of this great country. Everyone that lurks on this thread knows the outcome, and think a few small words will make it all go away.

WE started our engines many years ago, The fast track we are on and we have lost control of our wagon and headed straight for the cliff.

AS for me and my house we will serve The Lord and pray that he will be in our help, and the ones that are meek and lowly will will see that Our God Is A Mighty God. Now is the time to be speak softly and truthfully with no malace toward none.

If you don't think and open your eyes, The is more than earthquakes and Floyds that he may allow the devil to use against us. I know, I know its simple minded to speak of God and the devil. If you are one that it is so, Then you must be the wisest person on earth with no brains.

If there was a door I would leave this mess and see if those that have profited from it fix it and how they will spend their money afterwards.

God will is life. WE make the choice.

I don't know if we will have to eat out of garbage cans or not. Some are doing so now. This I know for sure, God will not let his children beg for bread if they will listen to him.

May God bless you all as you look into the basket and realize that we have water problems, farming problems, seed problems, weather problems in addition to all the ones that we see on tv and read every day.

Lon

-- Lon (lon1937@aol.com), September 21, 1999.

Hello Sysman. I've been lurking daily (occasionally posting) since April of 98. Like many, I consider "the regulars" my friends -- even though we have never spoken -- sort of an interactive version of "Cheers" perhaps?

For the motivated, this community provides terrific book and link recommendations. But newbies be warned, you may find that your "mainstream" view of the world implodes (hint: your aquaintances are not interested in your discoveries).

Yes, given the terrorist, economic and military threats (assuming self-reported compliance claims are true), I think this may very well become serious.

-- DaveW (dwood@southwind.net), September 21, 1999.

Gosh! What a kick to hear from all of you!

Thanks for letting us know youre out there and whats important to you.

Yeah... this place gets wild n woolly at times, but then perhaps its part of the charm. (Sorta). Sure is a slice of diverse life! But then, thats the Y2K mirror we all look into... together.

*Big Grin*

None of us... perceived doomer, polly, troll or middlegrounder... has the ANSWER to any of this. Not even Koskinen, nor Clinton, nor Cohen, nor the head of AT&T. Who knows? Is as true now, as it was a year ago.

In another couple weeks, Ill be coming up on my personal one-year Y2K-GI anniversary. (Thanks to reading Ed Yourdons TimeBomb 2000 book and two originally sleepless weeks of being glued to the internet trying to figure out what Y2K really meant, then winding my way here). What a l-o-n-g strange trip its been! Not to mention a Ph.D.-level education in global interconnectedness, et. al.

Ive learned more about vested corporate interests, political agendas, government spin (and downright lies), newsmedia sluffing, the sorry state of journalistic apathy and their non-investigative stance on spewing P.R. releases as the Year 2000 Truth with a capitol T, and YET... on the flip side... weve also seen the dot gov, dot com and dot mil counterforce in operation as well. There really are people who care, from all walks of life, who hang onto their compassionate nature, who work (mostly tirelessly) within their organizations, or without, and myriad communities. They are the ones who silently prepare to help their neighbors, families and friends, and are willing to stand (or sit) in their intuitive trust of their own sketchy knowingness... that SOMETHING... is about to happen to our collective world.

To prepare, and to help others to do so, in the face of such a huge uncertainty and in going against the common tide when the outer societal image would suggest youre crazy, well, it takes people who are willing to call forth the elusive pioneer spirit from within. People who are willing to overtly and covertly, DO whatever is appropriate, to BE be the mavericks and keepers of humanities flame. It sure aint easy.

I salute you, one and all... regulars and lurkers alike. Youre learning the skills of resilliance, which will get us through whatever this wild world dishes out to us, as a result of our massive preoccupation with short-term thinking.

99 ==> 2000... could be an adventure. Or not. Attitude... is everything . (A classic forum thread). And... ones choices.

Best of luck to one and all!

Diane

Recall... Shift Happens. (We devoutly hope!)

;-D

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 21, 1999.

In case you missed it, go back to Chris's link to a similar thread. It started in September 22, 1998 and went through December 4th. It is an amazing read.

-- Dave (aaa@aaa.com), September 21, 1999.

Chris... thanks. What were the names of those other threads? Put an "e" request into the Linkmeister for help.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 21, 1999.

SYSMAN, Long time lurker,(Late'98), but have only begun to post recently. Am at the mercy of others for technical knowledge about computer systems; barely know how to even type on this keyboard. I own a small mechanical service business in a small town (3500 pop.)in Illinois, and have been able to see the utter dependency the general public has on an ever increasingly technological world. GI last October and sent 50-60 Y2K info packets (including David Wilkerson's book "God's Plan for the Coming Depression") to family, friends, and neighbors in the immediate vicinity. Outside of a "thank-you" from one brother in San Diego, I haven't heard "BOO" from anyone. Only God's grace and mercy will keep any of us if it goes beyond a 6 or 7, so we prepare for the best we can: being financially limited to some extent. My gut feeling is that all is not gloom and doom no matter how bad it gets, but that God again will raise up a remnant from whatever befalls this nation. Maybe those who are left will get it right next time. I find this forum invaluable... a great motivator, but a hoot to follow from time to time. Bless you regulars! My thanks always!

-- TM (mercier7@pdnt.com), September 21, 1999.

Hi

First post. Went to a talk by De Jager in June 97. Got it from a pair of layers in Sept same year. Got out of mutual funds in 98. Bought a wood stove and plan to stay in the city, but do have a plan "B".

Realized in Dec of 98 that if my neighbors aren't prepared, neither am I. Helped start a y2k preparedness group in my city. Gave up on it in the summer when I realized that people were not going to prepare. Work at a university and my fellow employees think I am nuts. (They may be right)

I will be so glad when this is over!!! Which is against my philosophy of "be here now".

If I am wrong, I will have spent thousands of dollars on stuff I don't need. If I am right, all I have prepared for can be taken away from me.

My prediction is 0 to 10+. As far as prophesy goes, things invariably go sideways. Expect what you least expect.

My mantra is "the only moment I am alive is this one" and I keep loosing it. :-(

Thank you to all pollies and doomers. You help keep me sane. GN is a nutcase, but he has this incredible web site. Too bad his motive is to set blame. I am taken by CH. His writing is compassionate. Except for his take on guns. Must be a U.S. thing. I live in Alberta Canada. This is my real name.

Albert Huizinga

-- Albert Huizinga (albert@ee.ualberta.ca), September 21, 1999.

Been watching this forum since 1998 primarily for breaking news reports. Am sick of reading folks disecting each others' posts.

I'm an IT professional with 17 years experience working for a major world-wide information technology company. I currently manage a team of over 50 programmer/analysts. Have been studying Y2K since 1985 - way before it was "popular."

I'm encouraged by the recent happy-face news reports, but am not willing to bet on them. I'm a 7 and have already prepared accordingly.

-- MB (MB@fake.id), September 21, 1999.

Hi Sysman,

I started lurking a few months back. (Actually stumbled in here due to sheer nibbyness and this being a new toy.) I had no clue what you all were wound up about, but I have slowly figured it out. I love the debates and humor that is expressed here.

Since I definitley am not an expert in anything (other than what the kids, hubby, and house require!), I must have been a GI from pure luck. Where we live, most folk still do a lot of farming, gardening, homecanning, etc. This includes already having a gen and home saved seeds. Evidently, instead of being backward computer technology wise, we were ahead of the times in basic living know-how.

Very few around here are GI's, but they all possess the abilty to handle anything that comes down the pike (as long as there isn't some outside human help - nukes, bio things, etc..... As long as it stays depression type problems, we will be just fine.

And KOS, hubby said that we shouldn't mud wrestle, it's not good for the male ego ;-)

-- me (me@me.com), September 21, 1999.

Diane, has Linkmiester officially volunteer to help with links? I don't want to start making demands via emails on him if he hasn't.

Anyhow, I've digged up what I think was all the "about you" old threads, but if LM or anyone else knows of more please feel free to help.

Not necessarily in chronoligical order:

What About You?

"OUR" What about you thread...

What about you? (Revisited?)

What about you REDUX

What about you? (third incarnation)

See also:

CALLING ALL LURKERS

How many people visit this site daily? What percentage are "lurkers?"

-- Chris (#$%^&@pond.com), September 21, 1999.

Perfect Chris, thanks!

Linkmeister must be elsewhere today.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), September 21, 1999.

I have been here only a few months finding this site through some weird combination of mouse cliks. While I've known about Y2K for some time I don't think it is going to be that big of a deal where I am.

I don't think that a single number can describe the effects of Y2K around the world. John Stossel just had a show on "America #1?" or something like that and so much of the world is living without the basic nessecities that even if we had a 10+ they wouldn't be able to notice.

Now if weapons of mass destruction are unleashed then all bets are null and void.

Being an Eagle Scout I have always tried to be prepared for many things. The nice thing about Y2K has been getting certain items has become much easier as well as new things coming out that are even better for certain purposes.

I have learned about all kinds of things and that is always good, and I want to thank posters like Old Git for the things I've learned.

Planning is very important I have outlined plans as far out as F, but as a certain military man once said, "plans don't survive first contact with the enemy" so the plans may seem somewhat vague but making them and thinking about how to pull them off required obtaining certain items. That is the important part of planning, not that it works but that you have the things you need to pull of combinations of those plans.

I do expect 10s to happen in warm weather cities if the power goes out for more then a few minutes. I also expect a few Bohpal-like incidents to occur. So evacuation plans are a really good idea.

Be prepared

-- Steve F (stephanf@codenet.net), September 21, 1999.

I've been lurking here since early this year. Have been prepping since April 98'. Live in the great state of Alabama(Roll Tide!). I think we're in for a tough time in spite of what Hoff, Craig, Y2KPro, Cheri, Decker, et all think. Live in an upper-middle class neighborhood of DGI's and DWGI's. Wish you could have seen there faces when in September last year I had a pile-driver rig come into the 'hood and dig a 100' well! Can survive a 10 for months but expecting maybe only a 6-7. Can't believe I just typed "only" in front of a Yourdon-scale 6-7. Man, will that be tough.

This is by far the best forum on the net for information and attitude. At times I have even thought that dIeTeR(sp) might be God, but then I realize that there is only one God and none of this is taking Him by surprise. I'm here EVERYDAY and even though I don't say much, have come to respect many of you, including the polly's, for having the brass to speak your minds when you know that you're opening yourselves up to the flames. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that many of these so-called "polly's" just may be doing something to be able to get themselves through the trouble ahead, as well. Flint has already indicated as much on another thread. However, let me state this publicly. There is not a single person here that I would turn away from my door if things turn out to be bad, regardless of the scale of intensity. We are all human beings, and as such, should reach out to each other in tough times. Think about this the next time you get into one of your polly-doomer debacles. We can agree to disagree but could you really watch someone die simply because they should have but didn't, prepare? I don't think so. Human death is a tough thing to watch/see.

So, we will all be here. Watching our favorite "show" on the web. Each day a new saga. Each day a new adventure. And each day, one day closer to Y2K..................

-- don (mrmtgman@aol.com), September 21, 1999.

Oh, and BTW, am a 42 year-old male, married for 21+ years to my high school love. Have 3 kids: 20, 18, & 12. Ride a Harley. Own my own business. DO NOT MUD WRESTLE!!!

Don

-- don (mrmtgman@aol.com), September 21, 1999.

Quite a new crop of self-outted lurkers: thoughtful, funny, and spirited! I hope to see you all throw in your two cents as the countdown continues.

Sincerely, Stan Faryna

-- Stan Faryna (info@giglobal.com), September 21, 1999.

Hi :) I have been checking in here since June this year. I have been actively searching for "good news"; ie. real factual information that we won't lose the "iron triangle" since last year October. For some reason, I am amazed and angry that I haven't seen any, excepting the "jolly-good, sir" pronouncements from TPTB. (soon to be "Those dirty *&$#* RATS!!!)

I am 29 years old, have just found a wonderfull woman, and I don't want to think on the macro scale about "the event" being anything more than a 10; I do however have a rifle plus 4000 rounds of ammo, just in case. Food for the long term is also out of my budget. I am just hitting Sam's Club (my 'other-half' has the membership :) whenever I can afford to. I live in the city, she is out in the suburbs, and her best friend is pretty much on the edge of the boonies (for where I live-East coast) We all plan on bugging out to the best friends house; I am storing some of my food there.

Working at a computer help desk for a major international computer company has left me with the feeling that management types are lucky the can remember how to use the mouse, much less understand something complex like how the whole company works, *much less* understand the "whole system". North Carolina is a shining, "smack-ya-on-the-head" example of "a three-day storm" type of event. Unfortunately, I believe that it has not gone as well for the government as it should have. They are able to help those people only by mobilizing resources from other areas. That won't be possible next year. <---THAT is what is important from the big picture that TPTB miss.

The big lesson there is that "the event" in this case was "just" a hurricane. Y2K is not "just" anything. It is global. It is systemic. It is unstoppable (now). It is the great unknown. It may well be the downfall of our civilization.

All caused by simple laziness and stupidity.

Good luck to all.

-- Brent James Bushardt (brentj@webt.com), September 21, 1999.

Questioned Y2K w/brother, owner computer co and was told it was nothing. Bought Christian Y2K book spring '99 and started to prepare. Husband and two boys think I'm nuts, but they always have, anyway they trust and believe me. Whole rest of family is in total denial, but many friends are preparing.

Doesn't take a genius to figure something is not quite right when it takes 3 months to resolve many "expired" date AMT/debit cards. no big deal going back to writing checks again, but to wait 1/2 h in teller ling to cash a check for $10 to be able to buy a $.95 drink was not a lot of fun nor all the phone calls w/the response we're having problems w/noncompliant Y2K vendors. This is a major nationwide bank.

Have tried to rush getting ready, but too near SW city that's become another LA in the last 5 years. Little scared but also believe a lot of people need a pretty strong "wake up" call in their lives.

Have a home business, only started on Internet 3 months ago and found you all the day everyone went crazy with the Jim Lord report.

Thanks so much to all for the information that would take me forever to gather.

A very close and dear friend sent me a message the other day, feel it's appropriate.

THE REAL TRAGEDY IS THAT WE'RE SO BUSY ARRANGING OUR FUTURES, WE DON'T HAVE TIME TO LIVE TODAY....... Erma Bombeck (of course!)

DON'T BE ANXIOUS FOR TOMORROW........ Jesus (of course!) Connie (Claurann@AOL.com)

-- connie bray (claurann@aol.com), September 21, 1999.

Hi, I have been lurking everyday for about one year. Have made one or two posts. Live in Central California--mostly farming community. My husband is very slowly coming around to thinking we need to prepare some but I have been trying to get ready for over a year. I think it will be a 5 and hubby thinks it will be a 2. His parents also live with us and they don't think anything will happen. We both do think there will be economic problems for the entire world as supplies dwindle. Being farmers, we know with no or little fuel, no tractors move which equals little food. I hope nothing happens, but the price is to heavy to pay by not being prepared if something does happen. Good luck to everyone! Marcy

-- Marcia Sawyer (marcia@madnet.net), September 21, 1999.

Boy, this one has been fun. Just had a couple thoughts...

Someone posted recently "I hope to be around to help build our new world". I,ve wondered at what cost! To reach this point in time society as we know it must pass through the choke point of Y2k (or is it CDC) Our loses would not only be in the finanical sector, or the prep sector, or any of those areas needed to subtain life itself. For me and those I love very dearly, it could mean much suffering and lost of life. I pray daily we do not reach this point.

I have followed this forum since March. I am now 64, retired, 8 children, 6 grandchildren, proud of each one. My wife was traveling 50 miles to a cannery last winter while I was trying to gain some insite into whether this issue was real or not. It was only when I begin to understand the truth was being replaced with 'Spin' I GI'd.

Then I heard of those people living in our country where the temp- falls below '0'by jan 1, and I said to myself, you cannot remain Polly BECAUSE of all those you love. GI some more!

Being 64 now, I should be on Medicare come Feb. Even Applying early will I be enrolled on time? Sure hope so, Insurance runs out. Better GI on down to the Bank just in case!

I'm expecting harsh times ahead but '10' is not in my veiw. 4 to 7 is reasonable with the info now available. If the powers that be increases their 'Spin' in the 4Q, I may increase a point or two.

Thanks to everyone! Let's pray we all pass though the choke point together for each of you have become part of the family.

-- Tommy Rogers (Been there@Just a Thought.com), September 21, 1999.

Hi Sysman,

I'm a self-employed graphic designer and L.A. native who stumbled upon the Cassandra Project one day while doing research for a logo project. It didn't take long to find Gary North, csy2k, and then, thankfully, Ed Yourdon and this forum. The first night I did research I became a GI. It was that quick and I didn't sleep for days afterward. That was the middle of last year.

I had heard about Y2k before then but, being Mac based, I didn't think I could be affected. However, being a small business owner who deals with technology driven clients, it didn't take long to see how difficult things could get for me and my family and the world.

I actually lurk more than I post : )

I'm 36, my wife is going to be 35, and we met in high school. We married in 1986 after being together for 7 years and we're coming up on our 20th anniversary of being "together". Around our ten year anniversary we were blessed with our son, Mitchell, who is now 3 and a real life miracle.

My wife is a CPA and a very reluctant "partial" GI. I haven't had the heart to get into issues such as a devolutionary spiral or a depression with her. Just making sure we have access to enough insulin for her daily injections is more than enough for us to worry about.

I hold out hope that all the Pollys are correct but it's really only hope. I'm an optimist by nature and a non-comformist as well. Being in a "click" is nothing I've ever found necessary but having this forum to share and learn has helped me much more than I can ever repay. I feel I have real "family" here.

I have as many questions about the coming future as I did last year. Nothing that has come out recently gives me more hope. If anything, I only see more and more c.y.a. games being played which deepens my belief that this problem has been handled badly.

I'm frustrated by IT professionals who view this as a problem which should reside only within their realm of expertise. This problem will affect people who never even heard about the Y2k problem. The elderly, the infirm, the disabled, the very young.

Having Alan Greenspan elude to this problem as if it's only downside is due to the inappropriate "fear" of the public makes me physically ill. This problem was created without the public even knowing about it's existance...

The bottom line for me is my son and my wife are my life and I don't want to see them, or anyone else, suffer. I have hopes that my son will lead a much better life than I have with great opportunities for growth both spiritually, physically and mentally. In a way, I see the prospect of him growing up closer to the earth as a welcome change. If anything happens to my wife and my son I don't believe I could go on.

I wish everyone the best of wishes and I give thanks to all. I've learned much, my views have grown and become more broad yet more focused because of this board.

As my best friend says... Mitakuye Oyasin!

Thanks Sysman.

Mike

=================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), September 21, 1999.

Hi Sysman--Been here since late Nov 1998 and have since been very quietly preparing. My wife is a comfimed DWGI. Living in Minnesota all of my 46 years has provided me with some survival skills. We have 3 wooded acres, woodburning stove, own well and septic and recently purchased a generator. Need the generator to get that water and run the spetic pump. I am here everyday because I have learned so much from all of you. I also love the humor. Thanks again

-- Bill (sticky@2sides.tape), September 21, 1999.

Hi. I'm a "true" lurker for the past 3 months. I live in Alaska with my husband and daughter. Have enjoyed this forum alot. I feel I'm not alone with Y2K. Wish there were more people up here that took it all seriously. We have been preparing since Dec. '98, and being in an area where January can be -20 degrees, it is a little frightening. If anyone else on this forum lives in Alaska also, I would appreciate a response.

-- Cindy Brown (habrown@alaska.net), September 21, 1999.

been lurking here for about a year, got it about then, have been trying to evaluate this situation untill i realized that there are too many variables in the equation to be able to solve it with the information supplied. now am creating my strategic reserves , since i live in the country i am trying to get ready for about 10-15 extended family members that will show up if TSHTF. what a job. most dont get it and will show up with an apetite and a smile.

am just trying to figure out how much to put up in the way of fuel and food. much more dificult when you dont know how many are coming to the party.

good luck to all hope we weather the "three day storm" well.

al

-- al (mexicanmd@getinready.com), September 21, 1999.

Hi all, Been lurking a long time. Only post when I feel I have something worthwhile to say. Been preping since June. 1998. I've been a system administrator for 13 yrs. Also working the y2k problem for our Co. and Co.'s customer. I feel we're looking at a 7-9, and hope to God I'm wrong. Married to a half-way GI. He doesn't belittle my preps or really take any interest either But he sure is gratefully when he tells me we're out of something and I got to the 'hurricane box' to replace it :-) DuffyO in the Florida panhandle

-- DuffyO (duffyo@mailcity.com), September 21, 1999.

Hi Sysman.....You started something here, but the stroll handle has gotten so small, I'm having hard time returning to the bottom. Think we could wrap over to another thread?

-- Tommy Rogers (Been there@Just a Thought.com), September 21, 1999.

I have been a lurker for nearly a year now. I started to get worried about things last fall, and started prepping then. I have brothers who are sort of GIs to some degree or another, and parents who aren't worried, but dad is "stocking up on cash".

I live in Gr Grandparents house in rural area. I have a year round stream, Chickens, ducks & geese, Mature fruit trees, etc. The old folks never threw anything away, so every now and then I run accross some real treasures - like a shoe repair type kit.

I teach and have talked to some of the other teachers - I think that most of them GI to some degree, but our county is mostly rural farming communities except for one large city with a University (Started as an Ag College) and seems to be pretty well prepared.

We're not too far from a hydo electric plant (20 miles), and the county is surrounded by mountains on all sides. It would not be too hard to shut things down if we needed to keep "outsiders" out. I have most of my preps in place and a few extra as well in case any of the brothers or cousins and their families decide to come.

I think it will start out as a 5-6 and progress to a 10+ by the end of May, especially if any nuclear or bio weapons are used. Unless there is a direct hit, I think this area wil be safe from fallout, etc.

I have really appreciated all of the good advice that I have gotten from this forum especially just when I think I have all the bases covered - and discover that I missed something after checking in on these threads. Thanks to All!!!!

-- Bird Lover (Bird@Cache.net), September 21, 1999.

I've only been lurking here a month; spent most of the year at North's site and Y2K News Magazine. My husband got me interested early in 1999 (guess we were late bloomers). We live in Nevada in a semi-rural area - I'm a transplant from CT. We haven't come to any conclusions about how serious any problems will be but know that we don't want to be caught with our pants down. We moved out of our condo into a small home just 2 months ago and have the condo for sale; the condo wasn't in a great area and we were concerned about fire in one condo taking the entire unit down. We are purchasing a wood stove and firewood; stockpiling food and have water stored. We have 4 kids but only one who lives with us. Our friends think we are crazy and sometimes we do too!!!! I work for the County school district who thinks being y2k compliant means installing Windows 98. My husband is a truck driver. We have an adequate supply of ammo; suffice it to say that we both shoot competitively. My biggest frustration is my ex who has custody of our oldest child and lives in CT - he won't prepare, thinks everything will be fine, BUT has made our son's plane reservations for the Christmas holiday ensuring that he is back in CT on the 1st. Not knowing how my son is faring will be very difficult for me if communications go down. I feel tremendous guilt knowing that we may be the only people in our circle of friends (nevermind the neighborhood) prepared and yet not prepared enough to share. Our finances hardly allow for the accommodations we are making for ourselves, nevermind anyone else.

In any event, while I never post, I am here... reading, learning, and trying to make sense of an event that no sense can be made of.

-- Pam (PamOak@aol.com), September 21, 1999.

It's been great to read everyone's insights and lives--Probably no-one left to read at the bottom of what has become a looooooong thread.

What this site has meant to me is a wake-up call to the possibilities. Overall an interesting read, but sometimes I get so angry at the nit-picking, name-calling, and racist/sexist/and any other -ist contributions made on this site that I try not to click onto this site for a couple of days. But I always return.

When I don't enter this site for a while, I begin to think that it will be okay--like this whole y2k thing is just another example of one of those Millenial Cults like I learned about in this great course I took in the Anthro dept in college.

But then I start getting the itch--start wondering "what if", and I return to this forum and get rejuvinated in my preps.

So now, at almost 100 days from 1/1/00 I find myself a gun owner, a glock 40 S&W that I am quite proficient at--not bad for an ex-hippie peace marcher! We have probably 1 year's worth of "stock", and are trying to learn how to eat seaweed! Hubby is not sure that y2k will be the water-shed event he has trained his whole military life to be ready for (special forces/ranger/green baret for 10 years). He's just happy that now I'm ready to prepare and become ready for any society disrupting event--whether it be y2k or a terrorist attack, major earthquake, etc.

It's certainly been an interesting ride--and I hope that all my preps will never be put to the test.

Sincerely (and this is the first time I've posted my real address):

-- cath (cathtrac@yahoo.com), September 21, 1999.

Welcome to ALL of you! I'm glad you posted! :-)

Tommy Rogers, to get to the bottom of the page quickly, click anywhere on Sysman's post, then hit the "END" key on your keyboard. It will take you to the bottom immediately. Then you can scroll back up a little to where you left off the last time. Hope that saves you a little time. :-)

-- Gayla (privacy@please.com), September 22, 1999.

Wow, this thread has grown quite long! Thank you all very much for your input.

I've been fighting with a down NT server at work all day, and haven't had a chance to check in here myself. Finally got home at 11:30, a long day.

Very interesing comments. I'm glad to see that many of you are taking a serious look at this problem. Better safe than sorry! <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), September 22, 1999.

Hi Sysman, Fellow Lurkers and Wonderlanders....Gosh, it's nearly 1 a.m., and I suppose it's so late nobody will bother coming to my mad tea party posting....I've been lurkin round about 6 months, posting occasionally under a variety of names, using my real moniker in the beginning, but recently got discrete, as they say....I check in a couple times a week, but usually don't get here until after midnite....I heard about y2k last June, ala Art Bell....got busy almost immediately, and still working at it....maybe two more days out in the ol rabbit hole and then we are finished....enough food/etc. for 1+ years, afterwards a lush garden space I've been feeding raw garbage and horse do-do....plenty of non-hybrid seeds to start plants for friends if needed....I like this forum a lot....it feels like family, squabbles and all....informative, too....my partner is supportive, but doesn't think it will be much more than inconveniences, so this forum has been a reality check....greatly appreciated....I, too, am tired of waiting, and tired of working....never worked so hard in my life....I'm 60 years old, my partner 67, and it has been a very long summer....part of me wants y2k, a bad solution to slow down the degradation of the planet....a part wants things to go smoothly so I can continue my cozy life....I believe we all came here, choose to come here, at this particular time...I'm not afraid of dying, but pain???....well, goodnight all you wonderful people....I bookmarked this page and will probably reread it and the other similar links as the time draws near....like having tea with lovely friends....The Queen of Hearts

-- The Queen of Hearts (alice@wonderland.underground), September 22, 1999.

Hello, All

I'm a 31yo SWM in Dallas, who had been coming to the conclusion that there was something brittle, unstable about a society which saw so many members (like me) growing their food at Tom Thumb and drawing water from Local Utility. Without having any real knowledge of how to get the real thing if their lives depended on it. :) All of us (in Big D, anyway)running around living these absurdly hectic lives that are crammed full of fluff that has nothing to do with anything except sustaining a fluffy existence.

Prompted by an ABC World News Tonight segment in May of '98, which featured a couple of odd birds who had made drastic life changes from fear of that Year 2000 computer thingy, I started doing some internet research. Voila! My vague concerns of our 1st World ways were crystalized and painted red-for-danger, because, after the first of the year, there would be no way to make a pencil.

Of course, there was more depth to my transformation than that; but I was already primed to react to a concrete description of a potential collapse in our division of labor. And our economy. Any just about everything that we Americans seem to take for granted 24x7.

So, with a little prodding from the good Dr. North, I became the reluctant GI that I am today. All my free time is spent planning, purchasing, inventorying, practicing, waiting... And just lately, as I've gotten comfortable enough with my preps to relax a little, I've found myself bargaining a little. "If this will all just go away, I promise I'll never again take for granted the opportunities that this country offers. From abundant food and clean water to employment and financial opportunities to fit every possible whim and temperment. I promise." But I really don't think it's all going to just go away. Because...

I spent the better part of the last couple of years working in the Global Network Managment Center of "Worldwide Telecom Company X", as the night shift guy in North America. Just li'l ol' me and the whole world of WTCX's data and voice networks. In my NASA-like cave, I learned very well one aspect of global inter-connectivity: there is none if the fibers are cut or if the someone modifies the software errantly.

Fiber cuts are easy. Patch fiber, get traffic. Software is much less straightforward(word?), sometimes. Upgrade the software on one box in one city and maybe watch a large segment of the company's links go red-for-danger. Why? "It was a planned upgrade." "No one warned us." "The upgrade shouldn't affect anything, much less the manufacture of pencils." "Tell it to the pencils. There is no traffic from point A, B, S, X, and Y to points M, R, Q, and W. Pencil production is slowing down." Management from one, two, or three companies have a screaming, posturing, finger-pointing fight. And eventually, pencils are manufactured in abundance again. Hours later, days later, whatever.

Dilbert is for real.

And the prospect of thousands of managers from hundreds of companies all over the world having a Big Global Finger-point is more than enough to convince me that pencils may, indeed, be in short supply next year.

Sorry so long. Good for the soul. Back to lurking quietly like the addict I am.

-- Moze (Mr_wherever@yahoo.com), September 22, 1999.

These threads are the best!

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), September 22, 1999.

Hey Sysman: I have been lurking here since spring of this year, alot of the information posted here is really eye opening. I live in the eastern U.S. (in the country) and I believe my family is ready and prepared for the next several months should anything severe happen. Thanks to everyone who posts, I appreciate the information.

-- nina (nina@home.net), September 22, 1999.

Hey Sysman: I have been lurking here since spring of this year, alot of the information posted here is really eye opening. I live in the eastern U.S. (in the country) and I believe my family is ready and prepared for the next several months should anything severe happen. Thanks to everyone who posts, I appreciate the information.

P.S. I love mudwrestling!

-- nina (nina@home.net), September 22, 1999.

lurking a while...posted once and was depressed by the response...said i was leaving but stayed anyway. 8 on yourdons scale.

Dave

-- David Michaels (davmik@email.com), September 22, 1999.

Have lurked for about 6 months....becoming addicted to this place...will soon need therapy! I have been preparing but sadly I bounce between a 3 and 9 on an HOURLY basis. Will soon need Prozac for the stress. Today I had the most horrible scenario flash into my mind and maybe you guys have the answer...."Question": What is the shelf life of MISS CLAIROL? With all the baby boomers out there, do you realize that Y2K has the potential to turn over half the female population gray overnight???

-- Smiling (Lurking@the-edge.com), September 22, 1999.

I guess I should contribute something, since I do lurk here frequently.

Most of you probably know me. I dropped out of csy2-k a couple of months ago because I got sick of the stupidity. Been spending my time since then lurking in a number of fora, and doing a bit of independent Y2k research.

I'm really not a "doomer", but I'm an enthusiastic fan of insurance. I have insurance. I have about the same amount of Y2k insurance as I have other insurance. And that's quite a lot, when you think about it.

I'm also an enthusiastic fan of "accurate and truthful reporting" in the media. Haven't been seeing too much of that lately, especially with regards to Y2k. Especially today (day 100).

Back to lurking.

And may God be with all of you.

Jo Anne

-- Jo Anne Slaven (joanneslaven@home.com), September 22, 1999.

Hey Sys, I'm a serious student of knowledge, spent 12 years developing a grand-unification theory ranging from physics to biology to sociology (maybe second true consilience in history, after Michelangelo's). I sort out why Einstein and Bohr complement each other's work, why Tesla, Bohm and Chandra Bose have a lot in common, why Goethe was a great scientist. Been prepping seriously for a year, all knowledge work is on the backburner. Love questions with no answers, therefore believe have solved Y2K question. It will happen. We cannot redesign the entire world's network, rewrite the entire world's code in 12 months, 12 years, 12 decades. Cannnnot be done. This forum keeps me sane, makes me laugh, makes me think. What more can I say?

Owl

-- owl (woo@woo.xcom), September 23, 1999.

So Jill doesn't want a mud-wrestling invite, but April's glad to have received hers. Thinking I should have pointed out somewhere along the line that I'M A GIRL. :]

-- PH (ag3@interlog.com), September 23, 1999.

And a pleasant day to ya'll. I haven't posted in many a moon; too busy being father, husband, president of our soccer league, oh and doing a bit of prepping on the side (I didn't include employment in this list because I'm self employed and I try to not let work intrude to far into my life). I just finished constructing an adobe oven (an original design I may post about later). My thoughts on food storage have come around to this basic idea- if you expect major problems the idea should be to store the most calories for the dollar you can- this would be whole grains and beans (plus sunflower seeds and almonds- eat these sprouted for maximum benefit). Most likely nobody is going to conk you over the head for a bag of wheat and you'll be able to help those who have the patience and wisdom to eat these foods. Buy a quality wheat grass juicer; start creating recipes now. My bio: I'm 45, have a commercial landscape maintenance business, wife works for the county, 2 boys 17 and 8. My 8 yo. went salmon fishing with me last week in our canoe and caught a 24 lb. king salmon all by himself!- though landing it was quite a chore for me. Seeing that huge fish prompted me to buy a used meat grinder- we are going to catch a few more. I'll dry the ground up meat and bones to add to the feed I'm going to create from food storage to make my own chicken feed. I'm prepping for a 10 but have no firm opinion of what outcome shall be. Going acorn hunting next week- found out the stored nuts don't even start getting good for a year or two (at least that's what local indians thought [these are black oak acorns]). Wrote a book in '95 on food storage- I can send the most important chapter by e-mail. It has lots of good ideas like this- store wakame seaweed(mail order from gold mine in San Diego, Ca. 1-800-475-3663). It is the most potent detoxifying seaweed- in case of radiation releases. U.S. Govt. scientists made this discovery after the war while studying survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. My creed- I try to have a smile for each person I meet. And I don't bring up CDC anymore- didn't convince anyone, and the big brains of the bipeds I share this planet with aren't used by many to grow in wisdom, but these same brains do seem to be effective as a memory dump (just met someone I hadn't seen in 2 years and they asked if I was still prepping for Y2K.

-- skipper clark (skipper@cncnet.com), September 23, 1999.

been a lurker for about six months and I have to tell you I am addicted.I learn so much from all these wonderful people and now know I am not alome in my thinking. Some times I lol,some times I have to pick my jaw up off the ground and some times I cry about the things i read on here. I am glad to see there are people that really care about others. I almost quit preparing befor I found this sight because I really didn't have much info to go on and the news said no big deal. I feel I found this sight by the grace of God as I am computor retarded. I live in Ohio among mostly dgi's, I feel it's going to be very bad. This is too perfect of an oppurtunity for Klinton to not use to his utmost advantage in gun control, mind control whatever the bas***d has in mind. I'm a mom of three, married and hopefully prepared.

-- tress (www.tress59@aol.com), September 23, 1999.

Sysman

Thanks for the thread and mega thanks to all the posters!!!! This is such a GREAT THREAD!!! I have been busy :o) so just catching up on the recent threads.

Nice to see some Canadians lurking *VBG* even Jo Anne Slaven!! (one of the posters at CSY2K newsgroup that influenced me while lurking there). I still may have the Gas Station post from spring 98 (?) on the harddrive somewhere.

Lurking is a must, y2k is just to big an issue to grasp at one shot, but there are also times when your "voice" must be heard. Sometimes one wonders if the regulars are preaching to the converted. What a drag that would be. :o)

Learning about Y2K during the Ice Storm in Quebec was such a wake up call. Alot of folk had no idea how to survive with a reasonable comfort zone that I felt compelled to learn about Y2K. From zero to 60 in no time flat. So for those that are still in lurk mode please lend your thoughts to the cause. Reading the testimony from all the posters on this thread has been a real thrill. Please keep it up. Learn and communicate. Oh the power of the internet, we are making history before it even happens.

-- Brian (imager@home.com), September 23, 1999.

Sysman -

I work for a Y2K remediation firm, and lurk here when business is slow. I discovered the forum because I know Yourdon's reputation in sortware. I am grateful that the forum led me to Greenspun's pages. I am amused by the religious nutcases and the militia types, although I think it has made it hard for normal people to take Y2K seriously when it is tied to Nostradamus and Biblical prophesies. I am amused that people can be so passionate about whether event X will happen or not, given that we all know that we don't know what will happen. I had hopes of getting rich on Y2K, but it was not to happen, although I am doing better than I was 2 years ago. Corporate America decided to take care of Y2K on the cheap, by not allocating enough money to do the job well. I think that we will all pay the price, but that bugs in COBOL code will not be the biggest problem. I am more worried about the greenhouse effect, Balkan nationalism, and other environmental and human problems than any technological glitches. On the internet, no one knows if you're a frog.

-- kermit (colourmegreen@hotmail.com), September 23, 1999.

I am impressed by the quality of character that I have seen in the "bios" of the other people who follow this site. Was surprised to see how overloaded we are with high quality techo-savant types.

Me, I am a 40+ year old accountant who has worked around computerized systems all of my career. My wife was in charge of two modules of a Fortune 500 company and issued multiple releases to the customer base. She intimately knows the relationship between the quality of product testing and the quality of the finished product.I can't read Yourdon without her jumping in and confirming how so many of his points she experienced when dealing with artificial deadlines, non techno-mgmt, and other "Dilbert-like" scenarios. I am a 3 to 7 but if I scratch her she is a 7.99999214

-- Dana (l_jones@thegrid.net), September 23, 1999.

I posted on this a few days ago. It was interesting to go back and read the 80+ postings. I even posted my first comment that was not a response today. No mud wrestling offers, no spam, just thoughtful insight from other concerned people.

I am astounded at the range of technical and financial skills shown in the posts. I am not always comfortable with the religious prophecy postings, but that comes from having been married to a fundamentalist at one long point in my life. There seems to be room for all of us, though the idea of zipping past threads and putting them on a separate server sounds like a good one.

This forum is important. I now see threads from the discussions here popping up in a lot of other places.

Thanks for helping to educate me. I was already GI, now I have more facts to back up the gut call.

-- Nancy (wellsnl@hotmail.com), September 23, 1999.

Howdy folks,

Been working om the lawn all day. The grass came back from the dead with an attitude, with all this rain!

Figured I would bring this back to the top, and see if we can catch a few more weekend lurkers. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), September 25, 1999.

I first learned about Y2K through a financial site I monitor. Then in March of 1998 I read the GAO draft of recommended contingency plans for government agencies and businesses. That was an eye-opener, to say the least--especially the talk about possible infrastructure failure. We have been prepping since then to the best of our ability. Having a child, for me, increases my motivation.

I have to be at work rollover weekend. I work for a national newsmagazine. Time is not of the essence around Y2K in terms of Y2K coverage at the mag. Y2K has not even been on the horizon there. I have heard that there is a lot of unhappiness among reporter/correspondent types concerning TPTB's attitude about the issue.

I've been lurking here for 1&1/2 years. Posting infrequently from the office under another handle.

-- restless (restless@LI.com), September 26, 1999.

Sitting here, shelling homegrown beans... oops..flaking into my keyboard. Don't need any generators. If necessary, I'll just relive my good old days.

Hi Chris, I wish you the best.

-- Not Again! (seenit@ww2.com), September 26, 1999.

hello, i've been lurking here off and on for several months now, this is my first post. i am at about a 8 on the 1 (bump in the road) to 10 ( TEOTWAWKI). i sure hope i'm wrong about all of this however after almost 3 years of research and digging deep to find good news i rather think i may not be high enough on the scale. so with that in mind i bought a small peice of land (5 acres) with a modest 3 bedroom house and i'm having 4 bedrooms added onto it for family that i'm sure will be here with me when rollover comes. i have a good stash of food, good water supply (3 wells 2 with handpumps)solar for hot water (do not like cold showers!!) generator 500 gal of gas, farm equipment good growing season, fruit orchard (60 fruit trees) windmill, pond with fish,a fireplace with insert and 2 woodburning stoves,a propane fridge,chickens, and so much more! however i still feel like i'm not ready enough for what lies ahead.i've done all i can think of and this forum has been a great help. when i start feeling lazy about preps i come here or visit other forums and it puts a fire under my seat and i get moving again! time is short and we all need to be as ready for whatever may happen. May God bless u all as i have been so blessed and i owe it all to God! could not have done all of this without God

-- annahme armor (sanitizer@sirnet.com), September 26, 1999.

Sysman, Thank you for this thread. I'm a 68 yr old, Navy vet, and my wife and I have been preparing for over a year. We are very rural and 3 miles out of a small town here in the "Boonies". My son-in- law has named it, "Hooterville". I think all of us in or near SMALL towns will fare infinitely better than those near cities. With our beloved country being led by a government I no longer respect or trust I think Y2k will start out without seeming like much in the first days or weeks and then get bad. Everything comes into our area by truck. If for any reason trucking slows down or stops---disaster. I am set for over six months and still preparing and worrying about my daughter and family in Pompano Beach. I hope we can get them here, but my son-in-law has an excellent job and is unwilling to risk it by leaving for here. This is my worst worry. I believe Y2k will make the great depression seem like a Sunday picnic. I pray it won't. I am grateful to all of you who posted and wish you well. Kentucky Bill

-- George W Berge (gberge@kih.net), September 27, 1999.

Howdy:

I've been lurking here since the first of the year and have passed my Y2k G.I. anniversary (as Dianne stated....wink) over a month now. Quite a personal task for me to prepare and single-handedly build our 5,000 sq. ft. home. It is a formidible fortress to say the least. The pella windows are tempered glassed and the building consists of round rooms and silo for the spiral stair case with a 4' elevator core in the center and many facets to the more conventionally shaped parts. I would not want to be on the outside trying to get in anyway. My suggestions have only amounted to a drop in the bucket compared to the die-hards here on the forum. Diane, Old Git, Big Dog, Stan Faryna, Lisa (at home of course and a neighbor of mine), Will (farming@home), Sysman..........I realize alot of people are left out whom have contributed an incredible amount to fill a novel individually that I've not listed but you know who you are. I salute each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart! Regarding preparations: I suggest Olive oil and vitamin c along with all the other fundamentals. Why? vegetable oils dont last as long and lard is disgusting. Olive oil can last for a few years. Dried rosemary or BHT will make it last even longer. . There may be a helluva lot of stress and vitamin C rids the physiological effects of stress AND the chemical companies may tank our supply. I personally have 10 gallons of olive oil and 10 lbs. of pharmaceutical grade powder C. Don't forget to brush emmediately with baking soda after ingesting powder C. enamel is at stake followed by tooth decay if you do not do so. I will spare you of all the other details since you can find alot in the prep forum and archives. To say the least: I am very proud of the dedicated and caring people here.......take care.........Al-d get a life!

-- Feller (feller@wanna.help), September 29, 1999.

i hope all we to worry'about is y2k.[signs of times watcher] my wish is that ALL men be saved--i guess it came out wrong.

-- i have a life-in HIM. (dogs@zianet.com), September 29, 1999.

I have been lurking for a few weeks and find this group very helpful for an opinion of other people's views.It also acts as a reassurance to be among like minded people although I live 7,500 miles away. I live in Japan and am extremely concerned over the implication of y2k. So far I have been right in predicting a strengthening in the Yen ( a response to the lack of confidence in the US market) as well as the rise in gold price( manipulation by CB's and other gov. cronies). I also believe that Japan will be the one that brings down the global financial system. Most of the banks did not start code repairs until mid-1998 and said they were finished 6 months ago. As I have a few friends that work in the Banking system the Japanese gov reports of compliance are flat out lies and would be impossible to achieve given the late starting date. As the Millenium will reach Japan 13 hours before the US it will provide a window of what will happen for the rest of the world for this highly computer reliant country.

-- George (lindgren@kt.rim.or.jp), September 29, 1999.

Was happy to find this site about 6-7 weeks ago. Thank you Sysman, for your post. Have been preparing for a 10 for about 3 years now which really doesn't mean much because I live in Daytona Bch, Fla. (poverty city, usa)and cannot afford to get out of Dodge. Way too many already hungry people know I like rice and beans. Am 45, married and one paranoid mother f*cker. By the way, proud of the best prep item I found today in a thrift shop...a bed-side commode, industrial strength model, for 2 bucks!

-- Susan (number9@mindspring.com), September 29, 1999.

Originally drawn in by "The Government of the United States" forum (no longer in operation - please bring it back, Mr. Greenspun), I'm a long-time lurker. I use three different handles and enjoy the usually intelligent arguments. I work as a network / production tech for state government and I GI. Good luck to all of you!! I'm praying for a 5 or less.

-- Jenny (jgig@aol.com), September 29, 1999.

Well I found this site a few weeks ago. I've done a couple of postings, mostly because I was affronted by some comment. And I'd rather be called a lurkess thank you LOL. I really enjoy the level of intelligence, thoughtfullness and humor that I find here. Makes me feel not so alone in my preps and opinions. I am personally prepping for a 5 and hope to hell I am wrong.

-- Stacia (ClassyCwgl@aol.com), September 29, 1999.

I think I have been here for about a year. One of those rare, endangered species of Rock-Ribbed Conservative Christians living in the People's Republic of Taxachusetts (But may soon be moving, or fleeing, back up to my home state). This and the Prep forum have been invaluable resources for me. Thanks Ed and Phil!

-- Jeremiah Jetson (laterthan@uthink.y2k), September 29, 1999.

OK, I'll post too. I'm a mostly-lurker who sometimes can't resist and has to post something. I didn't Get It until last January, although I knew about the problem since 1997. Interesting physiological reaction when you realize the little "computer problem" will affect you personally! :-)

My sister got it first and together we are working on our parents. They are much better situated in the country, even if they DGI, and they are my "Plan C". Meanwhile I am stuck in the suburbs, so preparations include my immediate neighbors, just in case.

I've learned a lot from this forum, despite some of the flaming, so keep it up folks!

BTW, with the closure of the last Huffy plant, bicycles are no longer made in this country. Tack that onto a long list of goods that could be hard to find next year.

-- Margaret J (janssm@aol.com), September 29, 1999.

Hello Sysman, I've been "lurking" for about a month now. Have enjoyed the debate/banter. Although understanding the acronyms a bit a problem.

Started out several years ago doing some preparation for the next depression. Heard about Y2K a couple years ago. No expert but it looked like the potential trigger.

I don't know how severe it will be but have a family I want fed/safe. Husband thinks "bump in the road" but is supportive of my efforts.

dj

-- Dawn Jones (dawjones@yahoo.com), September 29, 1999.

Dropped out in the 70's and went primative.
All hand tools, garden, not even a chain saw.
Cut wood with a cross-cut saw. Not so primative
these days, but live off the grid with a solar
operated electric system. Still use my old treadle
sewing machine and hand grain grinder. Prepared by stocking food, tp and new plates in my 11
year old batteries. Plenty of water and fire wood available. I update the city infrastructure on the latest Y2K info
during their Emergency Management meetings. They don't
really want to hear it. They do the preps but with the
view that this will help if there is a tsunami or earth
quake. Dropped out because of disgust with the VietNam war
and the economy of greed. I don't post my political
views on the web because [deleted]. Sorry, can't go on.

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), September 29, 1999.

This forum has helped me keep my sanity, and has filled in major knowledge gaps. In fact, when talking to DGI's they ask 'how did you find all that information' and of course I am happy to direct them to this source for all the links they can follow. Hopefully it will help them as well.

You have all given me the confidence to at least face the impact of what is ahead, the fear was paralyzing for a while. Thank You!

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0nospam@hotmail.com), September 29, 1999.

[OT: Feller, we really should meet. You and your wife wanna go sailing? Or do you have a bass boat?]

-- lisa (lisab@firstcare.com), September 29, 1999.

Found this forum several months ago. Started posting replies a few weeks ago. I come here for information and to keep my sanity. I can't believe ( emotionally ) that this is going to happen but intellectually I expect a 7. I am 56 with a wife and a 4 year old daughter. I was a accountant/programmer. Medically retired now. Coming here and seeing how many others know it is coming helps keep me focused on prepping and keeps me sane. Thanks to all of you, doomers, pollies, all of you.

-- Mr. Pinochle (pinochledd@aol.com), September 29, 1999.

I have been lurking here for about a year and a half. I have been watching the Y2K story slowly unfold for about five years now. My attitude went from 'how can I profit, what stocks should I buy' to being increasingly alarmed at the general apathy and slow progress.

Although I have not been involved in remediation, I do program. I work on a computer every day and built my own system from components. Here at work they started remediation in 1994 - decommissioning an IBM mainframe and going to distributed processing - the project finished two years later than scheduled with plenty of bugs left to fix.

I am hoping for a 4 or less but prepping for an 8.

The greatest travisty in this whole situation is the governments culpability in not informing its citizenry to prepare.

-- jim Stanfield (jimstan@slac.stanford.edu), September 29, 1999.

Hi Sysman,

I have been here for about a year. I live in a small city in Maine. I have read in the newspaper that there are groups in some Maine towns that are preparing, but I do not know even one friend or relative who is doing anything to prepare.

I check the posts here several times a day. It keeps me motivated.

I haven't seen much of Y2K Pro lately. I miss him/her like a bad case of the flu!!!

By 1/1/2000 we will be tucked away on our newly purchased land in the country.

Thanks everyone for all your input, it sure has helped me.

Monique

-- monique (me@home.here), September 29, 1999.

I'm 49 (at least until three weeks from now!), my wife is 27. She teaches math and computers at the local high school, and I write software, books, and magazine articles on VB programming.

I grew up in "da Bronx", secular Jewish. My wife (former Catholic) and I are both evangelical Christian. I was a left-wing hippie type in the 60s, spent a little time living in a commune in the swamp outside Ocala FL, went to the big demonstration at the Pentagon with Abbie Hoffman in 1967, squandered a few years, but unlike several friends, I managed to survive. Became a Christian in 1969, did some volunteer work in a Teen Challenge coffeehouse in the East Village, traveled around the country talking in churches.

We're rural, live by the "west coast" of Michigan (pictures here).

We've got chickens and geese, with some more chickens on order, along with some ducklings. Also trying to find some goats to raise for meat.

My kids are grown and moved away, I worry for them, not much I can do besides worry. My father is in his very late 80s, lives in New Mexico, not much I can do for him either.

The inlaws are two miles down the road, some of them "get it" but aren't preparing, the father inlaw doesn't seem to get it. I'm trying to be able to feed them if it comes to it.

My health is very rotten, and I worry about my family if I die.

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), September 30, 1999.

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

I have only started eleven threads, and contributed to about 180 others. Even though I fall far short of the 1000+ posts required to qualify for the 30 most active posters list, I don't really consider myself a lurker. I spend at least a few hours reading here every day, and most days I post something. I tend to arrive late at threads, and so don't find that there's a lot left needing to be said. However, when I have something to say, I can be quite a windbag. Visit the link just provided if you'd like to witness that for yourself (or just keep reading, here hehe). Sometimes I wonder if anybody ever sees what I say, but if not, at least it's helpful to me.

I GI'd in January, a few moments after starting to read The Utne Reader Y2K Citizen's Action Guide. It came like the panic that happens in a horror show when the violin music screeches and the thing jumps out of a shadow. But then the panic doesn't go away. I hardly slept during the week that followed. I first discovered this forum and introduced myself on June 11th, on a thread about what we would do if things get really bad. However, I confined my introduction strictly to my Y2K situation. I'd like to tell you a little bit about my background, so you can factor it in when deciding just how far out the people are who haunt this place.

My real name is Tracie, but online I only answer to Dancr. A few times I have tried going by my real name, but for some reason it always made me feel as though I were impersonating myself. Go figure. I'm 44 years old, and am married to a man that I first met when we were both three years old (though neither of us can remember that). Our son will turn nine a week before Christmas. Both my husband and I were much impacted by the experience of growing up, for a time, as foreigners in Europe. For him, it was a few years in Switzerland. For me, it was six years (age 12 - 18) in The Netherlands. I think this gave us, early on, a deep appreciation for the fact that there is not just one correct way to get things done. Politically, I'm libertarian with democratic leanings.

During the years that I lived in Holland, I carried on a deep correspondence with a friend that I had left behind in America (which I soon learned to call "the states"). Most days, I would spend at least an hour reading her letters and writing back. Because I had to pay for my own postage, I always waited to receive her letter before sending mine out. In these letters we contemplated everything. Writing is a very productive way to think.

I always loved school and did exceptionally well. People who knew me in school would probably all be very surprised that I am now an ardent unschooling advocate. I am not happy with what the schooling experience did to my mind. I realized this approximately the first day out of grad school. School teaches competition and obedience, instead of co-operation, and that sucks.

At about age twelve I realized that I had always been an atheist, even though my family had attended church regularly since before I was born. I'm not so sure we're a minority, but I believe that being treated as an outsider in this context has given me a compassion that I might not otherwise have for maligned groups of many types. I suspect many of those who "Get It" about Y2K will be found to have had significant character-building experiences in which they have had to face ridicule for the way they are.

I've been involved in using computers pretty much continuously ever since first being introduced to a mainframe terminal in 1967 (seventh grade). I've only ever taken one course in programming (Algol), but I've delved pretty deeply into several others in order to fix somebody's bug or add some functionality to programs others have written. But then, I've tried to forget those experiences as quickly as possible. I've worked quite a bit with several "off the shelf" software packages, whether tailoring them for my own use, or training others how to use them. I have served as a Beta tester for several that are now household names.

I've been a voracious reader ever since about age fourteen, when I read my first unassigned book in years; one about how the human mind works. It had a phenomenal number of footnotes, which I had never encountered before. I remember being very, very impressed by this one certain fellow who kept turning up as the source of the most interesting quotes. His name was Ibid! I've been devouring books about psychology (my undergrad major), learning, philosophy, history and sociobiology ever since at a rate of 2-3 per week (except ironically during those weeks when I was in school). Correction I pretty much stopped reading books about five years ago, when I discovered the Internet. The eight books that I was reading on the day I first signed on are all still sitting around my home as some kind of monuments, opened to the same page as before, collecting dust.

My academic specialization and my erstwhile career focused upon the field of survey research methodology. This involves work with sampling and statistics, question wording and psychometrics. The main thing I got out of that was a healthy disrespect for the meaning attributed to surveys. Because of my Ph. D. level work in Research Management (Business School), I am quite confident that I am able to interpret the meaning behind Y2K news at least as well as John Koskinen, though he may be privy to more secrets.

After grad school, we lived eight years in Minneapolis, where I was mainly self-employed as a jack-of-all-trades computer consultant, involved in systems analysis, programming, documentation writing, training, and trouble shooting. This will probably come as a surprise to any of my online friends at the Efnet channel #mIRC (if any of them come here), who are used to my lame frustrations in getting my computer to dance. Those are the people I left when I came here, in. My clients represented a wide variety of industries and functional departments within companies. I've also run my own mapmaking and desktop publishing businesses, and thereby gotten a taste for the reality of small businesses.

Most of the time that I was in Minneapolis I was instrumental in the founding and early growth of a maverick organization once known as All the Good Old Girls. This became a much-copied organization as the interpersonal networking craze swept the country. Some of those among our ranks went on to become Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of State. This experience taught me the value of co-operating outside organizational structure to achieve important goals.

During the past ten years I have been interested in emergency preparedness, ever since moving to California a few days before the Loma Prieta earthquake. We were closer to the epicenter, here, than was the Highway 880 (Nimitz) bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland, where so many lost their lives. I took several Red Cross classes while pregnant with my son. More recently, I've gotten involved with the local Neighborhood Emergency Response Team [NERT] program. Amazingly, none of the people involved in this program seem to be much concerned about Y2K.

Shortly after my son was born I discovered that I have a chronic autoimmune condition which is aggravated by stress. I take seven long-term medications, including an injectible, which requires refrigeration. My husband is a diabetic with peripheral neuropathy. I despair to think how we will cope without our drugs. My main symptom when things get bad is a severe arthritis. Another feature of my illness is occasional sun sensitivity, which may be a problem if TPTB or hunger force me to work or even be outdoors for extended periods. I'm reminded, I'd better stock up on sun-blocking clothing. I've already got plenty of sunscreen.

I want to thank you all for being here, and Ed Yourdon for starting this place where we can be together. After reading many of the books of Alice Walker, I have come to understand the importance of having at least one knowing witness, when the world all around denies an important truth.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), September 30, 1999.

I guess I could be concidered a lurker here, I'd read every post here including the archives pre June of this year. I don't even hope to catch up with the last 3 months worth of posts. Anyone who knows me (from csy2k) knows my position on this issue, and anyone who doesnt know me probably doesn't care to know it.

At this point - I've given up on any personal attempts to increase public awareness... so really have no point in posting here except perhaps as entertainment and a diversion from "real life stuff"

I do not understand "the Sunday comics" - and don't find them amusing. But reading these threads... I often laugh out loud, occasionally I've laughed till I had tears in my eyes. Other times I just want to reach through the screen and shake-the-shit outta some brain-dead-idiot.

There are only 50 or so responses here, I KNOW there are alot more lurkers then the few who have responded. Let's hear from a few others?

Whitney :)

-- Whitney (Y2KWhit@aol.com), October 06, 1999.

Just an artist/illustrator/political cartoonist; political studies to be sure I knew what I was talking about had me "prepping" since '92, way before hearing of y2k. Building my own timber frame log home all by my self, (4200 sq. ft.), laid every block, post & beam, and designed a LARGE pantry into it. Way out in the boonies with beautiful wife and two equally beautiful children, homeschooling for the last four years, No shooting gallery there so the kids are safe. (We don't even own a trenchcoat). Cartoon published in all 50 states & 14 foreign countries, albeit a small circulation. Knowledgeable of Scripture, but not at all "religious" as I am a Christian. Don't attend church as I have yet to find one in my area... LOT'S of whorehouses disguised as churches though.

-- Patrick McHenry (pmchenry@gradall.com), October 06, 1999.

Oh well, since we have a "roll call" in progress...

TO THE TOP!

Tick... Tock... <:00=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), November 23, 1999.

Only been lurking for about 2 months, but it's increasingly addictive (and difficult to wade through the new stuff everyday). Initially got suspicious after reading about the number of errors already experienced reported by CAP Gemini - yet nothing (that I could find) in the press. Reside of recent, in the beautiful Cape in South Africa.

-- (indigoseahorse@hotmail.com), November 23, 1999.

Anyone ever notice that "cockroach" kenny decker never participates in these threads? Wonder why?

-- LongTimeLurker (Lurker@lurk.net), November 23, 1999.

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

LongTimeLurker, I understand your implied point, however, this thread isn't exactly the most logical place to make it. Mr. Decker could hardly be considered a lurker, and the other such threads are usually for "new" people. He attended at least one in person gathering which occurred near the east coast of the U.S. In any case, participation on these "introduce yourself" threads is not obligatory, or even "expected."

People may legitimately be as private or as open as they choose, particularly if they have prepared themselves as well as Mr. Decker appears to have done. I've gone the other extreme, and tried to be as open as I possibly can be (arguably beyond the point of personal safety), in the hopes of helping folks to understand that there is a wide variety of people who are preparing. For this, I've been called something like an exhibitionist, and an economic opportunist (someone accused me of trying to make money as an amazon.com partner, but I can't find the accusation right now). But I'm a big girl. I can take it.

That being said, I also agree that Mr. Decker is more than he appears to be, and is not just whoever it was that appeared at some get together. I believe that anyone that prolific must surely be getting some considerable help. If I am wrong about that, then hopefully this can only be taken as a compliment. "He" provides a valuable service to the forum.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), November 23, 1999.

I've been lurking here for 1 1/2 weeks.

I have been working with computers for 20 years, 15 as a field service engineer and 5 as a network manager. I am 43 years old, married with 3 children. We live in northeastern Florida.

I have been on the net every weekday for 2 years keeping up on y2K. I "got it" about six months after the first Y2K article I read in mid 1997.

I believe that we have been lied to by TPTB. The fact that they are covering up makes me believe it is going to be bad. I have always told everyone who asks that I don't know how bad it will be, but I know that the 2-3 day prep talk is a smoke screen. I think it is criminal that Clinton directly stated he would make no preparations, but then, what else is new?

We have made some preparations; propane stove, well, food, water, medicines, etc. I'm not worried too much about heat, although it does very rarely get below freezing at night here. I bought everyone a sleeping bag rated to 15 degrees. We do have a fireplace; I need to buy some wood this week.

We also sold some stock and paid off the car loan and all credit debt. The only thing we owe on now is the house, which we just refinanced at 6.5% for 30 years to get the lowest possible payment.

Even so, I feel uneasy about my familys future, and my ability to provide for them. As a Christian, and know that ultimately my trust must be in God, not my preparations. I pray that I can keep that focus as we face an uncertain future.

Well, I guess that's all for now. If I have anything meaningful to contribute, I will de-lurk and post it.

-- Steve (notmy@email.com), November 23, 1999.

Hi! I was just on my way out the door and stopped to check the fourm. I can't remember how I found you guys but have been here every day since june. The first time I posted was to a thread on going to work and a couple of thank you's to Homer. I have been GI since Jan.99 I can't thank all of you enough for the time and research you have done! I followed news on quite a few sites and have read everything. But you guys gave me someone to "talk to". I talk, laugh, cry and yell (sometimes) with you all everyday. Thank you for taking some of the loneliness out of it.

My Husband is GI and N.G. They are on duty at rollover. He thinks a 5. I have prepared for a 7 or 8, but of course that depends in how long it goes on.

Ashton and Leska, Did you have your pizza party?

I'll keep lurking, I have found I learn more keeping my mouth shut.

God bless and keep all of you... Trolls too!

Love, Hatti

-- Hatti (klavine@tco.com), November 23, 1999.

I guess I just want someone to know I am real!

TO THE TOP!!!

Humbly yours, Hatti

-- Hatti (klavine@tco.com), November 24, 1999.

Hatti, kept it simple, chips 'n dips and just us plus one great Yourdynamite, watched it at hospital, conference room to ourselves, worked out great :-) Good to see you here! Friday gonna meet a TB2K Polly Lurker for Chinese ... !

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), November 24, 1999.

I've been lurking here since September. I've posted a couple of times, mainly reports from Denmark (where I live) and Ireland (where I come from). I'm a Systems Programmer with over 30 years' experience, including 25 years at IBM (I'm one of the original CICS developers). At the moment I work for the company which has done the Y2K remediation work for Maersk Line (a Danish company, which is the world's LARGEST container freighting organisation). The remediation was managed well (IMHO), but due to the interconnectedness factor Maersk Line may still have problems. eg The day-to-day computer operations are managed from New Jersey, so if NJ is toast, goodbye a large part of world freight.

I have no estimate as to the Y2K outcome, on the 1-10 scale, but my experience in large software projects does not give me cause for optimism. The MAJORITY of the projects I worked on in IBM (using some of the world's best programmers) either failed completely, were WAY over budget, or missed deadlines by miles (sometimes all three!) I can't see how the largest software project ever, with a fixed deadline and a motley crew of programmers scattered across companies and countries, can be better.

"Go mbeimid beo ag an am seo arms" (that's a Gaelic greeting meaning "may we all be still alive at this time next year").

-- Risteard MacThomais (uachtaran@ireland.com), November 24, 1999.

Hi all! I'm not exactly a regular, but try to post when I have a similar experience to relate.

I GI'd in August this year (pretty late, I know). My family and I have worked hard to prep. as best we can in such a short time. I'm glad to report that my Grandparents (who both survived the Depression) are also GI's (without any interference from us).

My background: I've worked for Bank One for four years, at Qwest (long distance company) for two years, and currently work for the State of Ohio. I have worked repeatedly with I.S., Marketing and Customer Service departments as a researcher and data-processor. When I worked with Qwest, my main research contact was the former President of the Columbus chapter of MENSA.

I have seen how I.S. projects have come apart at the seams, and even with the best intentions, major flaws have ocurred, repeatedly. Even when I.S. might "have it together", I've seen other departments step in and mess the whole project up, or lack of communication between departments destroy a good plan.

From what I've seen in these three "industries", there is no way that we'll escape without some serious glitches. Imperfection is human nature - and it will occur with Y2K too, have no doubt of that.

However, we will make it through Y2K. We, as a society, have made it through the Great Depression and we can do it again. Just have faith and work with your community. "United we stand, divided we fall" still holds true today.

Good luck & best wishes!

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 24, 1999.

Well, since you asked:

John Ludi-Musician/Writer/Humorist (it's a stage name, no one gets the real one), and for my own little Y2K blurb and other fun facts about the man I call me, just go to http://web.rollin.com/~ludi

Cheers,

John Ludi

-- Ludi (ludi@rollin.com), November 24, 1999.

Howdy newbie lurkers...

This "oldie" thread is in Honor of Dr. Paula Gordon, and her C-SPAN testimony.

Anyone newbies out there?

COME ON IN...

Tick... Tock... <:00=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), November 25, 1999.

Sysman, do you ever think you'll make it down to SC to visit? We are only about 2 hours south of Old Git and Greybear. Come on down, we've got some great new microbreweries in town (they can't do a steak worth a damn though).

54y/o, wife 45, MIL 65, friend 87. All devout GI (thank God for that). Own home health agency. 27 acres on a relatively non-polluted river. Well, chickens, goats, horses, parrot, dogs, cats, ostrich (1) guineas, bobcats, skunks, otter (fun to watch) and everything else that goes with the country.

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), November 26, 1999.

hELLO their, i HAVE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, Very interesting things going on in the post. I have tried to warn my family and friends however they think Nothing will happen. I have preped as much as i dare, (about six months) for my family. We have no heating source as of yet, still looking for the best for a new york winter. I am trying to get a copy of the Rotterdam report. Will stay online as long as possible to let you know how New York Fairs durring the sh*t storm.

Good luck to all

Wood

-- wood (wood-b-dreams@mindspring.com), November 26, 1999.

ok i am a lurker sorta except when i got a major ? or a post makes me real mad. Have only been coming here for a few months now but have been GI since January last, my husband and i GI'd at the same second. Due to financial restaints we are not real prepped, wish we could be more, but we are both tough been through hard times most of our lives so we can do this one too. my worry is my kids live in a city, and think we are crazy for prepping, still beg them at this late date to put up some water at least, they ignore me. and so it goes I guess, Is y2k a gene thing where some understand and some don't? I am pretty much computer illiterate have no idea how to cut and paste, but I feel this will be about a 7 at least. I fear for my children and all u people that live in hi rises in the city, I thank God he got us out to the middle of no where, where we gotta chance. God be with everyone here in the coming days. Sandy

-- sandy (rsyree@overland.net), December 11, 1999.

Hi, Sysman: Lurk/post seems to be my mode off and on for a while. A few posts, mostly questions. I enjoy everything about the list except the flame threads, which seem to go on MUCH too long! We are prepped for an 8, but hoping for a 4, as we have children in three strategic cities: Seattle, LA County, and Denver. We live in rural southcentral Minnesota, and our city recently refurbished its power generating station, added and upgraded equipment, and filled two 100K fuel tanks for it. Besides that, we have a very large Seneca/Green Giant cannery with their own high output well and power generator, which are wired into the city systems. In the even of the total failure of the city services, the cannery will pick up the slack. They are a huge operation. I don't have any idea what the capacity of their fuel tanks are, but am not worried for now. Although we live in town (less than 3,000) we have a small garden in the back yard (most people around here do), and I spent the summer canning everything I could get my hands on. I've been praying for a warm winter for this area. Ten days to go...

-- Liz Pavek (lizpavek@hotmail.com), December 22, 1999.

Good idea Sysman!! Merry Xmas to all.

I'm 42 and live with my wife in the (Great) Northwest in a semi-rural area not far from suburbia. I manage the finacial / accounting side of a financial services company. My company is as prepared for Y2K as a company can be. Since we are in financial services, we've had four digit years processing for quite sometime. Many of our potential exposures come from without.

I too am "addicted" to this forum and appreciate all the colorful personalities and the level of expertise. Some of the fringe behaviour and unbecoming language can prove tedious. However, this thread has been a real education regarding the quantity and quality of other participants.

-- gary (a@a.com), December 22, 1999.

Greetings:

I only found this site about 4 months ago, even though I've been researching Y2K for about 15 months. I'm a police Lieutenant in a NJ town that touches NYC (ouch!)

I've also been on the staff of the OEM Emergency Operation Center for the past 8 years. My background is a college degree in History (hear that Gary???) and as lead computer instructor at my county police & fire academy for the past 5 years.

YES I believe "something is afoot."

During the past year I had the honor to speak on one of Dr. Paula Gordon's Y2K panels, and to meet Mike Cherry of Century Corp several times, (as well as several other high named Y2K people who were in DC.)

This site, however; along with the newsletter that Oxsys@aol.com puts out (hear that Oxsys?) are my PRIMARY info.

I'm gonna guess a cascading 5 @ late January...IMHO.

-- RJ (LtPita@aol.com), December 22, 1999.

just lurking in the wilds of virginia hoping that all the truth will be told and offering our prayers with smoke on the fire. latest emails on the situation will be appreciated on passed on to those concerned. thank you, paul b.

-- paul bisgaard (bisgaardp@usa.net), January 18, 2000.

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

That should say Alice Miller and not Alice Walker, at the end of my post of September 30th, above. (Alice Walker is also a great writer, just not the one I meant to mention.)

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), February 02, 2000.

board is still alive

-- aarrgghh (it'saliveit'salive@tb2000.com), December 28, 2002.