This is the first time (now Monday, 10.11. about 1800 local) I've been able to access the Timebomb forum since Friday afternoon. At 9 a.m. Eastern time Sunday morning, for crying out loud, I got repeated (and I mean literally dozens of attempts to get in) Server Busy messages. Was the forum hacked or has the traffic really grown to those dimensions? As noted on another thread, there has been a noticeable shift in public perceptions. Today at the local Shaw's supermarket in midcoast Maine, for the first time ever, the bean shelf was darn near empty and they had to keep restocking the Maine potato bin because people were snapping up the bags as soon as they were put out. Did I miss something over the weekend?

-- Cash (Cash@andcarry.com), October 11, 1999

Answers

Yes.

Aliens, from Zalmoofadoria landed and made their intent known, to take the entire Earth's supply of beans and Maine potatos. It has created massive runs, everywhere.

Zalmoofadorians are also notorious net junkies, and managed to suck up all the bandwidth, over the weekend.

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), October 11, 1999.

Sorry....I just couldn't resist.

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), October 11, 1999.

Hey,

We're Zoomalfadorians! Get the spelling right you goofy earth creatures.

Sheeeesh...

MFU

-- Man From Uncle 1999 (mfu1999@hotmail.com), October 11, 1999.

Tha Zalmoofadorians will not be pleased that the Zoomalfadorians are here as well.

This could be trouble....this could be BIG trouble.

-- Bokonon (bok0non@my-Deja.com), October 11, 1999.

Haven't got much information, but up here in northern Oxford County, we've been busy this weekend puttin in an extra 3 cords of wood and diggin up the rest of our potatoes. Don't see much need to go to Shaws and buy spuds at the store. We planted a coupla hundred extra feet of spuds just to feed the neighbors and bought beans by the 100lb. bag last fall at the local co-op. Don't know much about the coast, though we do enjoy a lobster once in awhile. Very little talk of preparations here, but do seem to see extra large wood piles and larger gardens this summer. Heads up, remember the ice sto

-- Harry (Mountain@man.com), October 11, 1999.

Cash,

I think that the forum has just been that busy. Welcome back! Haven't really noticed anything at the grocery store where I am, but I've been trying to stay away. Everytime that I go, it is crowded with people making purchases for one meal. Sad but true. I get a lot of strange looks with a cart flowing over.

-- (cannot-say@this.time), October 11, 1999.

You should have seen the looks when I
went through the checker with 6 24-pack
rolls of toilet paper that was on sale.

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), October 11, 1999.

I'll bet it's not as strange as the looks you get in the checkout line at Wal*Mart with two cases of Scott Tissue sitting atop your cart. Of course, if they'd had three cases on the shelf there would have been three cases atop our cart.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), October 11, 1999.

Sorry. I was up there buying all the beans and potatoes. Sorry.

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

Cash--Apparently, there has been an influx of new GIs. Word is out that this is only forum where you will receive up-to-date, factual, intellectual, mind boggling, nerve-racking, heart throbbing, right-to-the-point news on Y2K. It's worth the wait to keep trying when you get the "SORRY TRY AGAIN" message. Apparently you got to post a message and look at the response you got! Not bad eh?

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 11, 1999.

Publix in Florida is now selling cases of Campbells Soup. Never seen that before.

---- might be dangerous to live near any food store

-- the Virginian (Given up looking for Trampus) (1@1.com), October 11, 1999.

Besides the prep items advertised in Sunday's Kroger insert, the Harris-Teeter chain is selling cases of canned vegetables, also never seen before.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), October 11, 1999.

Cash: To answer your inquiry directly, there has been an increase in traffic. My better half and I were able to get to this site all thru the weekend without too much trouble. May be your ISP?? One of the more knowledgeable like Diane could provide a better answer.

-- Neil G.Lewis (pnglewis1@yahoo.com), October 11, 1999.

Hell, Spider, the checkers at my WalMart look at me funny when I *don't* have 6 24 packs of TP in my cart....they know I *always* buy at least 6! :D

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), October 11, 1999.