Psychics getting Y2K queries

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http://www.pilotonline.com/news/nw1017psy.html
Is it in the cards? Some folks turn to psychics for Millenium questions
BY CHRIS GRIER, The Virginian-Pilot 
Copyright 1999, Landmark Communications Inc. 

VIRGINIA BEACH -- Usually, when folks make an appointment at Mrs. Sophia's office for a psychic reading, it's about the standard stuff: love or money.

But these days, Mrs. Sophia -- just Mrs. Sophia, no last name, please -- has seen a few more people who are getting just a wee bit anxious about the rollover of the millennial odometer. Instead of asking when they'll find true love, they're asking if the planet's going to screech to a halt.

``The biggest thing they want to know is, are they going to die? Is the world going to come to an end?'' Mrs. Sophia says.

Because, let's face it: No one really knows what's going to happen on New Year's Eve.

Even the pencil-necked computer geeks who got us into this mess can't tell us what's going to happen to all those computer chips when 1999 turns to 2000. In fact, they can't even come to a consensus.

Some of them look at the folks who are making preparations and mock them as alarmists. Meanwhile, the Dilbert in the next cubicle over is spending his paycheck on firearms and canned goods.

So, if the ones who made the computers aren't any help, who is there to turn to? Who to believe?

Might as well ask the stars.

Or the tea leaves.

Or the Tarot cards.

You'd be surprised at the people who are looking to the supernatural for guidance about the future, the psychics say. Government officials. Captains of industry. Military brass.

Of course, they can't say who.

``They really wouldn't want that getting out there,'' said Wayne David, the pseudonym of a Virginia Beach man who does readings over the phone from his Kings Grant home. ``Can you imagine the reaction?''

Not surprisingly, folks are also turning to the Association for Research and Enlightenment for answers.

``There have been quite a few calls,'' says spokeswoman Alma Crovatt. ``Most of them want to know about the prophecy, the Earth changes, and so forth.''

So what do the psychics say, anyway?

Well, pretty much the same thing as the Red Cross.

In other words, prepare like you're facing a snowstorm or hurricane. Get a couple of days worth of food, toilet paper, water, etc.

``I really don't think much of anything's going to happen,'' says David. ``Just some looting and robberies. But that happens all the time, really. That's allowable chaos.''

Joy Talley, who does readings on Mediterranean Avenue at the Beach, has both good and bad news.

America, she says, is under the sign of Cancer, the crab. And 2000 is a ``year of change'' for Cancer.

That change, luckily, won't have much to do with computer glitches, she predicts.

But as with Dennis and Floyd, she expects 2000 to be filled with natural disasters.

``Hurricanes, earthquakes, oh absolutely,'' Talley says. ``California? I don't think it will be long before they have their major quake, in 2000, perhaps 2001. The biggest part of it will be in the Pacific.''

Closer to home, says Mrs. Sophia, ``The world's not going to come to an end, but we will see some minor chaos.''

She couldn't exactly predict what that would be. But on a scale of one to 10, her worry about the Y2K problem rates ``about a seven and a half.''

Which means that nobody in Mrs. Sophia's family is taking their traditional New Year's Eve trips out of town. They're staying put.

``I personally don't think anybody should travel,'' Mrs. Sophia says. ``But then again, I don't think you should do anything based on what I say.''

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), October 18, 1999

Answers

"You'd be surprised at the people who are looking to the supernatural for guidance about the future, the psychics say. Government officials. Captains of industry. Military brass."

O to be a fly on the wall ...

-- whozzat? (top brass@don't.know), October 18, 1999.


The psychics that use their "ability" for commercial gain generally aren't very high level. Some are downright evil. I'm at a loss to explain how they can expect to be accurate on demand unless their talent is more sensitivity then precognition.

Prophecy is the worst kind of curse. It is the most pervasive, invasive and nasty ability ever given to man. Thankfully few people get it. And the ones who do don't sell it. Or even talk about it much. Which leads to the question, why bother granting it

-- Typhonblue (typhonblue@hotmail.com), October 18, 1999.


You probably won't believe me, but, I knew that you were going to post this...

Long live Edgar Casey...

-- Uncle Bob (UNCLB0B@Y2KOK.ORG), October 18, 1999.


Cayce.

It does seem to underline our stupid mascot phrase "nobody knows. Well, except Flint. And Decker. and Hoff."

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), October 18, 1999.


gee, I always thought the cleverest thing to ask a psychic friend was "who am I? What's my question?"

-- jeremiah (braponspdetroit@hotmail.com), October 18, 1999.


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