Once the clock strikes midnight and the lights go out, what kind of signs do I look for to indicate that it is a 5-9 on the Yourden scale, and not just an evening or two of cold and dark?

Jenny

-- Jenny (gjhh22r@idunno.net), October 23, 1999

Answers

Look for the simple things: phones out, rioting, nuclear explosions.

BTW, do you mudwrestle?

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), October 23, 1999.

Listen to BBC World Service on a shortwave radio. Battery powered, of course. You can get there current broadcast frequencies by several methods. One is to simply scan the available bands until you find them, stiff upper lip and all. Two, go to their web site. Three, buy a guide book.

Radio Australia is also very good, but a weaker signal.

At any rate whatever you do, keep your low profile well intact.

-- no talking please (breadlines@soupkitchen.gov), October 23, 1999.

Very simple. Just crank up your BAYGEN radio, and try to find any stations on the air, be they local AM, FM, or SW international.

Also, ASK your local radio station if they have generator power back-up. If they DO, and they are STILL off the air on 01/01/00, then you can assume that either the station is closed, or the PHONE LINES that carry the station's audio to the 50KW transmitter site are DOWN!

In fact, I think the best way to get an unbiased view of what is happening around the world on DEC. 31 as the time zones start rolling over to 01/01/00 would be to find some good short wave stations NOW while you can judge their character.

I understand that ABC tv is going to have a 24-hour "follow the time zones" marathon network-wide starting on DEC 31, but I wouldn't even trust watching it. Remember last year, in the midst of the 1998 near-meltdown in the stock market when CNBS (CNBC-BS) announced it was closing its FAR EAST reporter offices to "consolidate". Nothing to do with reporting the truth, of course, like the rioting in Indonesia, and the panic there. I've never listened to those bastards since then.

Also, someone posted here about 6 weeks ago that Indonesia was sinking farther into chaos,and that they were unable to get printer ink cartridges for their machine from the stores here because one store salesman told them they were almost ALL made in Indonesia!

I didn't think too much about this, as I had just ordered a bunch from a discount place on the Web. I got them at a very good price in July. BUT, last week when I re-checked the prices, they had almost DOUBLED!

So now you know how much in-deopth reporting we get from the puppets on a string.

-- profit of doom (doom@helltopay.ca), October 23, 1999.

Black helicopter lands on your lawn. Occupants, clad in black ninja suits, inquire if they can borrow a cup of sugar and some spam.

-- Not Whistlin' Dixie (not_whistlin_dixie@yahoo.com), October 23, 1999.

It's time to start panicing when ate little imp actually shows up at your front door wanting to mudwrestle.

-- Jim Jim (JJ@driioc.com), October 23, 1999.

If lights go out at midnight Jan. 1, I plan to hide in the basement for 2 weeks, then come up and carefully open up the front door and look outside. I'll make up my mind then if it's a BITR or TEOTWAWKI, should be obvious.

-- (flakygirl@home.now), October 23, 1999.

When the clock stricks midnight and your lights go out, that is your clue.

-- Uncle Deedah (unkeed@yahoo.com), October 23, 1999.

Serious answer: If the lights go out here, then they're probably out over much of the world.

Get a radio with the capability to receive ham radio broadcasts,i.e., can recieve SSB & code signals. If there are broadcasts anywhere with no grid power, it will be us hams.

Listen around and find out what's really happening. More than likely the stomach Turner network will screen the news a bit.

MFU

-- Man From Uncle 1999 (mfu1999@hotmail.com), October 23, 1999.

Jenny,

Your question should have been:

"If the lights don't go out at midnight, how long should I wait before admitting to family and friends I was a Y2K doornob?"

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), October 23, 1999.

Y2K Pro, you ol' bastard, you're still here! I remember your silly self from back in the day! I think I can answer for Jenny! If the lights are still on, the hubby and I high five, then high five some more, then break open the champagne, then laugh and kiss and drink some bubbly and toast the new year! Then we don't go grocery shopping for like 6 years and hey! I will *still* know how to make corn fritters from almost nothing and dig an outdoor latrine and grow my own veggies and defend my family against marauding invaders and make a toothbrush out of a twig and run a small generator and communicate with a ham radio and generally live without the grid! (All knowledge I have obtained in the last year. Not all knowledge obtained in the last year has been mentioned for fear of being a show- off. Which I obviously am not.) Whatta DEAL! I will not suffer anyone making fun of me. My family knows we have prepared and they know they have not, but they also know this is still a free country (isn't it?????) and I can lay in some basic supplies for emergencies if I damn well feel like it. They aren't immature or insecure enough to feel the need to make fun of me for it. Ohhhh, I'm sorry, I think I might have just offended you--because you probably are! HA! Oh well!

Gosh I have fun answering your questions!!!!

-- Preparing (preparing@home.com), October 23, 1999.

Hey Y2K Pro,

Laughing my fool head off. The lights will not go out. I repeat..

The lights will no go out. No sirrreeeeee! Dat ain't gonna happen. I can't wait to come back here and rattle a few cages on Jan. 1.

Pro, do you mudwrestle?

-- (LoveY2K@pro.com), October 23, 1999.

Power can off anytime of the day or night, doesn't matter how or why. What do you plan to do about it until the lights come back on, that is if they do come back on? Are you prepared for a BITR or beyond?

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 23, 1999.

If I run out of food, I will eat my gun.

-- (deadman@tellno.tales), October 23, 1999.

If the lights go out, check your circuit breakers first.

-- (rcarver@inacom.com), October 23, 1999.

My heart tends to jump into my throat when the "unexpected" happens. No matter how much I have prepared, always with the hope that it is just "percautionary", I think I will "freak" when it is really here and the lights don't stay on. Yikes! Thank God for an understanding hubby, kids, & sibs. No matter how hard I try my mind just can't paint a picture of how we will spend out time those first couple of days waiting to know if "civilization" will continue.

-- Jenny (gjhh22r@Idunno.net), October 23, 1999.

Listen for gunfire, horrific screaming, sirens etc. The more and louder the above, the bigger the bump.

BUT...............

Go buy bluegrass music that has plenty of banjo. You CANNOT be sad or scared while listening to the banjo.

-- the Virginian (1@1.com), October 23, 1999.

Just because the lights don't go out on Jan. 1, 00 doesn't mean we are not still looking at something between a 6 to a 9. In fact, I DON'T expect the lights to go out on Jan. 1 except for some widely scattered systems. More probable that the power will be up and down, up and down for short periods around the country, longer in some areas.

I think it is probable that most people will think we escaped the bullet those first few days when in fact it will take weeks for systems to slowly bring infrastructure and commerce to a grinding snails pace. If systems begin to shut down, look for widespread unemployement by the middle of January and by February and March, unemployement could begin to look like the bubonic plague.

It is very possible that the various power grids will be up and down, mostly brown outs, a few black outs and gradually we will notice gas and utility prices shoot through the roof and service may be even unavailable in rural areas. It is also a possibility, though slim, that the nation as a whole could experience a blackout for a short or semi-extended time period.

I don't think anybody can determine how Y2K is going to play out until at least 3 or 4 weeks after roll-over. If everything is hunky dory by March 1 then the pollies and the trolls can come out and I'll eat crow and shine your shoes. But I'll be doing it with a grateful smile on my face.

But there is one other thing and I caution people not to give their preps away until at least 2001 because I have foreseen, by the grace of my Lord Jesus, nuclear war and this nation being attacked by missiles launched from ships off the coast of California and foreign planes coming in waves and bombing naval and refinery installations. You will need your food and your covered, stored air-tight water barrels filled with water even if the summer of 2000 rolls around and everything looks hunky.

sdb

-- S. David Bays (SDBAYS@prodigy.net), October 23, 1999.

Well, THANK YOU, Jesus.

And thank YOU, S David Bays. For sharing that kind thought with us.

Al

-- Al K. Lloyd (all@ready.now), October 23, 1999.

Blue grass music? I love blue grass music, however, I wouldn't waste batteries on listening to music. Have ready your flashlight, BayGen radio, cookstove, fuel, water and food easily accessible. To soothe your soul, read calming poetry or whatever book that will bring you hope and inspiration. Remain calm and a level head because that is what will get you through the worst of times.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 23, 1999.

Al K. Lloyd (who said) "Well, THANK YOU, Jesus. And thank YOU, S David Bays. For sharing that kind thought with us."

Your welcome, Al.

"Surly the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets" Amos 3:7

sdb

-- S. David Bays (SDBAYS@prodigy.net), October 23, 1999.

Red Steagall & the Boys - "Big Texas Moon" & "The Last Guard"

Except no substitute !!!

-- no talking please (breadlines@soupkitchen.gov), October 23, 1999.

Easy (I've been doing this for a long time). Look out the door. If you see your shadow, it means six more weeks of power outages. Go back inside and hibernate a little longer.

-- Punxsutawney Phil (In@my.burrow), October 23, 1999.

This sentiment of being happy to eat crow and be mocked by the likes of Y2K Pro if the rollover is a BITR has never made sense to me. I think of the Y2K possibilities as resembling a roulette wheel consisting of the numbers 1 through 10. I've place my chips on as many of the numbers as possible, within the limits of my capabilities and understanding. If y2k is a BITR, I will be a happy camper. If Y2K is more than a BITR, I will be grateful to have prepared for it. Y2K Pro has placed all his chips on the number 1. He may be right (though I don't think so). If he is right, that will not change the fact that his behavior on this forum has a lot of points in common with a sadistic psychopath. He reminds me of a schoolyard bully who enjoys pulling the wings off butterflies and kicking puppies. If y2k is a BITR, I will probably revisit this forum to share after-thoughts with those I've come to appreciate and respect, including those I've disagreed with. Y2K Pro will not be one of those people...he will still be a troll.

-- (RUOK@yesiam.com), October 23, 1999.

Ruok, Well said.

-- Dian (bdp@accessunited.com), October 24, 1999.

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

the Virginian said: You CANNOT be sad or scared while listening to the banjo.

...unless somebody is telling you to squeal like a pig.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), October 24, 1999.

Dancr!

ROTFLMAO!! good one!

-- Andy (AUVENGER@cs.com), October 24, 1999.

Top 5 responses by Y2K Pro when he realizes he is seriously wrong:

5. Wha? Shit

4. Ohhhhh shit

3. Holy shit!

4. I just shit myself

5. Yes sir Mr. Milne, I have a great deal of experience shoveling shit

-- a (a@a.a), October 24, 1999.

"How will I know, once the lights go out, that it is more than a BITR?"

Well, that just depends on why the lights go out, and how you respond to it. Here are just a few things to check.

1. Have you simply switched them off? If so then switch them on again.

2. Have you popped a cicuit breaker through having too many appliances running at the same time? try turning your stereo down by 100 db then reset your circuit breaker.

3. Has your house fuse blown for a similar reason? Call your electrician or power supplier and have it replaced. (this may be more than a BITR because you will have to pay for this service)

4. Has your local transformer failed because a car has run into it? Just wait an hour or two and power will be restored.

5. Has an ice storm hit and taken out part of the grid? Definitely more than a BITR, but all those preparations you've done will come in handy. Just sit it out and power will be restored.

I have also heard that some people believe that Y2K faults may occur to cut off the power at roll-over, but so far no-one has been able to explain a single possible event that could cause this to occur.

Malcolm

-- Malcolm Taylor (taylorm@es.co.nz), October 25, 1999.

I shall do the same thing I always do when the power goes out--look out the window to see if the street lights and other houses are lit. If they are, then I shall check the circuit breakers. On New Year's Eve the power often goes out due to a drunken driver plowing down a utility pole. But I'll know the cause of a power outage quite quickly because I shall be listening to my police scanner in line with my work for the newspaper and TV station.

Here at Chez Old Git and Sweetie, we celebrate the British New Year at seven EST; the BBC on my Baygen will inform me of any overseas problems. I am counting on the fact that there will be no serious problems anywhere so that I can save all that money on food next year. But if there ARE serious problems, I'll be as prudently prepared as I can reasonably be.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), October 25, 1999.

I will be even MORE surprised than Ken Decker, Y2KPro, Maria, etc (fill in your favorite polly or Poly troll), should the power drop at 0001 AM on 01012000. I just don't see it happening that way.

Don't misunderstand me, I haven't cancelled my application for a Doombrood (TM) card yet, and I won't. I just don't see power dropping on New Year's. I would more expect that the power problems would start up at about 0700 on MONDAY 0103, as the large power draining plants like my bride's and Chevy and Ford here in Cleveburgh (my bride's company uses enough power that in Texas, where half of their lines are they heat with Electricity, because, with the volume discounts, it is the cheapest way, cheaper than gas or anything else) My understanding is that their bill comes in in megawatt-hours.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), October 25, 1999.

For what it is worth, last February I was at a presentation by Rick Cowles in Annapolis, MD (it was written up in one of Cory Hamasaki's newsletters). It was his opinion at the time that we might see serious power problems starting in late January 2000 due to a cumulative effect of Y2K problems that would not be initially apparent due to existing checks and balances that would be overwhelmed after a few weeks. Rick also based his forecast on solar flare activity that might play havoc with the power grids, and the loss of industry expertise that would be able to successfully operate manually.

Let's remember also that serious power problems might result in rationing, so that everyone can get power, just not all the time. If, for example, nuclear plants were closed due to Y2K problems, that might be a case where rationing would be necessary.

67 days.

-- Jack (jsprat@eld.~net), October 25, 1999.

When (if) the power drops out - you will (in that first few minutes) have absolutely no way of knowing when it will come back on again.

It might come back - irregular failures lasting irregular times affecting irregular areas are the single most likely scenario. BUT - you, me, the fencepost, and the nearest utility (and emergency management office, and the nearest radio station, etc.) have no way of knowing when it will come back.

People (utility workers and distribution tech's) will obviously immediately begin trying to restore service - but they will have to figure out what (areas) dropped out, why they dropped, how to fix the cause of the failure - else it will only re-occur immediately, get alternate power routed, or get alternate power sources - if the failure was in the generating end, not the distribution end; and then - after all that occurs, and after they have communicated the right results back to the central station, try to restore power.

So, when (if) it drops out; begin as iff it won't recover for several hours, but don't panic. Keep doors, windows shut, retainas much energy and heat as possible.

Conserve your supplies (candles, fuel, batteries, whatever) as if it were going to be out for several days - don't turn things on if you absolutely don't need them. Light only the areas you are in, etc. Heat conservatively.

Then, when (if) the power is restored - after ten minutes, ten hours, or ten days - rejoice, say a prayer, and start recharging your batteries for the next failure.

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), October 25, 1999.