6 page special report insert on Y2k in business section.

WHAT,ME WORRY?
FEMA? I ordered a Zima.....Has a pack of matches somewhere.....Has a penny jar.....Tap water, baby......Probably has some leftovers.....Plans to enter 2000: on Stratosphere atop hotel in Vegas.....Armed with: sense of humor.....Savings? What savings?.....Plans to buy confetti and party hats.....Final thoughts on 12/31: Bud Light or Miller Lite for bowl games of new millennium.

CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC
Knows that FEMA recommends you prepare as if for a long weekend without power.....Bought 9Vs, Ds and AAs.....Plans to have same amount of cash as any other weekend.....Bought 5 gallons of water per person.....In garage: some canned goods.....Plans to enter 2000: home watching TV.....Louisville Slugger under bed, as always.....Plans to save bank statements and credit card receips.....Plans to buy extra blankets.....Final thoughts on 12/31: Wonders if wasted $2.49 on manual can opener.

OBSESSIVE
Believes that FEMA plans to invoke martial law.....Bought a 400 hp diesel generator.....Buried a cache of gold coins.....Bought 500 gallons on drinking water.....Garage full of powdered eggs and Spam.....Plans to enter 2000: in remote, undisclosed location.....Access to assault rifles and locker of ammo.....Plans to take all money out of banks and market.....Plans to build a bomb shelter.....Final thoughts on 12/31: Hopes family values will return in post-computer world.

Articles in the next 5 pages.
Top watchdog says nation ready.
Small businesses get handle on Y2k.
Police to be out in full force.
Companies tighten rules on computers.
Y2k equipment glitches still taxing IRS.
Eastern Europe expected to be prime trouble spot.
Nuclear plants in U.S prepared.
Banks will have cash, warn of scam artists.
Investors confident, surveys show.
Limit cash needs, consumers advised.
Preparedness is tough sale with complacent public.
Many stores stocking up for year-end run.
Computer-glitch fixers changing their focus.
Water, sewer tests show systems ready.
State"s utilities set for switch.
Y2k-proof communities springing up.

Well, in 61 days we will find out who is right and who is wrong. ron super-obsessive banks

-- rb (ronbanks_2000@yahoo.com), October 31, 1999

Answers

Obsessive looked pretty normal to me **smile** my kind of people...

-- Psychotic (y2k@doom&gloom.com), October 31, 1999.

I'm semi-obsessive, no generator, no gold coins, no dried eggs, staying put, no bomb shelter, or maybe I just don't fit the ticket at all.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), October 31, 1999.

Why isn't there a category BETWEEN cautiously optimistic and obsessive? That's the problem, everyone on this forum gets lumped in with the tiny minority that fit in the obsessive category. Most of us are probably like myself and bardou--staying put (suburbs here) b/c we couldn't leave, lots of food and water preps, maybe even a gun or two w/some ammo, but not TONS of it, no gold, no bomb shelter, etc.

I don't like being called a doomer, either. I WANT everything to be ok. I like my life the way it is, thank you. I do NOT want people to die. Maybe we should start a private chat room--call ourselves the preparers instead.

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), October 31, 1999.

To thine own self be true.

We have prepared to the degree that we find comfortable and most sane people would wish for a BITR or less. Our varying levels of preps is very individual and personal. This forum has allowed us the opportunity to share thoughts and information thereby aiding our decisions.

Just watched PBS in Phoenix airing the Community Conversations with Czar John. There was an enormous crowd of 50 locals with about 15 speakers. The hospital man said to have a first aid kit.

-- rb (ronbanks_2000@yahoo.com), November 01, 1999.