Apologies in advance for form, as posting is something I rarely do. I have been following this forum and several others for the past year, but have rarely felt the need to express my feelings, other than an occassional answer to another post.

However, after watching the evening news on KTRK, Ch.13 in Houston, this date, my ire at the news media and their ratings only count news casts have me steaming.

This evening, the station aired a special on folks scared of y2k, and I tuned in, thinking to watch a rational piece about the problem. (Especially since earlier in the week, they broadcast a y2k forum, with the Mayor, police chief, fire chief, and utility managers, predictably espousing the y2k ok party line). Instead I watch a reporter do almost a 1/2 hr interview with an extreme survivalist. ( About 5 minutes was devoted to some religeous groups that had relocated to Israel).

This extremist had relocated to far West Texas, bunkered down, had all the necessary supplies to be self sustaining for a year or longer, and friends coming for the New Year to help defend it, if required. I find nothing wrong with this mentality, I drive the I10 corridor for a living, and sometimes fantasize living this way and forgetting any other problems, its just that the Station goes from one extreme to another, reporting nothing in the middle, none of the many reports that advise of potential problems, nor any of the rebuttals that would ensue.

Given that the majority of adults ( at least the ones I know) do not research the net, get their daily news bytes from tv broadcasts, I see no way for them to make a rational decision, be it pro or con, and I suppose thats really my gripe. (By the way, as the saying goes, I am prepared to be wrong, I just wont say how much or where). And thanks for this forum, and the preps forum, sysops, and Greenspun.

D.R. Green

-- D.R. Green (greenshouse@hotmail.com), December 11, 1999

Answers

D.R.Green, your sentiments are mine also. But, please keep in mind that our government has gone to great lengths to keep us "dumbed down" as much as possible. Those of us who have made preperations are considered raving lunitics. The government taking action to prepare is only "just in case" and for our safety. There's no logic here. No common sense.

My fondest wish is that I could be around to watch every reporter and talking head on television when their lights go out and they can't flush a toilet.

-- Richard (Astral-Acres@webtv.net), December 11, 1999.

D.R. Green,

Thanks for your update from Texas. I share your bewilderment up here in Virginia. I don't know what else to say:-(

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 11, 1999.

Remember! You will likely get that opportunity, as ALL the TV networks are going to cover Y2K as the time zones start counting off, starting near N.Z. around 8A.M. EST DEC. 31/99

I'm still wondering how/where the notorious $50MM Y2K BUNKER near the WHite Lie House will fit into all this. My own feeling is that it will be a "clearing house " to censor/filter what we will eventually see on TV, for those dumbed down enough to actually believe they'll get any truth from that medium.

I'll stick to short-wave, thank you.

Any bets on which "Bunker Bill" will show his face first after the rollover--Bill Gates from his colossal mansion, or Beelezebubba from God-knows-where? By the way, I mean LIVE, not from a pre-recorded sound bite.

-- profit of doom (doom@helltopay.ca), December 11, 1999.

1) To be expected from TV Snooze. Like most daily newspapers, TV news is now a school for the short attention span and to promote a short attention span.

2) Black (extreme) and White (polly) offer simple and short answers to complex questions, shades of grays are too complicated and involves thinking (forbidden).

3) Bill Gates and family will be on an island off of FLA. He will not be at mansion.

4) New Speak will be the future language. Orwell was "allowed" to spend time with the new world weasels in the 40's(?). He was shown what was planned for the future (now) and wrote about it (1984).

Even if the power stays on in 2000, we will be left in the dark, possibly for a long, long time.

Teach your children well (at home)

-- dw (y2k@outhere.com), December 11, 1999.