Called Dad and stepmom today. Told them to stock up on food, water. Gave a one minute synopsis. They will prepare immediately. Didn't warn them sooner because I thought by now, the word would be out.

They had no idea. Dad didn't just get off the banana boat. Like most of us, we have learned to depend on the Government and the press to keep us informed.

Unfortunately this silence is all about the big boys preventing a panic to keep the bubble up and protect profits, regardless of what it cost the innocent.

I don't understand what has become of the press today. Who are these guys? We are a nation of clowns, God help us.

-- Infidel (Barbarians@thegate.net), December 18, 1999

Answers

Infidel, I am ashamed of you. You of all people know full well, our press is bought, paid for, owned outright by Big Business. Disney has ABC. General Electric owns NBC, can't remember CBS, but, CNN, come on I don't have to tell 'ya that one, do I?

Fox is Mr. Murdock's and he's not going to let anything slip that injures his far flung empire.

We're only told what we're supposed to hear, and most of that is a lie. Very glad you alerted your parents, as the elderly are very vulnerable in this mess.

-- Richard (Astral-Acres@webtv.net), December 18, 1999.

Infidel, I am ashamed of you.:) You of all people know full well, our press is bought, paid for, owned outright by Big Business. Disney has ABC. General Electric owns NBC, can't remember CBS, but, CNN, come on I don't have to tell 'ya that one, do I?

Fox is Mr. Murdock's and he's not going to let anything slip that injures his far flung empire.

We're only told what we're supposed to hear, and most of that is a lie. Very glad you alerted your parents, as the elderly are very vulnerable in this mess.

-- Richard (Astral-Acres@webtv.net), December 18, 1999.

Sorry Richard, (head held in shame) knashing of teeth, flaying myself with spiked bamboo.

Cheers

-- Infidel (Barbarians@thegate.net), December 18, 1999.

At my neighbors house a few nights ago and a segment of Candid Camera was on tv. The host was asking the man on the street what does y2k stand for. I was amazed that only one person had ever heard of it. The rest looked blank.

-- Carol (glear@usa.net), December 18, 1999.

CBS = Westinghouse...

-- Uncle Bob (UNCLB0B@AOL.COM), December 18, 1999.

There is really nothing quite so demoralizing as being a humble naive J-school grad. Writing that first big article with your very own byline and to see it in print and after the 3rd sentence realize this is not what you wrote at all... Editors/Owners/Stockholders you see. So you've just signed a 1 yr lease or taken out the big mortgage or become engaged. Perhaps you have 5 yrs salary in debt for college loans. You face the harsh reality that EVERYTHING you write will be subject to editorial censorship or you can bail out of the system and go to the alternative media for $10,000 per year, if you are really lucky. Not likely. Esp. once you have children. Instead, dear reader dissect your newspaper more carefully. Ignore the headline for the most part. Usually the truth is buried somewhere in paragraph 8. Editors KNOW you won't get that far. The average urban train commuter and/or lunchtime break reader scans headlines and reads only down to paragraph 5. Many writers give up or join the system. Most with some integrity try to bury some truth hoping it will slip by the proofing and not get cut onto the floor. Example, pay attention when Murdoch cartoonist Matt Groening's character of Bart Simpson mocks a Fox TV show like "The World's Funniest Tornadoes". That is a classic example of rebellion from within the ranks. There is a similar journalistic equivalant. Just harder to see. Read very carefully between the lines. The propaganda spin has been running 85% for a 3 day storm. The real dissent has been holding it's collective breath until "management" gives the ok. Rumours abound of "Doomsday" 32 pt. bold headline screamers for first week of Jan. Reporter assignments have been given to cover hospitals, nat. guard armories etc. They know what's coming. Prep accordingly. Penny for your thoughts? I work for.10 cents a word. Takes alot of 200 word essays to put food on the table. Especially when they are edited down from 350. That's 20 bucks each. You could earn much more on your knees... Now Murdoch pays .25 cents a word last I heard. But of course, you must not be too harsh on any of his explosion crap 20th Century Fox films. I digress. FWIW, most of us are decent people trying to stick to our ideals. Mine is E.R. Murrow. Imagine HIS disgust at today's bubblehead/bubblegum/bubblevision media. My days consist of reading 12 to 15 newspapers, shortwave BBC, NPR, ITN, satellite, magazines and online wire services. Even then I am only getting about 25% of the big picture. Who other than a hound journalist has time to devote this much effort to educating themselves esp. on international events and their repercussions for our nation? Do not rely on the whore corps tv media for your "news" folks. Esp. during the next six weeks. Grassroots, word of mouth, letters. Spread the word. If the net/grid stays up, make a concerted effort to get online no matter how long it takes or if you have to go to a library to post and "tell" your story of how Y2K is unfolding in your own locality. It may be the only way the true story will be recorded. I end with a quote from Tom Jefferson: "I would rather live under a tyrant with a free press than a "democracy" with no free press." Words to live by. Good luck and God Bless to all.

-- Putting "Free" in Freelance (working@journalist.com), December 18, 1999.