I've written five op-ed pieces on Y2k for local papers, appeared on radio in Oct '98, spoken to four local groups. Following my final op-ed piece last Sunday, I got a request from the radio station to return on Monday, Dec. 27, for a "final look at Y2k." The newsperson said, "we've had some people on who have given the optimistic side of the story, so we thought we'd return to you to see what you have to say here at the end." I agreed to appear, but now I wonder. I'm a 7 on the old 1-10 scale. I've been beating the Y2k gong for 18 months now, with very minimal success. Is there any point, at this point? Should I even bother? I figure enough folks are going to be crowding the stores this week anyway, so what good would I do? Any thoughts out there? This is a talk radio station that has the usual talk radio lineup. This would be a 8 am show. I'm willing, but conflicted.

-- Kurt Ayau (Ayau@iwinet.com), December 25, 1999

Answers

"A final look at Y2K"? Go on and tell them how goofy the whole premise of their show is. Tell them that we are going to just begin the FIRST look at Y2K. Tell them that everything up until this moment has not meant a thing. Tell them Y2K doesn't even begin until the zero hour. Maybe you should tell them you'll get back with them then.

-- Robert (robking@dellnet.com), December 25, 1999.

First, my bottom line is to listen to your own feelings and follow them. If you're comfortable with it, I say go ahead. You may reach one or two; it may make a difference. Even if no one acts on your information, it may in some small way lessen the shock.

-- Faith Weaver (suzsolutions@yahoo.com), December 25, 1999.

Kinda late for anyone to "act on it", isn't it?

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), December 25, 1999.

If one life is saved because you speak out one more time, it will have been worth it.

-- (normally@ease.notnow), December 25, 1999.

Kurt, Just be sure of your own safety first, that they can't know where to find you. No, I didn't used to be this paranoid.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), December 25, 1999.

Silence at this point in time is golden.

-- keep quiet (keepquiet@keepquiettt.xcom), December 25, 1999.

Go for it Kurt - it may make a big difference for someone i.e. even if they pulled out of the market and into a money market account, damn the taxes, they could do a very quick trip to sams and load uo on tinned food, water drums for $500...

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 25, 1999.

--you've already gone public, why not do it again? Maybe quote some of that hastily rearranged navy report jim lord got, or this latest fema stuff from a thread just below. How about the embeddeds, or just a casual reference to all the anecdotal stories everyone is hearing about all these companies who say they are "fixed" in public, but in private, all the IT folk are still scrambling? To me, it's always better to light a candle, that's why I think preps are so good, it's just realistic "insurance" for y2k or anything else. Relying on the infrastructure to always be working 100% is a sure way to suffer from time to time, and this time it might be a whopper. Go fer it!

zoggus

-- zog (zzoggy@yahoo.com), December 25, 1999.

Rather than trying to provide useful information (which you have apparently already done), why not just try the old "I told you so" routine. Go in there w/the "I've done all I can to help people, but I feel like Cassandra. Why should I bother to help anyone else? You're on your own. If you suffer, basically it's your own fault. You chose to listen to the Clinton Administration (well known for its tactic of lying and spinning), the stock brokers and bankers (don't worry, be happy), and the media (why be bothered with investigative reporting when we can take the unverified accounts of self serving individuals and coroporations and pretend that this is news).

Use this opportunity to your advantage to basically throw it in their faces. If nothing else, you'll be able to say "I told you so" before it happens.

-- Phread (lurking@y2k.com), December 25, 1999.

Go in, stand tall, and tell the Goddam truth. What is so hard about that?

-- Earl (eshuholm@tstar.net), December 25, 1999.

KURT: Just my opinion, but I would NOT go on the show for the very reason given here by other posters. PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE IF THINGS GO BADLY. Your duty now is to YOURSELF AND LOVED ONES.

Your radio show goes just 4 days before the CDC. If people have not listened, or acted, on yours or others' advise by now, it is because they either have decided it is not worth spending time/money prepping for, or have been watching the Dumb&Dumber TV network sound bites that have spewed out their spin this past year.

Try to enjoy the next days and spend the time with the family, and making SURE of your preps. The others have had ample warning.

-- profit of doom (doom@helltopay.ca), December 25, 1999.

Kudos to Earl.

-- howard (roark@not.now), December 25, 1999.