My local utility, a small rural provider that purchases 100% of its power, puts out a monthly magazine, and the November issue we just received had an article called "Debunking the Y2K Hoopla."

This is absolutely the worst case of Y2K journalism I have ever seen. The "experts" they interviewed were none other than, Ma & Pa who own a PC Computer store in Pahrump, NV (yes, the home of Art Bell.)

In the first paragraph, these "experts" open with, "the biggest danger pose by the Y2K bug won't be from the bug at all-- but from people, and the chaos they might cause for themselves and others." We have all heard this before, and I often wonder, if there will be no problems, what will there be to get chaotic about?

The best paragraph comes a little later when they give the 'real reason' not to be concerned: "The main reason the Y2K bug won't bite badly, he says, is because the United States is a free-enterprise country, and no responsible company is going to let itself lose millions of dollars from any computer glitch."

IMHO, this type of article is criminal. If Y2K indeed takes lives from those who listened to this drivel, the author is going to have a some blood on his hands. Using Ma & Pa from the local PC store (the article says they will test your pc for only $25) as experts is absurd. The article makes no mention of mainframes, embeddeds, or nothing about the Senate 100 day report.

It did say (and I quote)"There will be some minor problems, but airplanes will not fall from the sky, and cars aren't going to stop dead on the freeway." Wonder if this guy is related to Kosky?

-- moreprepsnow (bill@tinfoil.com), November 15, 1999

Answers

Factfinder,

Got anymore Y2K Pepto-Bismol? This stuff is sickening.

-- Norm (Prez22@aol.com), November 15, 1999.

I keep wondering why that Egyptair flight fell from the sky...

-- seraphima (seraphima@aol.com), November 16, 1999.

Ooh yeah, you know those people and their chaos, it's far worse than a nuclear plant melt down. Of course, Chernobyl only killed millions of people but that is just minor trivia compared to The People In Chaos.

I think it is almost universal that all dread The Day Before The Storm People, but to dare call that worse than something like a nuclear plant melt down is outright criminal.

BTW Nevada is full of military and military intelligence assets. The once declared spot of the MX racetrack? Ho, ho, lots of assets in that neck of the woods to be sure!

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 16, 1999.

more-

I just finished doing a notes sheet on Gordon McDonnell's interview on the real audio "Y2K Endgame" piece. Immediately hence, our local news is reporting that the Federal Government has just stated that all their computers are READY for rollover. But, "just in case", the ready room, command center, Y2K tower, or whatever, is prepared to watch and see if reports come in and respond in kind. It will be operational through JUNE 2000!!!

NO wonder so many can't read between the lines, they can't even read the writing on the #*@#%!@ WALL!!

-- spun@lright (mikeymac@uswest.net), November 16, 1999.

spun --

it's their JOB, already. Get a grip.

Policemen don't expect to shoot at people, or be shot at, every time they go out on their shift. Much to the contrary. But they always carry a sidearm.

It's their job.

-- Chicken Little (panic@forthebirds.net), November 16, 1999.

Operational through JUNE 2000?

Humm.

Wondering what happens to the growing season... next year.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), November 16, 1999.

Err, I actually agree with Ma & Pa that it'll be people issues that provide the biggest problem. I'm still betting that the rollover won't - by itself - be a TEOTWAWKI, but by then the shelves will be empty and the herd will have WOKEN UP. When the shelves don't miraculously re-fill on 1/1/1900 (even if there's enough food on the way), that's when it will all fall apart. :(

Go talk to your neighbours.

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 16, 1999.

Colin, ask yourself this question:

IF the sheeple had 'stocked up' along the way, would there even BE any panic? The only reason to fear the masses is because they were put to sleep. When THAT giant awakens, you'd better get the hell out of the way, and FAST!

I prepped more than I thought I'd need JUST so I can avoid the stores entirely (if I need/want to do so) during December. If the sheeple freak, they'll be bringing guns to the party. I don't feel like taking a bullet 'cause I wanted a can of beenie-weenies....

45 days.

-- Dennis (djolson@cherco.net), November 16, 1999.