I do about 50k per year. I cannot buy doo doo. I am stuck in a terrific apt. complex with lots of pretty ladies in bikinis. I try to speak to them or their gentlmen. They look at me as though I had lobsters crawling out of my ears. I tell them that there may not be any electricity. They still look dumbly at me. I feel as though I am speaking to the Eloys as in Orwell's "Time Machine" Are we depending on this genre to face what is certainly our future? If so, we as a race of people are doomed. Does anyone think that our progeny will be able to cope with what is clearly our destiny?

-- Bill Solorzano (notaclue@webtv.net), September 08, 1998

Answers

Um, Bill, whats that in your ear? No, not there, higher.

My advice (from experience), shhhhhhh, they will want your food when they are hungry.

"If you pretend that you are dead, many times a bear will leave you alone"

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), September 08, 1998.

But will the bikinis or the gentlemen or the lobsters want his food?

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 09, 1998.

My personal prediction is that the supply of prostitutes will exceed the demand in Year 2k. Sounds like you live in NYC. You should know you can't just go up to people and start talking crazy like that. You should know they get all their information from the idiot box. What do you hope to accomplish by warning people? Things like seeds, generators, pertinent books are already back-ordered and it will only get worse. Get what you need.

-- Amy Leone (aleone@amp.com), September 09, 1998.

Bill, "Lobsters crawling out of your ears?" Isn't that what Ralphie thought in "A Christmas Story?" :) At this point I would not tell anyone I had food stored. You'll probably live longer if TSHTF!

-- Dave (dave22@concentric.net), September 09, 1998.

Wow, sounds like some of you have taken some of my advice! Previously, it was, "Oh, we've got to be the Saviour for everyone!" Now, it's every man for himself! This Y2K thing is like the 12 step program for AA. Live each day as if it were your last, take care of yourself and your family, and if you have time, energy and resources and if you feel it will make you a better person, help others. And, don't expect anything in return, and expect others to take advantage of you. If you can understand all that, then you'll be okay. However, I won't let others take advantage of me, and I'm prepared to let them know it.

-- Bardou (bardou@baloney.com), September 09, 1998.

Barb - Supply vs demand is really kicking in. There just isn't enough camping equipment for everyone in the country. The only thing that surprises me is that the prices haven't gone up yet.

-- Amy Leone (aleone@amp.com), September 10, 1998.

When the sheep stop grazing on Wall Street, the supplies will diminish. Keep thinking Herd Mentality, and make sure you are prepared!

-- Dave (dave22@concentric.net), September 10, 1998.

Amy, in Texas the prices ARE going up. For example: I have been purchasing extra propane cans (cannisters) that we use on our Coleman Lantern or Stove. They were $1.88 per can and just jumped to $2.49. That's what, about a 33% increase? Doesn't amount to much on a small item perhaps, but I'm sure it's only the beginning.

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), September 10, 1998.

In a 50-mile radius of my home, there are several flea markets and garage sales are everywhere. I have purchased several Coleman cook stoves, lanterns, shovels, and other surivival and barter equipment real cheap. It is true that prices are going up on name brand items. Coleman cook fuel went up 50 cents at WalMart but their off brand when down 50 cents. It's true, supply in demand, I started a long time ago gathering stuff for long term disaster situations. But I guess it's location that perhaps dictates supply in demand too of certaoin items.

-- Bardou (bardou@baloney.com), September 11, 1998.