Im new to this forum, so if this was already discussed please dont skin me alive: I came across this link via Gary North's site; but since you have to go to the link to view it in it's entirety{SP?},I'll give you the address. It's a 25 page writing on one man's *opinion* of how Y2K will play out-read ALL of it, or none of it. The good news is: Tom feels that "maurading invaders" will not be a large problem due to the fact that they will die off quickly with no food or water. The bad news: Even though I beleive in y2k, reading this article makes me realize that there are many levels to full "acceptance" of it as a reality-meaning{and those in my family who read it agree}that I was jolted anew at the utter finality of "life as we know it". We ARE on, as Don Mcalany calls it "Titanic America" {or world} There IS NO turning back. And even though I already knew that,when you still have to go to work each morning,pay bills,take the kids for shots and sneakers, there seems to be a built in mechanism in the brain that glazes over "y2k-conscienceness",so that you can function on a day-to-day basis while you prepare. This article{and Im sure that more like it will come more frequently in the months to come} kinda ripped that "glaze" right off. It also heightens my awareness that if you are unable to "run for the hills" and you have to stay put and "squirrel"-that it's way past time to stop trying to convince your friends and neihbors{and co-workers}.PLAY DEAD,and the bear will go away... http://www.cairns.net.au~/~sharefin/Markets/Y2K/Toms_Take.html

-- madeline (runner@bcpl.net), September 20, 1998

Answers

It's not squirrels but oppossums that "play dead" (or at least they certainly look dead in the middle of the street.)

Squirrels just run around trees acting crazy and eating nuts.

Bears go around rooting for grubs and being too big to bother.

I recommend you act like a beaver: work hard, plan ahead, store groceries in a secure place (if you wish), look after home life, and live undercover during ice and snow and miseries.

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 20, 1998.

Are you sure of the web address? I did the "copy" "paste" thing and could not get there.

-- margie mason (mar3 mike @ aol.com), September 20, 1998.

Here's the correct link -- it takes a while to load:

-- Nathan Hale (nospam@all.org), September 20, 1998.

Oops, let's tray again:

-- Nathan Hale (nospam@all.org), September 20, 1998.

Third time's the charm:

-- Nathan Hale (nospam@all.org), September 20, 1998.

Have to give up on the embedded link approach - can't get this site to recognize HTML. A "preview" option sure would be nice.

Here's the user-unfriendly version:

http://www.cairns.net.au/~sharefin/Markets/Y2k/Toms_Take.html

-- Nathan Hale (nospam@all.org), September 20, 1998.

Yes, I just finished reading Tom's Take! I had to get away from it for a little while, I don't have a printer or I would have printed it out and read it over the course of a day...it is soooo very long but keeps you reading on and on. Scary, mind-boggling, seemingly futuristic but perhaps reality. Makes you want to go spend thousands of dollars on food, water and heating supplies. I am somewhat speechless after reading this and would like to just read all of your comments on your posts here. Thanks, Blondie

-- Blondie Marie (Blondie@future.net), September 20, 1998.

I feel that everyone interested in y2k should read, and reread Tom's Take. Giving too many opinions at this time might take away the impact of that article. Again, we must thank Gary North for posting it. One question people should ask themselves is "Am I in a safe place?" If you are not able to protect your family, and provide food and water, you need to get out. At least make it a place where you can go where you have been INVITED . Don't show up on Great Aunt Edna's doorstep with thirty other relatives, she won't be able to feed you.

We have been preparing for this for eighteen months. We still are not ready. I milk a cow before running my business. My husband butchers chickens, and tills the garden- he is a retired doctor. If you are gardening, plant three times what you think it will take to feed your family. Store lots of dried food, and nitrogen packed food. Water is most important. We have a well and a large creek through our property. Yes, we did move to this forty-two acre homestead because we believe in y2k. Our Hardy outdoor furnace will keep us warm only if we cut enough wood. It also heats our water. We bought an old wood cook stove. Each month we add something new. This month it will be ten solar pannels. This will be a start to help figure out what we need. They are somewhat bullet proof. We have four children and three grandchildren. We are demanding that they spend new years eve with us of that dreadful day 12/31/99. There are few neighbors nearby. The ones that are here don't have a clue as to what is coming. We will have to help feed them. Our many friends will have to fend for themselves. We are not wealthy, having "retired" early from the bigger money making careers to move to the southern Ozarks. No one will be able to take care of you. Everyone will have to take care of their own. If you are not convinced this is going to happen, look at what has happened in other countries i.e. Russia, Bosnia. Did they expect this? We have many food shortages in this country that people are not even aware of. Have you priced butter lately? Store non-hybrid seed. I am planting both this coming year. I need a hybrid garden for quantity, but experiment with many non-hybrids for the coming years. Know about seed saving, and cross pollination. This will take you about six months to truly understand, and practice. I know I am running on and on, but I am very worried about this, and the lack of understanding. I am fifty-one years old. I've never gone off the deep end on anything before. The writing is on the wall...read it. Abigayle

-- James Greenleaf (jgreenleaf@townsqr.com), September 22, 1998.

Preparing for 18 months and still not ready? Sounds like the things you hear about companies trying to become Y2K compliant! (Sounds like you will be ready soon, "leaving a full year for testing"...) The date by which companies/govts/society could have been ready (500 days sort of generally touted) has past; there is no chance now. There is however a date in the future for each one of us, depending on where we are and what we are doing, that will also mark the "too late" date for an INDIVIDUAL. It may coincide with fiscal rollovers to year 2000, it may come with bank runs, it may not come until late next year. But it is coming, and it will catch us "as we are". mark "too late

-- Joe (shar@pei.com), September 22, 1998.

Good post, Abigayle! I don't think that you are going off the deep end. :) Wish I was as prepared as you are... oh, heck! I wouldn't mind to just be your neighbor. I'd contribute my stockpiles, of course. Blondie

-- Blondie Marie (Blondie@future.net), September 23, 1998.

I also had trouble getting into Tom's Take. I finally had to go into Gary Norths "Too Late" section to access it going through his web site. The only way I could get it to work.

-- Jolann (Jolann.Leifer@PSS.boeing.com), September 24, 1998.

To "Too Late" to "Tom's Take"?

Try saying that fast three times. Too, too, hard....8<)

-- Robert A. Cook, P.E. (Kennesaw, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 24, 1998.