10:38 am Christmas morning here. I'm the first person on this group (is Bob, who's in NZ if I'm not mistaken, on the right side of the IDL?) to experience Xmas..and, just over 370 days from now, NYE `99.

Merry Christmas everyone, and a very happy new year.

--Leo

-- Leo (leo_champion@hotmail.comm), December 24, 1998

Answers

You too Leo - happy christmas, mine's a fosters please! (or XXXX, not too fussy):)

P.S. The Vanity Fair article is in the post.

Regards, Andy

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 24, 1998.

Raising a "Holiday Toast" to one and all (Corona w/slice of lime for me).

May your churn be free of clumps and your butter spread smoothly.

M

-- M (007@Q.com), December 24, 1998.

Cheers, Leo.

Still Christmas Eve in California. Raising a dark rum and spiced eggnog to you!

May your New Year's to come be illuminated by wisdom within understanding and may you all flow within the Spirit of Peace.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays to All.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), December 24, 1998.

I wish you all, Peace and Goodwill.

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), December 24, 1998.

Merry Christmas! May Love be yours!

"Prepare for the coming of baby Christ by decorating an inner Christmas tree. Around that sacred tree lay gifts of calmness, forgiveness, nobility, service, kindness, spiritual understanding, and devotion, each one wrapped in a golden covering of goodwill and bound with a silver cord of your pure sincerity.

May the Lord, on the Christmas morn of your spiritual awakening, unwrap the gorgeous presents of your heart offerings, sealed with tears of your joy and bound with cords of your eternal fidelity to Him."

-- Parmahansa Yogananda

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xx

-- Ashton & Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), December 24, 1998.

Seasons Greetings to all. Thanks for sharing.

MoVe Immediate

-- MVI (vtoc@aol.com), December 24, 1998.

Next Christmas should be very interesting. At least no Furby maddness! Nothing says, "I love you, like a case of tuna"

Prediction for the coming year on this forum: Jimmy Bagga Doughnuts becomes Jimmy Bagga Rice & Beans

-- Bill (bill@microsoft.com), December 24, 1998.

A serene solstice to one and all. I guess it took those old guys a couple of days to make sure that the sun really was returning, so three days is about right for them to begin celebrating, and toasting each others health, and promising to be better people and....

Sayyyy, that's a long and wonderful tradition, eh?

All the best to you and yours.

Hallyx

We ARE the dance of the Moon and Sun. We ARE the power in everyone. We ARE the hope that will never die. We ARE the turning of the tide.

-- Hallyx (Hallyx@aol.com), December 24, 1998.

12:01am Christmas Day. Presents opened. Family in bed. Big feed tommorow. Just wanted to drop by and say thanks to everyone here who has helped myself and Mrs. Rimmer these past few months.

This forum is a good mix of help, useful (and often countering) opinions and is a source of support. It helps me to strike a balance between what I know and what I don't know.

Preparations have been going well. The woodstove was installed this week and will heat the whole house -- I've had it fired up the past 3 nights (unfortunately, the gas valve on my propane furnance went out last week and it took 2 days to get a replacement). Extra propane tanks have arrived, been hooked up and filled. Decided on leasing 3 tanks instead of 2 so I now have 2400 gallons of propane on site. Food preparations are nearly complete. 8 cords of wood split and stacked. Septic tank pumped out. 330 gallons potable water treated and stored. Storage shed set up. Generator purchased and transfer switch installed. And most of what we own sorted, packed and labeled.

We've pretty much got the basics covered at this point and are beginning to address the less immediate but still important areas -- first aid supplies, laundry facilities, extra insulation, training, etc. There's a lot remaining to be done but we will not be left without heat, water, food and shelter should temporary disruptions occur.

Getting this far has taken Mrs. Rimmer and I four very long, very hard and very stressful months.

It feels pretty good though. The waves of panic/fear are pretty much gone -- we do not fear short to moderate disruptions of basic services because we have come a long way toward being prepared for them. We have chosen not to move from our community -- we would like to stay if possible - and short of an Infomagic-type collapse we will.

So I want to express my gratitude this Christmas to all the participants here who have shared their valuable experience, research, and opinions. It has been a tremendous help. Turns out that becomming a little less reliant on all the machines to work properly each and every day has been the most important Christams present Mrs. Rimmer and I have given ourselves this year. Nope, we didn't get the home theatre setup we'd been looking at last spring. Seems we didn't really need it after all.

As we now approach the home stretch, keep in mind that the proof of remediation will be found not in the PR statements but in the continuity of critical services. Until it is absolutely clear that all such services will continue uninterrupted, I believe that preparation and contingency planning at all levels remains prudent. Please help your friends and families to prepare as well as possible within their means and willingness to do so.

Merry Christmas to all of you and to your families. G'night all.

-Arnie

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), December 25, 1998.

Seasons bleatings to all and many thanks for the useful information and perspectives.

-- humpty dumpty (no.6@thevillage.com), December 25, 1998.

It's just after 11 pm here (Christmas Eve). God's blessings on you all, and a happy holiday season. All the best for the new year - may your preparations proceed apace!

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), December 25, 1998.

12:43 a.m., Christmas Day. Just returned from Midnight Mass (wife and kids long since gone to sleep.

I am new to this forum; wouldn't even dare claim membership. But, I have begun reading the various back and forth comments and questions, one cannot helped but notice the incredible level of charity (still including the sometimes pointed sarcasm, politely - and, sometimes, not so politely expressed disagreements, etc.) and civility which you extend to each other (to say nothing of humor, etc.). I tend to be somewhat cynical about people these days. So, it is heartening to 'hear' so many who, though naturally interested in their own lives and well-being, are also interested in others.

I hope that I may end up sharing what I know (and learn) with the rest of you over the coming months. I hope that I can give back some small portion of what I have already received (in quiet encouragement and via examples of 'making a go of it'). But, until that time, I will simply have to 'settle' for the intangibles I can do something about. . .

My wife and children shall be praying for all of you - for your physical well-being, of course. But, also, on this, Our Lord's birth, we pray for you all to be blessed with the Peace which is only found in and through Christ, the wisdom to know where to seek it, and, finally, His grace to be showered upon you: today, tomorrow, and throughout the coming year - and, especially, as 9-9-99 and 1-1-00 loom on the horizon (to say nothing of when they actually arrive at our doorsteps!).

A Joyous and Blessed Christmas to you!

PHBond

P.S. I don't suppose any of you are down here in Alabama, are you? We just moved from New Jersey a few months ago(and now can, justifiably I have to admit, be the brunt of the many and varied jokes as regards two completely different geographic regions!).

-- Peter H. Bond (phbond@juno.com), December 25, 1998.

Peter -- Welcome!

Anyone, whether lurking or posting, who is here in the spirit in which the forum was established is a "member" as far as I'm concerned.

>the incredible level of charity ... and civility which you extend to each other (to say nothing of humor, etc.)

Insofar as that differs from other fora, I'd attribute it to the participants' awareness of the serious nature of the principal topic.

>(still including the sometimes pointed sarcasm, politely - and, sometimes, not so politely expressed disagreements, etc.)

Well, we're all human. (That's what got us into this mess ... :-)

>it is heartening to 'hear' so many who, though naturally interested in their own lives and well-being, are also interested in others.

The nature of the principal topic, an incredibly complex social effect triggered by a few seemingly simple numbers, encourages community effort.

-- No Spam Please (anon@ymous.com), December 25, 1998.

Go fuck yourself you homo fags

the lot of you jacking off you live in sin you fagot don't you realise that you homo shenie cunt head?

stop masturbating aand then you can celebrate the religious holiday THAT CHRISTMAS IS MEANT TO BE OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE JUST LIKE SOME GODLESS HOMO NIGGER FAGGOTS THAT ARE BRINGING THIS COUNTRY INTO THE SHITHOUSE!!!!!!!

-- cory hamasakki (kiyoinc@ibm.com), December 25, 1998.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! to you too, Leo, and to all the other good people on this forum....I read every thread, print lots of excellent posts and ignore the trolls under the bridge....may they have a Merry christmas, too....(since Santa makes his list and checks who's been naughty or nice, it may not have been a 'Merry' Christmas where =they= live)

\/\/illis in OKC, OK 12/25/1998

-- Willis (BANDIT1@ontheroad.com), December 25, 1998.

Merry Christmas one and all - even you trolls - Merry Christmas to you wherever you live and may a little Christmas cheer lighten your hearts. May you all have a joyous season, and may your troubles be small ones.

In a couple of weeks we will know how much trouble to expect the rest of the year from EOY rollover effects - many small businesses and some pretty large ones match the fiscal year with the real year so they only have one round of accounting to do. May their troubles be minor!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year one and all.

Paul

-- Paul Davis (davisp1953@yahoo.com), December 25, 1998.

Merry Christmas to all and especially to the children whom we all love.

-- Santa Claus aka Kris Kringle et. al. (Santa@NorthPole.com), December 25, 1998.

Happy holidays everyone!!! May you all have a wonderful season!

The coming year will be very interesting to say the least.

Bobbi http://www.buzzbyte.com/

-- Bobbi (bobbia@slic.com), December 25, 1998.

11:15 A.M. Merry Christmas to all.

Mike

-- flierdude (mkessler0101@sprynet.com), December 25, 1998.

Merry Christmas 1998 to everyone. Happy holidays.

-- Kevin (mixesmusic@worldnet.att.net), December 25, 1998.

From a cold Ohio, Merry Christmas! Hope I can see the same smiles on my children's faces next year.

-- lparks (lparks@eurekanet.com), December 25, 1998.

Merry Christmas all! Remember, these are the good ole days.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), December 25, 1998.

Merry Christmas Leo, If there are any hitches in jan 99 please let us know asap so we have a few extra hours to prepare!:>

PS Did your girlfriend ever recover from the big date???

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), December 25, 1998.

Been a real hectic week, lotsa family in from the frozen north, and trying really hard to ignore this mess for a while.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!(even JBD, who keeps us on our toes)

-- Uncle Deedah (oncebitten@twiceshy.com), December 26, 1998.

Blessed Christmastide to all of you!

Arlin [who was part of three back to back Christmas eve services, and then got up today and had Christmas dinner with the family of a (fairly serious) lady friend...and survived by the Grace of God!]

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), December 26, 1998.

I want to add my Christmas greetings to all... and to thank the many who have given me so much helpful info in the last 8 months

-- Suzanne (Suzanne-L@webtv.net), December 26, 1998.

MERRY CHRISTMAS., A little late but wishes just the same. Uncle DeeDah, a 'special' merry to you I'm in the North too,....ohhhh weeee baby, it is COLD. I'll be leaving for Sunny San Diego on 12-28, returning on 1-1 (wouldnt do it next year.haha.) I have to take my niece to visit her mom. She is with me as a foster child mom in rehab. Please whisper a prayer for our safe flight, as Hopkins runways arent in the greates of shape. Well, maybe i'll take a few extra xanex. LOL love you guyrs and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

-- consumer (private@aol.com), December 26, 1998.

" Have a Happy Holiday Season...(if that's ok with you)

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all . . . . and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 1999, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make the United States great, (not to imply that the US is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "US" in the northern hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishee.

(By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.) "

----------------------------------------------------------------
xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), December 26, 1998.