I had heard that FOX was going to air Y2K news reports all this week. I was wondering if anyone watched and could provide a summary of what was reported.

-- Carol (usa-uk@email.msn.com), January 26, 1999

Answers

Yes, I did catch it...

Our local FOX station (ch 17 - Grand Rapids MI) covered this on their 10:00 news segment.

>"COMING UP ON FOX 17 NEWS: Find out why the Red Cross is saying that you should stock up on food, drugs, batteries, and other essentials.">

AFTER THE COMMERCIALS...the smiling faces are back. "Are you prepared for the Y2k problem?...the Red Cross sez you'd better be!" They (with their "camera smile") stated everything matter-of-factly, mostly that if the bug bites to have extra cash, blankets, food and water on hand. "The Red Cross sez this is no means to panic, but to prepare for possible problems..."

The anchors went on to say that "we should have extra blankets, for those Michigan winters can get quite cold..." It came and went in a blur...the Red Wings got more air time.

-- Tim (pixmo@pixelquest.com), January 26, 1999.

Thanks Tim,

I had a feeling it would be smiley faces all the way. SIGH!!

-- Carol (usa-uk@email.msn.com), January 26, 1999.

Before the year's out I expect the Teletubbies will be sending the message -- in their fashion... (It's their world too, right?)

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), January 26, 1999.

Y2K was not even mentioned in passing in the PNW. Just Clinton Cronicles ad nauseum.

The Fox News website did say that the Y2K coverage would start on Thursday. We'll see.

CO

-- Casual Observer (who@goes.there), January 27, 1999.

There's an IT conference in my town today. Our local tv magazine show interviewed a Y2K expert who will be speaking. She says have 3 weeks of cash on hand, extra groceries (especially perishables!), and current statements of all transactions. No real depth here, but not a single chuckle.

-- margie mason (mar3mike@aol.com), January 27, 1999.

My mom saw it and called me last night. She said that the Red Cross said that you should have AT LEAST a week's worth of cash, food, water, etc. I would interpret "at least" to mean that is the minimum. She seemed encouraged that the report was aired AT ALL and that the RC statement used those words. Unfortunately, I expect that most people will only hear "one week" and prepare for that, or less.

One of my friends who claims to "get it" has heard the suggestions for 72hrs, one week, etc. Her husband is a DGI and they have decided that prep 2 weeks is the maximum they "feel comfortable doing." I hope that is enough.

-- me (me@gateway.net), January 27, 1999.

yeah, me too, too bad we did not start trying to correct the problem 2 weeks earlier everything would have been finished just in time

-- tom k harder (tkh@earthlink.net), January 27, 1999.