Anyone think it si time for a daily state of the heerd report from around the country? Here is the first from Pittsburgh Pa. Was in the local army navy store last night. I have been in and out of that place many time over the last 15 years. We do a lot of camping. When I was in there in november, the store was well stocked as it always was. When I was in there last night, the still were well stocked in clothing and boots, but every thing elese was about wiped out. I have never seen this in 15 years. The other strange occurance, was the soup aisle in the local supermarket chain. It is always well stocked for friday nights. It was empty 4:30 in the afternoon. That is the state of the herd here in the burgh feb 27, 1999.

-- Scotty (BLehman202@aol.com), February 27, 1999

Answers

"Way to go Pittsburgh!" I'm a Yankee transplant to Bayou Land and I'm happy to know that the old stomping grounds are full of people preparing. Unlike here in the deep South where the saying goes, "If the world comes to an end in the North, it will take another 20 years for the news to hit New Orleans", and that's about how slowly the prep seems to be going here also. (shelves are full) And that's the state of the herd here in Mardi Gras Land, "let the good times roll!"

-- Carol (cajun@bayou.com), February 28, 1999.

I was in Home Depot yesterday(College Park, Md. 5 mi north of Wash DC); They had 50 (I counted) generators. I was the only one looking at them.

-- KoFE (notthere@overhere.now), February 28, 1999.

In Sam's yesterday in Scarborough, Maine, just outside Portland (visiting relatives across the border, y'know) and noticed full shelves. Two weeks ago I bought a barely used 2250-watt generator from a friend as backup to my backup for $325. Sam's had it for $299, and plenty of 'em, as well as 5,000-watt gensets. Ouch! Time to reevaluate my friends. My personal prediction -- nothing drastic until September/October. The herd is still mesmerized by the Dow and Tom Brokaw's soothing words.

-- Cash (Cash@andcarry.com), February 28, 1999.

Sorry about the typo's.

-- Scotty (BLehman202@aol.com), February 28, 1999.

At BJ's in Mass. yesterday. For the first time noticed 50lb bags of rice and flour (I think it was flour).

This is very strange for the Boston area where everyone things loaves of bread are born that way (grin)...

-- Sub-Mit (lurking@ofcourse.com), February 28, 1999.

In Super Walmart Friday. STocked to the walls! Lots of storage container around. Water jug shelves empty...they had a sale! Idaho can of instant potatoes gone. Lot's of Rice and beans and large stock items. More than usual actually so I would say people are buying more than average numbers. NO panic yet though. I think some people are preparing.

Talked with semi-neighbor last night re y2k..."what ever happens happens, we'll deal with it then"....brother

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), February 28, 1999.

My son and I were in the Greenwood,Indiana Sam's Club Thursday. Usually the products are stacked 4 shelves high. On many isles the top two shelves were empty. No generators. Indiana is preparing!

-- Eye On Y2K (bugscaresme@mellinium.com), February 28, 1999.

Down here 80 miles north of the ultimate fantasyland (DisneyWorld) it's still,"Y2k? yeah, I heard of that, it's that computer thing."

But a few are preparing quietly because Big Lots sold quite a few canning jars off season this month. No shortages seen anywhere. Had a lot of people looking for used generators in our pawn shop in January but then we always have that.

-- sue (deco100@aol.com), February 28, 1999.

Had a house guest from Southern Pines, NC this weekend who was absolutely on board about Y2K!!! Her brother is a government official and a GI too. She works for Hospice and is very worried about Medicare/Medicaid (Ashton & Leska -- thought of you!). We watched Front Line together this morning and dissected it bit by bit...

-- Libby Alexander (libbyalex@aol.com), February 28, 1999.

Hi Libby! We're really worried about Hospice too. Just read yet another news article about Medicare not making it :-(

Considering how many people may be dying if this is rockier than a bump, seems like at least Hospice should have been made fail-safe. And to think certain pain-relieving meds may not be available -- Oh, don't wanna go there! Of course it's illegal to store any of those meds. Families are instructed to flush them all down the toilet as soon as the patient has died.

Just hope ppl wake up in time to take preemptive action. We cannot do anything about this -- cannot put our licenses at risk -- somebody OUTSIDE of the medical profession must take this on. Wake up, world! Time is fleeting ...

xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), February 28, 1999.

If you feel you can't put a license at risk, Leska, that's just another way of saying that you're a slave. Pity, it always sounded from your posts that you had the courage of your convictions..

-- toobad (lost@my.respect), March 01, 1999.

Too bad, we're talking about high-powered narcotics here, lethal. The rules are there for good reasons. There has been abuse in the past, by nurses, doctors, patients, and especially pt family members. A nurse cannot suggest illegal hoarding of elixir morphine. too bad you do not understand certain situations. Legally, this MUST come from a Doctor, preferrably one not involved with end-of-life care. We sometimes work in the Assisted Suicide State, where these issues are hot and ppl are extremely sensitized. We are working behind the scenes with the Governor who is a Doc. But on the job, we cannot even talk about these meds, let alone suggest getting more of them. Yikes! Recipe for instant disaster. One drop too much = death.

It would also not make sense to the families because these patients are day/weeks from exiting this world and 2000 will not be a concern for them. Health care, unfortunately, does not look-ahead and pre-plan much, from the end-user point-of-need, the patient, or family. In acute and terminal cases, most families wing it and barely function on an after-as-needed basis.

This particular issue is fraught with snakes in the swamp right now.
We certainly have the courage of our convictions, and we have the experience and sense to know that any help or effectiveness we are/have now would be destroyed by getting our license yanked and becoming embroiled in time-wasting battles with Boards. The ppl on the State Boards are of the old school and do not see the future clearly, many times not even the present in focus.

The Hospice & meds issue will be moot; Medicare & Medicaid are not compliant, and the reimbursement network and health care channels are clogged morasses now. As the Senate Report so rightly indicates, health care is at risk and will be impacted drastically.

xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), March 01, 1999.

toobad--

This may come as a surprise, but for most people in this country earning a living is mandatory, not optional.

Most people, unlike yourself, are not of independent means. Obviously you can afford to indulge your altruistic impulses. Lucky you.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), March 01, 1999.

I was in my local Sam's on Thursday. No shortages, but I WAS amazed at what they were now carrying. Huge bags of rice and beans that were never there before. Also, #10 cans of everything! Before, there were a few #10 cans of selected items, but now there are hundreds of them. I also noticed that the "end caps" were all Y2K type items. I've never seen an end cap of Dinty Moore Stew before! :-) Obviously SOMEONE is paying attention!

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), March 01, 1999.

MOoooOOOOOooooo............

Southeast PA:

Lots of people in the area know. We have been invited onto two local church group committee's to help. Attending chamber of commerce seminar in two days...(utilities are supposed to address! I already know they don't like me). Public seminar...public welcome and no fee.

Y2K was front page headline Sunday News....not a puff piece, actually pretty fair considering the rag we have for a paper. "Millions may not be enough to squash Y2K Bug"

Generators selling like hotcakes around here...food is available easily in bulk so far. Everybody knows about it....last few calls to propane people and generator people.....all asked me BEFORE I mentioned it whether it was about Y2K.

In local paper....our congresscritter is closing one local office...why? Stated reason was he couldn't afford to fix Y2K bugs in it's systems. Sounds like a crock to me but that's what's reported.

This area is preparing as much as anyplace else. They usually are conservative around here anyway... old farm people like to keep some stuff on hand.

I see no panic at all (outside mine of course).

I hear a lot of denial...."It aint gonna be that bad".. but even they say they will stock up a bit.

One business I work with...manager says he will stock up just in case, and take out a FEW MONTHS WORTH of cash, but nothing serious of course........ If everyone did that the banks will go kerflooie over night. Wonder if he thought of that?

-- Art Welling (artw@lancnews.infi.net), March 01, 1999.