We keep hearing more and more lately about companies being 58%, 68%, (pick a number) finished with remediation. In the next sentence we hear they will be 100% compliant by the 6/99 deadline, 9/99 deadline, (pick a date) whoops, running out of dates. I call this Just In Time Spin.

Last year, when I first heard about Y2K, I checked out a dozen or so forums and zeroed in on three. Y2K News Magazine's Food Storage and Gary North's Food Storage forums were my pick for preps. This forum I picked for hard, meaning genuine, news and general good information. Once I got caught up on rice, beans and water, I began to change my focus more to information and less prep, just as this forum has focused more on information and less prep.

On a thread farther down, about changes on this forum, some were lamenting the earlier days, or changes in the forum. But to me, change is what life is all about, and you change with changing events. We are now in the doldrums. No big events have occured. Does that mean "it ain't so?" Not necessarily.

That's partly what I think accounts for so much Spin. The powers that be can't control the coming events; they know the public hates bad news, especially when they might be held accountable, so they now offer us this: " We are on time, but there may be a "bump in the road; it's those other countries and hoarders that are the real problem here." Add in a few earlier predictions from techies (Infomagic, etc.) that don't happen exactly on time and the "happy days" crowd cheers wildly.

Frankly, I don't mind trolls, meida weasels or JIT Spin. This doesn't mean I'm donating all my preps to charity now, or later, if the whole system doesn't breaks down in l hour after midnight l999. I think it will be like a long train, picking up speed as it rolls on. Check out many sources at least once; some you will agree with, and some not. But the unexamined life isn't worth living, so look at both sides

I've also changed my whole focus. Y2K was the catalyst, but my focus is now on an entire change of lifestlye. A person who bashes corporations as roundly as I do, should take whatever steps necessary to break there dependency on them.

And after seeing the refugee camps on TV, I will never, ever go to bed again without a bug out bag.

-- gilda jessie (jess@listbot.com), April 08, 1999

Answers

Your last sentence says it all for me too, Thanks.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), April 08, 1999.

Gilda - Your "This doesn't mean I'm donating all my preps to charity now, or later, if the whole system doesn't breaks down in l hour after midnight l999. I think it will be like a long train, picking up speed as it rolls on." might not be the most accurate analogy in the world, but it's close enough.

If the power and water stays up on 1/1/2000, that doesn't mean that we are out of the woods yet. It's just one less thing to worry about. The number of 100+ car coal trains leaving Wyoming daily is just about at the max # the system can handle. If something happens to reduce the RR capacity by say 15%, that 15% less coal could have a significant impact over time. It just gets back to the big question, How fast can things be fixed?

We have all been concentrating on 'How fast can things be fixed?' related to having them fixed by 12/31/1999. The next most important question is 'How fast can things be fixed?' AFTER 1/1/2000. In the train case, if the RR can get back up to speed in just a few weeks, normal coal supplies MIGHT be able to make up for the shortfall. The question must be asked, do you want to bet your life and prosperity on that?

On item to remember

-- Ken Seger (kenseger@earthlink.net), April 08, 1999.

Learning to break our dependency from corporations is an absolute must. Downsizing and temphiring outsourcing is corporate policy now. Almost no one left who has health insurance provided by big corporate employers It's getting more brutal. This is why y2k will not be fixed in time. The greed blinded them now they will have to reap what they sow. They had it Fat but were mean and didnt look out for the welfare of those who's hard work and efforts brought the Dow to 10k. They better enjoy it while it last and we better learn how to function now for a post y2k world full of bankrupt corporations and a massive world wide economic deppression. Suggestions figure out what will barter well and what you can make that others will need for survival and comfort. 21st century will change your view of being so highly depentant on Corporations ever again. My highly researched over 18 months and 10,000 documents read guess is 3 years of serious economic disruptions followed by 5 years of very slow recovery.

-- y2k aware mike (y2k aware mike@conservation .com), April 08, 1999.

If you read Drew Parkhills interview with Rick Cowels (at CBN), Rick says he expects perhaps a few problems after midnight 12/31/99, but most will surface during the following 2 weeks as the faults build up.

In other word, whatever happens on 1/1/00, it is only likely to get worse as time goes on - at least for several weeks or months.

-- Jon Johnson (narnia4@usa.net), April 08, 1999.

Gilda, your remark, ". . .but my focus is now on an entire change of lifestyle," strikes a harmonious chord with me. Things are not nearly as secure as they were ten years ago, even five. Jobs, energy, weather, manufacturing, farming, health, on and on, all wobbly. The boomers are reaching 50 and realizing retirement may not be as rosy as they thought. Does anyone under 55 believe they'll collect Social Security? Does anyone believe there are more oceans of cheap oil under the ground? We're running out of time for so many things, not just Y2K.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), April 08, 1999.

And after seeing the refugee camps on TV, I will never, ever go to bed again without a bug out bag.

Another classically cool y2k quote triggered by this ng.

-- Blue Himalayan (bh@k2.y), April 08, 1999.

gilda, excellent post! You really should copyright "JIT Spin"!

Mike ===================================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), April 08, 1999.

I think that looking at your lifestyle is key here. We need to understand how we got ourselves into this mess in the first place. If all we attempt to do is "fix" the system, it's just a bandaid. Not a real fix. If people use this event as a catalyst to change their life, it won't matter whether or not they actually used/needed all their preps or not.

I look at the news that so many people are ordering off the grid pv systems and wind generators and I wonder if they'll be in use or up for sale in a year or two. Will they just use them if they have to and then revert to the grid if they get that back or will they make a lasting change and go "off grid"? Or will I be able to pick up some more pannels cheap?? Stuff like that. It's the chance for people to make real changes in their lives if they wish-

-- anita (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), April 08, 1999.

"... but my focus is now on an entire change of lifestyle ..."

Ditto.

Sustainable living, just makes sense, for all sorts of uncertain future possibilities.

BTW, you may want to keep that bug out bag permanently in your car. It's more often going to be nearer to you than your home.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), April 08, 1999.

I echo the sentiments of many who have answered your letter. I don't know the extent of what may or may not happen, but the preparation and fact finding I have been doing has helped me to evaluate my own resourcefulness. I do not want to depend upon this government or even my own neighbors to help me in any crisis. It is up to each of us to take care of our own needs as best we can. The entire issue of y2k has cemented a deeply held belief that I established, after being doused with "agent orange" in Vietnam. This government cannot be depended upon for any kind of credibility, so I prepare for my own families' future. I do not need, nor do I desire for the "whole village" to take care of myself or my children. I can do that just fine, thank you.

-- Larry Trapp (lawada@tminet.com), April 08, 1999.