Who is Kathy Hopka (sp), and who invited her to today's Senate's Community Preparedness Meeting?

Maybe the Banks...maybe the Utilities...maybe the Telecoms...maybe the Transportation industry...maybe she dropped in uninvited?

I'm amazed she actually said it, I'm more amazed she might even believe it.

Retailer's Assoc. Smiley Face GAL, "retailers WILL BE OPEN for business Jan. 1, Jan. 2, Jan. 3 and beyond...you WILL be able to use any form of payment...merchandise Will be on the shelves...we want people to buy Cd's and scarfs at Christmas, not just a GUN."

So there ya have it...sounds like NO PROBLEMO.

Hmmmm...guess you don't have to pay those high Christmas Season prices for things you might need...just go shopping and pick up the BARGAINS that'll be everywhere on Jan. 1, 00!!! Don't worry, if the ATM doesn't work...put it on your Credit Card! Ya, I heard they'll even deliver!

Someone tell me I imagined this idiot was actually on the Senate Floor today testifiying.

OkE DokE...

Nailbender

-- Nailbender (whwhwhat@00.bs), May 26, 1999

Answers

Nailbender - I found the following quote amazing:

Testimony of Cathy Hotka Vice President of Information Technology National Retail Federation

"The U.S. economy is the envy of the world. But end-of-year panic among normally reasonable people could disrupt this economy, and affect the holiday season for retailers who rely on it."

+++++++ What an outrage! Something as trivial as y2k and all those bothersome people wanting to continue to eat and be warm might disrupt the normal holiday consumer feeding frenzy for expensive appliances, non-compliant electronics and indespensible furbies. It cannot be tolerated! How dare the health, safety and security of the American people come before retail profit! We cannot tell people now, or we might disrupt the holiday profit harvest. If we MUST, we should wait until AFTER the Christmas to tell prople to prepare. Then the bothersome panic will be more convenient for our stores.

-- marsh (armstrng@sisqtel.net), May 26, 1999.

I agree. You are reading along and all of a sudden you come to this complete airhead who is saying that the retailer's Christmas revenues are more worthy than the American public. It just blew me away. I went back a few hours later to reread, thinking I must have missed something.

Can you spell supply lines??

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie @aol.com), May 26, 1999.

This lady looked MUCH MORE like someone supporting a position she did not understand, nor did she appear to believe what she was saying. buried under the stuff that caused all of us to go "HUH!!", were a couple valid points. The primary one is that manufacturers build products based on expected demand. There is NOTHING to base the manufacturing estimates on, to base the demand estimates on. the next on is that there is a great fear in the retailing area because they have refund rules on returns, and this may be MAJOR problem.

I'm not supporting the clueless statements on being open and opperating because this, on a total nationwide basis doesn't pass the laugh test.

However, there were some real points buried in there.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), May 26, 1999.

This sane and normal person quit buying into the Christmas hype years ago. I've known people who couldn't pay their bills, max out credit cards for Christmas. We just chose to stop the insanity and not contribute more dollars to feeding large corporations, who are partly responsible for getting up into this mess in the first place.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), May 26, 1999.

OH PS..

THere is a reason she talked about retailers' Christmas sales. This is where MOST retailers do 30 - 70 percent of their business. Yes, as much as 70% of a year's sales in 3 months. I worked for a couple of these and it's scary in February, when the day's gross sales won't even make a downpayment on the LIGHT bill for the DAY, much less pay the payroll.

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), May 26, 1999.

I remember sending an e-mail to a friend with the title, Can it get any wierder than this? (tongue in check of course) with a reference to an interesting occurance. It's going to get really, really wierd out there folks. Just got an e-list of Dan Pilla's Y2K article. He suggests that everybody have at least a month, perhaps two (!) of cash to cover normal expenses (not including car or house payments). Right..... Not a clue, not a freaking clue.

What Chuck says is right on. Many retailers have one single month of profit and the rest are in the red.

-- Ken Seger (kenseger@earthlink.net), May 26, 1999.

I understand the concerns about returns, but would someone please explain to me why stripping the retail shelves at Christmas time is a problem?? How about if the retail giants promote the idea that stuff might not be available next year, so get it now? It needn't only be power outage sales, there are a lot of ordinary consumables that are mported, like clothes and other stupid Christmas gifts. This could be their best retail season ever! Why would they knock it?

-- Brooks (brooksbie@hotmail.com), May 26, 1999.

Somehow I do not figure Jesus Christ's main concern about Y2K is the Christmas shopping idol. Ironies abound. This would be a really good time for Him to reappear and overturn some tables. An urgent invitation to come back soon, Lord!

xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxx

-- Leska (allaha@earthlink.net), May 26, 1999.

March 8, 1999, VA Y2K/Pharmaceutical Acquisition meeting:

"Cathy Hotka, National Retail Federation:

No formal [Y2K] survey of members has been taken, but major issues that NRF members have addressed include EDI, contingency planning, etc.

Retail stores are not increasing stock, and manufacturers don't plan to increase production for Y2K (example: battery stock is not being increased)"

This explains Hotka's remarks--apparently retailers are not planning to increase their usual Christmas stock--not even the amount of BATTERIES they have on hand.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), May 26, 1999.

Leska...Amen and amen!! Can't be too soon for me and mine.

God Bless.

-- (I'mwithyou@yes.com), May 26, 1999.

O'l Git...

Gotta agree, looks like the National Retailers are gonna drive the nail in a little deeper...don't count on them to have "extra supplies" on hand. So much for their contribution to "Community Preparedness"!

Our Local "Blaine County Y2k Task Force" has another meeting tonight. BTW...our Task Force has the FULL support of County Commissioners and Municipal Leaders.

2 Special Guests, General Kane and Mr. John Kline, of the Bureau of Disaster Services (not sure yet if they are State or Fed) would like to explore our groups activities currently in progress.

Should be another interesting meeting...

-- Nailbender (whwhwhat@00.bs), May 26, 1999.

'Just posted Ms. Hotka's precise oral testimony at my "work in progress' thread. (This was one of the instances in which I had to stifle my laughter so I wouldn't ruin my tape recording of the hearing. "Buy scarves! Not just a gun!" LOL, LOL, LOL!

You can check it out at: http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000sAu

And now,. . .back to the salt mines!

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 26, 1999.

Here, as in most of the modern world, commerce/profit/money is king. Viva La Roi! I truly don't believe that the CEO's of Dow Chemical, AT&T, or Standard Oil are too concerned about the "little people." Also, where are local retail outlets going to store a supply of anything. The major markets in this area don't have any storage facilities. One or two days of anything on hand - at best and then it's waiting for the next shipment to be delivered. Get the picture once and for all...we'll be on our own.

-- Richard Westerlind (Astral-Acres@webtv.net), May 26, 1999.

Aw, gee...you mean that I shouldn't give guns for Christmas? I was thinking of some nice 12 g. shotguns for all seven of our kids. I mean, CDs and scarfs may be nice, but there's nothing like a little hunting trip to bring a family together. Unless it's successfully (jointly) defending against an attack.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), May 26, 1999.

ooh! Leska! well said! you should email THAT to that airhead!

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), May 26, 1999.

on the other hand I also have this mental picture of the airhead waking up on 01/01/00, discovering that she has no power and no heat, and then trying to blame it all on lost holiday sales....

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), May 26, 1999.

don't worry, Arlin - apparently she will have lots of scarves to keep her warm.

-- marsh (armstrng@sisqtel.net), May 27, 1999.

Nailbender,

In response to your original question, if you read through her oral testimony,

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=000sR7

it's obvious that she's been working with the Senate Committee. On what? Who knows? I too, wonder how people were selected for the panels. My best guess in her case is the previous contact she's had with staffers.

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), May 27, 1999.