It's time for all GI's to gravitate. Time to "put up". Contact those in you area whom you trust and believe can be a benefit to a group effort to survive. Get in contact with others of our ilk. Start joint preparation efforts. NOW. We have no more time. Notice the way your neighbors look at you now as opposed to the way they looked a year ago? This is getting very, very scary. Decker my freind-shut up-Y2K Pro shut up twice- Anita go with Y2K Pro-the rest of you pollies go boycott an NRA rally. Sorry folks I'm pissed.

Mike

-- MidwestMike_ (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), June 15, 1999

Answers

Mike:

My coworkers are getting better at mocking me. My neighbors are still sleeping. My family is annoyed and disturbed by my Y2K behavior. I'm still warning them about the coming stock market crash and Depression, but they tune me out.

I read about Russia's Dead Hand nuclear missile system. Uh-oh...

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), June 15, 1999.

Hi MM,

What got you going today??? We have been working on our community....we have a few preparing. Any ideas how to reach those who don't understand? I've tried showing them articles and talking to them...they just ignore you...or say um huh....and never do a thing.

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), June 15, 1999.

some people listen and some say all i ever here about y2k is from you

-- dord (vo@ice.com), June 15, 1999.

Dinty,

Thanks, I'm counting on some of our more elequent and educated members to give us a hand here. I AM counting on them. Sorry if I dissapoint, but I am not qualified relative to these other folks.

NOTE: If they do not speak, I will, after all, "qualified" is relative.

A Survivor Y2K Pro...I'm a southpaw.

Mike

-- MidwestMike_ (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), June 15, 1999.

Midwest Mike:

I too have thought for some time now that all is not well with the coming of Y2K.

If you have seen any of my post you Know that I have said some pretty harsh things, That have been said to me.

I thought that people would be glad to be warned of a probable coming time that they could prepare for. I was wrong, wrong, wrong.

My neighbors don't even wave and say hello anymore. I have been spending a lot of time printing off things that I thought would be helpful to them in preparing. Wrong. I think that all of us that are preparing is seen as a cult and they think we are using Y2K to try to recruit them into something.

My wife told me I was making people dislike us and I should stop mentioning Y2k BECAUSE THEY DON;T WANT TO HEAR IT. So I have taken her advice, and let everybody cover their own butts.

Trying to convince people that Y2K is coming is like training an ant to guard your house.

-- Lon (Lon1937@aol.com), June 15, 1999.

You can lead a horse to water...

Better I prepare as best I can so I will be able to help others. I cannot GI for anyone.

-- Mike Lang (webflier@erols.com), June 15, 1999.

Its compulsive to try to warn others,I know the feeling yet when they dont want to hear it ,forget it and move on.Nothing you can do.Even if you should them a letter from the prez himself ,they would pooo it.

-- tazz (tazzz75@hotmail.com), June 15, 1999.

Let me guess MidwestMike, you didn't have a lot of friends growing up, did you? Maybe it was those Jim Jones posters you had on your bedroom walls...

-- Y2K Pro (2@641.com), June 15, 1999.

Is it time for us to prepare our thousand man march on Washington?

I will be bringing a Kia load from Phoenix.

We will behave in the best "Ghandi" fashion.

-- rb (phxbanks@webtv.net), June 15, 1999.

Guys, I could be totally off-base with this, but I think it's simple:

It matters not whether Y2k is a threat to our daily existence. Many things in life are a threat to our daily existence. We should all be able to be self-sufficient for a MINIMUM of three days.

If the power goes out in the middle of Winter, can you stay in your own home, keep warm and keep your pipes from freezing for a minimum of three days?

If something happens to your municipal water supply (water main break, etc.) do you have an alternative source for water in your home for a MINIMUM of three days?

If you can't get to a store, or for some other reason, can't leave your house for a MINIMUM of three days, can you feed your family?

Are your neighbors prepared to do the above?

I've been asked to give a Y2k preparedness talk at a Neighborhood Watch meeting later this month. I KNOW many people would not be able to do the above, (if something really bad were to happen tomorrow) and see no reason to be prepared to do so. I can't change their attitudes. Each person is entitled to prepare to be self-sufficient during emergencies or not prepare.

What I shall do is present the American Red Cross Guidelines and the FEMA guidelines to these folks, because they have been endorsed by our Assistant City Manager. That--plus the reputation of these organizations--will give the presentation credibility.

With regard to Y2k, do I think three days is enough? I dunno.

All I know is that I will have done something to help my neighbors during many potential emergency scenarios.

Preparation is prudent, . . .regardless.

:)

-- FM (vidprof@aol.com), June 15, 1999.

You guys must have forgotten,you can't save everyone.I have been a GI for over a year now,got just about all the preps done..I wanted to tell everyone I knew what to do,what to store..They are not listening PERIOD.Even my brother,I sent him print outs after print outs,The very last one I sent was the info from RedCross and the Vanity Fair article..he told me never to bring the subject up again(I found out he didn;t even open the mail)He is a supervisor of a large plant in Philly..he says that ..A. Bill Gates will fix it..B.We can always work manual..C. If its the end of world,oh well, he will cross that bridge when he gets to it..I have had a hard time with this one , I love him very much.. he is even buying his first home in the Philly area!!! Other people I have told??ONly one friend is reading the information and taking it serious.I even gave a co-worker all the Fema,REDCROSS,Vanity Fair,(information that should make anyone at least a little concern)she never mention the subject again..I think she said something about wanting another baby,the last time I talked to her..The powers that be are doing a wonderful job at keeping the sheep asleep...They are winning....enough said..

-- tired (cant@save everyone.com), June 15, 1999.

I'm forced to jump in here with my PMS moment. I know how Mike feels about being the common laborer in a forum of high IQ's who love their mirrors. Those who do not "see" this by now...aren't going to. This is a waste of my time...they refuse to listen and point at education and resumes as being the only qualifications worthy of participation. Newbies are no better. The entire country is sleeping and there are but a handful of us. It's honestly too late for anyone new to this knowing to adequately prepare. If we attempt to gather....we'll wind up suffering the "waco" mentality from others around us. The Internet brought us together....but we are too far apart. We ARE on our owns and I believe this must be some of the reason we've lost heavy- hitters, quite frankly...I'm with THEM. Let the Deckers and Pooles and Flints and their breed phoo-phoo tell it hurts. Even those stuck at 5. The time is here, upon us. The work hasn't and won't be done. It is time for me to care for my children and the far too few who can see the wave. Go back and read c4i's post....again. Sorry to offend anyone but, it rings true for me. It has since last August and nothing has changed since then!!

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), June 15, 1999.

hee, hee. You morons make me think of what Jehova Witness'talk about after they count up all the Watchtowers they didn't give away."The entire country is sleeping and there are but a handful of us."

Thanks "Will Not Think" that was a classic!

-- Y2K Pro (2@641.com), June 15, 1999.

Y2K Pro,

BullsEye! I was one of those "Long haired Hippie Type..." I'll let you finish if you would. But at the same time (graduated in 1980) I was ALWAYS a dedicated CONSERVITIVE! Not to yell in your ear my freind..sorry I'm listening to Shania Twain and she drives me nuts....Still here waiting for an intelligent response... Mike

PS: You guy should take advantage of the situation, it appears it's just me....

-- MidwestMike_ (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), June 15, 1999.

I have to agree with most of what I see up here regarding family/friends not wanting to hear anymore. No one has told me to shut up (yet) and they are making some preps but I can just tell that they're still hoping this whole thing will just go away.

Every once in a while I talk to someone and the bulb will go off and I know I 'dun good', but those are oh so few and far between. I think I'm going to follow Ed's lead at this point and stop telling people to prepare. Nothing I'm going to say is going to change any minds. Besides, we'll ALL know soon enough (198 days and counting).

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), June 15, 1999.

Sorry Mike, but I'm ROTFL!

Bin dare dun dat! So solly Challie, I don't like being a kooky "UFO" type. That's what we are you know, a bunch of delusional worry warts. Hee Hee! Go ahead, tell someone that they might need 2 weeks worth of stuff put aside, Haw Haw HAw! Ho Ho Ho, whatcha talkin' bout Unc? You bin sniffin too long inna paint booth?

And what are ya gonna tell 'em anyhow? Who they gonna listen to? You? Me? Scary Gary? Dejager? Koskinen? Al Gore? Sheeeeeeee-it! Nobody agrees on what's to come, best to hope for the best while preparing for next years dividend. Hee Hee!

Face it bud, we is lepers!

Lepers-R-Us!

Fix things for #1, then wait and see.

Who knows, maybe they are right, weez just a bunch of flakes with a serious mental defect.

Not trying to be mean friend, I'm just tellin it the way I see it.

Cheers,

-- Unc D (unkeed@yahoo.com), June 15, 1999.

My freind Will continue, Are you talking about me? I am by all accounts a "newbie". Ive been conversing with you all for maybe 2 weeks. I know you had the most honorable intensions but please restate. And please join our midwest thread.

Your freind,

Mike

Oh, BTW/Decker/Anita/pollies/...GBA.

Mike......We got something going!

-- MidwestMike_ (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), June 15, 1999.

Will continue (Lisa?):

There is a human condition far worse than PMS.

It is called PVS: Pollyanna Vegetative State.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), June 15, 1999.

Hi Mike.

I think when Will Continue was referring to 'newbies', she meant individuals that were just beginning to realize that y2k MIGHT be a problem, not posters new to this forum. Although I disagree with her about the ability to get ready for whatever. There has been no long lines, no extreme shortages, no dearth of supplies for those who wish to prepare. Given enough money, you could potentially prepare in less than a month.

As far as community preparedness---forget it!!! Most people will not prepare for anything until they get bit in the nether regions. I saw it too many times when I was involved in Civil Defense in Florida. I tried to get people interested in personal preparedness here in the Upstate of SC. Talk about your brick walls!! Involved in Russ Kelly's Upstate y2k Council, public speaking, city and county meetings, etc. Total waste of my time ( except for Kelly ). I HAVE made up my mind that if anything is left after this is over, I'm going to get involved in politics locally just so I can aggravate some of these leadbrains back.

Prepare your family (and prepare for your neighbors...they WON'T forget who has food and heat). Be prepared to enforce your rules, not obey theirs. In other words, be prepared to back up your decisions no matter what they may be.

Good luck and God Bless. I sure hope I can communicate with you about the time next February comes around.

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), June 15, 1999.

No Mike, I'm not speaking about you! I've read posts from newbies stating they knew more about this problem than I could, because they are professionals, in the 'field'. Engineer? Programmer? Software? Too many big brains, not enough common sense. Does 2+2=4? That depends upon your definition of "equals"....know what I'm talking about? These are capable hands? Not for my children...nope. Some of these people aren't capable of seeing the nose on their faces. They simply continue rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Their conclusions never address the whole issue...they just pick at the meaningless details. It is hopeless.

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), June 15, 1999.

Mike-

I have absolutely had it. Am giving up in terms of other people. Out of 10 siblings, 4 of us are GIs. After tonight, it has dropped to 3. My brother informed me that now that more people know, surely it is being worked on and will be fixed. He has gone from a (non-preparing) GI to a DWGI.

I'm going to need a LOT of extras.

Blessings...Mercy

PS...Mike...where in the Midwest?

-- Mercy (prepare@now.com), June 15, 1999.

Midwest Mike, I too live in the Midwest (Kansas, to be exact). I come from a long line of extremely self reliant folk, as does my spouse. Small towns, rural farming, "use it up, make it do, or do without" kind of philosophy. Many people around the country might think that it would be 'easier' for people with this background to wake up, and "GET IT"...that's not been what we've seen. It's taken us almost a year for us to get 2 sets of parents 'semi-conscious', and the other set steadfastly refuses. That's pretty representative of what I've seen going on in my area: some GI, others are slowly GIing and saying 'Crap...we're almost too late', and the others probably will NEVER get it. I've been involved in a neighborhood revitalization group for several years now; lots of older folks, working middle class folks who have what I call a 'rural' mindset: they may work in the city, but lots have big gardens, can, grow their own chickens, etc. Lots of woodstoves, lots of folks that just want to (or have never learned to be reliant on others) do it themselves, if they can possibly do so. We've talked about coming together as a community for various scenarios; economic downturns, Y2k, etc. Even with this group - we still have a disheartening level of unconsciousness. We've handed out information by the reams, talked about this in general terms, and have talked about it in very specific, pointed ways. The number of people that have a continued interest in this topic are few. Most want to discuss the upcoming community garage sale, or the large item trash pick up day! It's frustrating on many levels.

What we personally have decided to do is to continue to prepare for ourselves and family, and our closest neighbors to the best of our abiity. If and when someone wants to talk about it, we'll do our very best to bring them 'up to speed' as fast as we can/they will let us. My mother was a teacher, and she said many times that it is impossible to teach someone if they do not have the will to learn. I truly hope that there are more families preparing than what we all realize. I know that is probably a false hope, but probably one many of us have.

Time is running away from us, as always, although it seems especially elusive this year. Do what you can, do what you *must*, but just *DO*.

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), June 15, 1999.

Here, Ye, Here, Ye,

Multi-Fake Doomer Alert!

-- Spindoc' (spindoc_99_2000@yahoo.com), June 16, 1999.

Or should that be: Hear, Ye, Hear Ye? Anyway, some of these posts don't ring true, if you've read the tone of their earlier posts. You decide...

-- Spindoc' (spindoc_99_2000@yahoo.com), June 16, 1999.

Mine's real. And so is the point of view expressed.

LEPERS-R-US.

Cheers!

-- Unc D (unkeed@yahoo.com), June 16, 1999.

Spindoc':

Who is diagnosed with PVS?

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), June 16, 1999.

I have been lurking and posting for over a year. Have moved to the sierra foothills (like you tim may) and believe we are in for a very depressing time. Prepare for the worst, besides y2k there are solar flares, and bioterroism on the horizon. My company (fortune 500) is at least a year behind( regardles of the sec reports), we also do y2k work for the usg and recently have beeen asked to remediate some air force code that was previously reported as compliant. Expect a severe oil crisis as well as numerous cyberterrorism attacks. If your family doesn't get it prepare to help them. I am lucky all of my family is preparing for the worst. So much to do and so little time. Tim sorry I missed the san jose gun show meeting but My comute is already 3 hrs 1 way. We have got a few weeks yet before things get a little bizzare. Use it wisely, as nothing will be the same ever again, toms take is right on. Tim if you are up here near yosemite give me an email-we think alike on what y2k will bring and if you are in this area would like to get together.(:=> papa bear

-- papa bear (it.guy@usa.net), June 16, 1999.

Randolph,

Sorry, sir, please forgive, but PVS is not in my LOA (list of acronyms). Query?

-- Spindoc' (spindoc_99_2000@yahoo.com), June 16, 1999.

Thanks, all of you who have contributed to this thread.

The fact that so many of you felt inclined to share your personal exsperiences' with the rest is proof that we as GI's are careing, loving people. You make me proud. Their are to many reply's for me to answer individually. Let me just say I would be proud to stand with you in the face of death. None of us knows what the turn will bring, but we have hope that we can endure...do we not?...I welcome all new posts to this thread but, I beleive the question has been answered.

You are AMERICANS.

Mike St. Louis, Missouri USA GBA

-- MidwestMike_ (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), June 16, 1999.

Like the old saying goes,"you can led a horse to water......" I may mention the subject in public, but as soon as I get a negative response, I drop it. Then every once in a while someone will approach me with this overwhelming insight, like "I just found out the power grid may shut down after the first of the year because of the computers" or "did you know the food stores could run out of supplies in only 3 days if they dont get any deliveries ?". So give them your support, info and time. But remember ".....You can't make them drink"

-- Capt Dennis (souza@ptialaska.net), June 16, 1999.

Great Capt., Keep goin but watch your 180.

-- MidwestMike_ (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), June 16, 1999.

One can only proselite so much. But you can work with GIs whether in church, family, or friends. I've been lucky...most family are GIs (they've been through too many disasters not to take the possibilities seriously.). And a few at my church are willing to prepare (again, it helps to have been through a couple of major hurricanes, and to have lived from hand to mouth for a while!).

But there are always those that you really love...who you won't stop trying to convert until the very end...and for whom you might even stock up a couple of cases of SPAM and a sack of rice...in case they finally can get to you.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), June 16, 1999.

Hi Papa Bear,

My name's not Tim, but I'm within three hours of Yosemite. I understand there is another person that hangs out on this forum named Ruth that is in the Yosemite area. Diane is in the bay area and Marsh is in Northern California.

Fortunately, I am the boss here and my DGI and DWGI employees have to smile, look pleasant, and develop contingency plans and deal with preparation. And if things go bad as I think they may, their pleasant looks will even be genuine when they find out was looking out for their best interests.

-- Sharon L (sharonl@volcano.net), June 16, 1999.

Uncle D,

Glad to hear it! I, too, have learned to keep my thoughts to myself, both at work and in my neighborhood. Talk of Y2K (other that as a joke) is an anathema around here. Most are either asleep (don't want to hear anything negative) or actively antagonistic when the subject is broached.

I don't post here often, but I read them all on a near-daily basis since January. For the record, I have "hoped for the best", but prepared for *major* disruptions, and a long recession/depression. Maybe a "7"

My concern here was that some of the above posts seemed a bit out of character, and given the recent fake (IMHO) doomer posts by c4i, my antennae are up for this sort of trolling. Just my opinion.

-- Spindoc' (spindoc_99_2000@yahoo.com), June 16, 1999.

Midwest Mike: Thanks for the come back. Think my 180's covered pretty good. We are very luck to live here on a old homestead area in Alaska. Our friends and neighbors have been G.I.'s long befor anyone heard of y2k. Stockpiling the basement, not counting on electric grids and taking care of business befor the state troopers finally show up has been our way of life. Now with the unsure events ahead we're taking a little extra time in our seasonal planning. And good luck to you folks in the mid-west

-- Capt Dennis (souza@ptialaska.net), June 16, 1999.

CaptDennis, Man, oh man, I envy you! Do you have room for a 37 year old 6'2" 230" bachelor in your community? I'm not kidding. Never wresteled a bear but I've been known to hug my dog. All BS aside drop me an email. GEEZ! Shanias' on again!!

Mike

-- MidwestMike_ (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), June 16, 1999.

Midwest Mike,

I think the basis problem with most people that want to GI is where to start? Y2K can be very overwhelming and most people do not know how to take that first step. I remember the difficulty I had getting myself to start to pick out extra items at the store and them finding a place to store them. My parents and friends say lets see your stash and I show then. I was planning on about 3 weeks of stuff but I see now that that will not sufficient. I have a very large closet that will hold many months of supplies. So I guess its convincing GI's to start a little at a time but at least start now while there is time and the picking is good.

-- y2k dave (xsdaa111@hotmail.com), June 16, 1999.

Last October, when I became away that y2k was more than a PC problem, I read everything I could about it. Then I made a few printouts to give to my three neighbors. My most self-sufficient, and favorite neighbor has since been killed in an accident. My youngest neighbors seemed to get it, but recently bought a new house and moved. The neighbors I've known the longest got it, but said they couldn't afford to prepare. I've never mentioned it again, and I won't. Preaching usually has the wrong effect.

As far as community activities, forget it. This is a big vacation area, and fun in the sun is all that matters. A few community people, the Chamber of Commerce, and a bank or two have had meetings and it was zzzzzz time. time.

-- gilda (jess@listbot.com), June 16, 1999.

It's the enormous number of DGI and DWGI around me that makes me think I'm nuts. I've given up telling anyone about y2k unless they ask me. I have remained active in a local church's y2k committee, tho. Gave a presentation last night on 'Food Storage and Preservation'. Audience of 8 (Four committee members were there!) The 4 audience members were all in their 70's! What happened to my generation and younger?! Are we too tied up in our fast food, things must be easy for us-mentality?

I'm not giving up. I'm not going to quit preparing. Even as I reach my prep goals, I will extend them further. If I'm wrong come next year, so be it. If I'm right then my family and friends will be able to be warm and fed. Sounds like a good trade off to me.

It's a comfort to me have friends like you and my local friends who are of the same mind. (I nearly put "off" the same mind!) lol

"I'm a leper, you're a leper, wouldn't you like to be a leper, too?" (That's for you, Unc D.)

Whew, I feel better now. Linda

-- newbiebutnodummy (Linda@home.com), June 16, 1999.

Spindoc, I don't blame you for being careful! There's been plenty of reason on this forum to err on the side of caution.

Sweetie and I are in the same position as just about all of you, even though Fran left a lasting impression. (Obviously not lasting enough!) If things go beyond a 2 or 3, I know we can't feed the whole block, never mind the whole street, but we'll help take care of an elderly couple. They're aware and have prepared as much as they're able. One of the different things I've done, which might be worth copying, is to purchase a couple of extra solar battery chargers and rechargeables so the couple can keep themselves supplied with batteries for their portable radio and flashlight.

Other than my father (in England), my son (near New Orleans) and The Hungarian (in the neighborhood), we've learned not to discuss ANY emergency preps (let alone Y2K preps) with anyone.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), June 16, 1999.

I'm still finding candles at garage sales... almost for free. Enough said.

-- no (one@is.preparing), June 16, 1999.

Most people don't get it. Period. We just picked up a gas stove- no electricity required- for free. Was on the lawn with a "Free" sign on it- was someone my partner knows- they said- sure- take it. suprised it's still there. People are oblivious for the most part.

The thing is though- if it gets bad- it's not like all of us prepared GI's will be fine and the DWGI will just wimper and die. This ain't the 30's- I don't even like to consider the possibilities.

I do know that I found the following interesting. My partners son was up this week- he's camping out a stateparks this summer- trying to save money for an apt. While he was at work, someone made off with all of his firewood, a lantern and a new bottle of citronella oil. At a campground. Another camper had a tent and everything else stolen there.Now i used to go camping every summer- never thought twice about leaving stuff out. Now even campgrounds aren't safe. And this is before 1/1/00. Not good...

-- farmer (hillsidefarm@drbs.net), June 16, 1999.

spindoc':

PVS = Pollyanna Vegetative State

(posted in the eighteenth answer to this thread)

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), June 16, 1999.

Old Git:

Who is your source for "solar battery chargers"?

I can understand your secrecy regarding your provisions. I hope you find a safer place to relocate before TSHTF.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), June 16, 1999.

farmer:

You mentioned a topic I can't ignore. When the masses of grasshoppers panic and realize they can't obtain the necessities from stores, they will remember the GI ants and await their opportunities. What they can't buy from you, they'll steal from you. They will rationalize their thievery. Desperation corrupts moral behavior.

-- Randolph (dinosaur@williams-net.com), June 16, 1999.

they won't prepair,but they'll remember.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), June 17, 1999.

Hi Randolph, got solar chargers from ccrane.com (about $15, charges different sizes, many charge only AAs) plus good rechargeable batteries, and a solar charger from realgoods.com which will also RUN anything up to a small TV (12v), as well as plug into a cigarette lighter to charge AAs or run stuff (has a multi-jack thingie). They all work as advertised, have tested them. Then I have a battery charger which charges rechargeables AND regular batteries but that's on the grid. Roy of FourWinds, supplies our big solar needs, and we're getting ready to order a couple more panels. He sells various solar accessories--check out his page: www.infoblvd.net/4windpwr. Tell him I said to send you some of his jokes too. He has really good ones.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), June 17, 1999.