A question regarding imports from Canada and Mexico, specifically...also, any other y2k-affected countries: which imports are projected to be "not available" (ex., I heard somewhere "shoes". I have a one year old son...so, should I stock up on different sized winter boots, for example? Thanks.

-- NSmith (nitnat3@aol.com), July 03, 1999

Answers

Its my experience that most products that I buy are from Asia or South and Central America. There areas are already on the edge financially without the problem of y2k. Therefore, I would say to look at the labels of the boots you buy and make a decision. Personally, Chubby Hubby and I both wear WalMarts $9.47 tennis shoes. And since our feet quit growing a hundred years ago, I bought 10 pair of each of our sizes. Mine in white and his in black or gray. I have also bought lots of underwear and socks for both of us. And since we live in Florida and wear jean shorts 8 months of the year, I bought 20 pair of them at Sam's Club. Bugle Boy for $9.95. We both wear the same size shorts so that was easy. Here in Florida, the cheapest thing you can buy are Tee shirts. 3 for $10. Every time I go to Walgreens, I pick up 3 more tee shirts. Have enuff jeans and sweat shirts from when we lived in Pacific North West, that I didn't have to buy any of those.

Taz...who has gotten so that she resents it when she has to wear shoes!

-- Taz (Tassie @aol.com), July 03, 1999.

Check out the thread Imports: What do we get from where? -

-- Bob (bob@bob.bob), July 03, 1999.

Sweetheart Taz,

Stay away from white shoes. In the event you need those shoes to carry you thru bad times you dont want to make a target out yourself. As a kid skulking around the neighborhood years ago, I learned "white at night" was bad for business. Also, shorts are great but I think it would be wise to stick to jeans. The last thing you'll need is a cut on the leg to get infected. White or not, keep those shoes ON after 1/1/1900. hehehehehehe.......

-- Mike (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), July 03, 1999.

I was the poster who started the Imports thread and I bogged down in it very quickly. We import an extraordinary variety of stuff from a huge number of countries--places you wouldn't suspect. I'm glad this subject came up again because it's difficult to believe how much stuff we dont' make in the US any more.

Very many items seem to have Made in China labels, especially footwear, but I notice NiCad battery chargers and other small electronics are now made in China too. Clothing has long been made in China, as are some linens, but I've noticed Portuguese and Egyptian bed and bath cottons are proliferating.

Important: where are automobile parts and tires made these days?

A Made in USA label should be checked carefully--does it say made of imported materials? For instance, the best madras shirts are made from Indian fabric (think Lands' End).

Finally, let's not forget Belgian chocolates (now that the dioxins have been left out of them!), French wine, Italian cheeses, English mustard and cookies, Scottish whisky, and other imported goodies to stash in the luxury section of your pantry.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), July 03, 1999.

Those who use Tetramin fish food may be surprised to find it is made in Germany. I know I was. I have a battery powered air pump for short term power outages so if the fish survive that they'll need food :^)

mb in NC

-- mb (mdbutler@coastalnet.com), July 03, 1999.

mb, in my little "post y2k world" fish won't need food...fish will be food.

-- corrine l (corrine@iwaynet.net), July 03, 1999.

corrine if you're going to swallow those golfish whole, I'll buy tickets!

Maybe not of "great necessity" but coffee and tea are imported.

-- none (none@none.none), July 03, 1999.

There are two very large tire plants in Oklahoma: A Uniroyal plant in Ardmore, OK and Goodyear in Lawton, OK. Of course, none of the "ingredients" come from around there.

-- jeanne (jeanne@hurry.now), July 03, 1999.

A great deal of clothing is imported.....browsing thru my catalogs, many items say "imported".

I recently bought a sheet set from Lands End, and it turns out, to my surprise, that it was made in Israel!

-- Jo Ann (MaJo@Michiana.com), July 03, 1999.

If you are going to worry about interruptions in foreign trade, here are the ones I think most worrisome. (On my website, excerpted from the article entitled "An Introduction").

...most international trade will fall to levels less than 20% of current levels. (Think food, oil, coal, platinum, palladium, chromium, bauxite, vanadium, copper, tungsten, computer chips, spare parts, ball bearings, tools, fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, medicines, water treatment stuff, money, food, and food).

No chromium - no stainless steel. No platinum or palladium -- many industrial processes are impossible or much harder (example: catalytic cracking, which produces most gasoline). Spare parts -- if the factory isn't in the U.S., and you can't get a part you need to keep a machine running, it won't matter if it is compliant and you have powere/fuel to run it. Medicines -- what, 80% of pharmaceutical raw materials are currently imported? Don't get sick...

You get the idea. www.y2ksafeminnesota.com

-- MinnesotaSmith (y2ksafeminnesota@hotmail.com), July 03, 1999.

Imports?: Food = not an issue for the US. Fuel = very concerned about this. Raw materiel = not looking good. Clothing and gadgets = so what, I wanna eat, not curl my hair. Replacement parts = very serious problem. Can you say screwed?

Lets get together with Canada and work out this fuel thing. It could be our Achilles Heel. Someone please jump in here about the oil issue.

-- bitin' my nails (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), July 03, 1999.

I have been buying shoes and clothes in larger sizes for our 4&5 yo girls. Late last winter I took advantage of Clearance sales. Bought thermals, tops and bottoms, for $2.00 each at Walmart. I will continue buying clothes up to 3 sizes too big. Who knows how long it will take to get things back to normal, if that is possible. I am also buying extra toys for the girls. I don't want them to suffer any more then necessary.

-- Homeschooling Grandma (mlaymon@glenn-co.k12.ca.us), July 04, 1999.

Homeschooling Grandma, I have always bought clothes for my kids that were too big. I usually go to rummage sales, if you go to the really nice neighboorhoods you can get Really nice clothes for next to nothing. A $20.00 top for $.50. Some things I always buy new....undies and at least one pair of shoes a year. My kids do not mind, not at all. They have been brought up this way though and I dont bring home tattered things, usually the shoes are next to new, still in the box.

Anyway I have plastic boxes in the basement, labled with sizes. When the season changes, I go through thier clothes and the 'too big' clothes also and pull togther a wardrobe. I love it. I only spend about $300. a year on kids cloths, and I have 3 kids.

Now I have started to buy for other people too, and they love it. Don't you just love getting a good deal, to me it makes me like the outfit much better.

-- bulldog (snifin@around.com), July 04, 1999.

it is not posible to have too many tampons

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), July 04, 1999.

zoobie,

It is definitely possible to have too many tampons - particularly once they are used. What are you going to do with them? You can't burn them and burying them will only attract animals to dig. Much better to use re-useable products like sponges or flannel pads. Clean rags work great too. Hence the term - on the rag.

What you really can't stockpile enough of is condoms. Even if you don't need them someone else will and every condom means one potential pregnancy or transmission of STDs avoided. It will be all well and good to survive the roll-over. Its the baby boom of Sept.2000 that I'm worried about. Not to mention the unchecked spread of STDs. We won't be able to even test for STDs let alone treat them. Gack.

-- R (riversoma@aol.com), July 04, 1999.

Another link to check out is rationing in WWII, to get an idea of how it has been done in the past, and what item (although this was war related) could become in short supply.

-- Bob (bob@bob.bob), July 05, 1999.