I have written a few letters this year to the editor in my small town. Now I'm writing to the capital city/state newspaper. I've talked with reporters and editors there several times. They make guarded statements to the effect that I'm not the usual nutty y2k caller, why don't I write something?

My hope is to get a few more people to go out and buy things druing December (as Gary North puts it, so they can get to a shelter if services fail in January). And I really think that being mentally prepared will lessen the shock of any interuptions of paycheck or gasoline supply or whatever. Obviously it is too late to make 6-month preps, but some people I know are just warming up to the idea of one-week preps and that would be a very good idea for them ACT upon.

"Dear Editor, How much food do you have in the house? As we bow our heads in gratitude for our blessings this year, understand that there is a huge difference between us and the Pilgrims: They had six months of food on hand. How deep is your storehouse? We have been told again and again for each of us to arrange on our shelves anough water and food for (take your pick) 2-3 days, 3-5 days, one week, etc. This message has been buried behind a lot of chatter that has turned us from the message to prepare. I would urge readers to heed the warnings of the Red Cross, FEMA, the WV Office of Emergency Services and the President's Council on Y@K: Be ready. Then if the lights don't come on in January for any period of time you will find yourself in a comfortable position to assess the situation. Imagine the scene if the power goes down. You will not know why the power is out and how long it will be before it is restored. But with three days of heat and water and light and food you will find yourse;f in a much more comfortable arragnement than if you had done nothing. Today, make a list of what you will need: jugs of water, food, a can opener, a source of light and a plan. If you cannot heat your house without your utilities know how to drain you water pipes and where to go for shelter. What will you take with you to a community shelter?. . . . "

Then I recommend a FEMA booklet and a Red Cross pamphlet and quote a guy that was quoted on Gary North "'I'm ready to be wrong. Are you?' Let's all --house by house-- be ready to be wrong."

I think just the thought of going to a shelter would get a few people motivated. I'm asking that my name not be used and that it be published on Thanksgiving Day. Any dibs on whether they'll print it?

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), November 11, 1999

Answers

Anonymous letters from Y2Krackpots who think the power is going to go out? Stranger things have happened...

-- Y2K Pro (y2kpro1@hotmail.com), November 11, 1999.

Becky, don't know if they will print it or not, but it is nice to finally see someone else from WV on this forum. There may be others, but I am not aware of any. Where are you located? If you don't want to post it, send me an email.

Two things, though. I always say that if you are going to write a letter to the editor, you should put your name on it. I don't know if they will print anonymouse letters. On the other hand, at this stage, I don't think I would be putting my name on a prep letter for all to see.

What do others think on this?

-- Darla (dnice@hgo.net), November 11, 1999.

Becky: The largest newspaper near me is a biggie. I know they do not under any circumstances publish anonymous letters. Why not try Dear Abby? Seriously! Whether she prints it or not depends on how much she knows about this issue.

-- preparing (preparing@home.com), November 11, 1999.

Preparing, I don't send it anonymously I just request that they print it without my name.

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), November 11, 1999.

Darla -

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), November 11, 1999.

Darla -

I'm not at home. I'll write you when I am. Yes I'm that lame with a computer. Nice to find you.

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), November 11, 1999.

Today, I received a call from my local newspaper...the same one that I gave copies of the August government report card, our electric company statement, etc. As of today, they had printed nothing on Y2K.

The reporter told me that our local police department had requested our city council to respond to the Y2K issue. I told him that the police must have received the Project Mediggo report from the FBI. He said that I was well informed.

I also told him that no one knows exactly what was going to happen on Jan 1 and in the months to follow but our electric company is advising on their web site to prepare for a winter storm. I recalled to him the ice storm of '98 in Maine and Canada where some people were without power for weeks. I also said that it would be a good idea to prepare with heat, food, water, medicine, etc.

And finally, I told him that our state had 15 mission critical systems that were not ready yet.

He asked in I was serving on any Y2K committees and I told him that I was not aware of any but if asked, I would.

The entire conversation took about ten minutes and based on my previous thirty or so interviews with the press on other matters, I can only wonder what one-line polly statement he will print!

If they get the story right, they spell your name wrong and vice versa.

-- Cant Say (Chicken@NoWay.com), November 11, 1999.

Cant Say -

WOW! My local newsguy [they win the state awards for top weekley year after year] said they'd be calling me in December, that he wanted do a story on who was doing what to prepare. [HAHAHAHA]

They did an article long ago that simply covered what the banks had been doing, with none of that humor crap and no lines that downplay the whole thing. It was very factual and I was sooo proud.

Then at a public meeting in October the state Emergency Office rep. singled him out and said, "I challenge you to get the word out NOT TO P . . . " you know the word. The reporter asked not one question. Later the publisher said the reporter was hoping I'd make a scene [we joke a lot, but I think he was fairly serious here.]

So I told him, about the December article, that this is not a pre-game who-do-you-think-will-win type deal. If they want people to know how to prepare, publish that.

And besides, I told him I'm the only one out of the closet about y2k in general, much more so how I am preparing. The really sad thing is he looked at me and said, "I'm worried the school's paychecks won't make it." His wife is a teacher and the Bd. of Ed. is the county's largest employer. It was said as if he was letting something personal slip.

I wanted to slam the desk and say "That's it!! That's what a glitch is!" I do have my fantasies.

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), November 12, 1999.