REASONS YOU CAN BE RELIEVED ABOUT Y2K

This morning's local NBC affiliate news update by a cheerful anchorwoman, Channel 8:

She made reference to the upcoming Y2K movie and then said, in all perkiness, that we do not have to worry... for here, she said, is a "relieving piece of information":

Y2K is of "little concern" because a poll by the food industry shows that 70 percent of people do not plan to buy any extra food, and 80 percent of people are not concerned about shortages "so common sense is prevailing."

We can really be relieved about Y2K because 70 percent of the population will not buy ANY EXTRA FOOD!!

Also, she said, the oil industry "is ready for the bug and does not expect high demands for gas."

Bay area hospitals are ready, she said cheerfully. Proof? Bayfront and All Children's Hospitals are 90 percent compliant and Tampa General Hospital is 86 percent compliant. So there!

I feel sorry for, maybe, 14 percent of the patients at Tampa General... but then they don't have to worry about gas, either.

-- (normally@ease.notnow), November 21, 1999

Answers

Is that in Florida, where inspite of all effort to motivate people to prepare for any emergency, more turned out to be dependent on the "Gobmint" than ever before after Hurrican Irene? The state of the Day Before The Storm People, who sit around with their mouths partially open in stupified fashion, watching for "signs" to rush out in an all out violent panic all at the same time?

-- Paula (chowbabe@pacbell.net), November 21, 1999.

Paula: Yup. That would be us.

-- (normally@ease.notnow), November 21, 1999.

They don't have to worry about gas? When's the last time you tasted hospital food?

-- silly (in@the.morning), November 21, 1999.

What an incredibly stupid TV report. The oil companies do not expect high demand for gasoline? What do they think we are seeing now. As Downstreamer and Gordon have been reporting, prices are at multiple year highs and stocks are near record lows for this time of year. I become more amazed every day by the stupidity I see in the news media. Some of business programs, such as CNBC, are amoung the worst offenders.

-- Danny (dcox@ix.netcom.com), November 21, 1999.

If 70-80% are not worried/not planning to buy extra, fine. What about the other 20-30%? If the 20-30% all go out and buy on the average an extra week's worth of food between Christmas & New Year's Eve, that will be enough to empty store shelves. When the 70-80% see that, they may change their minds & join the stampede.

Enjoy the ride.

Mikey2k

-- Mikey2k (mikey2k@he.wont.eat.it), November 21, 1999.

Polls??

These are polls of people that have not done their homework on Y2K, so they will fail one of the most,if not the most, important tests of their lives. Quite possibly for some or many it will be their last test.

The stupidity of the news media/entertainment media is striking. So much information has been available, yet so few have had the courage to face reality that I'm flabbergasted sometimes. Is this reality? Is this really happening? Are the people that are OUR suppliers in life going to go into this situation totally physically and emotionally unprepared with so much at stake?

The answer can only be YES.. The reality of this, as we get closer, is starting to hit home...

-- PJC (paulchri@msn.com), November 21, 1999.

What an incredibly SENSIBLE report, even if it's utter fabrication. Try: "Our survey showed that 80% of Americans plan to buy up to two weeks of extra food and withdraw a thousand dollars or more in cash. Just make sure you're not last in line! Ha ha. Now over to Mindy with the weather."

Way, way, way too late to attempt to determine the truth. Just keep smiling and keep stocking, for you and your loved ones. If anyone else asks, say the Rays From Space are telling you to stock. Might as well toe the government line. :)

-- Colin MacDonald (roborogerborg@yahoo.com), November 22, 1999.