I went to the hospital last week to visit a lifelong friend who was down with kidney stones. He is a chemist and quality control manager at a big Rhone-Poulenc plant 60 miles east of a major southern city famous for it's abysmally corrupt city govt. He told me they have been working the staff to the bone to re-pipe the plant from making shampoos,cosmetics, surfactants etc, to producing a huge contract of CANDLES for Union Camp corp. Furthermore, their contract, for millions of pounds of smokeless and safety type candles runs through 6/00 and has deadline penalties for late deliveries. He also told me they had been beset with Y2k problems internally which slowed or stopped production at the plant for from 2-3 hrs. to 3 days. Their main computer, which monitors plant sensor input and volumes etc is only 6 yrs old, and is experiencing y2k failures already. They are trying to replace it. Also they are stockpiling as much raw materials for their processes as they possibly can, and they have added storage space to accomodate the chemicals. Finally, the plant will shut down on12/31completely, and they will gradually bring the systems back up on the 3rd. as they hold their breath.

I would not post this if I did not think it was VERY telling. Also, I have known this guy since 7th grade, and I NEVER knew him to tell a lie in all that time. I will be picking his brain again soon for more info.

-- doktorbob (downsouth@dixie.com), December 03, 1999

Answers

Kidney stones are pure raw unadulterated torture!! And severe enough to warrant hospitalization in the Land of HMO's?!!! I can't imagine his work load and stress ONTOP of that kind of physical pain. That sux big time. But no doubt he's on some happy pills now, though.

-- Hokie (nn@va.com), December 03, 1999.

Oh good. I thought you were going to say they were making methyl isocynate. Wheww.

-- Becky (rmbolte@wvadventures.net), December 03, 1999.

Thank you doktorbob! And the stories, the dribbles, the clues, are mounting!

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), December 03, 1999.

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Little things that never make the paper or the evening news!

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-- snooze button (alarmclock_2000@yahoo.com), December 03, 1999.

Great info!! I got a similar story and this looks like the perfect thread for it. trinity Industries Longview Tx. division has converted one of their plants to producing Wind turbine generator towers. These are the huge ones about 300 ft. tall. that is news I've posted here before but now they have also started to convert one of their railcar production facilities into a Truck Propane tank production line. Sounds to me like they are gearing up for a heating oil shortage and -or a pipeline shutdown.

-- Nikoli Krushev (doomsday@y2000.com), December 03, 1999.

Good post Doktorbob!

Worth the read and further consideration...

-- (Kurt.Borzel@gems8.gov.bc.ca), December 04, 1999.

Thanks doktorbob,

$$$ shortage makes other shortages moot now. But a few more little things like candles etc. sure would be nice.

How are `They' managing to keep such things covered up?

-- maid upname (noid@ihope.com), December 04, 1999.

Just wondering what type of chemicals would be used in smokless candles?

-- Tommy Rogers (Been there@Just a Thought.com), December 04, 1999.

If that many problems occur, to cause candles stil to be needed in that quantity through 06/00 - how are they going to get supplies to make the candles, plus power/water/lights/material to ship the candles to where needed?

Their own workers would need to be supported too - prehaps the military can "force" employment under adverse conditions, but companies can't

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), December 06, 1999.