Police Departments computers go down  jails too.

Had lunch with a GI friend here in El Paso, TX today afterwards we visited a gun store where he is a *very* good customer (first name basis with the owner) it wasnt too crowded, but every clerk had a customer (or two) the whole time we were there. The owner stayed with my friend and I just long enough to find out he wasnt buying anything (today) before excusing himself to go help other customers.

The local TV channels have done several stories on gun store sales as an indicator of citizen of Y2K awareness. In each and every story sales were up.

After I got home my friend called to say the police departments computers were down and the county jails too. (He has a *very* good contact in the police department.) I watched the 5:30 and 6:00 oclock news to see if they would report it. Not a word!

Interestingly, the PDs 911 computers had gone down *during* a filmed Y2K news story just a few days ago. The embarrassed PD had carried on on paper saying this is how they would do it *if* the computers went down during the rollover.

Either all four local channels are ignorant or theyre trying to be good citizens and keep up the happy face. In either case Im coming to trust what I see on the net more than what I see on TV.

One more thing. My friend was in the market for kerosene a few days ago when I spotted a pallet of 5 gal. cans on sale at Home Depot and called to tell him. By the time he got there they were out. Later someone *here* mentioned buying kerosene at a Ace Hardware store. We hadnt thought to check there. I passed the word on to him and he finished up his purchases. Hes been buying a little at a time at petroleum dealers around town and had been asked Why is everybody buying so much all of the sudden?

-- David Craig (DesertDave@aol.com), December 30, 1999

Answers

David:

"Why is everybody buying so much all of the sudden?"

Probably because they suddenly realized their vulnerability and the law of supply&demand. Panic sets in quickly, ask any student who's crammed for an exam!

-- (Kurt.Borzel@gems8.gov.bc.ca), December 30, 1999.