http://www.y2kwomen.com/

Karen Anderson's Y2K Women Today... Information for Women on Living Life Simply, Safely and Securely in the Year 2000 and Beyond

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Y2K Women Today! You may be wondering why there's still a "Y2K Women" website still around. Good question! The answer is really quite simple.

Y2K Women wasn't just about preparing for possible consequences associated with the century date change problem - it was about being prepared for any emergency that might put you and your family at risk. Y2K for many people (including me!) was a wake-up call reminding us of why it is important to be prepared for possible challenges we might face -- whether we're single women, wives, grandmothers, sisters or whatever role we happen to be in.

The Y2K Women site was originally designed to explain the Year 2000 Problem (Y2K) to women who had very limited computer knowledge and what we could do to protect our families, should there be problems.

But what I found out is that there are many kinds of "emergency situations" that can impact your family's well-being -- whether the problem is a natural disaster like a tornado, snow storm, hurricane, drought, etc. or a personal emergency such as a job layoff, major illness or death in the family. Whatever the situation, being reasonably prepared makes good common sense (and it ends up saving you time and money in the long run!).

Many people (men and women alike) don't know how to handle the possibility of something happening outside their control and so they, in essence, "shut down" and don't even want to think about it, let alone make any plans! Given all the demands of a hectic lifestyle, thinking about what could happen is often overwhelming so you don't even feel like starting.

That's where Y2K Women Today comes in. Its focus is on the practical side of caring for your family -- where the rubber meets the road. Being prepared for an emergency or crisis helps you to focus in on what's important in life. And what many women have said is, Y2K helped them focus on living life simply, safely and securely.

And the good news is that, with a little planning and preparation, it doesn't have to be expensive or overwhelming! In fact, it's like an insurance policy -- once it's done, you rest easier at night and pray you never have to collect on your policy.

One of the questions I kept hearing over and over was, "Where do I start?" So I decided to put together a list of resources that I've checked out personally and feel comfortable recommending. I also designed a Home Preparedness Checklist you can use to walk through each room of your house to make sure you haven't missed anything in your preparations.

Y2K Women also provides a free electronic newsletter (e-zine) "Dear Karen..." where I tackle the practical issues that affect your home, as well as some of the tough emotional concerns many families are facing today such as online safety, women's health concerns, and ways to keep sane in a world that seems to keep getting faster and faster.

I believe that since women have the primary focus of the home, their needs and issues are different! In fact, if you know of anything that might be helpful for women, or if you come across anything you think would be good for other moms to know, I'd love to hear about it. Just email me at karen@y2kwomen.com. (Much of the Y2K information on this site is good for many different kind of situations, so I'm in the process of updating the site. Please bear with me while I make the changes! I'll get them done ASAP!)

I know that when there is a crisis, women are the first to help and encourage one another. No matter what happens, whether you face a crisis or just minor inconveniences in living life, there is always hope. We need to pray and ask for God's strength to handle whatever happens together.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2001

Answers

What could possibly match this report?
http://www.y2kwomen.com/archives/DK77.html

Issue #77 January 1, 2000

Topics: Gratefulness and Reassurance

Dear Friends,
When I woke up this morning, I was truly grateful to be able to say "Happy" New Year! Thankfully, the power grid stayed up and there were few disruptions. I think we owe a huge debt of gratitude to the multitude of men and women who have spent many long hours trying to fix the problems associated with the date change.

Does this mean that there aren't going to be any problems? Well, the verdict is still out. As Sen. Bennett, co-chair of the Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Problem, said recently we won't know for at least a couple of weeks and possibly longer the full extent of Y2K effects. The problems reported so far have been minimal (thank God!). We are only 24 hours into the rollover but most people are saying that things are looking very optimistic - yet it is too early to tell.

But I have to be honest with you and tell you that it has been a very hard day for me. I have gotten some very nasty letters from people who are angry that they prepared and "nothing happened." I think the reason I am hurt is because they just don't get it and I don't know how to help them.

The reason for preparing is simple: We don't know what will happen tomorrow. Whether it is Y2K (still a possibility), a natural disaster, a job lay-off, an economic problem or whatever, the idea of having reserves and being prepared for any emergency is sound. In fact, it is the first time our government has come out and said that we should be prepared for an emergency - and they don't make recommendations like that lightly.

But what if "nothing happens"? This New Year's Eve there were huge concerns about terrorist activities. I read that many people changed their plans because of threats of terrorism. Many extra precautions were taken in the event of an attack for planned activities. Fortunately, New Year's came and went and there were no attacks. Why? Did they do a great job of "fixing" the problem by having heightened security, more officers, and tighter scrutiny or were the reports unfounded? Whatever the reason, everyone is grateful that things were calm. Nobody wants anything bad to happen. Yet it's almost like having people who may have stayed home because of terrorists fears say, "Darn! I can't believe I stayed home and nothing happened! If they did blow up the building, at least it would have justified my staying home!" That's ridiculous!

As for Y2K issues, for a good explanation of what has happened (or not happened) so far here are some comments from Ed Yourdon, a well respected computer consultant and writer and one of the first people to alert people to Y2K. He posted this on his website this morning (I suggest you read it all - it's pretty short - at http://www.yourdon.com). Here's Ed's comment:

"The good news about the first 10-12 hours of post-Y2K existence is that (a) the world has not come to an end, (b) no serious, life-threatening problems or crises have been reported, and (c) there was hardly any evidence of panic. Many stores in the U.S., Japan, and a few other parts of the world, reported hectic business during December 30-31, as people stocked up on toilet paper, bottled water, flashlights and batteries. Heavy cash withdrawals were reported in parts of Nigeria, Hong Kong, Turkey, and a few other isolated spots; but there were no full-scale bank runs, and initial reports in the U.S. and England indicate that ATM usage was not much greater than normal.

"The bad news - at least potentially - is that people will assume that the Y2K problem is "over," and that they can relax their vigil. It's easy to become complacent when "victory" has already been declared in the media....But in my opinion, Y2K isn't over yet. I'm less worried than I was 24 hours ago, and I'm delighted that things have worked out so well, so far. "No news," as Y2K czar John Koskinen said in an interview yesterday, "is good news," and I hope it continues. My family is delighted that they won't be subjected to a diet of tuna fish and rice; but I'm going to hold onto that food for a while. Here in northern New Mexico, we actually do get three-day winter snowstorms from time to time, and the power occasionally goes out even without Y2K as the explanation. I have no regrets or apologies for the preparations I made, or the precautions I took - no more so than I regret the money I spent last year on automobile insurance, health insurance, and fire insurance, none of which turned out to be necessary."

In the meantime, the New Year is always a good time to reflect on the past and I'd like to take a moment and look at the positive things that have happened here on this site. I believe Y2K Women is much bigger than just the Y2K "computer problem." It's about being responsive, resourceful, and responsible women as we move into the next century. Here are some of the things I've learned...

I've learned the importance of getting to know my neighbors, keeping a fire extinguisher handy, why it is important to live more self-reliantly, and why it makes sense to keep reserves of food and water on hand for an emergency. I've learned that making "hard copies" of documents makes sense since you shouldn't trust computers never to make mistakes. I've learned it is rewarding to grow and can your own food and there is something neat about giving your kids something that you've made (not out of a box!) that is rewarding. I've learned that having some cash on hand (and not spending it!) is wise and that I need to plan ahead to have extras available to help a friend in need. I've learned that there are many women who deeply love their families and are willing to make sacrifices to make sure they are protected and safe in a crisis.

So I'd like to ask a favor of you. If you have learned anything this year that has been good or helpful for you as you've prepared for possible Y2K problems, would you drop me an email at Karen@y2kwomen.com and let me know? I'll put them together and send them out next week as a way to encourage all of us in the face of criticism and ridicule. Just put the word "lessons" in the subject. You don't have to be a good writer and it doesn't have to be an earth shattering idea. Whatever you have learned is great.

Also feel free to tell me what you'd like for next year. For example, many women have written to say they want more help on living a simpler lifestyle. Others have wanted a continuation of "preparedness" as a lifestyle. Just let me know. I truly want to be there to help you in any way I can.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2001

OK, I have an email for her.

How about, "Karen, computers don't run the country and were never capable of causing the destruction that you and your best friends Mike Hyatt and Gary North imagined. You three people also made conservative, Bible-believing Christians a laughing stock -- once again! -- with your harebrained, ill-founded pessimism."

"But hey; nothing but love for you."

That'd do for starters.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2001

Sister Catherine feels impelled to add that the Y2k Lady neglected to mention that she and her man had been "preppers" since their first night of wedded bliss when she learned that her mate believed in storing long term supplies of food.

And to make the story complete, it would help to know that Ms. Anderson was a devoutee of one Gary North and had even posted that she had moved back to Texas to work for him from the D.C. area. Now she has a new "leader" it would seem since she has relocated to a new Mobile Home in Tennessee close to one Michael Hyatt.

Sister Catherine does not think that Ms. Anderson was very successful trying to replace Paloma O'Reilly or other of the Wimmen folk who tried to peddle "things" to prep for the Y2k Disaster they were all predicting.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2001

Sadly, one might conclude that Karen is a Y2K "groupee"?...

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2001

Dear Karen was no "groupee". She started the web site at the urging of North and he is a direct mailing marketing expert who runs another business teaching people how to be sucessful in "newsletters". He has several of them with audited subscriptions of 14,000 and 18,000 yearly paid. Multiply that by his "special introductory" pricing usually around $129 and tell me how much he rakes in.

Hit your calculator and see how many millions that is. Now he has moved to "electronic delivery" and you tell me what his profit it. He has made many millions playing his "Scary Gary" role for almost 30 years.

Now, it is clear that "Dear Karen" was set up to build the "lists". Consider how much she makes if her "special newsletter" only costs $99/year or 2 yrs. for $129 and she has ONLY 2,000 subscribers. Deduct about $10,000 for electronic delivery.

Dear Karen was set up to glom the same fools who pay North for his Biblical or Financial advice.

That it continues on is proof of that. But "Karen" who marketed the re-usable menstural cup for Y2k prepping (just wash it out and stick it back in), only appeals to the niche of the "real nice folks" who follow Dearest Brother Gary. It should be noted that she has been in PR for years and has a Master's Degree. She once lived in a most upscale D.C. burb near a Y2k De-bunker.

Like North, she is just another HUSTLER on the FAR RIGHT CHRISTIAN CIRCUIT (circus, actually).

On that very same circuit, Michael Hyatt is slicker. He switched to "readiness" after "Y2k prep" was played out. When that did not fly, he switched to "Privacy". New book is on Amazon and the web site has the forums for the Paranoids.

Meanwhile he is a VP at Thomas Nelson the largest publisher of Christian Books in the US. Sad comment on Thomas Nelson.

-- Anonymous, August 15, 2001