Compiling a list. Why is this really like y2k?

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Intended somewhat tongue-in-check, but I'm amazed at the similarities.

Starting with the assurance that planes (note, plural!) would not fall from the sky...

Remember Yourdon's treatise just before rollover that NYC could turn into Beirut? (Does anyone still have a link to that?)

The economy would be hit hard but we would be told to spend frivolously anyway

Supply lines would be affected (thinking about Ford's decision to stockpile key parts, similar articles)

The Sheeple would wake up and begin to panic (also affecting key supplies)

Things just wouldn't work very well, sort of like normal life in the Third World. (In the first 9 business days, my company was severely affected for at least 5 of those days, in part to the Nimda virus. That virus may also explain the empty shelves reported elsewhere.)

ATMs would stop working (recall some were down on 9/11)

Continued rumors of pending death and destruction as many TPTB continue to coo, Don't Worry, Be Happy! And still no national advice about what it means to be responsibly prepared.

No wonder all of this feels so familiar!

Anything else to add?

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

Answers

The water would be a-okay!

Nothing to worry about with the nuclear power plants!

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001


Boy Brooks, are we ever on the same page today! I didn't see your post and had said this on OG's post below. I thought I would copy it and add it here to go along with what you said.

The things our goverment did before Y2K, to get ready for any problems, keeps coming back to me. One of them was the seals exercise on the coast and beaches of California. I remember they even had it in the local papers there about inviting some locals to come and join them in the exercise, as players...such as reporters and such. I think part of the reason was to take some of the edge off of the seriousness of it, from the town folk....it's not every day such a large exercise happens in plane site. The government must of thought there was a risk to that area.

So, once again...we are talking about the danger to our nuclear plants, dams, computers, etc., etc., this time... coming from a known group who has already done harm to our people and country.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001


PS, just read my post again and yes I really do know how to spell plain, just goofed and spelt it plane.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

Earlier today, I also said that we, who have prepped for Y2K, are in some ways ahead of the crowd...because we mainly need only to add to what we already have done, not start from scratch.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

Maggie, I mostly agree with that. I think what we are mostly ahead of the curve about is what it means to be prepared. It takes a long time to reach that mindset and determine what is right for your personal situation. We aren't simply reacting or blindly overreacting. Because I don't want my doomer card revoked I'm finally looking into gas masks (more from a commuting standpoint if I'm faced with WTC type rubble pollution) and replacing my emergency water filter. Otherwise, it isn't requiring much.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001


Something else, which I found especially amusing. Jane Garvey (FAA) is back to riding airplanes to show how safe they are. Except she apparently made a point of staying away from Logan.

Also, FEMA is still recommending exactly three days worth of preps.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001


Brooks.

FEMA... same old song and dance. Prepare for a winter storm over the weekend! Yep! In just three days it'll be long gone.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Sad, isn't it?

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001


My main things to still do are, getting my water barrels done, cat food and cat litter supply bought, extra batteries and fire starters for the wood stove. I over did, in some respects for Y2K and don't plan to prepare again to that extent. I will have heat, light, food, water, some meds, spare tires for the van, along with some things for communication. All in all, I have done my best to be able to take care of myself, without rushing out in a panic as some others might, that haven't done anything until now. I am grateful for the time I had before this to get prepared.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001

Maggie,

If you are like me, and I think you are from reading what you have written, you made a lifestyle change when you began to prep. I have kept with most of my supplies, and have a huge stocked pantry.

Sure, there were a couple of thing I bought which I wish I hadn't (canned hams), but live and learn. I love ham, and thought that the canned ones might be a way for a quick ham sandwich, boy was I wrong. I learned from my (few) mistakes the first time around. My family loves the fact that whatever they wish for dinner, I have it on hand. Pasta you say? What kind of pasta would you like for dinner tonight... LOL

I should get more pet food and supplies, as I have let them dwindle down. Batteries, always use them so I guess I should get a few more. Other than that, I don't think I'll be making any major purchases.

We made a lifestyle change, and are really glad that we did. I can't see ever going back to the just-in-time life.

Sheeps

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001


Brooks, I dare ya to post that at Unk's, LOL!

Also, remember all the brouhaha about those urban exercises various units were doing? Thank God they did and I hope they've kept up with it. If we don't need them here, we might need them somewhere else.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001



I think Unk's has already done a cruel spoof about why Paula Gordon has proclaimed that y2k miscues caused the planes to crash into the towers.

Another tie-in that comes to mind was the three day failure of our key spy satellites at rollover. They kept insisting that nothing had happened (yes, I understand why they had to tell us that), but actually something that threatened our very way of life here had happened big time. For me it raised all the national security concerns we are having right now. In hindsight, it justified for me all the preparations I have made.

Telecommunications was compromised (mostly because the lines were so busy, but I think the structural damage from the building collapses may have done some damage to the underlying infrastructure as well).

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001


Sheeps,

Yes, I did make a life style change around the time of y2k. I bought a wood burning stove, which for me was a biggy and other things to make sure I could live in my house and not have to go to a shelter. I have always had a large pantry but, not like I did for y2k. I bought extra for my son and his family, in case they had to come to my house to stay for awhile. We would have been like sardines in a can but, we would have been warm and safe. I have used or given away alot of the food since then. I am mostly preparing for myself this time, as the others can take care of themselves now.

I put off buying a dryer for months (I have a clothes line) but, with the talk of war and me thinking possible shortages and/or higher prices, I bought one this week.

I went to a store today and ask the lady who owns it, what people where talking about doing because of the war about to happen. She said people were talking about getting gas mask.

Between your noodles and mine, we could have a block party and feed the neighborhood.

Old Git, now that you mention it, I remember those exercises.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001


Good grief! Almost forgot!

TEOTWAWKI... (but we're all counting on it not actually being TEOTW)

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001


I had to beg people to prep for y2k. I had to insist that they come to me if they needed anything. They teased me about it, and then nothing happened, and they were nice enough NOT to tease me about it.

This time they're coming to me. And they aren't laughing. Apparently prepping became a way of life, as we're still able to take care of all of us and many extended family members and friends. The difference now is that they are very serious about it, and that's scary. I got used to living in a refugee center. They're just now thinking about it.

I really didn't WANT to use all the knowledge I had about living the hard way.

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001


Brooks,

TEOTWAWKI happened on September 11, 2001. I agree, let us all hope that it isn't TEOTW.

Sheeps

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001



Great thread! I've been thinking about a lot of the similarities myself. The holes on the shelves continue, but yesterday I noticed more workers in the aisles in the middle of the day (at two Wal- Marts) re-arranging items.

And, no, I don't spend all of my free time in the marts! At the moment, though, I'm helping several folks start or round out their preps, and I need to keep checking for certain items. If you've ever called a Wal-Mart and asked if something was available, you'll understand why I go in person.

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001


Anyone doing any shopping on line?

I'm not, but I was wondering...

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001


Barefoot, I did a alot of shopping on line before y2k but, nothing this time.

I still have most of the stuff I bought that was dehydrated in cans, like milk, potatoes, eggs, cheese, butter and other veggies. My friend, who bought alot of the same things, said the butter, cheese and eggs were just awful! I haven't tried them yet. One thing I bought was the TVP (textured vegtable protein) and couldn't get past the smell of it. I even tried to give some to my cats and they wouldn't touch it, so I gave them away. One thing I bought and love, is the soy powdered milk.

Ordering by mail, will have very high shipping charges on bulk items.

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001


Barefoot, I've been busy.

Gas mask from grainger.com

new water filter from pwgazette.com

fish tetracycline

(I already had all the rational stuff).

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001


LOL

rational stuff, indeed.

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001


As Git just reminded me, SQUIRRELS! Still trashing those electrical systems.

Also, once again experiencing the unsettling feeling of going to the store for a doomer item and still feeling I should keep my mouth shut about it.

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001


I think we should ALL keep our mouths shut about how much we have in the way of preps for the same reasons we discussed pre-rollover. Sure, more people are prepping but they don't have the headstart or knowledge and might not have time to get it. Disseminating info is one thing, letting people know exactly how much you have is another. In fact, I would keep saying, "Gee, I wish I had more time and money to get supplies, but the civil defense folks recommend two weeks so that's what I'll go with, maybe a little more."

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001

"Two weeks"...? I thought the party line was three days?

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001

Three days for a hurricane, two weeks for a nuclear problem!

-- Anonymous, September 27, 2001

Right. Keeping your mouth shut. That's another similarity.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

As Helen said " Apparently prepping became a way of life, as we're still able to take care of all of us and many extended family members and friends. The difference now is that they are very serious about it, and that's scary. I got used to living in a refugee center. They're just now thinking about it."

This is another thing that goes back to Y2K, our wanting to be able to help others that may not be able to help themselves during a time of trouble. In New York, there were many who had to leave their homes because of the destruction of the twin towers. Many had gone to friends or family homes as a refuge. If/when things happen in other parts of the US, we once again need to be prepared to help others in their time of need.

I was concerned for a friend and her family during the fear of "what if" before Y2K and would they be able to get to my house, if need be. They live in another state. Again my thoughts go back to those concerns for others. Having some extra wouldn't hurt, along with an extra air mattress (cheap at a Wal-Mart) to put on the floor for extra people who may need a place to sleep.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001


One big difference, FOR THE TIME BEING, is that at the moment we're dealing with pretty mild weather. One of the reasons I prepared so intensely for y2k was the time of year. However, I do expect the threat of problems to continue throughout the year, and I expect my doomer concerns to increase accordingly.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

the threat of problems to continue throughout the year?

Honey, you better sit down.

The threats are going to be with us for the rest of our lives. Not that they haven't been all along, it's just that we as a nation haven't wanted to consider that anything would happen here. Now we know better.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001


Well, yes, I just meant the threats wouldn't always be during balmy early fall weather. 20 below is a possibility as well.

It's been an emotional cycle for me the last few years, calming down to a large degree as spring arrives (maybe it's just that it's gardening season) and tensing up again into the fall.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001


I hear that!

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

My cycle is the opposite. Apart from the early fall sinus attacks, my best time is cold weather. I hate spring cause it means summer's close.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

"I hate spring cause it means summer's close."

Yes, it means my garden is only a few weeks from being totally out of control for the rest of the growing season.

But I do worry about heat during the wintertime.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001


most people worry about the heat during the summer....

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

I said I was worried about "heat", not "THE heat". Please pay attention. ;^) [Understandable, actually, given that your gray matter has fried over the years.]

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

It's all that mail dust he complains about.

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

That's "male" dust...

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

Ooooo, it's a good thing I'm not reading this thread!!!

-- Anonymous, September 28, 2001

Another thought...

The high powered .gov reports detailing why the issue is so serious, except we were the only ones who read them before. (So, part of me has to take them with a grain of salt as merely worst case and not get TOO excited.)

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2001


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