Just received some stuff from U.S.A. rediculous,exchange,customs does anyone now of good reliable supplier for all necessities, Baygen radio.Led Lights,solar battery chargers.

-- joe (jpluto@hotmail.com), August 04, 1999

Answers

A good question, Joe, one that I've been looking into for quite a while. Although most producers of energy-producing\ self-sustaining items reside in the States, mostly the California area (something to be said about them being more future-oriented I guess), I've noticed a slight change of product lines at places like Canadian Tire, Wal- Mart and Price Club, to name a few.

They have been quietly stocking their shelves with the intent to 'be there' when the populace wakes up to the dangerous liabilities of Y2K later this year. Taking a quick survey walking through departments, you'll find less frivilous luxury items, more practical and longer lasting products throughout their stores. Canadian Tire, has expanded their camping sections in most stores (I've never seen more lines of propane camping stoves, for example) while food outlets have larger bulk items then ever before.

A word of advice. You need not stock up on bulk dehydrated foods packages from the suppliers like Waltons. There are numerous food- stuffs that have a shelve life that runs into the year 2001. Canned goods, bags of rice and beans, noodles, and freeze-dried bags of vegetables. Even meats stored properly in a freezer last 12 to 18 months.

Though I expect imports of food and products that rely on international shipping to grind almost to a halt next year, eventually they will get here but it's anyone's guess on how long it will be before things get up to speed again (years??!!)

Best to stock-up on items that you know come from far off places that won't be available for a long, long time. Also items that involve a good deal of complexity to produce (that domino\ inter-connectivity thing) which means, although the plant may be down the street, they may need some raw materials from Europe to produce it. It takes some 'think through' and maybe, some research before stocking the pantry.

Regardless of food-stuffs and products available over the next two years, you'll still be ahead if you stock-up now since gas and oil disruptions will drive up the prices of most everything. If anything, what you buy now can viewed as economic prudence.

-- Gary Allan Halonen (njarc@ica.net), September 16, 1999.