Graham used to say " ah...cheese" when he a little kid as his catch all phrase for anything that disturbed his little world, it was kinda cute. The events of the last several days have me going "ah...cheese". It started with stupid people acting on a rumor that the world was running out of toilet paper or some such, it made no sense and everyone got a good laugh. Then normal people went to the grocery store and found a few bare spots on the shelves and they joined in, buying whatever was left.
Retailers operate on the low inventory, right on time system where items go from truck to shelf in short order. They have no reserve inventory. Inventory is held in regional distribution centers and is sent out on an as needed basis and those centers inventory on hand is based on past demand statistics.It's all neatly done by computer algorithms but, these lean systems are not set up to handle situations like the one we're having. Although, the supply chain is functioning normally and trucks are on the road 24/7, a continued run on goods will lead to shortages in the near term as demand outstrips supply. I went to Food Lion and Walmart today; both Corporations have some of the most sophisticated inventory control systems in existence and they still have not been able to satisfy demand and there are empty and half empty shelves all over. There is a definite air of distrust and apprehension going around. I was my usual cheerful self, trying to lighten the mood but, it wasn't working. Normally, the good cheer that I sow is spread out from the recipient to others but, today it was like a wall.
All this is happening and no one is sick yet. I've never seen anything like it, no one has that isn't over ninety.
I've been waiting for this for more than 40 years. When I was in High School, it was a post nuclear apocalypse where I would scavenge the wasteland with my tribe of mutants, a typical adolescent male fantasy. As I got older I began to think "what if [fill in your doomsday preference] happened?" I would work through the possibilities and plan a response. I call it "sensible precautions in case of a disaster, man made or natural." I had become lax with my preps over the last few years but, beginning a couple of months ago I noticed this CV thing and began bringing my stocks back up so that, by the time people went nuts we were prepared with beans, bullets and bandaids.
Apart from the few empty shelves and the unease people are moving about normally.
I should have decent weather tomorrow to ["RATS! I forgot to buy motorsickle oil"] finish my spring service. I need to get over to the license office and take my skills test for my motorcycle, the State of North Carolina changed the rules and you can't just endlessly renew your permit.
If this is, the end of the world as we know it, I feel fine.*
Retailers operate on the low inventory, right on time system where items go from truck to shelf in short order. They have no reserve inventory. Inventory is held in regional distribution centers and is sent out on an as needed basis and those centers inventory on hand is based on past demand statistics.It's all neatly done by computer algorithms but, these lean systems are not set up to handle situations like the one we're having. Although, the supply chain is functioning normally and trucks are on the road 24/7, a continued run on goods will lead to shortages in the near term as demand outstrips supply. I went to Food Lion and Walmart today; both Corporations have some of the most sophisticated inventory control systems in existence and they still have not been able to satisfy demand and there are empty and half empty shelves all over. There is a definite air of distrust and apprehension going around. I was my usual cheerful self, trying to lighten the mood but, it wasn't working. Normally, the good cheer that I sow is spread out from the recipient to others but, today it was like a wall.
All this is happening and no one is sick yet. I've never seen anything like it, no one has that isn't over ninety.
I've been waiting for this for more than 40 years. When I was in High School, it was a post nuclear apocalypse where I would scavenge the wasteland with my tribe of mutants, a typical adolescent male fantasy. As I got older I began to think "what if [fill in your doomsday preference] happened?" I would work through the possibilities and plan a response. I call it "sensible precautions in case of a disaster, man made or natural." I had become lax with my preps over the last few years but, beginning a couple of months ago I noticed this CV thing and began bringing my stocks back up so that, by the time people went nuts we were prepared with beans, bullets and bandaids.
Apart from the few empty shelves and the unease people are moving about normally.
I should have decent weather tomorrow to ["RATS! I forgot to buy motorsickle oil"] finish my spring service. I need to get over to the license office and take my skills test for my motorcycle, the State of North Carolina changed the rules and you can't just endlessly renew your permit.
If this is, the end of the world as we know it, I feel fine.*