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	The Official Shower of Y2K By Declan McCullagh February 11, 1999 Everyone, it seems, already has decided on their own Y2K marketing scheme. M&Ms ("The Official Candy of the Millennium") is dueling with Mars ("The Official Chocolate of the New Millennium"). Coors is trying to upstage Miller as the Only Official Brew. But portable Y2K showers? That's what Pacific Medical Group wants to sell you. "An emerging health care company specializing in disposable bathing products announced today that it is increasing the awareness of its Disaster Relief Quick Shower(tm) to help combat concerns over the Y2K problem," says a press release dated Feburary 9. Let's be clear here: The QuickShower involves no water and, in fact, has little to do with showering as most of us know it. The roughly $2.30 product is a collection of towels you use to clean yourself. (But that's not all! You get a mylar mirror! 1 oz of non-rinse shampoo! A disposable toothbrush with pre-applied toothpaste!) The gentlewash.com site helpfully features a video of the Quick Shower in action. "Military quick shower is the ultimate in disposable bathing and hygenie," insists one earnest commentator. You'll see person after person painstakingly describing the perils of cross-contamination (not to put too fine a point on it, but this is why you get multiple towels) and how a clean room is used during assembly. No, we're not sure what Pacific Medical Group is all about either. And we're just as mystified about this Y2K washcloth collection (plus hand cream!). Who's supposed to buy this anyway? Hospitals worried about Y2K-sparked power outages? Neatnik survivalist men heading for the hills? Might some of their wives opt for the feminine four-cloth cleaning system, guaranteed to make women feel "clean and confident?" Not to worry. As Y2K panic grows, the makers of QuickShower stand ready to meet that inevitable uptick in demand for portable bathing products. "We are committed to increasing our production capability to meet the demands," the video says. The company has high hopes. They hope the market will grow "as large as the disposable diaper industry." Now that's something to shoot for.		FEATURES Book Reviews Y2K already has spawned its own genre. We tell you what books are worth buying. Chip 'n Little Cartoons Chip 'n Little goes on TV Chip 'n Little visits John Koskinen Chip 'n Little saves the world Warning: This cartoon has been called "foolish and tasteless." Y2K from A to Z Y2K Haiku Traditionalists may be shocked. Mad Cow Culture What does Y2K have in common with today's Mad Cow Culture? Answer: Everything. Declan McCullagh's Y2K articles Psychology of Y2K LATEST NEWS As of December 31, 1999 Get Your T-Shirt Quick Bill Gates Does Y2K Reader Feedback A Sarcastic Calendar Cooking After the Apocalypse A Real Y2K Disaster Hitchhiker's Guide Meets Y2K