I was just discussing why we didn't have any major infrastructure failures with a friend from the city (on bug out retreat), when my power dropped. Weather is mild, no rain, snow, or wind. Just watching the end of X-Files and boom - in the dark. At least I was, until I walked out and cranked up the generator. Isolated incident, or sign of things to come? I guess I'll wait and see. Even if it is nothing, I'm getting some use out of some of my preps. Now, about the rice and beans....

-- Coder (Coder@Work.Now), January 02, 2000

Answers

Dude, pay your bill.

-- Dude (dude@dude.net), January 02, 2000.

So you're using your precious generator power to fire up your computer and make this post?!?

-- Alice in Wonderbra (downther@bbithole.com), January 02, 2000.

Getting use? What you use the beans to fuel the generator?

Betcha it burns hot...

I apologize for my lack of control ;-)

-- Squid (ItsDark@down.here), January 02, 2000.

If the outage last more than a day or so and your very close to others less prepared you might consider a more covert operation, like hiding the exhaust noise with chain saw operation, etc. Please keep us posted as to the duration of the outage.

-- R. S. Clark (candor@mindspring.com), January 02, 2000.

Hey Coder, did you contact your power company? What did they say about it? Keep in mind that it may not be Y2K related...at least that's what the mainstream is saying...

-- Mello1 (mello1@ix.netcom.com), January 02, 2000.

Hey Coder, I hear there's a family in the midwest with plenty of food and a generator. And they need you to man one of the lookout sites.

Doesn't pay much, but they'll supply you with a gun, ammo and Hamburger Helper.

-- Bad Company (johnny@shootingstar.com), January 02, 2000.

Coder, isn't having a generator great when you're rural. We live 6 miles up a mountain in rural Litchfield County, Ct. and those dang trees are always taking our power down: 10 times in 18 months. All of our (5) neighbors have generators and woodpiles, something that seemed unnecessary to me when we first moved here, until October 1998 when we lost power for most of 4 days. Eventhough the utilities try to keep the trees trimmed back, it's so heavily wooded in the general area that it becomes almost impossible. Enjoy your generator!

-- Schlomo (inthedark@Kent.com), January 02, 2000.

Alice in Wonderbra: Do you like to mudwrestle?

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.cum), January 02, 2000.

Nooooooo!!! Don't use your generator. None of them are Y2K compliant! I swear! They spew toxic materials!!

-- Dude (dude@dude.com), January 02, 2000.

They spew carbon monoxide! Don't let anyone tell you, "But that's the way they're designed to work." It's just Polly lies, I tell you!!!!

-- Dude (dude@dude.com), January 02, 2000.

KOS- no, I don't like to mud wrestle. I get all dirty and the pig likes it anyway.

-- Alice in Wonderbra (downther@bbithole.com), January 02, 2000.

I think you're right Dude. He probably didn't pay his light bill. I know this guy and I know he fills his heating oil tank by fix on failure. He gets a lot of time in going down the road with a 5 Gallon can. :-)

-- Dad (goshen@maine.Ihope), January 02, 2000.

"If the outage last more than a day or so and your very close to others less prepared you might consider a more covert operation, like hiding the exhaust noise with chain saw operation, etc."

Lol RS!! The Texas Chainsaw Massacre!

I don't think it is going to be very covert to fire up a chainsaw in the middle of your neighborhood unless you live in a forest!

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), January 02, 2000.

Coder I'm about 20 miles west of Augusta and we still have power at this time.Am watching for squirrels, motorist and of course honeybees. We made it through an ice storm we can handle this.

-- rmoose (hybrmoose@ctel.net), January 02, 2000.

Power is back. Only off for about 30 minutes.

Dude: The bill was paid, but thanks for the reminder.

Alice: Yep. The generator is big enough to run the whole house. The PC was on when the power went off, and came back on when I started my power plant.

Squid: Hot is right, and the exhaust is a killer! :-)

Mello1: This was the third outage in the last week. I don't usually bother to call unless it goes out for a few hours.

Bad Company: Thanks for the offer, but I've got all the guns and ammo I need, and don't really care for Hamburger Helper.

Schlomo: I bought mine after the ice storm of 98. I didn't think this was a tree related outage, though. It didn't flicker at all, just instantly off.

Dad: Shouldn't you be in bed by now? Don't make me call ma....

-- Coder (Coder@Work.Now), January 02, 2000.

Dude, maybe you should get yourself on the same power grid as your ISP. They seem to be running 24x7.

-- Dude (dude@dude.com), January 02, 2000.

Dude:

I am my own ISP - I have a T1 running into my house. Along with it comes a nice big UPS, servers, etc.

-- Coder (Coder@Work.Now), January 03, 2000.