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Post by nautonnier on Feb 18, 2021 13:09:26 GMT
Complex issue which will be resolved. The main thing that proceeded this was the rush for wind subsidies. I will send you a few pictures that really outline the outcome. Money invested in wind should have been invested in more pipelines and coal plants. Coal plants are reliable. Nuclear would be even better. And as a general note to the various "isn't there/there should be a law against that..." posts on Texas power prices, I'll remind you that there are all kinds of laws against election fraud. Yet here we are. To quote one of the best things I've ever heard a lawyer say: "The presence of the law does not prevent illegality." The law alone has NEVER been enough to protect anyone - it must also be *enforced*. We became complacent about enforcement, and allowed numerous unconstitutional laws to stand unchallenged to boot. Now we're paying the price. We can't look to laws to fix problems any more - nor are we likely to get any favorable laws from the Federal level. If we can save this country without a major civil war then we need to fix enforcement first, and then bring the law back under control. And this of course is why the Democrats want to defund law enforcement and spend all their time running a no-charge no bail revolving door in Seattle and Portland.
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Post by nautonnier on Feb 18, 2021 15:18:14 GMT
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Post by glennkoks on Feb 18, 2021 15:51:42 GMT
After 3 days the power is back on at least temporarily. And a couple of lessons learned that may provide food for thought and hopefully ease pain for someone in the future.
Lesson one: If you have an all electric home and gas is available get the gas. It's reliable and cheap. Natural gas is now a priority.
Lesson two: Generators. If you can afford a big generator that kicks on all by itself and runs on natural gas get it. If you can't afford a big one get one of the small Honda 2000 models or an equivalent. Why? Fuel consumption. There is a range at which you have more than enough power to get the things you need but not enough to power the 220 bigger appliances. For example my neighbor has the Honda 2000 series and is up and running everything that I am with my 3500 KW generator. He is using 1/2 the fuel I am.
Lesson three: Firewood. I have used an incredible amount of firewood over the last week. Everyone being out I have sourced pallets from my local box stores to supplement my supply. Look for the ones that have an HT brand on them. It stands for heat treated and they are well seasoned. Clean oak or other hardwood ones are preferable.
Lesson four: An old school coffee or bean can, a roll of toilet paper and a pint of 70% isopropyl alcohol make a great emergency heater. I sourced a bunch of bottles of alcohol for a dollar each and have been using them for emergency BTU's. They burn clean and carbon monoxide is not a risk.
I am amazed at the number of families who have simply huddled around a small room wrapped in blankets in the dark because they either don't have the knowledge or skills to provide the simplest comforts. I have neighbors who have said they were afraid to use their gas stove to heat their house? WTF? I asked several of them what have they been cooking on the last twenty years without dying? And then there is the ever so common "pallet wood is bad for your fireplace". And the looks I get from my emergency canned heaters...
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Post by nautonnier on Feb 18, 2021 16:14:14 GMT
After 3 days the power is back on at least temporarily. And a couple of lessons learned that may provide food for thought and hopefully ease pain for someone in the future. Lesson one: If you have an all electric home and gas is available get the gas. It's reliable and cheap. Natural gas is now a priority. Lesson two: Generators. If you can afford a big generator that kicks on all by itself and runs on natural gas get it. If you can't afford a big one get one of the small Honda 2000 models or an equivalent. Why? Fuel consumption. There is a range at which you have more than enough power to get the things you need but not enough to power the 220 bigger appliances. For example my neighbor has the Honda 2000 series and is up and running everything that I am with my 3500 KW generator. He is using 1/2 the fuel I am. Lesson three: Firewood. I have used an incredible amount of firewood over the last week. Everyone being out I have sourced pallets from my local box stores to supplement my supply. Look for the ones that have an HT brand on them. It stands for heat treated and they are well seasoned. Clean oak or other hardwood ones are preferable. Lesson four: An old school coffee or bean can, a roll of toilet paper and a pint of 70% isopropyl alcohol make a great emergency heater. I sourced a bunch of bottles of alcohol for a dollar each and have been using them for emergency BTU's. They burn clean and carbon monoxide is not a risk. I am amazed at the number of families who have simply huddled around a small room wrapped in blankets in the dark because they either don't have the knowledge or skills to provide the simplest comforts. I have neighbors who have said they were afraid to use their gas stove to heat their house? WTF? I asked several of them what have they been cooking on the last twenty years without dying? And then there is the ever so common "pallet wood is bad for your fireplace". And the looks I get from my emergency canned heaters... Thanks Glen that is useful - if I may I will add some points Lesson 3A: Choosing a new house buy one that has a working fireplace so that firewood can be burned. Ideally, also get a supply of coked coal which burns longer and cleaner and can be added to a wood fire once it is going (or even to a fire of compressed newspapers - I used to light coke fires in my youth many years ago) Lesson 3B: Obtain a heavy metal Kettle that is suitable for heating on an open fire. When the fire is running put the full kettle on/alongside the fire for available hot/warm water. Lesson 3C: The time for going out to obtain these emergency winter supplies is April. They will be available as overstocked items from this winter and there will be no lines to get them. In Florida hurricane supplies are cheap and available in November
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Post by walnut on Feb 18, 2021 16:34:30 GMT
Most pallet wood is oak and of course it's fine for your fireplace. But I'm sure I'd burn some sooty conifer wood if it came to it.
I remember a few years back in 2011 during a worse storm than this one in OK, the power was out for over a week. They would get it back on, lights would come on, then boom! Something blows and its lights out for another night. happened a few times. It's pretty disheartening. That was a longer cold spell with no reprieve in sight.
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Post by nautonnier on Feb 18, 2021 17:08:34 GMT
Looks like even the adults are wondering what snow is....
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Post by walnut on Feb 18, 2021 17:14:04 GMT
They probably wish that would have just pass over them.
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Post by glennkoks on Feb 18, 2021 17:16:24 GMT
Most pallet wood is oak and of course it's fine for your fireplace. But I'm sure I'd burn some sooty conifer wood if it came to it. I remember a few years back in 2011 during a worse storm than this one in OK, the power was out for over a week. They would get it back on, lights would come on, then boom! Something blows and its lights out for another night. happened a few times. It's pretty disheartening. That was a longer cold spell with no reprieve in sight. Walnut, it's been so cold I would burn oak pallets, old fence, my high school yearbooks, or even a brick of marijuana if it would provide some extra BTU's
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Post by walnut on Feb 18, 2021 17:24:17 GMT
Most pallet wood is oak and of course it's fine for your fireplace. But I'm sure I'd burn some sooty conifer wood if it came to it. I remember a few years back in 2011 during a worse storm than this one in OK, the power was out for over a week. They would get it back on, lights would come on, then boom! Something blows and its lights out for another night. happened a few times. It's pretty disheartening. That was a longer cold spell with no reprieve in sight. Walnut, it's been so cold I would burn oak pallets, old fence, my high school yearbooks, or even a brick of marijuana if it would provide some extra BTU's
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Post by Ratty on Feb 18, 2021 18:13:05 GMT
They probably wish that would have just pass over them.
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Post by missouriboy on Feb 18, 2021 20:07:39 GMT
Walnut, it's been so cold I would burn oak pallets, old fence, my high school yearbooks, or even a brick of marijuana if it would provide some extra BTU's One thing about burning that brick of marijuana. You might still be cold ... but you won't care. And burning in smaller increments will extend the effect.
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Post by nautonnier on Feb 18, 2021 21:21:46 GMT
If the thaw does come at the end of the week there will be thousands and thousands of burst pipes to fix.
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Post by nautonnier on Feb 18, 2021 21:26:16 GMT
Still snowing in Jerusalem
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Post by sigurdur on Feb 19, 2021 3:15:17 GMT
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Post by nautonnier on Feb 19, 2021 3:58:19 GMT
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