enfield

Zinc-rich paint aka cold galvanize?

The TSA is THE reason I have refused to fly since 9/11.  Not fear of terrorists, but fear of idiots running a window-dressing security operation.

Merry Christmas! Santa brought me a Cabelas Alaskan Guide Vanguard - absolutely gorgeous!

I stand corrected.  I knew they run automatically, and the best practice for portable generators is to run them under load --  tests both the engine and the generator.  An automatic backup generator COULD have an internal load consisting of no more than an air-cooled resistor to draw a few amps to load the system during testing.  Wonder why they don't?

Even natural gas whole-house generators are programmed to automatically run under load every few weeks.

I always intend 'to go armed'.  What's the big deal?  Does common sense require a license?

Those folks at duffleblog are counting more on the [s]goodwill[/s] restraint of Obama than I would.

Figure on no a/c, no heat pump, no electric range, maybe no electric space heaters during an outage when you're running a generator.  That means you'll need an alternate source of heat, and an alternate way to cook during an outage, winter or summer.  Fireplace, gas logs, wood stove, kerosene heater (with stored kerosene), etc become necessary for winter heat and to keep your pipes from freezing.  A camping stove and stove-top coffee pot are year-round necessities.  I keep several oil lamps around the house and have a BIG 12V AGM battery charged to use with my 12V lamp and inverters.  The oil lamps and battery cut down on the generator load.  During an outage, my generators power mainly the refrigerators and freezers and the TV in the evenings.  If I had a sump pump, I'd have to add that in.   Power outages suck!

Iffen the quiz had asked the right one question, it would have known I was from northern WV:   "How many syllables are in the word 'no'?"   The WV answer is 2 - it's pronounced 'naaaaoowwww' where I come from.    

You'll appreciate quiet generators more, 12 hours into your first blackout.  But I know where you're coming from.

I've been on satellite for years.  Prior to that I was on dialup.  Satellite beats dialup, and cable ain't getting any closer to my house.  Hughes advertises speeds that they can't always deliver, but I've been lucky.  Satellite internet is so complicated compared to running a cable from a pole to your house that it's no wonder there are more problems with satellite.   You won't be watching Netflix or playing on-line games with satellite internet, but you can get very usable speed.  I even have VoIP phone working with my Hughes system.  Satellite TV, satellite internet, satellite radio, satellite phone - it works in the boonies.  YMMV and probably will.

Louisville, Lexington and Tallahassee.  Born and raised in WV.   Lived in Michigan 33 years - guess it didn't take.  Good!

If you want to use it camping, you'll need a quiet, sine-wave generator.  You can't sleep or even hold a conversation near one of the construction generators.  Honda, Yamaha, Champion for example.

There are no other options except driving down to McDonalds. Well, there's 4G, but don't know if it's any good in your area. Dialup, DSL, cable, satellite, fiber optic, 4G, McDonalds -- that's all there is to choose from.

It's "stock"!

Who makes a stainless LER rifle scope?

I have a dead Roomba - one of the drive wheels quit after 3 years. Had to buy a $50 battery every year, but I loved the little critter!

Used frankenFAL?

The Honda gensets are good but expensive. You can buy two quiet Champion gensets for the price of one Honda.

You'll need to exercise your generator at least monthly - 15 minutes under load to keep it in good working order and reliable. This is especially important on gasoline generators. Be aware that most of the cheaper generators are unGodly loud and you won't want to run it at night. During the worst weather or a grid outage you won't be able to buy gasoline, so stock up to your level of comfort, stabilize the gas, and use and replace it regularly. I owned my first generator over 10 years before I needed it, but it saved me a lot of trouble when I did need it. Now I own two. If I ever buy another, it'll run on natural gas or propane.

We use a Kirby, and a much-lighter Bissell for small jobs.  If I'd had to pay for the Kirby, I wouldn't have it.

So long Ray -- you'll be sorely missed. :-(

Welcome hillbilly! I'm a refugee from Morgantown.

Just proves you don't have to be very smart to be an officer, but I already knew that.  Applies to Sergeants also.  :D

I have a Tardis engine ringtone.  Neener neener!