Power Junkies

from JoeUser Forums
During last night's thunderstorm I heard the crash of a lightning strike followed by the explosion of a power transformer very close to my house and then the lights went out. I was in the middle of washing dishes and had to just let them sit. I didn't bother to light candles or oil lamps as it would have just heated the place up more quickly. I just grabbed my LED flashlight and made due with that.

After about an hour the power was still out so I decided to just call it an early evening and hit the sack. I think I was only alseep for about an hour when the power came back on. I didn't bother checking the clock, I just switched off the lights that were now repowered, plugged the air condiioner back in, and went back to bed.

In our modern society we really are quite dependent upon the elecrical power grids that run our homes. From cold food to hot water, cooking, televisions, radios, computers, and lighting, we rely on the power companies to keep our homes and offices running as we expect them to do. There is very little for us to do when this power grid fails. None of our appliances will funtion. Climate control systems fail us. Our perishable food is at risk of spoilage if it goes on too long.

We really are power junkies aren't we? Most of the stuff we depend on in our lives simply cease to function when the power fails and we are suddenly out of our element. Electrical power has greatly improved the quality of our daily lives but it has also made us dependent upon it to such an extent that there is very little for us to do when it fails us except to await it's restoration.

Maybe the Amish have the right idea.
misc
4,923 views 17 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hmm...the Amish have to watch TV by candlelight...

Yeah, when the power goes, we're pretty much out with it....unless it's daytime, then we can go outside or something....but you still really can't do much. It's sad that we're so dependent on something, but it's our way of life...

~Zoo
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yea, but my squirrells just cant keep up with my Internet connection.
CursorFX - Customize your Windows cursor
Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hmm...the Amish have to watch TV by candlelight...


Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yea, but my squirrells just cant keep up with my Internet connection.


Bigger squirrels?
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
We really are power junkies aren't we? Most of the stuff we depend on in our lives simply cease to function when the power fails and we are suddenly out of our element. Electrical power has greatly improved the quality of our daily lives but it has also made us dependent upon it to such an extent that there is very little for us to do when it fails us except to await it's restoration.


Very true, very frightening!

If All our elecrtrical power and gas power was removed permanently for a long period of time due to a military move from a foreign country or terrorists, just think of the possiblities!

How many of us would just starve to death!
How many of us would go on rampages, rioting, killing, looting, raping etc
I am sure the list is endless of the troubles that would face us.


How is young Socrates doing today Mason?
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply #5
We really are power junkies aren't we? Most of the stuff we depend on in our lives simply cease to function when the power fails and we are suddenly out of our element. Electrical power has greatly improved the quality of our daily lives but it has also made us dependent upon it to such an extent that there is very little for us to do when it fails us except to await it's restoration.


Very true, very frightening!

If All our elecrtrical power and gas power was removed permanently for a long period of time due to a military move from a foreign country or terrorists, just think of the possiblities!

How many of us would just starve to death!
How many of us would go on rampages, rioting, killing, looting, raping etc
I am sure the list is endless of the troubles that would face us.


How is young Socrates doing today Mason?


While I'm sure there would be some amount of what you describe, I think you're far too pessimistic.

Socrates is doing fine, thank you.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
How many of us would go on rampages, rioting, killing, looting, raping etc


Well...raping isn't my thing...so none of that, thank you. Killing?...well, only if they tried to kill me first. Rioting, rampaging, and looting sound fun...but only if the power is out for over a week...that's when the insanity kicks in.

~Zoo
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
Reply #7
How many of us would go on rampages, rioting, killing, looting, raping etc


Well...raping isn't my thing...so none of that, thank you. Killing?...well, only if they tried to kill me first. Rioting, rampaging, and looting sound fun...but only if the power is out for over a week...that's when the insanity kicks in.


Funny thing is when the power's out people loot electronics stores
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Funny thing is when the power's out people loot electronics stores


True!!!!!  
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Funny thing is when the power's out people loot electronics stores


We didn't. But after 10 days, a lot of us committed pre mediated murder on our grills!
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
pre mediated murder on our grills


I read that as girls at first! sheeesh what you upto doc I thought!!!!!
then I saw GRills

  
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
I read that as girls at first! sheeesh what you upto doc I thought!!!!!
then I saw GRills


  

Yea, I should have misspelled and put it in the weird and whacky! Good one! No, the Girls were fine, but it took be 9 months to grill another meal after that!
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
but it took be 9 months to grill another meal after that!


yeah right!   
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top

Yes we ARE too dependant on the electric!   it's like "now what?"  

I get out the candles, light them and just watch the storm.  The candles are so I don't fall going into different rooms,  not as sure of myself now when I go into a darkened room. 

I'd sure have a lot of changing to do if we didn't have electric anymore!! lots of adapting!

Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
The candles are so I don't fall going into different rooms, not as sure of myself now when I go into a darkened room.


I suppose that's one, if the only, good thing about having been blind for a few months. I learned how to navigate without light.

Of course I did manage to step on the edge of the cat's litter box and had to vacuum up kitty litter this morning.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
We didn't. But after 10 days, a lot of us committed pre mediated murder on our grills!


You need a power outage for that?
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
We definitely have become depended on electricity. So far since the hurricane season began, ours have been out a couple of time due to electrical rain/storms. Once it stayed off for a bit my kids were getting worried. They remember the week we were without power during Hurricane Charlie or one of those hurricanes that did damage in our area last time.