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December 11, 2024. We take things for granted.

We often take things for granted! You know, you snap on your homebrew rig or appliance box, and it comes alive. Or that if you want a fresh salad, there is lettuce. (BTW the thing I missed the most second behind 44DD YL's when I was at Chu Lai, was fresh salads).




Then there was yesterday when our power supplier (SCE) pre-emptively turned off the power because of high winds. They did this at 3 AM yesterday and then back on at 3AM today. It was awful as there are just so many things linked to the power grid. Something I was able to do was tether the laptop to the cell phone so you could get into the Internet -- but that was not for watching Netflix but for only must have needs. 

A bit of preparations would have made an extended outage a bit more bearable. Always keep your cell phone charged and likewise your laptop. I have a USB portable power pack where I can charge my cell phones but beyond that not much good. Flashlights and a stock of batteries are important items and having a flashlight in the bathroom reduces the likelihood of wet sneakers. I also have a spare propane tank so I could use my gas barbecue to cook food. But power is so integral to how we live. 

I have avoided a generator but maybe a small solar + wind system maybe in the plans. This pre-emptive power shut off is now the norm.

About 54000 residents of Ventura County were affected by the SCE action and 25% of those who had the switch pulled were in Newbury Park, my QTH.

When the tariffs hit, the deportations begin and the DOGE whizz kids put you out of a job, you then will see taking things for granted has consequences. 

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