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My Almost-daily Journal |
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| About I love trying out new things, especially when it comes to internet technology. I never really kept a journal, but it's something that I've always wanted to do. Now, everybody will get a chance to look inside my twisted, and somewhat-warped mind.
I've also subscribed to Audio Blog, so a few times a week, I'll leave actual voice blogs. Very cool!XML Newsfeed Previous Posts
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Wednesday, August 20, 2003
Blackout 2003 I didn't even find it significant enough to talk about the electrical blackout that hit the eastern states from New York to Michigan last Thursday. The complete blackout started for me on Thursday, August 14, 2003 at 4:00 p.m. I actually watched my interior house lights turn dim and stay dim for about a minute. I then heard all my computer battery backup units fire up and beep uncontrollably. I actually thought it was only going to last for a few minutes, so I didn't run to the computers to power them down. But after about ten minutes, I figured I'd better power them down and turn off the units to conserve AC in case I needed it for some heroic IT mission. Power never did get restored for me until Friday, August 15 at 3:00 p.m. Thursday night, however, was surreal. Streets were blanketed with darkness and an eerie quietness. No computer. No TV. No phone. I couldn't get ahold of Danielle. My cell phone didn't work, and I couldn't contact Danielle's house, since 90% of the population now uses cordless phones that NEED power to work. I did not have an analog phone! [Note to self: get one!] I was worried. I wanted to drive over to her house, but Sterling Heights issued a 9:00 p.m. curfew, and advised travelling only for emergency reasons. Detroit issued a 10:00 p.m. curfew. I guess Sterling Heights is higher risk than Detroit. Go figure. Furthermore, I'm weird. In some ways, I'm anti-authority and anti-establishment. I feel every rule should be broken. However, when it comes to traffic ordinances, civil regulations, and government policies, I'm a poster-child for righteousness and "clean-living, friend... clean-living". I just did not want to be on the streets if I did not have to. Plus, I felt a little 'wild-west' walking around my house and yard with my S&W 9mm holstered to my belt. I was protecting my homestead, and it felt good. It felt right. The Mars Irony You wanna know the most ironic thing? August 14, 15, and 16 were days that Mars would pass by the Earth, closer than it has been in 60,000 years. Do you know what that means? No human being to ever walk this planet has seen Mars this close! Being stuck in a metropolis SUCKS for star-gazing. For most of us city-dwellers, the night sky only shows us its brightest objects. Damn. All the lights were out. I saw the damn Milky Way from my backyard! I don't think anybody living in Sterling Heights or the surrounding suburbs has had the opportunity to actually SEE what's in the sky at night for over 50 years! It was quite an experience for me... The only thing that wasn't perfect for star-gazing was the moon. It was out in full force. posted by Dino at 12:12 AM (permanent link) |