Free Republic

Being prepared for disaster is a way of life for many American preppers, but there are also many people throughout the Nation completely unprepared for the unthinkable. Those who are unprepared become easy targets for victimization. Since Superstorm Sandy struck New York, there have been hundreds of reports of price gouging in the area as frantic city-dwellers rush about in search of basic supplies. New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Monday that he was in the process of investigating more than 400 possible cases of price gouging as prices on things like gasoline, food, bottled water, generators, batteries...

A couple of weeks ago someone on the weekly prep thread thought a post on generators might be useful to some. Now I have recently completed the “biggest” prep project of mine to date. Considering the recent catastrophic power grid failure in India I thought it would be a good time to share what I’ve done to deal with an extended power outage at the Compound of Clan Lurker. Project Overview: I wanted to be able to power my home during an extended grid failure without having to run a bunch of extension cords through open windows, etc. My criteria...

Investment tips for 2012 With all the turmoil in the market, the collapse of Lehman Bros and the acquisition of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America, we all need some good investment advice For any of you with any money left, beware of the next year's expected mergers. Watch for these consolidations later this year: 1.) Hale Business Systems, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Fuller Brush, and W R. Grace Co. will merge and become: Hale, Mary, Fuller, Grace. 2.) Polygram Records, Warner Bros., and Zesta Crackers join forces and become: Poly, Warner, Cracker. 3.) 3M will merge with Goodyear and become:...

Two state lawmakers say new laws are needed after last weekend's rare autumn snow storm that would require electric generators at gas stations and senior housing. State Rep. Zeke Zalaski, a Democrat from Southington, said Thursday that many of his constituents in need of gas for vehicles and generators were unable to find stations with the power to sell fuel. He said the few that were open had long lines and created traffic jams. Zalaski's bill would also require generators at senior housing complexes. Rep. Matthew Lesser, a Democrat from Middletown, is suggesting a new system in which the state...

Fire Officials Conduct Safety Inspection Of Zuccotti Park, Remove Generators And Gasoline CansOctober 28, 2011 10:20 AM NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Protesters who woke up to the chill Friday morning were greeted by fire officials conducting a safety inspection of Zuccotti Park. The FDNY were looking for safety violations. At issue: Propane tanks and gas generators being used to keep the protesters warm. The inspection, involving dozens of firefighters, was overseen by Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano. Protesters turned over six generators and a dozen of gasoline cans, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. He reiterated that the protesters can stay as long...

After seeing many people still without power in the wake of Irene, I'd like to purchase a generator - something I can use to either attach a few outlets, or, in the event of a longer outage, use to power my entire home (within reason). I'm looking for advice and lessons learned from people who are either happy or unhappy with their purchase/arrangement. Thanks.

California recently instituted as part of its budget solution an “Amazon Tax” aimed at forcing out-of-state, online retailers with no physical presence in the Golden State to collect and remit sales tax in respect of goods sold to Californians where the retailer in question advertises, or maintains an “affiliate” referral relationship, with websites based within state lines. Prior to passage of the bill obligating collection and remittance in such circumstances, prominent online retailers including Amazon.com and Overstock.com had threatened to terminate relationships with affiliates, if the legislation became law. Now that it has, and affiliate relationships are being severed, something...

BASRA, Iraq, Feb. 4, 2009 – Looking ahead to the future of Iraq, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region Division in Iraq is transitioning much of its focus to ensuring the infrastructure built is sustainable and far outlasts the U.S. presence. Iraqi government technicians and generator operators in Basra, Iraq, attend a Jan. 25-28, 2009, course to learn about proper use of personal protective equipment, first aid for electrical shock, logbook entries, preventive maintenance and generator operations. U.S. Army photo by A. Al Bahrani  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. To help Iraqi technicians and generator operators...

We are on the market for a generator, and are wondering which brand to get, and what kind of fuel is safest, easier to obtain, or better all around. Also, which brands of generators are best?

For Immediate ReleaseOffice of the Press SecretaryFebruary 18, 2006 President's Radio Address      Audio           Audio      THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. This coming week, I will visit Wisconsin, Michigan, and Colorado, to discuss our strategy to ensure that America has affordable, reliable, and secure sources of energy. The best way to meet our growing energy needs is through advances in technology. So in my State of the Union Address, I announced the Advanced Energy Initiative. We will pursue promising technologies that will transform how we power our vehicles, businesses, and homes -- so we can reduce our Nation's dependence on foreign sources...

MIAMI (AP) - Florida disaster response officials thought their vast experience with hurricanes meant they could design an effective plan to distribute water, ice and other supplies only hours after Hurricane Wilma's winds subsided. It didn't pan out as they intended. "I think everyone acknowledges the fact that there wasn't enough inventory on the ground to keep distribution centers supplied," Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez said Thursday. "But you know, we have to learn from every experience, and I think we've learned a lot from this one." As Wilma approached last week, Florida officials repeatedly insisted they were ready and...

NAPLES, Italy (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command (MSC) ship USNS Red Cloud (T-AKR 313) is carrying generators and a crane to the U.S. Gulf Coast region to support Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts. Donated by the Department of Defense, the $1.9 million worth of equipment was loaded aboard the ship at Naval Station Rota, Spain, Sept. 9-10. The equipment will be offloaded in southern Texas, where it will be transported by ground to hard-hit areas of Louisiana and Alabama. Two large diesel generators will be used to power hospitals in Louisiana, while two others will power hospitals in Alabama. Five other...

The western world is only now waking to the nightmarish specter of China providing nuclear technology know-how to Pakistan and North Korea. China’s nuke know-how can be stamped: "Made in Canada". CANDU manufacturer, the Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL), is among other things, the Mother of all Proliferators. Reid Morden, former president and CEO of AECL, could star in his own made-for-television spy novel. Morden’s credentials in the spy industry come from Canada’s main intelligence agency, CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service, an agency Morden headed up. "On October 13, 1995 the second phase of a Canadian deal with China...

French connection armed Saddam By Bill Gertz THE WASHINGTON TIMES The United States stood by for years as supposed allies helped its enemies obtain the world's most dangerous weapons, reveals Bill Gertz, defense and national security reporter for The Washington Times, in the new book "Treachery" (Crown Forum). In this excerpt, he details France's persistence in arming Saddam Hussein. First of three excerpts New intelligence revealing how long France continued to supply and arm Saddam Hussein's regime infuriated U.S. officials as the nation prepared for military action against Iraq. The intelligence reports showing French assistance to Saddam ongoing in the...

On May 11, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency unleashed a new clean-air rule that further cuts diesel emissions from off-road vehicles, generators, locomotives and marine vessels. The new “Tier 4” mandate is EPA’s fourth step since introducing off-road standards in 1996, and it lowers such pollution by 90% (ENR 6/23/03 p. 13). The rule varies across engine sizes, but most producers will reduce nitrogen-oxide levels in new engines to 0.3 grams per brake-horsepower-hour and particulates to 0.01 g/bhp-hr by 2014. Under the new rule, EPA is not requiring pollution controls on existing machines in the field. Off-road fuel also is...

A growing number of Americans are converting their portable gasoline generators into emergency backup power systems. The minimum size recommended for home-emergency use is a 5,000-watt generator (starting around $500), which can power multiple appliances for 8 hours. Portable generators are available at home improvement stores and warehouse clubs around the country, and may become scarce during a blackout. Extension Cords The most common way to use a portable generator is to place it outdoors, then run an extension cord(s) through an open window or door to the chosen appliance. This approach works well for smaller generators because you can...

washingtonpost.com Fairfax City Neighbors Make Do -- Together Storm Brings Out Friends, Generators By S. Mitra Kalita Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, September 20, 2003; Page B01 The generator on Ronnie Vannoy's front lawn still had one three-pronged outlet available. He had already extended a long orange cord through his back fence to one neighbor, snaked a second through a side yard to another and flung a third across Ruby Road to still another. As Vannoy's four dogs barked and growled at the buzzing machine, the Rev. Nelson Barry stopped his red pickup truck in front of Vannoy's house yesterday...

A year ago, it was a barren warehouse at the end of a dead-end street in South Windsor, empty and with no signs of life. Today it is a sophisticated laboratory and office complex buzzing with a multinational staff of 100 chemical and mechanical engineers and energy experts from around the world. In this uncommon setting, they are searching for affordable ways to capture the most common element in the universe - hydrogen. Hydrogen and oxygen are the simple elements that fuel cells devour to produce electricity - with virtually none of the pollution caused by the burning of fossil...

<p>WASHINGTON -- Members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission voiced concerns about California's energy future Wednesday after hearing a staff report that little has changed since the brownouts of a year ago except for two favorable factors beyond the state's control: the economy and the weather.</p>