The Message Forum is an ongoing dialogue among classmates. The goal is to encourage friendly interaction, including interaction among classmates who really didn't know each other. Experience on the site has revealed that certain topics tend to cause friction and hard feelings, especially politics and religion. 

Although politics and religion are not completely off-limits, classmates are asked to be positive in their posts and not to be too repetitive or allow a dialog to degenerate into an argument. 

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Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

Kurt,

Read my post just before your last one.  Wind accounts for 10% of Texas power sources in winter.  20% in Summer.  The gas plants froze, the nuclear plants froze and so on.  It was due to equipment failures....

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

Kurt,

Since Texas is not on the Federal Government energy grid, I am to assume, that the energy economy and in fact the bulk of the energy economy in Texas is run by a conservative Republican majority.  Hence my adjective, idiots.  I might add, greedy to that description as well.  They could have upgraded their equipment in 2011, the last time we had a scare similar to this, but no.  No one mandated they do that.  So they saved a few buck and lined their pockets.  By the way, the cost of energy just went up big time.  Huge.

Insanity and greed.  Sigh.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Hello Everyone!

It's about 9:00 PM on Tuesday night and finally our power has come on WITH internet!  We've had some power, off and on, since Sunday night, but we didn't have our cable working for us, so we had no TV except for some movies that we had recorded earlier this month.  Now we have cable TV and internet, plus HEAT!!  Yay!!

Our house got down to 54 degrees at one point, so it was pretty chilly.  We mangaged with lots of blankets and since our kitchen stove top is powered by propane, we have had coffee and hot tea, and we can warm up some food that we have.  Our frozen food from our freezer is sitting out in our backyard in big Igloo coolers, so we are doing okay!

Our big male Siamese is yowling periodically, since he wants to go outside, but when he gets to our frontdoor, he sees all of the white stuff (snow) and he turns around looking at us as if the say, "What the heck?"

We're hoping this yucky mess goes away by Thurs., or Friday!!!

Steve:  I heard that our problems are due to the wind turbines being frozen!  Who was the turkey who dreamed up the "magic" of turbines?  I guess that turkey didn't believe that Texas sometimes has REAL WINTER!!!

BOZO!!    This new age "green" promise of the future still has LOTS of kinks in it, doesn't it?

Steve Keene

Janalu,

They are doing everything they can to screw things up.  Gov. Abbott made the mistake of allowing ERCOT to dictate policy with no backups for emergency contingencies. They also allowed portions of some gas and oil plants and refineries to shut down for maintenance and repair since the past few winters have been mild. 
 

Look on the bright side!  Polar bear habitat is way up!

David Cordell

We have had only about four hours of electricity in the last 36 hours. Last night our bedroom got down to 45 degrees. It hasn't been that cold in there since the time I forgot our anniversary.

David Cordell

Ron Stocklas,

As I have said to you in private emails, I would like for you to provide something like a copy of your driver's license to prove that you are who you say you are. Many people seem to think that you are actually Tommy Thomas, pulling another adolescent practical joke, but I have a hard time believing that he would go to the well twice. Just to satisfy their curiosity, please provide documentation, or if you really are Tommy, get to work on  Photoshop.

Steve Keene

David,

You can tell by Ron's posts that he is not as ignorant as Tommy.  As overzealous, yes, but not as ignorant.

Alan Joyce

I think stones should probabably be thrown and investigations conducted about the failure of our power grid. But the reality is ERCOT which is in charge of our power delivery  is responsible for inspecting our power plants to insure the power plants are winterized and prepared. This year due to COVID concerns they'd do online virtual inspection. They have not even completed those as many were planned for late February. In my experience texas winter is about over in March.  
The simple fact is many plants weren't fully prepared, ERCOT chose an inspection process that is ineffective for what was required and we suffer.  My concern is not greed or idiots or Trumpitis.  We had a similar event 10 years ago.  ERCOT was charged with cleaning up the power grid.  The usual cure by big government is we need another agency so we're bigger.  That failed and what was the initial response by the "people in charge". "You're using too much power, turn down your thermostat, don't go outside, shelter in place.  The failure is your fault.  Hopefully this investigation by the government will actually have results.  

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

Alan Joyce!  I remember you! 

Nice post.  I just want to add that ERCOT is not a government agency.  They are a private company.  They have a CEO.

Hull Barbee

ERCOT is a 501(c) membership based nonprofit corporation regulated by PUC of Texas and the Texas Legislature......... call it what you will , but it operates just like an agency ....... just not funded by the State but funded thru a percentage of MegaWats sold by the power companies 

Holly Hobby

Profound. The clout of experienced investigative journalists. Especially when we work together. 

Since Governor Abbott was "encouraged" to investigate ERCOT after which an announcement was made coupled with  (big surprise) collaborative efforts on  behalf investigative journliasts who (as usual) stayed up most--if not all night-- in determination to produce this morning's  breaking stories  are increasing reports of more frequent, longer duration of power.

So proud of my fellow investigative journalists, many of whom are suffering themselves, but never hesitate to stand in the gap to help others, especially during a crisis such as the one we're in now. 

And no.  No matter what one wants to believe, accruing evidence confirms frozen wind turbines are not the primary reason for power failure.  According to ERCOT official " frozen wind turbines aren’t the main culprit for Texas’ power outages.   According to ERCOT yesterday afternoon  "16 gigawatts" of renewable energy generation, mostly wind generation, were offline. Nearly double that, 30 gigawatts, had been lost from thermal sources, which includes gas, coal and nuclear energy.

Most important is hope each of you are okay. Prayers upward for all,  more so for those suffering, two- legged and four.   

I'm out of here.  Back to work. 

Holly Hobby

Uh, yeah. Ercot "non-profit."   Rest of the story....?  Lol

Bob Davidson

David,

I just saw that Rush Limbaugh died.  The scum of the earth haters are, naturally, overjoyed, but I'm really sad.  To me, we lost a great man who changed the political landscape of our country for the better.  He certainly made me rethink a lot of things I had believed for years.

I'm feeling cranky and annoyed:  we got our electricity back this morning after about 48 hours of freezing in the dark -- but the water is a tiny trickle, supposedly due to a broken main in Norhill (an adjacent neighborhood).  My office building is still off the grid.  49 degrees in the house -- even the dogs wanted to be under covers.  I can't help believing that the gross incompetence of the people in charge of our electric grid has a lot to do with Obama's war on coal and the Dims and their hatred of what they call "fossil fuels."  Obviously, that's my emotionally comfortable go to place.  And equally obviously, the peoplle who fall for the Democrat propaganda machine will have another, very different go to place.

In the sour mood I'm in, I was mulling over the conventional position you repeated that the problem with Trump was that he talked back to the monsters who spent so much energy making up lies to destroy him.  Both Bushes were gentlemen silently deferring to those same people doing the same thing.  They were both destroyed by their (and our -- if we are not part of the billionaire class or the Swamp -- or delusionally identifying with those people) enemies and didn't talk back.  Trump didn't just turn the other cheek, he fought back.  Any male who survived seventh and eighth grade knows what happens when you don't stand up to bullies -- they keep ramping up the abuse.  I absolutely loved the way he went on the warpath against those smug villians. 

Steve Keene

All,

Rest in Peace Rush Limbaugh.  May God bless him for his support of Christians and Israelis and for believing that life begins in the womb.  It is a sad, sad, day.  I feel like I lost my favorite uncle.  Mark Steyn is going to replace him on his radio show.  For you folks in Rio Linda, he died of lung cancer delivered to himself in his formerly nicotine stained fingers. 

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

I can't help myself on this one.  Hell froze over.  Rush Limbaugh died.

Holly Hobby

Don,

Closing laptop noticed your name in comment.  Scrolled for story. So sorry you're going through so much.  I feel your pain.  During my final clinical rotation years ago,  we were short handed at the hospital on the ortho unit so I had no choice but to lift a 300+ lb patient from bed to wheelchair,

At most-- then and now-- I only weigh 100 lbs so you can imagine the strain on my back.  It wasn't until later that night while reading Kate a bedtime story that excruciating back pain set in.  I don't remember how I made it through the night but I had to be at the hospital early the following morning.  Sat up in bed. No pain. This is great, I thought. I'm fine. As I tried to stand was sudden realization I couldn't walk. 

It was before dawn so as usual, wanted to be quiet so as not to awaken RJ or our daughter but my legs were not working.  Still, I didn't want to awaken RJ or Kate.  Somehow managed to shower and dress, grab handbag, stethoscope, etc and  drove  to nearest hospital ER at which time, an MRI indicated a disk had blown from spinal cord, shattering into shards among adjacent nerves.   Still. No pain. 

(Even then, I was a doctor snob).   Knowing surgery was probably imminent  I wanted what I wanted--a specific neurosurgeon.  Unfortunately he was with a different hospital system. I didn't care. I'd have crawled  if necessary. Twenty minutes later I arrived at the hospital of my choice.  Upon seeing my neurosurgeon bud I said, "I'm not in pain. Let's wait until Monday if I have to have surgery." His response "we could. But chances are you'll never walk again."

Long story short: of everyone, you know how to choose a good surgeon. You're incredibly intelligent. Although you're in pain, you know what you're doing. No doubt you've been in good hands since the beginning.  And will continue to be.  You'll come through this Don.  You have to. Of all our classmates it's you among those I remember being incredibly smart and incredibly kind.  In the world we live, you and those like you are incising rare.  Keep your eyes on the big picture, remembering this too, will pass.  And through it all you'll be in my prayers and on my mind. 

David Cordell

Hi, Alan, do I recall that you are a geologist? Maybe with Sun?

All,

WRT the Great Freeze, we are just plugging along here. Our power is now on after a 44 hour period in which we only had power for about 4 hours. 

Below:  Ma and Pa Cordell, warming themselves yesterday in front of the fire, waiing for the power to turn back on.

Below: The shadowy figure on the right is me, breaking the ice on the pool that formed because there is no electricity to circulate the water. That didn't work for long. Now the pool is frozen solid.. We can't test the equipment until the pipes thaw out. We think we'll need repairs to the tiles, and may have to replace the pumps, filter, and pipes. A lot of money, and our deductible is pretty high. Damn!

Note also Becky the Dog on the edge of the pool just to my left. She still insists on taking at least a 3/4 mile walk, morning and afternoon, regardless of the weather conditions. That is not my preferred course of action, or rather inaction. Trudging through a few inches of snow in sub-freezing temperatures in not my idea of a good time. I try to pull her in the direction of the shorter path, but she'll have none of it.

Janalu Jeanes (Parchman)

Steve,

I also feel as though I have lost a good, wise friend, who helped make the complex issues easier to understand. He was a good Christian man who many on the "other side" didn't understand, because they don't understand Christian ethics or personalities that have genuine American loyalties, or any understanding of his unique personality, which was one steeped in our cultural and historical principles, of patriotism and honor.

I've listened to him since before he came to New York in the late eighties, and never heard him say anything untrue on purpose.  He may have flubbed a time or two, but would always come back and correct himself, and I believe his ethics were as fine as any true American patriot I have known; like my Dad in many ways.

He was on a parallel with Charles Krauthammer, in my opinion.

He's overjoyed now in Heaven.  We can be thankful for that!

Bob Davidson

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

The myth that wind turbines and green energy are the reasons for your woes, is just that, a myth.  The Austrialian government uses the Antarctic as a wind farm.  Yes, tis true.  They can erect wind turbines that, properly engineered, and maintained can produce energy with the fierce winds there, without fail.  Here is a link if you don't believe me.  https://www.antarctica.gov.au/antarctic-operations/stations/amenities-and-operations/renewable-energy/wind-power/

The misery and cold a lot of you folks are experiencing is due to a lack of maintenance, planning and design.  Who to blame?  Who really knows.  How to fix?  I hope we figure it out instead of finger pointing and blame.  I sure hope it never happens again.

David,

I miss our hot tub that we had at our last home.  It was wonderful.  Once it snowed in Lucas and we all got in the hot tub while is snowed.  It was glorious.  

I am so glad we don't have a pool.  I hope your damages are minimal and your water pipes survive.  We have not lost power at all.  We have kept the thermostat at 66 most of the time, and raise it to 67 at times.  Mother's room is toasty with a closed oil heater.  We also have plenty of firewood.  We did have one pipe freeze in the water heater closet, which is located on an outside wall.  We warmed it up with a hair dryer and keep it warm with a heat lamp.  No leaks.   I am extremely grateful. 

Sandra Spieker (Ringo)

Our next crisis in the days that follow this deep freeze is a lack of water.  To that end, we have filled a bathtub and two ice chests, for toilet fushing, hand washing and kitchen maintenace.  We have also stored some extra for drinking water.  If you have water now and can do so, I would strongly suggest you do it now, before the great thaw.  Water mains are next to blow.  It will take days to fix.  Plumbers are in for a windfall.

David Cordell

Ron Stocklas,

I contacted you personally in as diplomatic a way as possible and asked that you provide something that would confirm your identity. The reason --  we have one classmate who created an alter ego, claiming to be a classmate. It led to a series of events that culminated with my having to spend two hours talking with police. It was a silly, adolescent practical joke, and several classmates think this is round two. I am not interested in another round.

You and I exchanged several private emails over several days.

When you asked what sort of identification you would need to provide, I sent you a slightly edited version of my driver's license that showed my address, but obscured my driver's license number.

I gave you exactly what I am asking of you. A simple piece of information that would confirm that you are not an imposter. 

I made this a private matter until it became clear that you did not plan to share the information. 

David Cordell

Bob D., 

Don't misunderstand my thoughts on Trump. I love that he was a fighter. The Dems have a plethora of sharp-elbowed fighters. Republicans only have a few, like Representative Jim Jordan.

The Bushes were genteel. They were presidential to the extreme. It drove me crazy when Bush 43 seemed to turn the other cheek, regardless of the nature of the attack. 

Trump wasn't simply combative. He was childish. Making fun of the appearance of Heidi Cruz and Carly Fiorena was really disgusting. Giving out Lindsey Graham's phone number was ridiculous. His comment about John McCain (that Trump favors pilots who didn't get shot down) was beyond the pale. These are all Republicans.

He threw so many advisers and cabinet members under the bus that bus couldn't go forward any longer.

Different issue - his COVID-19 briefings were totally dominated by him and his repetitive ramblings. He would have been wiser, and more helpful, if he would have given 5-10 minute summaries and then handed off to the experts. (Maybe he would have gotten Cuomo's Emmy -- NOT!) But it was always about him.

He generated a lot of loyalty. Millions more people voted for him in 2020 than voted for Obama in 2012 or 2008, and more than voted for Hillary in 2016. The problem is that, although his policies were not favored by a large percentage of the population, his personality offended so many. The press hated him, and he gave them a million reasons to hate him more. Was their treatment fair? No. But it was a fact of life. He gave them cover -- lots of little and not-so-little reasons to hammer him with impunity. Harkening back to another era, he gave them tthe rope with which they hanged him.

Note that I am confident that Trump would have won if COVID hadn't occurred, both because it drove the economy down and because it gave the left a chance to push mail-in ballots, which probably would have favored Biden even if they were all above board, but really favored Biden with superior Democrat organization and, I would argue, cheating.

ADDENDUM: Reagan was pretty effective, and he didn't feel the need to insult everyone.

Kurt Fischer

David:

You and I live somewhat near each other.  I have suffered no rolling outages, but I believe it is because of my brilliant strategy some 36 years ago when we bought a house across the street from a fire station, one of the most essential services.  Never mind it took me three days to figure out why our part of the grid had not suffered an outage.  I know it was forethought of such an event when we bought the house.

Steve Keene

Kurt,

You must be the Odysseus of our class.  Only you would be able to hear that siren song for 36 years and not jump ship or sail off course.  I salute you as a Hero who can now bask in the water from the Gods!

If only a modern day Homer was around to set down your saga.  Any volunteers?