Back to the stone age I say

[cookiedough]

Happy New Year to everyone!
   Couple things for me to bi*^h about. All my years of traveling and working I relied on a good ole fashion map. Fast forward to 2014 and my "smartphone". Traveling Summer'14 with family and no map. Tunnels in WV. just before Va. on 77s are closed because of accident. Area is a traffic nightmare, phone keeps redirecting back to same place. Finally found a store with a map. Manager actually gave me the map. Said he could not remember the last time he sold one! Took a look and on the road we were. Found an old state route that was a literal corkscrew up and down two mountains. Signs were posted that if length of vehicle exceeded- I cant remember number. You were forbidden to use the road. 15 mile trip took us an hour in the family truckster. Need to dig out map because I would like to go back on the Valk. Don't want to do it again in mini van! I will never travel again w/o a map, hard lesson learned!
     Our household cut the land line about a year ago. I love not having a ringing phone in the house. Flip side I hate having to have my phone on me all the time. My job requires it. When Im on call I either have a cell or sit at home in case they need me.
    May '15 our contract will expire. It sickens me what I spend for 4 smart phones w/10gigs and unlimited talk/text-$270/month thru Verizon. Im 52yo and if my Dad was still alive he would be sitting at the kitchen table and telling me "you G^d D^*m dummy! I do not use it to its capabilities, daughter its a hand held jukebox, son its another video game and the wife uses it as a computer while the lap top collects dust. She by the way tells me she needs a new one (phone) because her battery wont make it thru the day!
     We recently switched from Time Warner Cable to ATT Uverse. So cable/internet is under $100 bucks for a short while. TWC was out of hand, when we quit we were around $180 a month with NO premium channels and 2 boxes. I would love to go to digital antenna , others in household wont go for that.
    Thanks for listening!

Are you sure you are not my older brother since our lives are nearly identical in terms of what you said? 

As just mentioned,  I also would really like alacarte TV programming able to pay even 2 bucks per channel and pick out about 20-25 channels that I would only watch ever paying say 50 bucks per month for TV vs. over 80 per month. 

Hughesnet just came out last week with their ULTRA package never before offering 50GB of data to use for internet anytime and another 50GB to use from 2 a.m. - 8 a.m. mostly to save that for netflix for the kids.   Although it is 90 bucks for 24 month contract then going up to 100 bucks just to receive internet,  their UP TO 15 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload speed has to be better than my current average of about  .60 Mbps download and .40 Mbps upload speed now.  Like said,  satellite TV where I live is my only other somewhat affordable option for internet besides TDS where I live, at least that I am aware of.

So far,  the comments on Hughesnet from on here and others is not promising will have to make sure I keep TDS for at least 10-15 days afterwards since I think I have 15 days trial with Hughesnet to backout, will have to make sure on that though if there is a trial period or not.

[art]

I think a lot has to do with which generation you are. I was born just at the end of WW2 and I lived most of my life without all that stuff and can do the rest of my life without. I have an antenna on the roof a pay as you go phone,magic jack,laptop and use Netflix. I also drive a 22 year old f150 and my wife has 20 year old Buick all high tech.  I figure if you can afford it go for it but since I'm on SS and a small pension I don't need the expense. The one thing that got me irritated is Oregon is talking about charging for the amount of miles driven. I don't want someone putting a GPS device on my vehicles. That is BS.

[dreamaker]

Electromagnetic Pulse device should do it.

[Gavin_Sons]

How in the hell can someone or some state charge their residents per mile driven? Why do they need to know where you have been or how you got there? 

[art]

They are doing a pilot program now and want to put GPS tracking devices on every vehicle in the state to track your miles driven and then charge you for your mileage. Ca. is looking into it also. It will be easy on newer cars but I don't know about older ones or motorcycles. BS I say. We have no sales tax and they ( say) they need the money for road repairs, more BS.I say ,what about all the people using the roads from out of state? They get a free ride. Another thing is they car track you wherever you go. Another case of big government.

[Gavin_Sons]

Sounds like they need to put in toll roads or bring back sales tax.

[dreamaker]

Something kind of popped in my head after reading the reply's. Jennifer Granholm was our Governor in Mich., now we have a male version of her, anyways she was trying to start that, charge by the mile tax. Well, when she left office, she split to L.A., I understand she has a talk show and is involve in CA gov. Interesting thing is, now you say CA wants to start a charge by the mile tax. See any connection there.  My opinion she sucked as a gov, made a mess of MI and split.

[czuch]

OSS; I'll second on "One second after".
"afailureofcivility" is one also.
I'd settle for 1860. At least they had hygene and anastesia.
When I broke my arm, the dammm smart/stupid phone was a huge road block for aid.
"Oh nooo,,, you have to SLIDE  the finger over the icon". My achin as,,,,arm!
I had to fire up the computer, look up Tammy's work and call on the work flip phone.
Not lookin for,"awww".
I dragged the motor and transmission back in the garage before I went in the house.

[Rams]

What they need to do is pull the plug on everything. Stop and think, what is necessary in our lives, probably save a truck load of money. May its time, just for an exercise, to sit down and with a piece of paper and write down what is necessary in our live and what do we really need to exists.  See if you can break your addiction to technology.

Well let's see,

1. Do I really need a Valkyrie to exist?

Hmm, as an entity, probably not but, I'd feel real silly calling you F6 John if you didn't have one. 

[dreamaker]

Couple things I was thinking about, first,I am assuming, that if we had a huge electromagnetic pulse that would fry all the electronics, phones, cars, computers, so on. I believe our Valks would not be effected by it. The other in the event it did happen, just as a mind game, what could we exist with and without? Necessities are food, clothing and shelter, everything else are extras.

[art]

 I do believe that all electronics and autos with any kind of computers will be destroyed by an EMP, Valkyries included. No electricity means no water ,food ,hospitals, nothing. We would be screwed. One nuke high over any city would do it. The US military already proved it in the 60s with high altitude explosions. Supposedly North Korea has the capability to do that already. Interesting huh?

[dreamaker]

Solution I think, EMP, I don't think the Valk, system is delicate enough to be effected, but I will take my extra control module and wrap it in lead sheeting and foil. Far as nuke keep taking my iodine and see what happens, other that that I have enough supplies for over a month. Well see what happens,  LOL. LOL

[0leman]

If an EMP bomb did take out our electronic systems life would be kind of rough.   No water from your tap, not electric to keep your heat on or lights, no transportation, no food.

If you life in a place that had wood/coal for fires you could keep warm, if you live in a place with plenty of critters you could eat (providing you have the means to kill them), if you live in a place with plenty of water you could keep hydrated.   Unfortunately most of us don't live in those places.   

Yes, we have water some 3 miles away, deer in the hills behind my home, wood is available from my own trees, but would have to fight my neighbors for it.  AND it is green, won't burn very well.

How about those folks who live in cities.  No transportation, no water, no heat, no food.  Wouldn't be very good.   We have gotten use to have these basic items, with the number of us living close to each other it would be bad.  Look at what happens when we have power outages.   Kind of scary to think about it.

No I don't want to go back into the time without some of the great items we have now.   I kind of like having "Face Time" with grandson who lives 1100 miles away.   And do enjoy sitting here reading and writing every so often on these forums.  PLUS I would miss riding Valk.

[art]

Sorry to say but one month wouldn't do it . After an EMP strike it would take years to recover. The electrical would be shut down and there would be no power to manufacture the equipment to repair or replace the transformers and related equipment to get things working again. Even my home generator wouldn't work. There even wouldn't be trucks to haul replacement parts . Horses on the freeways, what a mess. Who ever hits with a first strike gains the upper hand but our second strike from subs and it's all over.

[dreamaker]

A little story!!  Back since the late 60’s use to go camping allot, well as you know when women are involved, it gives them a reason to shop. The ladies always seemed to make camping more complicated then is had to be. LOL.  I myself, learned for the future trips, I use to pick up items for camping, like dehydrated foods (not sure if they freeze dried then) and so on, and I keep them on hand, rather than waiting till the last minute to get things, I had them on hand. If one of the guys would say “what you doing, let’s go camping”, that would be simple, quickly pack the bike or the truck and gone. 
Awhile back, one of the old timers told me, that refrigerators eat a lot of current, so they suggested that one of the reasons is in the empty freezer, and they said, put containers in the freezer with water in it.  Once frozen, it will keep the frig. cold, and it did, but I don’t know about the saving on the electric.
With that all in mind, in 2003 at 4:00pm EST the Northeast US, went black for three days, I live in Detroit Suburbia (City Slickers) many of the people in the neighborhood, the first day and a half were OK.  It was like a neighborhood block party, and barbeque and all the ice cream you can eat. The latter of the second day, you could see people starting to get a bit concerned; one of the things was at the time, no one knew what the cause was, and there was a tap water warning. On the third day, they seemed kind of irritated and on edge, thankfully the lights came on that evening. Now myself, my situation was kind of a fluke, I was probably good for more than a week, and I use to take my filtered water and put them in Gatorade bottles and put them in the freezer and so on. Any ways, my frig. food was good for 72hrs, after that I had the  camping supplies, freeze dried food , canned goods, so I was probably good for over a week. It was an incredible and valuable, info gathering experience.  Some of the things I learned and to this day I still evaluate those days and what I could have done different.   Some of the things I learned,  on the way home from work, I was impressed, 15mi of traffic and people where absolutely courteous,  treated stop light like 4 way stop signs, but afterwards as the days went on you could see people’s attitudes changing, not bad, but not positive, kind of off.  After the party mindset was disappearing, in conversations with the people you got the sense they where probing of personal info. I then figured, keep my business my business and not offer more that the obvious.  Based on conversations that I had, the Suburban plan “B”and”C” where to bust out more credit cards they had no back up. Just my opinion, but if it would have gone longer, I believe it could have been more stressful. It wasn’t like you could go to the next area or town and rent a motel room.  So needless to say my plan “B” and “C” has been upgraded and will cover my butt for a more than a reasonable amount of time.  One more thing!  My opinion the best written book made, next to the Bible is the Boy Scout handbook, it can save your life.  I know there are better books out there, USAF, USN survival handbooks, but many are not available now.
 Sounds crazy right!!! Like we where thought in Boy Scouts "Be prepared"

[3fan4life]

It's ALWAYS a good idea to have a few days of food and water on hand.

That and a propane grill to cook it on.

It doesn't hurt to have a generator and a few gallons of gas on hand also.

[dreamaker]

Not to give you the impression it is the end of the world, that would be kind of crazy. I go on You Tube and check out the survival videos when I am bored, some of those people are REALLY interesting, don't know if I would walk on the same side of the street with them. LOL   And there are some, that have some really clever devices and ideas.  Not like that Rambo crap they show in movies, really useful things and information. It doesn't hurt to know, to the farm boys, its probably common knowledge.

[cookiedough]

I wish I could go on youtube more often, but even at 144p resolution,  most videos even if 2-3 minute, buffer for like 5-9 minutes totally irritating me lately.  Some don't even load at all.  Netflix is also somewhat useless and paying for that as well but only 9 bucks per month. 

[cookiedough]

Game on NOW.  I just opened up my monthly TDS internet bill I pay online at end of the month.  They decided to raise my rates yet again without telling me first by yet another 2 bucks, when in fact they need to lower it or give it away for free, well almost.

Filed online a ticket# to call me ASAP to cancel since I tried on Friday, 1-2, and was on hold for over 1 1/2 hours getting no one to talk to before I hung up.  Great service - so NOT.

Going to try Hughesnet satellite internet for 50gb anytime/50gb 2a.m.-8 a.m. supposedly up to 15 megs of service.  It cannot be any slower or unreliable than my .50 megs of service I am getting now on average. 

I just wonder now that the ground is frozen, will they be able to dig underground for a pole mount if they can and are willing for a slight fee of say 60 bucks do it especially in 10-15 degree temps???

[CajunRider]

Got decent cell service??  If so, dump the land line.

I haven't had a home phone since 2003.  Cell only. 



Internet, however... I think I'd cry if I didn't have that.    

[cookiedough]

Got decent cell service??  If so, dump the land line.

I haven't had a home phone since 2003.  Cell only. 



Internet, however... I think I'd cry if I didn't have that.    

US Cellular is the ONLY cell phone company that also works in my area where I live.  Verizon and others have too many dead zones.  I don't have nor ever will get a smartphone.  Even if I did have one, I checked out the data plans and for ONLY 20GB being 110 bucks per month,  I don't think so since netflix streaming video with kids using netflix not me ever,  they need at least 30GB per month.

Right now with TDS,  I have to have a landline phone into my house to get their internet as well.  I called and ONLY save 5 bucks per month dropping their phone line since is a bundled package deal,  yet still have to have the phone line into house to get internet and ONLY company besides satellite internet in the area where I live is TDS offering internet. 

One thing I dislike, like said before, if I lived in most other towns less than 25 miles away from me,  I have at least one other MUCH BETTER solution than TDS as the other provider for internet usage.

Next week must call both TDS and hughesnet and get it taken care of, driving me nuts spending well over 2+ more hours on the internet than I should have to just because of slow internet.  Sometimes I get so ticked that I just shut my PC down and leave since is too slow to do what I want it to do which is NOT much at all. 

[scooperhsd]

No cell , no internet - No way !!!!

Cell I'm getting by quite nicely with Verizons Pay as you go on a flip phone (the datarates are an excuse to rape the consumer IMO).  Internet is TimeWarner Cable - a bit more pricey than I'd like, but at least for now it is unlimited - as in for real - I use about 120GB / month. Home phone is VOIP - MUCHO cheaper than Centurylink / TWC's phone service. I use Dish, and OTA -  Dish is the AT120 service. Most of our TV watching is local stations, but there is some stuff that the Dish provides (NASCAR and Food Network for the most part). Wife uses republic Wireless for her Smartphone - since it uses Wifi most of the time - not too bad.

[hotglue #43]

If you text me.. I may answer or I may not....  yes or no is about all you will get..  if you need to have a better answer than that.. ya better call me.  I'm not about to type out a reply on the phone.....  It's a freakin PHONE.....if you want to COMMUNICATE.  call me...  if you just want to make a statement.. text it.. and I will ignore it...

[cookiedough]

Wish me luck,  I called hughesnet and if weather permits since this week is too cold to install a dish in WI with below zero temps outside this week, next week is install of hughesnet satellite internet.

TDS was on hold yet again 1 hour to get thru to their Florida dept. and they don't care at all just now.  They understand is a capacity issue not going to be resolved anytime soon, so gotta do something besides moving to 2 other towns nearby offering other internet providers unlike my town.   Do I want to pay 90 bucks per month just for internet and drop the home phone = NO, but can live with paying that vs. the 55 bucks now paying for phone and internet with TDS since internet is basically dial up speed and can use my flip cellphone for all calls anyways.

Sure hope it works out since is a 24 month committment otherwise 399 cancellation fee. 

[dreamaker]

Here is a little something for you to chew on, makes sense, I have a few stashed. Can use it  for docs. or stash cash, freeze dried food, fire arms or just have your own private possessions. What I would do is hide it under a patio block or bolder, in case someone had a metal detector.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUogyKl4IYE

[Jess Tolbirt]

Wish me luck,  I called hughesnet and if weather permits since this week is too cold to install a dish in WI with below zero temps outside this week, next week is install of hughesnet satellite internet.

TDS was on hold yet again 1 hour to get thru to their Florida dept. and they don't care at all just now.  They understand is a capacity issue not going to be resolved anytime soon, so gotta do something besides moving to 2 other towns nearby offering other internet providers unlike my town.   Do I want to pay 90 bucks per month just for internet and drop the home phone = NO, but can live with paying that vs. the 55 bucks now paying for phone and internet with TDS since internet is basically dial up speed and can use my flip cellphone for all calls anyways.

Sure hope it works out since is a 24 month committment otherwise 399 cancellation fee. 

drop tthe home phone and get majic jack,, thats what i did,, then your home phone is only 30 bucs a year and all calls are free,,