Catch the “dirty wind” and turn it into clean power. The dirty wind is the wind that cars and trucks create whizzing down the highway. Gene S. Fein and Edward Merritt of Genedics LLC (Lenox, MA) have a vision to turn freeways into gigawatt power plants by lining them with both solar power panels with nano-sized windmills and five foot helix shaped wind turbines, which are also coated with thin film solar collectors. Using a highway or other roadway allows for the installation of over 500 wind generating devices per mile. Freeway guardrails would also be transformed into solar power collectors. They also plan to turn cars into dynamos by installing solar panel “sheets” embedded with a million micro-electromechanical-windmills affixed to the car’s roof and undercarriage. Vehicle-based wind energy generating devices can generate energy while a vehicle is parked or moving. Their ideas were good enough to earn U.S. Patent 7,501,713, in which they layout a roadway system that can provide the basis for a national or global clean or renewable energy infrastructure.
The power generated and collected by an expressway power system would be delivered to the power grid to power homes or businesses. The system would also provide power to service stations and the power could be used to split water into hydrogen by electrolysis for use in a fuel cell to generate power when the sun isn’t shining and the wind, dirty or atmospheric, is not blowing or as fuel in a fuel cell vehicle.
The use of public and private highways via median and outside of breakdown lane installations of small wind generating devices offers numerous advantages. First, private highways and municipalities have existing maintenance crew as well as existing relationships with contracted infrastructure building providers who can be trained to install the wind generation systems along specified parts of roadways. Second, the wind power generation systems can be small and noiseless, small enough to fit on a median between opposite sides of a divided highway with existing median. These infrastructures benefit the wind power generator companies; the roadway owners via lease or easement revenue, and provide a stable and consistent infrastructure project generating a service provider economy for clean energy production as well as the environment.
These wind energy generating devices attached to vehicles include nano- or micrometer scale wires that gather wind energy and generate electricity, thus, substituting the function of the turbines and generators. It is believed, that each wire mechanically deforms, for example, bends in response to wind, thereby converting some of the wind energy into electrical energy via a piezoelectric effect.
Wind energy generating sheets (called “wind turbine installation sheets” or “wind turbine installation placards”) are wind energy generating devices that employ up to millions of nano- and/or micrometer scale wind energy generating devices on a sheet with a density of, typically, about 1500 to about a million wind energy generating devices per square meter of sheet. Sheets may be rigid or flexible and also provide the housing and infrastructure for wiring of the wind energy generating devices and for connective wiring to other wind energy generating sheets, to an inverter or battery system.
Nano- and/or micrometer scale wind energy generating devices on wind energy generating sheets can be manufactured directly on a given sheet and/or the wind energy generating devices can be, independently, manufactured and then attached to a given sheet. Wiring that may be used to electrically interconnect the wind energy generating devices and/or the wind energy generating devices with electric circuitry on a given sheet includes, for example, nano- and micrometer scale wiring such as gold, silicon, copper and silver nano- and micrometer scale wires.
Large fleets of motor vehicles driving along available public and private roadways may each be affixed with wind power gathering devices and the energy derived from these devices may be used to power elements of the vehicle directly, or may be used to gain credits for fuel, goods, or sold for currency. Rest areas and service stations along with all retail outlets can make these vehicle wind generating systems available for easy purchase and installation for the motor vehicle owner. Power depots where energy is deposited from fixed and vehicle deployments, installation areas and billing systems can be combined to service both fixed and vehicle deployment installations to gain efficiency and save on infrastructure cost.
New advances in solar energy gathering techniques allow for this kind of power gathering line system to be deployed in a more flexible, multi-form and cost efficient manner for power generation resulting in the development of a solar energy distributed power network with multi-gigawatt potential which may power entities directly or via interconnection with existing grid power systems. This roadway solar “line array” deployed in the median, on the side or breakdown lane or as lane dividers creates a system that produces DC current that is then passed through inverter, which converts to AC current and voltage. Power is also fed to the system by a network of vehicles deployed and installed with portable or permanent solar power gathering devices seamlessly mounted to their vehicles and containing linked battery packs that can be stored either in the trunk, inside the vehicle or attached to the exterior of the vehicle.
Small noiseless to low noise wind turbines are configured to utilizing large stretches of continuous available public and private roadways via easements, leases or the purchase specified rights to create thousands of miles of contiguous and semi-contiguous networks of interconnected wind turbine power generation. The wind turbines may be mounted in the median, breakdown lanes or just off of the highway or major roadway. This deployment may run with a complimentary set of installations that uses small noiseless to low noise wind turbines to generate wind power by affixing those wind power generating devices to motor vehicles.
The power generated by the solar and/or wind energy gathering systems can be used to both connect to a grid or to power homes businesses or systems without connecting to existing grid systems. Power generated and stored in the portable battery system can be transferred into the network power system at Power Depots which can be designed and installed at the same or different points of interconnection and direct distribution as the line array panel outputs. Power is logged by the electricity meters and is either consumed immediately by home or business loads, or is sent out to the general utility grid network. The utility meter spins backwards, or two meters are used to record incoming and outgoing power. The inverter shuts down automatically in case of utility power failure for safety, and reconnects automatically when utility power resumes. Solar power arrays or/and fixed wind turbines can be situated on a median, breakdown lane or nearby running contiguous with major roadways and offer numerous conveniences such as easy access to the grid, easy maintenance access and direct powering opportunities to homes and businesses with a potential installation footprint of hundreds of thousands of miles of available roadways.
Wind energy generating devices of very small geometrical dimensions and wind energy generating sheets employing wind energy generating devices of very small geometrical dimensions, for example, on the nanometer and micrometer scale, may be manufactured using microfabrication methods. Microfabrication methods for three-dimensional structure creation are well known in the art and include, for example, photolithography such as two-photon 3D lithography, etching such as RIE (Reactive-ion etching) or DRIE (Deep reactive-ion etching), thin film deposition, such as sputtering, CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition), evaporation, epitaxy, thermal oxidation, doping using, for example, thermal diffusion or ion implantation, wafer-scale integration techniques, wafer bonding, CMP (Chemical-Mechanical Planarization), wafer cleaning, nano- and micrometer scale wiring fabrication.
Materials suitable for microfabrication methods include, for example, silicon (e.g., single crystal silicon), silicon carbide and silicon/silicon carbide hybrid structures. Materials for nano- and micrometer scale wiring fabrication include, for example, gold, silicon, copper, silver and zinc oxide. Parts of wind energy generating devices with dimensions of about 1/8th of an inch and up can be manufactured using molding technology. All of the wind energy generating devices, but, in particular, the ones of dimensions of about 1/8th of an inch and up may replicate the well known designs of larger, that is, 5 feet to several hundred feet wind energy generating devices, for example, helical wind turbines.
Source : emergency home generators
Portable lanterns are not a luxury, reserved only for the likes of nocturnal campers and night fishermen. Lantern light may allow you to have supper, finish homework, or make repairs on the house after the power is knocked out by a thunderstorm. But regardless of whether you are on a camping trip, or just using a lantern around the home, knowledge of the proper use and storage of fuels very important.
The critical component for powering any lantern is fuel. Clean, fresh white gas, which is not the same as unleaded fuel, can be used, but it is increasingly hard to find. Unleaded gasoline, while free of lead, contains additives that will clog generators on camp stoves and lanterns when frequently used, requiring repeated cleaning or replacement. It will coat the wick of catalytic heaters and render them useless. Use of both unleaded or regular gasoline will permanently damage catalytic heater heads. Regular of premium grade gasoline will leave deposits of lead compounds.
The most frequently seen lantern/campstove fuel is produced by the same company that markets these devices. But what is Coleman fuel? According to the company, it is a petroleum naphtha made to exact specifications for gasoline campstoves, lanterns, and catalytic heaters. They have set rigid distillation requirements, more so than those for white gas, and have combined additives that prevent rust and corrosion inside the fuel tanks.
Whenever a gasoline product is used indoors, care must be taken. Never use the lantern/stove/heater in a tightly closed room. You must allow ventilation because the appliances use the oxygen in the air to operate properly. The more people there are in the room with the burning appliances, the more air is required. Universal fire codes prohibit using propane containers larger than 16.4 ounces indoors, which means no bulk refillable tanks should be used inside houses, pickup campers, trailers, or other confined spaces. The bulk refillable tanks may be used outdoors. Be sure that any appliance used inside is set on a firm, level surface well away from combustible materials and out of reach of children.
Never add fuel to any appliance while the metal surfaces are hot to the touch or near any flame such as a pilot light of a furnace, water heater or kitchen range. A spark from an electric motor can also trigger a flash fire. Refuel outside or in a well-ventilated area when necessary.
Emissions from any fuel can be dangerous, but Coleman fuel reportedly emits only carbon dioxide, water vapor, unburned hydrocarbons, and a small amount of carbon monoxide. Adequate ventilation is required to replace the oxygen and rid the room of the emissions and byproducts. Most unwanted emissions result from efforts by homeowners when they modify existing systems. Outdoor people are great innovators and likely to modify equipment to personalize it for their own use, or invent new uses for commercial things. When this type of creativity is practiced on appliances that use fuel, the air required for proper operation of the product may be cut off. Such modifications may also cause the product to overheat or leak.
Another concern for homeowners is the storage of fuels. Any type of gas should be kept in small quantities, with only enough on hand for immediate use. When exposed to air and heat, gasoline degrades very quickly and can actually be a problem for your equipment as it gums up openings. Store the fuel upright in an area that won’t exceed 120 degrees, and where the can won’t be subject to tipping by an errant cat, dog, or child. Fuel should always be kept in a clean, properly marked, closed metal container away from an open flame, including pilot lights.
Fuels can be stored in airtight metal cans for as long as several years, but once it is opened, use it within a year. If it is kept beyond one year, it would be best to take it to a gas station for proper disposal, and start the new season with a fresh can. A good idea is to write the date on the can with a marker, so you don’t lose track of its history.
A commonly asked question about these fuels is, “Can it be used safely in a lawn mower or car, if needed?” A company representative replied emphatically, “No!” The intense heat generated through combustion and absence of certain additives that are common to automobile fuels will cause dieseling. This describes the behavior of an engine that keeps running after the key is turned off. The use of Coleman fuel in automobiles can also cause knocking and damage valves and pistons. Economically, it just wouldn’t make sense.
When used properly, these fuels are wonderfully efficient. But like any fuel, they are explosive and must be handled and stored with great care.
Source : 5500 watt generator
When I first started constructing log homes, the last thing on my mind was if the lot was suited for it or not. Being the builder versus being the owner, you would think that it didn’t matter what I thought of the property. In most cases this is true, until I started constructing my second log home. The owner, being fairly wealthy, had chosen a lot on top of a steep hill with a rutted gravel path to the top. He chose the lot because you could see a small sliver of the lake a mile away. Not exactly a million dollar view, but one that suited the owner. I believe that if he knew what type of logistical problem he had presented us with, he would have purchased a different lot.
The first time I tried to go to the top of this hill in my truck, I had to stop, back down and get a running shot to make it. Now this wasn’t like a fifty foot hill to the top of a flat site, no it was a little over a quarter mile of switchbacks with some areas being as steep as forty-five degrees. Once I made it to the top I thought, well I got up here, no problem. At the end of that same week one of my employees jack knifed the company truck with the tool trailer behind it on the same hill. We ended up bringing in a backhoe to get them both up the hill and spent about $250.00 repairing the hitch on both the truck and the trailer. The following week I ordered concrete for the footings that we had just excavated. When I ordered the concrete I made sure to tell the dispatcher that they needed to bring their six wheel drive trucks to make it up the hill. Needless to say the first truck to try the hill not only got stuck halfway up the hill but he also spilled about one third of the load on the steepest part of the slope.
Knowing that I had very little time before the concrete started to set up in the truck, I sent the second truck back to the plant. (It still cost us for both full loads) Then I called a local excavating contractor to bring in a D-8 Caterpillar dozer to ease the truck back off the hill. Once the dozer and operator arrived at the site (about an hour after the truck driver panicked) we attempted to get the concrete truck to the top of the hill and salvage what concrete was left. Once again fate had different plans, it turned out that the loaded truck was just to heavy for the dozer. We eventually dumped the load of concrete over the side of the hill and eased the truck and driver back down to the bottom (the driver refused to ever come back to the site). After making a call to my boss and after he made a call to the owner, it was decided that we needed to rebuild the road to allow for a better access to the site. Considering that before we even started construction I had three loads of crush and run spread on the drive, it turned out to be useless. After talking to the owner of the dozer, I made arrangements to have the road bed cut down, then we put on a thin layer of two inch crushed stone and a three inch layer of crush and run. (crush and run are the tailings left over from the stone crushing process, they are usually cheaper and once it is compacted it is almost as strong as concrete) Two weeks and ten thousand dollars later we had a decent road to access the job site, the only problem with this is that once we drove construction vehicles over it for six months, it wasn’t much better than when we started.
The other problem with this site was storage area. At the top of this hill, the site was barely big enough for the house and a couple of cars. We were only able to store limited amounts of material at the building site. The remainder of the material was stored a quarter of a mile below on the right of way. Now this may not sound like that big of a deal, until you realize that we had to keep a lull on-site during construction. This added another eight hundred dollars a week to the building cost. None of these costs were factored in by the owner when he purchase the land and his log home kit. When we bid the house, we knew that we would have material storage problems, but we did not consider rebuilding the road. The moral of this story is that if the owner had done just a little homework, he would have been able to pre-plan for these costs. Some people do not care what it costs to get what they want, but most of us live on restricted budgets and cannot absorb a ten thousand dollar road project. The remainder of this article will address some of the other problems that you can encounter when dealing with building a new home. Those problems tend to become exaggerated when you are building a log home.
In the first four paragraphs we addressed the issue of access to the site and storage. When you order a log home the sales representative should tell you that on the day of delivery, you will need to have a lull on site. (a lull is a forklift with a boom that extends out and adjusts level and right to left) The one thing that I hate about this is when I am building a home for a farmer and he decides that he can unload the materials with his tractor. THIS DOES NOT WORK. I have seen more than one load of logs damaged beyond use because a homeowner was trying to save a couple hundred bucks. Imagine if you will that you tried to unload your logs with a tractor, you have dropped a bundle of logs and now they have to be replaced or used with all the gouges in them. To replace that one bundle could cost anywhere from $1800.00 up to $7000.00. Now I bet you are wishing that you would have just bit the bullet and rented a lull. The “gotcha” on this deal is this, in the fine print on your contract with your supplier you will find a little paragraph stating that you have one half hour to unload each truck and that for every half hour over this time, you will have to pay the driver an additional fifty dollars. Now, this may not sound like much, but let me tell you how this little scheme works for the drivers.
Your delivery is scheduled to arrive a five o-clock in the afternoon. The first truck driver, who is not familiar with the area, arrives about six thirty or just after dark. Upon arrival, you realize that you cannot get the truck to the site because of roads, weak culverts or narrow drive. Or you cannot get the logs to the site because the bundles are to wide to go down the drive without cutting down that beautiful oak that your wife loves so much. So, here you are trying to solve these problems and the clock is ticking. The driver is loving it because he can get some rest and you still have to pay him. I have seen drivers pretend to be stuck at the end of the drive in order to make a couple extra dollars while he sleeps. This happens more than you would like to believe. The lesson here is, one, make sure that your order is scheduled to arrive early in the morning. Two, that you have made arrangements to unload the truck in a timely manner. This may mean that you have to unload the truck on the side of the road and take the material to the site after they leave. The other option is to make sure that the driver cannot only get to the site, but that you have at least twelve feet of clearance along the access that the material will be ferried down. This is one of the most common mistakes made by owners. The odd part is that only two log home companies (that I know of) actually prepare the homeowner for this situation. Most will tell you that you need the lull, some will tell you that you need at least twelve feet of clearance, (you may need more clearance if your logs are longer and or bundled in a strange manner, check with your sales representative long before delivery so that you can prepare) but few if any will tell you that the delivery costs can go up on site. Another little tip in the storage area is that if you can, have the logs arrive after you have the sub-floor down. That way you can set what logs you are going to need first right on the deck and save yourself or the builder a ton of labor.
Another common mistake made by log home buyers is to build in a neighborhood that consists of framed houses. If you build a log home on a lot and all of the houses around you are framed with vinyl siding, your home will never reach its value potential. The value of your home will be based on those around you and not on a comparable house. For example, lets say that you purchase a kit for thirty thousand dollars. Then you bring in a log home builder who charges you another fifteen thousand just to dry it in. Then you bring in a roofer, an electrician, a plumber and a finish crew. When all is said and done, you have spent a hundred and fifty thousand to build a house that will never be worth more than the two cracker boxes on either side of you. Now, if you are in love with your neighborhood and don’t mind the loss of equity, then be my guest, but don’t expect it to sell quickly on the market. When people think of log homes, they think of woods, streams, creeks, rivers and lakes. They don’t think about vinyl siding, brick and privacy fencing. This is honestly a personal preference, but one that you should at least consider before purchasing a piece of land for your new home. If you have ever driven around looking at log homes, you will notice that they are either built off by themselves or in a neighborhood with dozens of other log homes. Research recent log home sales in your area to get a better idea of how this phenomenon works.
For our next subject let’s go back to the top of that hill we were talking about earlier. The owner of that home was so proud that he not only had a view, paved roads in the neighborhood, neighbors no closer than two acres apart but he was proud that city water was available. Before anyone can start a project, they need two things to the site, one they need electricity and two they need water. Now you can get a generator and you can haul water, but this costs money and it is much easier and convenient to have those services on site. The plumber that I had on that project started by installing a spigot at the meter (which was a quarter of a mile down the hill) and then proceeded to run a solid one inch polyethylene pipe from the meter to the house. Once he had it installed along with a temporary spigot at the house, he proceeded to go to the meter and turn the water on. He then made the trip back to the top of the hill only to discover that no water was coming out of the line.
My plumber then stood back and scratched his head for a couple of minutes while I explained to him that if he only had thirty five psi at the meter, that would only push the water so far up the hill and that we would have to install a booster pump in the line at some point. Now this plumber (being a stubborn yankee, now I am not prejudice because I am married to a stubborn yankee) decided to walk down the hill about fifty feet, cut the line and install the booster pump. Well people, there is an equation for this situation, but he chose to play it by ear. After moving the pump three times and increasing its size twice, he finally got a decent thirty five pounds of pressure at the house. The only problem with this is that if the city water pressure were to drop by five pounds, not only would he not have water at his house, but odds are it would burn up the pump before he knew what was happening. It could also be a problem if the city shut the water down without giving him notice. Now we installed an automatic shut off valve and a decent sized pressurized storage tank in the home to prevent this sort of problem, but your plumber might not want to go to all that trouble, especially if he gave you a hard dollar cost on the project. This is just another unforeseen expense that the owner had to bear because he had no idea what he was getting into, not to mention the ongoing expense of maintaining such a complicated system.
For our discussion of electrical we will once again go back to our home on the hill. Almost everyone knows that before you start construction on a project, one of the first things you do is set a temporary power pole. Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Well on this particular project, we invited the electrical engineer from our local electric department out to the site to tell us what we would need to get our temporary electrical in place. He took it easy on us at first and told us to upgrade our four by four post to a six by six. Then he told us that we would need to stake it off firmly and have the weather-head at least fourteen feet off the ground. Then he hit us hard. “We are going to need a swath one hundred feet wide cut down that hill so that we have fifty feet either side of our power line.” That is a direct quote. Now, I knew that we would have to cut a few trees to get the poles set and the wire strung, but this was going to be a hundred foot wide path a quarter of a mile long on the side of a steep hill with a ninety degree turn at the bottom. Not only did we have to cut all of these trees but we had to move them out of the way of the bucket trucks. (which they had to winch down the side of the hill using a D-8 dozer) I took one other man and started at the bottom, two and a half weeks and about a thousand trees later, we had our path for our power lines.
Before I started cutting trees, I called my boss who in turn called the owner and explained what the electric company required. He told us to go ahead and do whatever we had to do. However, I don’t think that anything could have prepared him for the site of the side of his hill stripped of all vegetation. The side of that hill looked as if we had dropped napalm on it and tried to burn out charlie. Not to mention the fact that we had to take down trees as large as two foot in diameter. It is hard to imagine how many trees are in a hundred foot path a quarter of a mile long, but if you are curious, go out in the woods with a tape measure and mark out an area one hundred feet by one hundred feet and count the trees. I think you will be surprised. The pile of firewood at the bottom of that hill was enormous, to bad he didn’t install a wood burning fireplace. (he went for a gas unit) This is just another example of a cost that the homeowner didn’t consider. This wasn’t just a monetary loss either, this was a loss of beauty, habitat and it had screened the house from the neighbors. The cost of this one item alone single handedly shattered his illusion of seclusion. The cost of running the poles and wire was only seven hundred and fifty dollars, if he had went for an underground installation the cost would have been closer to ten thousand. Looking back I think he wishes that he would have spent the ten grand rather than have us strip half of his hill bare.
Now for the next consideration, soil conditions and the ability of the soil to perk. With all of the new types of septic systems on the market these days, there are few sites that a person cannot build on. However, if your ground will not perk and you are required to install an exotic waste system the cost can be astronomical. It is best to have this tested before you purchase the land. Even if the owner or dealer or realtor tells you that a particular spot will perk, get it tested. Often rules that apply to septic systems change as environmental conditions change. The perk test that you are quoted may no longer be valid. The area of the ground that actually perks may restrict you from building on the sweet spot where you want your house to sit. What good is a lot if you have to build at the bottom of the hill and cannot see the million dollar view that you paid for? Another consequence of perk tests is it may restrict your home to two bedrooms and one and a half baths when you wanted a four bedroom three bath house. The devil is in the details, isn’t it? There are occasions when you can get around these problems by installing an exotic waste system, but be prepared to pay for it. These are not just a hole in the ground with a couple hundred feet of pipe. They can get expensive. Also keep in mind that a typical septic system will require one hundred feet of line for each bedroom and an additional ten feet for each bath. These lines are usually ten feet apart, sometimes further depending on soil conditions. You need to know all of this so that you have plenty of room once you begin construction. No matter how nice you are, no one is going to let you sneak part of your septic line on to their property. Keep in mind that these are general rules and your local laws will apply.
I am sure that you are tired of me boring you with details so I am going to end this article with one last note on property. Location, location, location. I know that the saying is older than the dirt you are planning on building on. Let me tell you of a man and his dream home. Several years ago we get a cost plus contract on a log home near Dale Hollow Lake for a retired businessman. We spent the better part of two years and three quarters of a million dollars building this couple their dream home. This house had everything (it was a Y-2K home complete with generators, underground propane tanks, back up tanks) this house even had a sixteen foot fish tank with a live coral reef from Japan in it. The dogs had a bathtub in this house. It was equipped with bunkers, duel water systems, if this guy thought of it, we put it in. My point is, this guy spent two years of his life building his dream home and once it was finished and we had all went home. His wife decided that she was lonely and made him sell it so that they could move back to Ohio. In order to sell his dream home he ended up taking a hundred thousand dollar loss, because your dream isn’t my dream. It didn’t help that it was a forty-five minute drive to a grocery store and an hour and a half to decent shopping. Careful not to remove yourself and your better half too far from what you both are accustomed to, unless you both know what you are getting into. If you want my advice, rent a home as close as possible to where you will eventually build and see if you are happy in that area before you go burning through your nest egg.
If you have been keeping up with my articles on log homes, you know that this is the fourth. Please keep coming back as there are many more topics to be discussed at length. The more you know, the better prepared you can be when you are ready. Nothing is as frustrating to a builder than having a customer who not only doesn’t know what they want, but has no clue what it takes to give them the product that they expect. Just like all things, a knowledgeable consumer is a happy consumer. Check here weekly for new and informative articles from your log home specialist……
Source : 5000 watt portable generator
Beach camping is an affordable way to enjoy waterfront accommodations without paying for pricey hotels. We live on Long Island’s East End, the perfect place for beach camping. We are residents of Suffolk County and my husband is a disabled veteran so we take advantage of discounted waterfront camp sites to have fantastic family vacations. Whether you live in a beach community or travel for beach camping, you need to be prepared for the conditions The environment at a lake differs from the conditions by the ocean. These top ten beach camping tips will get you ready for camping in beach tents and beyond no matter where you decide to go.
1. Visit the campsite before you make a commitment. In certain locations, beach camping exposes to you a variety of natural elements. Each campground is different so you cannot assume you’ll like it until you check it out completely. Some campsites are “dry” which means you must bring your own freshwater for drinking and bathing. If the campgrounds are far away and you cannot personally visit them before your trip, review all information about the conditions carefully. Have an alternative plan if you find the campgrounds are not suitable for your needs. Know the nearest hotel, have transportation accessible and have extra cash to accommodate an unexpected change of plans.
2. Practice with your tent or RV before you go. Most campers start out in a tent. For years, we used different beach tents for camping. As a couple, a dome tent sufficed in all environments. With one child, we got a one-room cabin tent by Cabelas. When the second child was born, we invested in a two-room tent by Coleman. Now that our children are older, we have a pop-up by Coleman. Friends purchased large RV’s . No matter what your “housing” will be, get familiar with how it works before you arrive at the beach camping site. You don’t want to be fighting the elements and trying to figure out how your housing works in a strange place after traveling for hours. Verify whether beach tents are allowed at the campsite. At two of our favorite campsites in the Hamptons, you must have an RV or pop-up as beach tents are not allowed.
3. Have your reservations, permits and paperwork in order. Most campgrounds require a reservation so verify these arrangements before you leave. Others may require you to have a permit, too. Make sure to have your reservations, permits, drivers license, vehicle registration and insurance papers, health insurance cards and pertinent paperwork handy for when you need it. If you are disabled veteran, bring your Veterans card to take advantage of possible discounts.
4. Be prepared for beach camping. From beach tents to sleeping bags to food, be prepared for beach camping trips. A basic checklist of items to bring includes:
- sleeping bags, blankets and pillows;
- change of clothes, swimsuits, windbreakers/rain jackets, sunglasses and sweatshirts;
- canned goods, food, propane stove, dishes, pots, pans, utensils, firewood and fire container - find out rules about building open fires and barbecuing before you go beach camping;
- dish soap, rags, trash bags and storage containers and coolers for food so animals are not attracted by the scent of your food
- always dispose of trash according to campground rules to avoid unwanted animal attention and keep the campgrounds beautiful;
- basic toiletries such as soap, shampoo, lotion, bug repellent, sunscreen, medications and contact lens supplies;
- flashlights, Swiss army knife, rope, tarp, compass, map, cell phone, matches, first aid kit, plastic baggies, aluminum foil and bottled water;
- a portable potty and water supply at dry campgrounds as well as a generator if you want electricity - find out campground rules regarding the use of generators before you go;
- optional items include table, camp chairs, fishing rods and tackle, balls and outdoor toys, whisk broom, books, notebook and pen, camera, books and gloves.
5. Be aware of water tables and tides when you go beach camping. Most waterfront campgrounds have designated sites but others may not. If this is the situation, be aware of the local water tables and tides. You would not want to set up your beach tents in a place where they will be washed away!
6. Set up beach tents of clear ground. Before you set up beach tents, make sure the ground is smooth. Level out the sand or dirt and remove all sticks and rocks. This keeps your tent from getting punctured and you enjoy a more comfortable outdoor sleeping experience. If it is a “dry” camp with no restrooms or running water, designate an area for waste. Dig a hole, bury it and burn the toilet tissue used. Never bury trash and follow all regulations regarding garbage disposal. Give a hoot and don’t pollute so you leave the natural world the way you found it.
7. Beach camping is best for beginners during the summer. We enjoy beach camping during the spring, summer and fall because we are seasoned campers with a pop-up and a generator. When you camp in beach tents as a beginner, it is best to go during the summer months when it is warmest. As you gain more experience, you may decide to try beach camping during the spring or fall during cooler weather.
8. Be aware of local wildlife during beach camping. Certain restrictions may be imposed on where you can go because of local wildlife. Know about seasonal wildlife activity so you don’t disrupt the delicate balance of nature. Instead, use the opportunity to observe nature and take photos. For example, often the piping plover are nesting when we camp in the Hamptons so certain beach areas are closed off. Be considerate of wildlife as you are staying in “their home”. Do not feed the wildlife as it usually does more harm than good, causing animals to be unhealthy and become a nuisance. Animals naturally know how to forage for food for themselves.
9. Use caution around fires during beach camping. There tend to be higher winds near waterfront areas. Be aware of the wind and conditions around you when building a fire. Use a special fire bucket to keep the flames contained. Discuss fire safety with children so they do not get burned while they toast up those yummy s’mores.
10. Know where to get medical attention, groceries and supplies. Even when you are well-prepared, emergencies and unexpected circumstances arrive. Know where the nearest hospital, doctor and grocery store are in case of an accident or special needs.
Following these beach camping tips ensure a great getaway. Remember to take time to appreciate those incredible waterfront sunrises and sunsets!
Source : 5000 watt generator
Social Networking? Baby boomers hear this term and often are not yet sure what it means. Ask most people between 18 and 25 and discussion is done. It is a part of the current culture for them. Never fear, though, like all good things, social networking is becoming a part of life for baby boomers too.
Nathaniel Briggs, a southwest American native, decided to open a new arena for the over 50 set. His answer to this growing demand is a social network site named Senior Grand Central. As a David meeting Goliath, Briggs developed his site for $ 300.00- a lot less than sites like Eons.com. But, SGC has assets that are not available on Eons. Primarily, the ability to reach out to all members of the boomer and senior demographic.
Briggs was born in Wyoming and has been writing software since the fourth grade! He has worked with companies like Disney, American Express, Hyatt, AAA, and a long list of others. Briggs has also successfully launched over 100 internet properties as a team member or sole engineer.
Briggs sat down recently and was kind enough to answer some important questions, about Senior Grand Central, his future, and how he sees the world of the Web evolving.
ABS) - What factors played into your development of Senior Grand Central?
NB) - Both the reality of there being an underserved market, and a lack of useful easy-to-use technology for it.
For the Internet user age 50 and up, there hasn’t been a web site offering a fun, educational and helpful place that harnesses the power of the web, and presents it in a digestible manner. Instead, they are left to sort through a veritable cornucopia of web sites that are targeted toward ages 15-35, and most often populated by the same.
I wanted to build an internet community that allowed those of age 50 and up to feel comfortable both with the other members and the technology. After all it was with their dollars that the internet was born, so why shouldn’t they reap the rewards?
ABS) - When did you begin to develop SGC and who supported the effort?
NB) - The development path of Seniors Grand Central is interesting in that it didn’t begin with millions of dollars, dozens of focus groups, or corporate investment- instead it began as the software component of an entirely different technology service that I had developed, and while my rival was founded with 10 million dollars in venture capital funding, SGC was started with just $300.00, intense work, and focus driven by member requests.
ABS) - What do you think of Eons.com?
NB) - It’s great to see my rival, Eons, helping blaze the trail by offering an internet destination for those age fifty and up. However, like many corporate sponsored ventures, advertising and product sales are heavily entwined right out of the gate. My philosophy is quite different, however.
I believe it you build it, and they like it, they will come. If people find real value in what I offer them, then in the future I can find ways to monetize, and incorporate it in such a way that again real value is added to the consumer’s experience.
In contrast, if you build a service around a revenue engine then your focus isn’t on the consumer, and the service is just a revenue engine wearing a guise acceptable to your target market.
The landscape encompassing my competition outside of what I’ve mentioned embodies a barren landscape of a few attempts to duplicate popular web destinations, and unfortunately no yet seen any innovative ventures propelled toward servicing the 50+ internet surfer.
ABS) - What obstacles were in your way when you began to develop SGC? What obstacles are still present?
NB) - The biggest obstacle has to be the fact that no one knows what the 50+ internet user like with respect to an internet destination. While we’ve utilized a great deal of user feedback to help shed light on our path, there are many differences that exist between how people age 15-35 communicate , and how those 50+ and up communicate. Sure we all use language, but for example young people feel more comfortable communicating via email, and text message, while from what I’ve seen people over 50 are more comfortable engaging with others in a physical real world environment.
ABS) - Do you view Boomers and seniors in the same way?
NB) - Boomers and seniors are the same in that they both comprise in total form an underserved market with respect to internet, and technology services. The major differences I see are those that separate all age generations. Each generation has its own set of comfort zones. One of our challenges has been to embrace both age groups, and offer a common ground that all those over 50 enjoy.
ABS) - Finally, what is your vision for Senior Grand Central in the future?
NB) - I want to see Senior Grand Central better people’s lives. I’d like to expand the Connect, Learn, and Explore fundamentals into a robust set of tools, and services that are about as easy as using a toaster over. Anyone can make something complicated, but simplicity is genius.
Nathaniel Briggs developed an idea into a reality. Not, by throwing a lot of money at the wall, but by being creative and compelling. We would be naive to think that page views and Google ranking does not propel the commerce of the Web today. However, convincing content and easy-to-understand tools -targeting those demographics that are not yet sure of their place on the Internet is an idea whose time has come. Baby-boomers are coming into their own -they are a generation that is not only Internet savvy but one that has a lot of money to spend. Marketers, business people, and internet entrepreneurs would do well, to follow Nathaniel Briggs intelligent lead.
Source : 3500 watt generator
How many times has your power gone out shortly after a trip to the grocery store, ruining tons of eating goods? A standby generator can be the perfect answer to save tons of money and the sheer inconvenience of having an electrical outage. Never miss your favorite TV shows again. What is a standby generator? Well this article will explain just that!
Standby Generator Basics - Portable
Portable standby generators are a cheaper and more affordable option when it comes to buying a standby generator. Generators can be very pricy, and picking up a portable one can really come in handy in a bind. Also, this type of standby generator is great when a friend or family member has an outage and is in danger of losing food as you can lend it to them for the duration of their outage! Portable generators aren’t all that great though, as gas and electric lines are very much a pain to deal with, and even more hazardous is the possibility of carbon monoxide, a very poisonous gas that can kill in as little as fifteen seconds of exposure.
Standby Generator Basics - Permanent
While being quite a bit more expensive, the permanent standby generator conveniently flips on when power goes out and cuts right back off when power is restored. Barely like losing power at all! You should also consider the longevity of your current housing situation when concerning a permanent standby generator, as it’s not so easy to pack up and take with you if you need or choose to move to another home. They are already rigged to your homes electric system and generally runs off of propane.
Standby Generator Basics - Size
Once again, the main issue when considering the size of the standby generator you want is price. The larger the unit, obviously the more benefit you’re going to get, as most larger units can run an entire houses electrical workings by themselves. Most of the smaller units can be connected to a single circuit box and will run a few of the vital workings.
Standby Generator Basics - Self Testing
The nicer models of the standby generator can even test itself to ensure that it will work properly in case of an emergency. This is a great feature for a standby generator as you have no worries at all about power outages. It completely eliminates the risk.
You should always consider how much power you want to run before you buy a generator. If you only want to run select circuits, you should make sure you get the minimum standby generator model to save as much money as possible and still get enough power to help you survive an outage. Another thing to remember is that after every use, you should work on cleaning and changing fluids and other things in your generator to keep it working top notch and keep your home in the soft glow of electricity.
Source : 2000 watt generators
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With the holiday movie season just around the corner and no Harry Potter film to look forward to as originally promised, it is time to take a look at what is left. Here is a sneak peek at the films scheduled for release in October of 2008:
October 3, 2008
Sports enthusiasts should appreciate “The Express.” Starring Dennis Quaid, Rob Brown, and Frank Grillo, the film shares the life story of one of college football’s most respected players - - Ernie Davis. The courageous young man fought battles on two fronts. First, he fought to break down the racial barriers that would have kept him from playing the game he loved. He succeeded, becoming the first black player to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy. However, he lost his second battle; the battle for his life. Davis died of Leukemia before making it to the pros.
“Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist” stars a group of basically unknown actors in a kind of coming of age film. The two teenagers - - Nick and Nora - - meet in New York while still recovering from other relationships. However, that doesn’t stop them from falling head over heels in love. Kat Dennings, Michael Cera, Ari Graynor, Rafi Gavron, and Alexis Dziena star.
Debra Winger makes a comeback in “Rachel Getting Married.” The film also stars Anne Hathaway. The film centers on Kym who returns home for the wedding of her sister Rachel. While other family members and friends are hoping for a beautiful event full of romance and family love, Kym has a little more conflict in mind. She stirs the pot to bring the family dynamics to a full-fledged boil.
A boy’s fantasy life comes alive in “Where the Wild Things Are,” starring Catherine Keener, Forrest Whitaker, Benicio Del Toro, Lauren Ambrose, Catherine O’Hara, Tom Noonan, Paul Dano, and Michael Berry. The story centers on a Max, a young boy who creates stories to entertain himself. He dreams of far away places and wild creatures where he rules with a benevolent hand.
October 10, 2008
Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio star in “Body of Lies.” The action thriller is based on a novel written by Washington Post columnist David Ignatius. DiCaprio stars as a CIA agent who learns of a credible terrorist threat and decides to go undercover to find out more in hopes of stopping it from taking place. Crowe plays Ed Hoffman, another CIA operative that Ferris (DiCaprio) needs in his corner. Along the way, Ferris begins to wonder what he has gotten himself into and whether or not he will be willing to pull himself out of it alive.
Science fiction takes front and center in “City of Ember.” The film centers on two teenagers. One of them dreams of traveling from Earth’s underground to the world above, which was previously destroyed by mankind’s toxic pollution. The other wants to remain underground to repair the generator and restore the city so that the inhabitants don’t have to venture up top. Veteran actors Bill Murray, Martin Landau, and Tim Robbins star along with Toby Jones and Saoirse Ronan.
The late Bernie Mac and Samuel Jackson star in “Soul Men,” a comedy about two former friends who haven’t communicated in years. They reunite to serve as a back up singers for another friend who is on a concert tour. Before long, fireworks explode as the two finally deal with the factors that originally drove them apart.
October 17, 2008
A calvacade of stars including John Cleese, John Cusak, Jay Leno, Sean Hayes, Molly Shannon, and Christian Slater perform voice overs for the children’s film “Igor.” As one might expect, the movie centers on that put-upon, hump backed scientific assistant that has popped in a long line of horror films all the way back to the original “Frankenstein.”
Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken, and William H. Macy star as security guards in a prestigious art gallery in “The Lonely Maiden.” The trio love what they do for a living. They also love the art that they have so carefully guarded over the years. So when pieces of it are scheduled to be moved to another museum, they come up with a plan to take them back to make them part of a more private collection.
Mark Wahlberg takes on another action adventure in “Max Payne.” When Max’s family is killed because of a new designer drug on the streets, he leaves the police force to become a member of the Drug Enforcement Agency. Once there, he makes his way undercover so that he can eventually locate where the drug, called Valkyr, originates. But things don’t work as planned and before long, he is fighting the drug war all on his own.
In “Quarantine” a reporter and her cameraman find themselves locked inside a quarantined Los Angeles building where an unusually virulent strain of rabies has broken out. The B rated film is a remake of a previous horror/thriller movie by the same name. Jennifer Carpenter and Jay Hernadez star.
A slightly older Dakota Fanning stars in “The Secret Life of Bees” along with Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, and Paul Bettany. The drama centers of a young teenager by the name of Lily (Fanning) and her friend Rosaleen (Hudson). The two girls run away from home in the 1960’s and meet three sisters along the way. They teach the girls about bee keeping and life.
October 24, 2008
Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich star in “Changeling.” The drama concerns a young boy who is kidnapped from his mother and supposedly later retrieved and sent home. However, the mother begins to wonder exactly who the police returned to her care since he bares little resemblance to the son she once knew. In order to find out, she has to take on the entire LAPD.
“High School Musical 3: Senior Year” finally hits the big screen, none too soon for tweens who have been waiting longer than they wanted. All of the old crew is back for more high school hijinks in this version, which is centered on the group’s senior year.
Just when you thought that it couldn’t get any bloodier, “Saw V” comes along to rack up an even bigger and gorier body count. Tobin Bell, Scott Patterson, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston, and Julie Benz star in this fifth installment of the disgusting series.
October 31, 2008
“RocknRolla,” billed as an action comedy, stars Gerard Butler, Jeremy Piven, and Thandie Newton. This one centers on a Russian mobster who decides to bilk a lot of Americans out of their money with a bad land deal. However, this isn’t your typical Mafia-inspired film. Remember that it’s a comedy involving some not so well trained hoods, a sexpot numbers girl, and a corrupt politician. That is a mixture that could spell a lot of fun.
source : Generator Reviews
NEVER-ENDING EXPERIMENTATION
The price of fuel has gone up - way too much. In response to this:
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Do we move on after death, or are we doomed to roam this planet for eternity? I face this question every day in my line of work. My name is Walt Freeman. I run a West coast paranormal society known as AfterLife. We investigate all over the west coast, searching for evidence of the paranormal. I have been fortunate enough to live in a time with an ever expanding force of technology that allows us to find all different kinds of signs of an afterlife.
My goal in life has been to prove skeptics wrong; to show them undeniable proof of ghostly activity. So far I have caught shadows, noises, and voices, as well as abnormal changes in heat or cold, and also have been able to find common explanations for things easily thought of as “Ghosts”. Unfortunately, I have yet to capture an apparition. Each place we visit the hosts will guarantee the sighting of an apparition, yet each time I have not been able to see one. So when I got a phone call from Mr. White, the owner of an abandoned hospital in Seattle, WA, I took the chance to investigate. Little did I know that my night would bring about old and new death.
We arrived at the infamous Glacial Hope hospital on a chilly October night. It was a week before Halloween, and with a creepy atmosphere already set, we thought it was the perfect setting for our investigation. It was a five man team. It was me, my wife, Shannon, the equipment manager, Brendon Hale, the case manager, Brian Graze, and my daughter, Lilly, who went to college in Seattle and wanted to help out while we were here. With two vans full or equipment and our spirits high, we drove down the dirt lane leading to the hospital, and as the rain began to pour down around us, lightning filled the sky, and illuminated the structure.
My wife and I drove the first van through the gates, and Lilly, Brian and Brendon drove right behind us. “Wow, they really know how to set the mood, don’t they,” asked Shannon. “I guess. I just hope this isn’t another hoax like that ship down in Arizona last week,” I replied. She looked at me and squeezed my hand. “Relax, Walt. We’re going to have a great time. The setting is perfect, and there is quite a colorful history here, so you never know. Maybe we’ll see this “White Gunslinger” the staff told Brian about.”
“Yeah, maybe. I’m just glad Lilly could join us. We don’t get to spend a lot of time together anymore. It’ll be nice to be together again.” Shannon smiled that sweet, innocent smile of hers at me, and leaned in and kissed me. Her breath was hot and powerful against my own breath, and for that minute I felt like a teenager again. Underneath that electricity, however, there was a sense of dread, as if something horrible was heading our way. I pushed that thought out of my head at the time, but looking back, I wish I had listened to that feeling, and had left the hospital right then and there. That wasn’t the way it happened, however, and as we broke apart, Brendon came up to my side of the car and opened up the side car to start unloading the equipment. Lilly came up to Shannon’s side of the car, and said, “You two better get in there. They’ll be expecting you guys.” Looking at Lilly was like holding a mirror up to Shannon. They might as well be twins. They both have long, brown hair, beautiful blue eyes, and are just breathtaking. Lilly is an aspiring writer, and hopes to take after her mom and write horror novels. She told me once she’d love experience some actual paranormal activity, and apply it to her work. She is a junior at Washington State University. For a couple years now, I’ve suspected that she and Brian have developed some feelings for one another. He is a couple years older than her, her 22 and him 24, and he’s always been like a son to me. He is a musician and historian, and loves to research the different areas we investigate. His parents disowned him for becoming a musician and for his work with the team. I told him I would understand if he wanted to leave the team for personal reasons, but he said that we were all the family he would need, so if there is something between him and Lilly, then I’ll be fine with that.
As we got out of the car, I said, “Hey, Lilly, why don’t you come with us. See what it’s like to go on a walkthrough of a case.”
“Really? Cool, thanks dad,” said Lilly. “Your welcome, sweetie. Let’s go. Brendon, Brian, let’s get the generators out first. This place has no power, so we’ll need them all.” They nodded, and with that we left them to work, and we set out to explore the hospital and meet the client.
We ascended the hospital steps as the rain began to increase with dangerous speed, and as we walked up, I noticed the almost medieval looking architecture of the building, including the gargoyle statues on the roof. When I looked back down, I saw a man standing in the doorway. “Good evening, Mr. Freeman. We’ve been expecting you.” I recognized the man’s voice immediately. “Mr. Briggs? Thank you for asking us here. This is my wife, Shannon, and my daughter, Lilly.” The man was wearing jeans and a cowboy looking shirt, and even had the brown cowboy boots to complete the ensemble. He stared at my hand, which I had extended for a handshake, and failed to meet it with a handshake of his own. He merely looked at us with gleaming eyes, and said, “Please, follow me. There is a lot of ground to cover, and this storm won’t let up anytime soon. When the thunder starts, you’ll want your equipment rolling. The “White Gunslinger” is restless in lightning storms.” We all nodded at once, and he turned and led us into the hospital lobby. From there, he showed us the hot spots of the hospital, but I found it difficult to concentrate on what he was saying. The uneasy feeling wouldn’t leave my stomach, and I felt that something bad was heading for us.
It wasn’t until 8:00 that night that I was able to get the guys to help set up the equipment. Mr. Briggs vanished after the tour, and we just went about our business. We set up the DVR system, and put recorders in each of the hot spots. It took us an hour to set all the equipment up, but finally, we were able to go lights out, and with that, the investigation began.
The first two hours were uneventful. No noises, no spirits, nothing. When the sky lit up with lightning and thunder, however, the whole building seemed to become a living entity of its own. Shannon and I were in the mortuary when we saw the first bolt of lightning. When it lit up the room, a long, drawn out scream filled the room. I immediately pulled out the walkie talkie, and said, “This is Walt. Did any team just scream?”
“This is Brian and Lilly, and we heard it, but it wasn’t us.”
“This is Brendan in Central Control. I heard it too, but it wasn’t me.”
“Alright, keep your eyes and ears open people. The storm is stirring up something here. Keep audio going at all times, and if you have a Thermal camera, run that too. We got a long night ahead of us.” I cut the walkie off there. Shannon turned to me and said, “What was the story behind the “White Gunslinger”, Walt?”
“Back in the 50’s, a man came into the hospital, looking for his wife, whom he had shot in the chest for sleeping with his best friend. She was still alive, but was in a coma. He went in a few hours after shooting her, and brought a whole arsenal with him. He shot and killed twenty three people, including his wife and best friend. Before police could arrive, he shot himself, and told a nurse he had taken hostage that he vowed that anyone who entered that hospital and had true love in their hearts would suffer at his hands. It is believed that he walks these halls, waiting to kill all love.”
“He was quite the charmer,” she said. We both laughed, and then went about the EVP session.
Twenty minutes later, Brendan called for us. “We got something on the DVR system. You better get here quick.” We both left at that moment. When we got there, Brendan was out of his seat, with his hand over his mouth. “Brendan, what is it? What did we catch,” I asked him. “Um, we caught an entity. I left it paused for you guys, but it’s disturbing, I won’t lie.” I looked at him, and saw the terror in his eyes. I went to the monitor, with Shannon at my side, and clicked the mouse on the play button.
On the screen, a tall, bloody man with distorted limbs and a gun in each hand walked towards the camera. The hospital was completely locked for us, and the camera this man, if you could call him that, was walking towards was in a hospital room on the fourth floor, and didn’t have a window. Plus, this thing looked inhuman. Its skin was pure white, and his jaw seemed to hang on a hinge. I felt like this thing was staring at me, and before I could shut it off, it spoke. “Leave here, now!!” It seemed to yell it over and over, all the while twisting its head and its body in front of the camera.
“Brendan, how long ago was this?”
“About ten minutes ago. And Lilly and Brian are on the fourth floor.” My heart seemed to drop at the sound of my daughter’s name. I plucked the walkie talkie out of its holster and almost yelled into the thing, “Lilly, Brian get back to Central Command, now!”
“Dad? What’s wrong?”
“Something showed up on the DVR, and we need you down here now. Watch yourself, and be careful.”
“OK, Dad, we’re on our-“she began, then suddenly stopped. On the line we heard a loud and almost feral growl. “Dad, there’s something in here,” said Lilly. “Lilly, where are you?”
“Room 42, on the fourth floor.” My heart skipped a beat, and Shannon grabbed the walkie-talkie out of my hand. “Lilly!! Get out of there now!! Move it!!” We didn’t get a reply, but from somewhere deep in the hospital, we heard two screams. Without hesitating, Shannon and I ran to the fourth floor, and Brendan stayed behind. We made it to the third floor when we ran into Lilly and Brian. She was screaming for help, and hanging on to Brian, who was being dragged back into the third floor by the creature on the video system. It turned and stared at me with bloodshot eyes. Brian was bleeding from the mouth, and Shannon and I went to help pull him back before he was pulled apart. Shannon grabbed his other arm and pulled with her daughter, and I went after the creature. I knew there was little chance of me beating the thing, but I didn’t want to believe it then. I punched it in the face, hoping the impact would shatter its hold on Brian, but instead it seemed to infuriate the thing more. “Get the fuck off him, you bastard,” I yelled at him. I pulled at the things hands, hoping to pry it off Brian’s leg, but I couldn’t shake its resolve.
Its eyes suddenly went a bright shade of red, and without a second thought, it pulled Brian apart. Shannon and Lilly both jumped back and screamed as Brian’s top half landed on them. I went to help them up, but the creature stepped in between us. It twisted its head to the left, and I thought I heard a bone snap in half in its neck. It began to utter some growls and other noises, and finally, without moving its mouth, it said, “Don’t let them fool you. I will rid you of these ‘things’, and show you why love is a lie. Just submit to me, and this knowledge will be yours.”
“Never, you dumb fuck,” I replied. “I love my family, and will never let you harm them.”
“We will see,” it said, and the next thing I knew, it was gone. I ran to Shannon, who was holding Lilly in her arms, and together we rushed down the stairs to the Control Center. We exited the stair case, and as we approached the camera system, we saw Brendan, his stomach torn open and his face caught in a silent scream. “Come on, we can’t help them now, we have to get out of here,” I said. We ran to the front door, and as we approached the doors and were about to open them, Shannon was thrown down, and before I knew it, she was being dragged back by the creature.
I knew I had to decide on whether to save my daughter or go after the woman I love, so I grabbed Lilly’s arm, and threw her out the door. “Go get help,” I yelled to her. “I’m going to help your mom. Go get some help, tell them to check the cameras. Mr. Briggs is out there still, and he’s connected to this. Now go, and know we love you.” I never gave her a chance to argue. I shut the door and bolted it shut. I grabbed a pipe as she began banging on the door, and slammed it through the handles of the double doors. I looked at my daughter, and for one last time, I told her I loved her, and then I went for Shannon.
She was already gone when I reached her. She was hovering above the equipment in the lobby, and was hanging all limp. “Shannon,” I said softly. I feared that tears were on their way, and I tried reaching for her, but before I could get her down, she was thrown across the room, and blood sprayed the wall she collided with.
Then the creature was behind me, and I felt an immense fury rush down my spine, and I began to fight the creature. Each punch I thought I landed, however, just phased right through it. “Your daughter is next,” the thing growled. It twisted its head, and it was at that point I knew what I had to do. I knew how it would react, and so, I went for the guns in its hands.
I felt the lead pierce me, even though the guns weren’t loaded with bullets. I saw the muzzle catch fire, and I felt the blood pour out of my chest. The next thing I knew, I became very cold, and when I looked down, I saw my body on the ground. I could hear Lilly outside, even over the rain and thunder, screaming for me. I don’t know if she saw me, but I knew that the thing had evened the playing field. Then I looked to my right, and saw Shannon staring at me. I went to her, and grabbed her hand. Then we turned to the thing.
“It doesn’t matter. This is my hell. I run this place, and I’ll put you down for all eternity if I have too.”
“I don’t think so,” I replied, and together we rushed the thing. My punches finally seemed to land, but the things limbs bent this way and that, and seemed to wrap around my body. Then I wrestled the things gun away from him, and as he screamed, I picked up the weapon, and shot it in the chest. It buckled, and fell to the floor. I don’t know what it was that I shot him with, but I know it did the job.
Then the thing began to speak its “dying” words. “I may move on, Freeman, but there are others. There’s a war coming, and you’ve just enlisted yourself. This was just one battle. Prepare for death.” Then it was gone. “Walt,” Shannon called to me. I turned, and saw her standing at the doors. I walked over to her, and saw Lilly running down the dirt path, yelling for help. “This wasn’t supposed to happen,” she said. “I know,” I replied. “If that thing was right, we have to protect her though. We don’t know what will come after her. We may be dead, but we still have a job to do.” She turned to me, tears in her eyes, and nodded. Then we kissed, and I knew that love was not a façade. It could heal, and it could survive, even after death.
I sought answers to death and all its mysteries, and instead became a part of it. Now I go day by day, protecting my daughter, and loving her and my wife. Death isn’t an end; it’s just the beginning.
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