Posts

Showing posts from January 17, 2016

Carbon Monoxide!?

Image
Weird. The smoke alarm went off, not incredibly odd when I am using the fireplace, but it wasn't the smoke detector. It was the CO alarm. I was totally surprised. It had never gone off as long as I have had one, over many many years. Yep, after resetting it a few times. It was getting a reading over 200 ppm CO. When I took it downstairs I got a reading near 300 ppm. I started getting light headed at this point. After thinking maybe the furnace heat exchanger failed and puzzling around a bit I figured out what happened. As part of the huge winter storm that recently covered almost half of the US, we lost our electricity. So, being well prepared, I rolled out the generator and started doing what I normally do. The generator (although it was completely outside) was creating CO to get in the house. Using the fireplace draft (and possibly other leaks) the whole house created a vacuum around the seal of the basement garage door. After the CO got into the house the forced air heat...
Image
The only competition worthy of a wise man is with himself. -- Washington Allston I was in Brazil this past week. It feels so good to have basic communication skills.. so good. My efforts spent with Portuguese language were very worthwhile. It doesn't mean it wasn't awkward and embarrassing at times, but I am not illiterate nor deaf/mute. I had the opportunity to take a side trip to South Brazil and Uruguay (alone--solomente) and do some border penetration testing. These 4-axle double-decker buses in South America are just so cool. Jaguarao Brazil Bus station in Jaguarao Brazil Interesting story... Uruguay Traditional quick breakfast. Coffee with high percentage of hot milk added (Cafe de leite) and a large deep-fried meat dumpling (Pastel). It tastes better than it looks and it looks good. Rio Branco (White River) or Jaguarao river depending on your viewpoint.