the leap will explain a concept called irony
Think fast: What would you take?
I live in beautiful Portland, Oregon.
Pandemics, riots, rain, no rain, economic turmoil, comets...
Now we have devastating fires.
One of my audio buddies is waiting in an evacuation center, awaiting the horrible news that he's lost his home. A couple others are at level 2 ready to abandon their homes. These guys are the best audiophile guys you could ever hope to have around. You probably know them.
With light rain in the forecast (Monday), I feel fairly safe.
But, I have collected one small suit case, just in case. My car will be loaded with camping gear. A photo album. Maybe a friend or 2.
Of the items in my listening room, I know I can't take any equipment. Maybe a couple Lps? No, I could replace those.
So, I ask you: What would you take?
Hopefully, you'll never be in such a situation.
Pandemics, riots, rain, no rain, economic turmoil, comets...
Now we have devastating fires.
One of my audio buddies is waiting in an evacuation center, awaiting the horrible news that he's lost his home. A couple others are at level 2 ready to abandon their homes. These guys are the best audiophile guys you could ever hope to have around. You probably know them.
With light rain in the forecast (Monday), I feel fairly safe.
But, I have collected one small suit case, just in case. My car will be loaded with camping gear. A photo album. Maybe a friend or 2.
Of the items in my listening room, I know I can't take any equipment. Maybe a couple Lps? No, I could replace those.
So, I ask you: What would you take?
Hopefully, you'll never be in such a situation.
201 responses Add your response
Here's some incredibly sad photos of vehicles that burned in Oregon. One guy's engine melted out of his truck and drained down the driveway:https://www.autoblog.com/2020/09/12/oregon-wildfires-melted-truck-cars/#slide-2263488 This is some very intense heat. Add that to hazardous (not the lower rated unhealthy) air and the survivors will have some lasting physiological problems. I hope the feds are on top of this as there are 14 states with fires raging right now covering over 649,054 acres with no end in sight. And no, I have no uncle who's a pulmonologist. Just one who was a police captain, one a fire battalion chief and the other was a DA for environmental crimes. All the best, Nonoise |
"Just one who was a police captain, one a fire battalion chief and the other was a DA for environmental crimes." https://www.threeuncles.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/three.uncles/?hl=en |
First one must assume that they are dealing with intelligent reasonable people. If they are dealing with Stupid totally unreasonable people, then that is like arguing with a pig. it will go nowhere. For anyone to stand in my face and say that police brutality and killings don't occur on a routine basis, means that they are either incredibly stupid or just ignorant. I chose to believe they are ignorant. The only difference between now and the past is that now has video. Many police departments around this country have over the decades been trained to keep certain people subjugated. This is fact. Using any means necessary. Let me know how many times you have been pulled over by police for doing absolutely nothing wrong (called driving while black or Latino), and told to get out of the car with several guns drawn on you. I'm waiting..... If you twitch or respond in an unacceptable manner you are gone. for intelligent people, take a breath, take a step back. Listen to the actual people that it is happening to first. They have first hand experience. Don't dismiss what they are saying as if it is untrue. Who are you to say it isn't? I've lived my entire life with this nonsense. So, not only have i seen it many times, I have experienced it many times. So, I definitely understand the anger. This has gone way past telling people what is happening in order to get change. That is why so many are so angry. Look at many of the responses here. Many people even here are intelligent but clueless and don't care to know the truth. Which feeds the fire even more so. You have become (or always have been) part of the problem. Your first inclination is to grab your guns to protect yourself. From what??? The protest were to put a spotlight on the problems in order to enact real change. Yet all many see are the stupid people that looted. Those people were not part of the protest movements in the first place. Never were. Yet, that is all certain people see. Since many don't live in those areas, don't watch certain news programs, and don't care, they are totally clueless as to what is really going on. They chose to keep their heads in the sand as if it is made up. it isn't. Instead of asking, why are people protesting and do they have a point? They are saying, look at those ????!!!!! people making trouble. When it is your friends, family, children, or yourself routinely treated this way or killed for being (black or latino) and not even armed, maybe you will understand. Sorry for the long post, but there are many that really don't care or don't want to care or are stupid (hopefully not) or just plain ignorant. I wish you all well. These are very difficult times. But, not much has changed from the 50's and 60's in a positive way. In many ways, it is worse. I reiterate that in the event of an emergency, fire, flood, hurricane, earthquake, etc. have emergency contact information spread to your family ahead of time. Where you will meet, when and how will you communicate. Phones will probably be out. have emergency documents and items already ready for quick transport and property information already copied elsewhere and provided to your insurance agent. Including receipts and lists of possessions and most helpful, photographs. The worst feeling is losing your home and filing an insurance claim only to have the agent tell you that everything isn't covered because you don't have documentation of possession or ownership. Take a breath, usually when someone is screaming in pain, it is because someone or something is causing that pain or kneeling on their neck. Just because you don't see it or haven't experienced it does not mean it is not happening. enjoy |
But he is correct in that those he's insulting are the ones who either think it's okay or who simply don't care or want to remain ignorant so they can go about their business without having to address the issue. https://www.reneeater.com/on-monuments-blog/tag/list+of+unarmed+black+people+killed+by+police & https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/black-people-killed-by-police-in-the-u-s-in-2020/ All the best, Nonoise |
Insulting people on an audiophile forum and pulling "discussion" into monolithic "if you are not blindly with me you are a horrible person against me" is not a way to get anything accross. This is an audio-related forum where some innocent teasing may be the way it goes, but throwing one's anger at people and insulting them with one's self-righteousness should not happen. |
Threat of fire in Portland is manageable. We are safe. It is extremely smoky, making an eerie scene in Portland where any sunny day would bring families out of their homes to enjoy the nice weather. But, the streets are empty. Reports of “worse air quality in the world “ has kept folks indoors for the last week. Rain was in the forecast yesterday and today, but, no rain. Just smoke. The danger is still high in rural Oregon. Several communities have been destroyed. And the fires are still burning. We in the Northwest appreciate your concern and good positive energy. Thank you! |
| Post removed |
Australia has been hit by some pretty bad fires, not good at all. I hope people in rural areas know how to manage with back burning (I think Americans call it controlled burning?, reduction burning?) . Obviously in the burbs that’s not possible. Good to hear you’re all safe, and I hope your house is unaffected. |
Yes, we call it controlled burning. In California, they halted the practice back in March due to air pollution and to control the coronavirus spread among fire fighters. That, and the areas are so dry from climate change that it presented a bigger problem in controlling the burn. Also, the feds own 58% of California's 33 million acres of forests while the state owns only 3%. The rest is a mix of joint management and privately owned land. With the cutbacks in federal land management, the majority of the fires are on federal land. In Oregon, 25% of the forests are federally owned and in Washington it's 44%. Blaming it on the states is just a sick sort of game. All the best, Nonoise |
I read most of the forests subject these fires out west are owned by the federal government. So if they are not being managed as well as they should be to help prevent this kind of thing, its mostly on the Federal Government. Infrastructure in this country as a whole is in bad shape. It takes money to keep things up and apparently there is not enough of it to address the problem that way to whatever extent is even possible. To a large extent infrastructure and natural resource management has been a low priority of late. It’s one clear and undeniable aspect of a nation in decline and not as great as it should be. Denial of the science behind global warming is probably the biggest problem. Sorry, but systematic rejection of science on a whim whenever it is convenient is a huge problem and the large and seemingly increasing impact of it in recent years has affected us all already in one way or another for example via pandemic, hurricanes, wildfires, etc . Dunning-Kruger? Can be very deadly....... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect |
Stilgreen; not once have I brought any form of politics into this discussion. My reply had nothing at all to do with politics but was a response to the OP original post regarding riots and others misinformed responses regarding guns for the "protesters" also, not once did I insult anyone. the OP discussed what to take, but also described which circumstances would force him/her to leave and take items. That and the several subsequent replies from others prompted my response. If you don't care or don't want to hear it, then fine. keep your head in the sand. This is the same uninformed argument surrounding the response to people that peacefully protested police abuse by knelling while the anthem was being played. It is amazing how for certain people they are more upset about the kneeling that about unarmed non confrontational people being murdered on video right in front of them . That tells me all i need to know about the "humanity" of some. So my original assessment and response stands. One on my very best friends (who happens to be white) didn't believe a word of this until he personally witnessed it happening to me by university teachers and by police many times. It was simply unheard of and couldn't possibly be true until he physically saw it happening to someone he know quite well. I guess telling people is one thing, but either having it happen to you or yours or watching it is something altogether different. For those of us with compassion and understanding that is. However, that can't be altogether true either, because, in the age of video, people still refuse to acknowledge it is happening or keep denying it anyway. And yet some wonder why there is so much hurt and anger. apologies if my response insult or hurt you. Was and is not my intent. my intent was to reply to the OP original post and the many responses subsequent, with truth and understanding. As long as people keep their head in the sand or forcefully deny what other's that are experiences this are saying, there will be anger. it will take the entire village to right these wrongs. |
minorl Is it possible, that many truths can coexist? That ones truths are based on ones experiences, and those might be different than yours, leading to a different view of the world? I believe that is what you are attempting to say, and yet it runs counter to your then calling others truths ignorant or even worse. The beauty of varying opinions is that if everyone listens we can find a way to a good outcome. From this vantage point, you are the one that appears to be closed minded. I was young and fully enlightened once too. Good news....it will pass. |
| Post removed |
As a 40 yr insurance guy take one hour and videotape with your phone everything you can. If the home were to burn you will be asked to list everything you owned, down to socks and underwear! The video would be a adjusters dream! For the rest of you also do this and still pics do not hurt either. Dave |
thanks Dave1980, that is what I have been saying. It is good to hear directly from an insurance agent on this issue. it was a shock when I discovered the extent that one must document their belongings. You are correct. If one want to be covered and reimbursed, you need a list of everything, including clothing. The problem is when a disaster happens is too late, I can't think of anyone I know that would remember every little detail and item. Here I am in my office typing and looking around and realize that I really need to update that list, photos, documents and provide it to my insurance agent. enjoy |
I’d take my memories. And once I’m resettled, I’d put some thought into why the fires are happening, how my lifestyle may be contributing, and make some course corrections. At the end of the day, our audio hobby is just stuff. In the meantime, the ecosystem is withering. Audio is of little use if the planet’s ability to support human life and the rationality of our political discourse has deteriorated to the point where breathing itself has become an existentially political question. |
And once I’m resettled, I’d put some thought into why the fires are happening Its called arson. They caught one here near Seattle in the act, and another one outside Portland. The Oregon man was caught, arrested, and then released without bail. Because, democrats. Then the same guy was caught starting 6 more fires later the same day. Molotov cocktail in hand. The reason the Portland riots haven't been in the news is the most violent paid insurrectionists moved to the rural areas of Oregon and California where they started the fires. If you want to look into how your lifestyle contributes simply ask yourself if you vote democrat. If so you have the perfect opportunity to make amends coming up in November. |
I have legal documents ready to go, as well as clothing, blankets, water, and keeping my tank full of gas in my SUV, while driving an economy car. As far as anything else it would depend on the amount of time I had. I also have boxes ready for my stereo equipment which would actually fit in my SUV ( I just have four pieces of equipment that are in use right now). I live in Gold Hill, Oregon right now. I moved here after surviving the Campfire in Paradise Ca. I am not looking forward to doing it again. |
Buy a radio and (generously) support Local Stations that offer good music programs. That's how it all began for me, and in those days there were numerous choices available from several non-commercial stations. I still look forward to tuning in, although there's only two local stations left that believe in providing this type of service. Of course there are the fund raising events (which shouldn't even be necessary) to keep them going. I would mention the internet, but why do we even need to go there? More $$$$. |
| Post removed |
A quick update: we’ve had sunshine since Friday. A bit of rain and wind came along and cleared the skies above Portland. As most people know, there are still fires throughout Oregon and California. My audio friend down in Gold Hill- stay safe and ready. Lots of devastation around you. Medford, Talent... Many thanks to this great community for suggesting what’s important and what to take in an hours notice. This is helpful for everyone- flooding down in Texas (Stevie country), don’t stand next to THAT fire in the Great Northwest (Jimi country), hurricanes in Southeast (Jaco country)... Now that our long hot summer is fading away, I hope we can enjoy our music and this wonderful hobby. |
| Post removed |
| Post removed |
We were ready to go, too. This is what we planned to take: Our suitcases. Plenty of water. Energy bars. Supplies for the cat (and the cat). Checkbook, wallet, credit cards, keys. As Dave said, photos of everything (on the phone). Chargers, cables; a laptop; and the NAS with all our data backups, unplugged and carried with us in the back of the car. |
Here's a video news report outlining how the Almeda fire developed in Oregon. Apparently the fire was intentionally set and they have arrested a suspect. |
Here's some more reporting: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/6-men-in-oregon-charged-for-allegedly-starting-fires-during-wildfire-season-on-purpose/ar-BB19eACm All the best, Nonoise |
Hey Ya'll, Thank you so much for the good advice. Understandably, things audio are not at the forefront. I agree. All that stuff is replaceable. And just think of all the friendly, non-politcal, non-insulting advise we could get on this forum when we shop for replacing our audio stuff. Update since the fires- one of my audio buddies lost EVRYTHING. He lives near the Santiam River. He is rebuilding. Not only is he an audiophile, he is also a master machinist. On his property he had a large workshop- several lathes, CNC machine, numerous irreplaceable tools. All of it melted. Of course his house was completely destroyed. On an audio related note, over the past few years he designed and built a few mechanisms for world class builder/designers. A few weeks ago, we had a potluck at my house for him. One request I had was to bring any LPs, CDs that we could donate to him as he rebuilds his collection. His big smile was proof that we hit a good nerve. Again, we really appreciate the good vibrations sent our way from all of you. Life is short and fragile. Enjoy the music. |