| Posted by: Marc Flemming | | Anyone willing to predict why the power went out at such extraordinary lengths throughout the North East?
The FBI is investigating if the blackout might have been caused by the recent computer worm "Blaster". | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: Sierradaddy | | Aren't there supposed to be certain failsafe mechanisms in place at all times to avoid and drastically minimize the chances of such a thing happening?
I find it rather odd that such a thing could happen in this age, especially when the states are supposed to be in a state of heightened awareness and sensitivity to potential terrorist attacks. There had to be something that happened intentionally, and if this isn't a terrorist attack, then it most likely is still something potentially damaging to North America in some way.
I wouldn't be surprised to see other weird things happening, beyond of course the 100 + individuals running for governor in the California Recall Election... 
Also, I think that the citizens of the U.S. and Canada are becoming pacified. We are, for the most part, unaware of the systems and safeguards in place (or not in place that SHOULD be...), and we just trust that our governments are looking after everything for us. That isn't always the case, and something like this, in my opinion, could definitely be proof of that. Should there be pressure to find out why this happened? Absolutely, so that it can be rectified and hopefully never happen again... | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: Dreamzwalker | | I find it interesting that it went as far as Canada - That blaster worm "msblaster.exe" causes computers running NT tech to reboot as soon as RCP begins to run....DSL, CALBE, DIAL-UP... this could cause something. A Cellular phone call center here where I am went down for 5 hours because of the worm.. phones weren't working properly and the bug infected ALL systems.
My companies sister center is in TO and they informed us that they had NO POWER in the whole center. | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: mystic | | I heard it was a power transmission from Canada that caused the problem.... | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: bitwiz44 | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by Sierradaddy
Aren't there supposed to be certain failsafe mechanisms in place at all times to avoid and drastically minimize the chances of such a thing happening?
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All Aspects of the system is monitored. Plus redundant systems. So..it was an attack of some kind. Will we ever know? NOT! it would spread fear throughout our entire nation.
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| Posted by: Marlene Newell | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by bitwiz44
All Aspects of the system is monitored. Plus redundant systems. So..it was an attack of some kind. Will we ever know? NOT! it would spread fear throughout our entire nation. |
Bit, What's to fear? The lights go out? So what. Anybody ever hear of candles or flashlights? Why, I remember when we didn't even have electricity . . . so what are you all complaining about?
Bad things happen to good people. No need to get paranoid or go hide under your bed. The lights will come back on, just as soon as they pay the electric bill. What they ned to do is setup up an automatic debit to pay their bill -- that way, they won't forget. They were warned, but they just kept saying, it's in the mail. Well, how long does it take for the mail to get from New York to Montreal? Really!
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| Posted by: Larke2000 | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by Marlene Newell
Sierra, you sure do know how to read between the lines. How did you get so good? I would never have pulled all of that out of Mystic's post. Did you take courses in school, or is it a natural talent? |
Marlene, i'm going to assume you just forgot to throw in some smileys here and there that would have shown you were being funny and not trying to be condescending to Sierradaddy. 
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| Posted by: Marlene Newell | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by Larke2000
Marlene, i'm going to assume you just forgot to throw in some smileys here and there that would have shown you were being funny and not trying to be condescending to Sierradaddy. |
No, I'm genuinely curious how Sierradaddy got out of Mystic's post what s/he did. I'm always fascinated by how posts can be interpreted to say so much when they say so little.
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| Posted by: Larke2000 | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by Marlene Newell
I'm always fascinated by how posts can be interpreted to say so much when they say so little. |
or read in one tone when they are actually another. sorry for misreading.
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| Posted by: mystic | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by Sierradaddy
Yeah, blame it on us canucks, huh mystic?
We did it out of MALICE, but we forgot that doing it would knock out some of our own power too!...  |
Hi Sierradaddy, you canucklehead! (LOL!! Just kidding!) Are you a canucks fan? Personally...I love my Blues...but Im a sucker for the Leafs...(I Love Mats Sundin, and Shane Corson!!)
But seriously thats what I read in the news online...
This is from a different article I just read:
Officials were looking at a power transmission problem from Canada as the most likely cause of the biggest outage in U.S. history, said a spokeswoman for New York Gov. George Pataki.
I dont know is thats the case...its just what they were looking into as the cause.
But this is what the Canadians said:
Canadian authorities said at first that it appeared lightning had struck a power plant on the U.S. side of the border in the Niagara Falls region, setting off outages that spread over 9,300 square miles. But U.S. officials disputed that conclusion. ''We have been informed that lightning struck a power plant in the Niagara region on the U.S. side,'' said Jim Munson, speaking for Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien. But Brian Warner of the New York Power Authority said its Niagara facilities were not hit by lightning and ''at no time during this incident ceased to operate.
But it seems as if they have NOT determined the cause:
At the Homeland Security Department, spokesman Brian Roehrkasse said federal officials were still gathering information and had not determined a cause.
The department ''is working with state and local officials and the energy sector to determine the cause of the outage as well as what response measures may be needed to be taken,'' he said. He said everyone should ''listen and heed the advice of the local authorities.''
Personally, if it isnt terrorist related, to me, the most important thing is to find the cause and make sure it doesnt happen again....
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| Posted by: Mike James | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by Marlene Newell
Bit, What's to fear? The lights go out? So what. Anybody ever hear of candles or flashlights? Why, I remember when we didn't even have electricity . . . so what are you all complaining about? |
I'm not really worried, but half our nation runs on electricity. Water plants, communications, transportation, national security... so we'd need a bit more than candles and flashlights.
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| Posted by: bitwiz44 | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by Marlene Newell
Bit, What's to fear? The lights go out? So what. Anybody ever hear of candles or flashlights? Why, I remember when we didn't even have electricity . . . so what are you all complaining about?
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I have two generators, one desiel, one NI-gas. Ameren UE is not reliable When it storms.
 irate: And "pray -tell" when was this in your Life ?
(and sometimes Its ok the power went down) 
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| Posted by: Marlene Newell | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by Sierradaddy
Hi Marlene,
Sorry if I upset you over my posted reply to mystic. We've exchanged posts in the past and I was being a little familiar with mystic. I was only joking with mystic, and I see that mystic took it as such
Larke has had some contact with me in this forum too. As I can attest to their quality of character and thought-provoking posts, I'm relatively certain that they would say that I'm marginally tolerable in my own posts...
btw, I'm a he. |
Yea, I noticed, when I read Mystic's reply, that my foot was in my mouth. Well, quick trip to the emergency room and I'm all better now.
But, your post was so totally like what Mystic and I have suffered through on the LP forum, with all kinds of stuff being read between the lines that never even entered into our heads. So, I was pretty defensive, and unnecessarily so. 
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| Posted by: Marlene Newell | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by bitwiz44
I have two generators, one desiel, one NI-gas. Ameren UE is not reliable When it storms.
irate: And "pray -tell" when was this in your Life ?
(and sometimes Its ok the power went down) |
Just joking about remembering not having electricity. But, one time, we did lose our elecricity in nw kansas for over a week, terrible blizzard. we had only an electric cook stove, so no way to cook meals. right after, my dad went out and bought a small 2-burner kerosene cook stove. the storm was in 1959. to this date, that stove has never had to be lit. good insurance, huh!
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| Posted by: 1young11 | | Can someone explain to me how the government can say that we don't know what the cause is, but at the same time we do know it is absolutely not related to terrorism. If we don't know what the cause is, how do we know it is not related?
That is so annoying, like we're little children, and we can't handle the truth. | | Reply To this Message
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| Posted by: Larke2000 | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by 1young11
Can someone explain to me how the government can say that we don't know what the cause is, but at the same time we do know it is absolutely not related to terrorism. If we don't know what the cause is, how do we know it is not related?
That is so annoying, like we're little children, and we can't handle the truth. |
i feel ya on this one, young. they don't know for sure either way. i think its more a matter of "well, nothing blew up so it must not be al-qaeda." and they know the public would throw it right back at them if they gave us an explanation like that. so they're just trying to stall until they can come up with something.
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| Posted by: Marlene Newell | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by 1young11
Can someone explain to me how the government can say that we don't know what the cause is, but at the same time we do know it is absolutely not related to terrorism. If we don't know what the cause is, how do we know it is not related?
That is so annoying, like we're little children, and we can't handle the truth. |
One reason is because, we, the public, demand answers RIGHT NOW. Another is that most politicians think they HAVE ALL the answers. Put the two together, and you end up with a lot of dumb answers.
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| Posted by: bitwiz44 | |
| quote: |
Originally posted by 1young11
Can someone explain to me how the government can say that we don't know what the cause is, but at the same time we do know it is absolutely not related to terrorism. If we don't know what the cause is, how do we know it is not related?
That is so annoying, like we're little children, and we can't handle the truth. |
In this world today we live and die by what a computer screens says. Ever have a conflict with what someone says "My screen shows you owe".... And I dont care what you say sir...? The burden of proof is then mysteriously shifted to you over what their screen says to 'prove it wrong". And when you do prove it wrong..Whats in it for you? Zero! You just did their job for free. Americans DO NOT demand that all computer records be accurate.
So..If someone can Hack in and change a system like this and create a power outage..Do you really think they will tell you? Find an escape goat..Like this Ohio Provider. The common person does not understand the "power grid". Since I Have worked on these systems..This 'Story is bull". Some one got in to the 'computer control". 
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| Posted by: WizoHz | | The hour of wreckoning draws near for a new becoming of many and no its not the Y2k for some who think thats gonna happen but that well happen in 06 no doubt all for the battle between thou Lords magnificent WAR of the higher!  | | Reply To this Message
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Medicine, Science & Technology Forum: Predictions?
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you could be on to something there marlene!