Don't Fuck with Lightning

[MrScorpio]

In case you've been wondering where I've been, a lighting bolt hosed my iMac's ability to access the net a week ago last Friday. It happen right after I posted that PETA thread, if you remember it.

It was like an explosion, just outside my townhouse's window. I'm sure that if I were standing outside my front door at the time, I'd be one crispy critter.

It also took out an external hard drive, a wireless phone, a TV and a VCR.

Needless to say, with my fixed income, I won't be able to come up with the $500 that I need to get a decent replacement computer.

As it goes, I'll only make random and scarce posts, like this one, until I can figure out how to come up with the cash.

Frankly, I feel isolated now, from you guys, from my Twitter, email and Myspace fam, and my inability to work on my radio show like I want to.

I just wanted to let you guys what up.

See you when I can.

[Bertha Venation]

1. Hey, MrS

I'm really sorry to hear of the troubles. :hug:

[MrScorpio]

2. Thanks, Babycakes

I appreciate it

:hug:

[Deja Q]

3. Crap. So sorry to hear the lightning did that much damage.

:(

:hug:

Even at that close proximity, no surge protector would save one's equipment either... :(

[MrScorpio]

4. The only protection would have been not being plugged into a wall at the time

I think that it came through a window and fried the TV that was next to it in my bed room.

My wife sits next to that window whenever she's online.

She was out of the room at the time, thank goodness.

[Kali]

5. bummer

I've lost some stuff to lightening, and we get some hellacious booming here in the summer. I'm unplugged a good deal of the time in July and August. And even when I'm not, the phone line is screwed up about half the rest of the time.

[astral]

6. I got a Dell for less than $300

from a place called Computer Warehouse Dot Com.

It has tons of 'puters and you don't need the monitor or keyboard if you just need a new computer. I started searching when my old computer, which was $800 on sale !?!!) went on the blitz and a local computer shop told me they'd charge me $135 just to diagnose it.

I decided buying cheaper computers and backing up data is a better way to go.

You can get a whole lot cheaper than that too, if you have someone check out the site with you who knows what the important basics are and how to pick out the right one.

We never see lightning where I live, last time I saw it was about 8 years ago and I am pretty scared of it.

[Call Me Wesley]

7. Sorry to hear.

I've lost some electronics to lighting storms before, and now I'm used to shut everything off and unplug if there's something coming. And yes, they hit a few times right next to the house, too.

[Broken_Hero]

10. Thats what I do as well,

I've lost two computers, a ton of ethernet cards, and a few phones because of lightning. Nowadays when I know/hear the storm coming I unplug everything, and I unplug everything whenever I leave the house, just a case a storm moves in while I'm on the road.

[Call Me Wesley]

12. We had our whole phones fried at least two times,

one tv, two DSL modems, satellite dish, etc. etc. It's really fun if a storm's coming when we sleep ...

:hi:

[NV Whino]

8. Try FreeCycle

There are computers up for grabs all the time. Bet you could find something you could use. And check out computer insurance. I have a $50 deductable for $10,000 for $72/year. I used it once when a hard drive fried from a power surge.

[Moondog]

9. Are you sure that

your homeowner / renter insurance policy doesn't cover this?

[RubyDuby in GA]

11. Wow. At least you are ok.

Sorry to hear about all that damage.
Lightning is no joke. My grandmother was struck when she was a child and has no sight in her left eye. Damn lucky she lived!