The car that I am maintenance lead on is a real challenge-built in 1903, rebuilt twice and rewired who knows how many times. One of our guys added electrical systems but did not document his work well-the quality was also slipshod. That makes tracing problems very difficult and with 600v DC, you don’t want to make a mistake. That makes for quite a fireworks show.

I’d imagine that removal of the old wire is Matt’s (the electrician) first priority. Who knows what else he’ll find in there. If there’s one problem that is detectable, there are probably others in the making.

Looks like you have Knob and Tube wiring in the attic, and even with insulation sleeves around the wires when installed that really should all be rooted out and replaced. Now.

Knob and Tube wiring and any attic or wall insulation /at all/ do NOT mix, EVER. It’s far too easy to crawl around in the attic and damage or short out the wiring, and never know till it fails the sniff test (“Honey? Do you smell something…?”) or the neighbors come running with hoses.

Because there /was/ rubber and fabric insulation on that wire 80 years ago, which translates to /past tense/ – it’s effectively bare wire now, the first time you touch it it will crumble….

That’s why I like marshaling electrons around in Los Angeles, the stuff I see is mostly 1940’s and later which means the same Type R or RH (rubber and cloth) wire but it’s in conduit.

–<>–

But, reading various comments on the site – I have for some time thought it would be a fun idea to have a business and/or job that would allow living in a low cost small town.

Though I recently turned down an interview for a job in Rockford, too far from family and beyond home driving range. DeKalb 30-40 miles away and a college town was what I was seeking, could rent an apartment near Northern IL U. as a place to stay during the week to see if it would work out.

Met someone at Xerox a few years ago who lived west of Rockford, who said homes were in the $50,000’s vs. $275,000 average in my area, though not the house I live in either.

So much fun and I find reading the internet afterward, that I did not get to see so much. Much like you what I knew of the fandom was learned from the Internet, and Furcadia MMOG game.

So many guests next year, I agree with Frostbite. I missed Friday due to work, but your panels were great, and interesting going back and reading the Hunter comic. Adds to what I learned from DVD’s from movies, and what to add to my games in Furcadia. Have a bunch of on-line friends, many who would have found the convention of interest – yet they too far to come. I find that I am not the only one to create unique on-line characters doing a sort of free form roll-play, do you even know who I am.

Also a friend who has a dog character Sherlock Hound – (came up during one of the talks) and she never knew there was an actual Sherlock Hound cartoon/comic book. She did it a Sherlock Holmes – he is always asking for clues – I had no-idea it was her for at least a month.

Would be interesting to do something that makes money from the FurFest, but have learned to have fun at first with it. Have a business that would be interesting if it could be converted in to something more interesting and that could make some money, 20-years at a dead end at present. Thought at one point buying a custom fursuit of sorts (head, hands, tail, feet parts) would be of use for business and fund raising, but has not worked out at present. Two words economy and it seems may be harder than it looks (from Lucky Dog’s panels).