Louise Bremner wrote:
> <declan_murphy@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> Louise Bremner wrote:
>>> I also have one of those tabletop burners that use gas cylinders, with a
>>> large supply of those cylinders.
>> My dining table has one of those built in induction hotplates, so I
>> don't have any tabletop burners at home. 
> 
> Yes, we've gone all electric for our tabletop cooking, but kept the old
> gas one just in case.

The electric ones don't clog up with cat hair like the gas burners do. 
And the cats don't like sleeping on them because they're not indented 
and warm.  So the other plus for us is that we can keep stuff on the 
table that used to wind up on the floor.

>> if the earthquake would kindly occur during prime BBQ season it would be
>> appreciated.
> 
> Now that is guaranteed to insure it'll be in the middle of the wettest
> rainy season in recorded history....

Isn't there a correlation between rainfall and plate movement?  I seem 
to recall that water beyond a certain quantity acts as a lubricant or 
gets compressed and acts as a frictionless surface.

>>> And wind-up flashlights and a radio.
>> Didn't think of getting windups. I've got a torch and radio, spare
>> batteries, some candles etc. Where did you buy the wind-ups?
> 
> Local electrical department store. Look around--I've seen them in a
> couple of places otherwise.

We have several of the flashlights that you shake up and down to power 
up.  They've got very powerful magnets in them.  You do not want to 
leave them close to any CRT's, Braun-tube televisions or radios for any 
period of time.  We also have a couple of the flashlights with the 
squeeze lever that seem to work better until your hand cramps.

My wife went crazy on disaster supplies a couple of years ago.  We have 
the reflective blankets, fire hoods, water purifier, the emergency packs 
that heat rice when you pour water over the rocks in the outer pouch -- 
and the backpack standing by the door.

I think that if the Big One hits, I'll probably be sitting on the toilet 
on the other side of the building and won't be able to get to any of it.

CL