Any source of power, including hydroelectric and nuclear, would have ceased long before the three-year timeline of I Am Legend, so Neville makes do using three small gasoline-powered generators. They allow him to power his lights, television, DVD player, stereo, home appliances and laboratory during the day and twilight hours -- and, by the time we catch up with him in the film, have done so for over 1000 days.

"Three small generators can power a house and everything in it," says PM's senior home editor Roy Berendsohn. "If these are very fuel efficient generators, and he's being conservative with their use, he'll use maybe 5 to 9 gallons of gasoline a day." That translates to a lot of fuel -- 5000 to 9000 gallons over 1000 days. Neville does have access to the below-ground tanks of the city's gas stations, which, according to Berendsohn, could have between 3000 to 10,000 gallons each. Considering that New York has about 100 gas stations, Neville would have enough fuel to last him a long time.

Still, Berendsohn says, "chances are he'd have a difficult time with the generators as the years roll slowly by. The gas would not be fresh after nearly three years in the ground, and the generators would need service, such as spark plugs and so forth."

The bottom line? This part of the tale is possible, if not entirely likely, Berendsohn says. "As with most good stories, this one requires the audience to suspend its normal mode of disbelief and just get carried along with the tale."

First published

on December 14, 2007

at the Popular Mechanics website.

Written by Erin McCarthy.

Posted by Vladimir Fri, 12/21/2007 - 19:43

 

Chapter 28

Terrible as was his loneliness, a meeting with Jack would have been more terrible. And, after all, it was true, a gulf had opened between them.

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Vampires in Modern Culture

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For Eric W.

My enemy died today.
Left this Earth to better places.
I miss him.

He was the cause of fear, lessons,
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He was memories invoked, to
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Now, silent.

He caused me to change. to grow.
I'd gnash my teeth to think he might
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He made me face myself, my demons,
and in my fear, my anger..my faith
bloomed in a way it could not have otherwise.

I am more enraged now that he is gone,

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Somehow the night had passed--somehow in bitterness, in anguish. But it had passed.

Ernest's lips were parched and sleeplessness had left its trace in the black rings under the eyes, when the next morning he confronted Reginald in the studio.

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