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Firearms and Accessories / Re: Best AK-47
« on: August 19, 2010, 02:56:11 PM »
Good info, thanks all
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Firearms and Accessories / Re: Best AK-47
« on: August 19, 2010, 01:43:00 PM »
Hi guys,
Since this seems to be the only AK-47 related thread, it seems that this question would best fit here.
As I understand it, high capacity magazines are acceptable in the state of Hawaii for AK-47. So 20, 30, 40 rds. shouldn't be an issue, correct? Lastly, what about legalities of a 75 rd. drum, and any experience regarding them?
Thanks,
KNOWLEDGEISPOWER
Since this seems to be the only AK-47 related thread, it seems that this question would best fit here.
As I understand it, high capacity magazines are acceptable in the state of Hawaii for AK-47. So 20, 30, 40 rds. shouldn't be an issue, correct? Lastly, what about legalities of a 75 rd. drum, and any experience regarding them?
Thanks,
KNOWLEDGEISPOWER
3
Preparedness and Survival / Re: Solar flare August 3-5
« on: August 04, 2010, 09:28:16 AM »
GEOMAGNETIC STORM--MORE TO COME? The solar storm of August 1st sent two CMEs toward Earth. The first one arrived yesterday, August 3rd, sparking mild but beautiful Northern Lights over Europe and North America (see below). The second CME is still en route. NOAA forecasters estimate a 35% chance of major geomagnetic storms when the cloud arrives on August 4th or 5th.
Some really cool pictures in this gallery.
Too bad our latitude won't lend us the chance for any auroras.
Since this CME will likely be a non-event and this thread will fade off, but I still think talking about the power of the sun and it's effects on earth is important, I've decided to start up a "Solar powered" thread here. It seems that solar power is one of the many blessings we have living in Hawaii that we should all factor in to our daily lives and emergency preparedness plans.
Regards,
KNOWLEDGEISPOWER
Some really cool pictures in this gallery.
Too bad our latitude won't lend us the chance for any auroras.
Since this CME will likely be a non-event and this thread will fade off, but I still think talking about the power of the sun and it's effects on earth is important, I've decided to start up a "Solar powered" thread here. It seems that solar power is one of the many blessings we have living in Hawaii that we should all factor in to our daily lives and emergency preparedness plans.
Regards,
KNOWLEDGEISPOWER
4
Preparedness and Survival / Re: Solar Power
« on: August 04, 2010, 09:23:33 AM »
I stumbled across this device while discussing the process of basic water desalination using solar power. I learned this tried and true method in Boy Scouts many years ago, and have used it several times with fresh water and only once with experimental water desalination.
The idea is straightforward. Using solar energy, you convert the salt water into freshwater by heating the water until it vaporizes, then collecting the condensation in a secondary container.
This device is sold and manufactured by Mage Management
They state that:
The idea is straightforward. Using solar energy, you convert the salt water into freshwater by heating the water until it vaporizes, then collecting the condensation in a secondary container.
This device is sold and manufactured by Mage Management
 |  |  | ||
1. Pour salty / brackish Water into pan. Then float the Watercone(r) on top. The black pan absorbs the sunlight and heats up the water to support evaporation.. | 2. The evaporated Water condensates in the form of droplets on the inner wall of the cone. These droplets trickle down the inner wall into a circular trough at the inner base of the cone. | 3. By unscrewing the cap at the tip of the cone and turning the cone upside down, one can empty the potable Water gathered in the trough directly into a drinking device. |
"The WATERCONE(r) system can be referred to as a one step water condensation process with a 40% effectiveness degree (GTZ Germany). Based on evaporation levels of 8.8 Liters per square meter (average solar irradiation in Casablanca, Morocco), the WATERCONE(r) (with a base diameter of roughly 80 cm) yields between 1.0 to 1.7 Liters of condensed water per day (24 hours). The salty / brackish Water evaporates by way of solar irradiation and the condensation from that Water appears in the form of droplets on the inner wall of the cone. These droplets trickle down the inner wall into a circular trough at the inner base of the cone." This system makes a great deal of sense here in Hawaii as a fail safe water collection resource, since we have an unlimited supply of sea water at our disposal. Thoughts? Regards, KNOWLEDGEISPOWER |
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Preparedness and Survival / Solar Power
« on: August 04, 2010, 09:16:31 AM »
I'm interested to hear and learn what solar powered devices Hawaii residents are using. This could be divided into several categories including:
1.) Water solar heating (probably the most common)
2.) Small device recharging
3.) Small battery (12v) storage for short term emergencies
4.) Large scale solar collecting and storage
I would like to hear people talk about:
a.) Devices that the use and can recommend or advise to steer clear of (limit to first and second hand knowledge if possible)
b.) Devices, system designs, websites, and other learning resources that utilize solar energy in any capacity.
Regards,
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
1.) Water solar heating (probably the most common)
2.) Small device recharging
3.) Small battery (12v) storage for short term emergencies
4.) Large scale solar collecting and storage
I would like to hear people talk about:
a.) Devices that the use and can recommend or advise to steer clear of (limit to first and second hand knowledge if possible)
b.) Devices, system designs, websites, and other learning resources that utilize solar energy in any capacity.
Regards,
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
6
Preparedness and Survival / Solar flare August 3-5
« on: August 03, 2010, 09:55:28 AM »
3 August 2010
I read about this earlier yesterday and have been trending it's coverage in the media, and while it is only a C class flare and will probably be a non-event (Solar flares range from A, B, C, M or X, with each class having a peak flux ten times greater than the preceding one), I think this type of event scenario deserves attention in the disaster plans of emergency preparers. Since even an X class can develop and hit the earth in less than 48 hours, the risk is as unpredictable as it is substantial.
"Nasa scientist braced for solar tsunami to hit earth"
"Geophysical Activity Forecast: Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at unsettled to active levels on day 1 (03 August) due to the arrival of the first of two CMEs observed on 01 August (this CME was associated with the long-duration C3/Sf flare at 01/0826Z). Activity is expected to be at active to minor storm levels with a slight chance for major storm on days 2 - 3 (04 - 05 August) due to the arrival of the second slower CME observed on 01 August (associated with a large filament disappearance). "
"On Sunday, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory detected a complex magnetic eruption on the sun. The NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) also spotted a large coronal mass ejection. (CME) The eruption happened around (3:50 am EST), the SDO detected a C3 class solar flare originating from a group of sunspots (called sunspot 1092). The flare itself was not that large, but the filament located about 70,000 miles away erupted at the same time.
A filament is a large, bright feature extending outward from the Sun's surface, often in a loop shape. Filament is anchored to the Sun's surface in the photosphere, and extends outward into the Sun's corona. It is a long magnetic structure rising above the surface of the sun, filled with cool plasma. The flare and filament erupted at the same time, this suggests they are connected by long-range magnetic field lines. Some believe the flare may have accelerated the eruption of the filament. Eventually, a giant magnetic bubble of plasma broke and blasted out into space.
The problem is, the eruption occurred on the side of the sun facing earth which means, the Coronal Mass Ejection is on its way to the planet earth. It's expected arrival is Aug. 3. This is known as a geomagnetic storm, and they have been known to cause electrical power outages and damage communications satellites. They drive shock waves which produce energetic particles that can be damaging to both electronic equipment and astronauts that venture outside the protection of the Earth's magnetic field."
In short, this is a good dry run for everybody to read up on EMP's - be them from solar flares (Carrington Even of 1859 or the lesser storms in 1921 and 1960 ) or high-altitude nuclear detonations (read about the Starfish Prime test, of which effects were felt in Hawaii!) , and review your emergency response plans that preclude the copious amounts of electricity we take for granted.
Taken from a good article posted on survivalblog.com entitled "How Long can you tread water?", it really gives a stark, but in all likelihood realistic, analysis of what would happen in a serious EMP event, and should be read and considered by serious emergency preparers.
"EMP is optimized by the detonation of a nuclear weapon at 25 to 250 miles above the Earth's surface. An electromagnetic field radiates down to the earth, creating electrical currents. These instantaneous currents accumulate and migrate on long electrical lines and overheat transformers, large and small. Breakers are of no use due to the speed of the pulse which is 1,000 times faster than lightning. EMP will cover the wide geographic region within line of sight to the nuclear burst. A 40 mile high detonation over Virginia would black out the entire East Coast. A 250 mile high detonation over Kansas would take out most, if not all, of the continental USA.
The lead time for obtaining a single replacement of the very large “step-up or step down†type transformer is two to three years from overseas (Total worldwide production of these huge transformers is less than 100 per year); there are about 2,000 in the USA that would need to be replaced plus the millions of small transformers (frequently mounted on utility poles) in the distribution system. There is a huge and perhaps insurmountable problem with almost all electrical power generation plants. They must be shut down gradually according to carefully designed procedures. A sudden shutdown from an EMP or super solar flare would cause the destruction of major components of most power plants and, in a grid down scenario, it would not be possible to repair them. Further,most that survive must have outside power for start up and that outside power won’t exist. "
Regards
KNOWLEDGEISPOWER
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Preparedness and Survival / Re: Water Bob (bathtub water storage)
« on: July 30, 2010, 05:06:02 PM »
Aloha all,
I have direct experience with the water BOB. I live in a high rise condo with bathtub.
I purchased one from the American Red Cross around December 2009.
I used it on the day of our Tsunami Warning 2/27/2010.
I knew it was a one time use thing, so I waited until the last possible hour to fill it up. I watched the initial reports from the Big Island and tried to determine if the surge was enough to worry about. I was conflicted because I KNEW if I filled it up, nothing would happen and I would waste the BOB. And if I didn't fill it up and tsunami washes ashore, knocks out the power, and shuts down water production, I would be kicking myself for not filling it up. So, in this event, I decided to play it safe and utilize the water BOB. At worst, it would be a $30 test to see if it worked as designed.
The water BOB fits very well in a standard size tub. Attachment to the spigot is a little tricky, so be sure to have some tape on hand to hold it in place, since it is basically a flimsy plastic sleeve that slips over the spigot. It took about 20 minutes to fill it up, and I didn't have the water on full blast (because of the flimsy sleeve / tape attachment). They say it holds 100 gallons, but I filled the bob to the top of my tub and there was still some excess plastic that it could have expanded with water, so this amount will vary based on the size of your tub. Realistically, I probably had 80-90 gallons in the BOB.
So sure enough, THANKFULLY, the Tsunami was a non-event. I left the water BOB in the tub for the remainder of the day to test the short term structural integrity, practiced pumping water using the very useful hand pump, and showing my wife how it worked etc. I then cut a long slit in the plastic and began the draining process. The plastic was thick enough for me to believe it would certainly hold up for as long as you had water in it (definitely a month minimum is my estimate - not sure about UV degradation though, so in all likelyhood in a cool, non-sunlit room - a very good amount of time) Also, the hand pump that I mentioned is really quite good, and in all likelihood could be used as an emergency bailer in an outrigger, or siphon pump in your gas tank (though I'm sure the manufacturer wouldn't recommend either of those uses. But the SHTF, so who cares, right!)
In the end, the water BOB is a very practical means for quick water storage, especially if you live in a condo and can't have 55 gallon drums sitting around everywhere. Very easy to use, I have confidence in it's structural integrity, and highly recommend it.
Caveat - only recommend for a bathtub. Not sure how it would perform structurally stand-alone or without other types of structural support.
I bought mine for Red Cross for $30 (I think), and the website sells them for Price of only $19.95 + $4.95 Shipping. Buy 4, get one free, so seems to make sense to get together with some family/friends and split the cost to get one free.
Regards and aloha,
KNOWLEDGEISPOWER
I have direct experience with the water BOB. I live in a high rise condo with bathtub.
I purchased one from the American Red Cross around December 2009.
I used it on the day of our Tsunami Warning 2/27/2010.
I knew it was a one time use thing, so I waited until the last possible hour to fill it up. I watched the initial reports from the Big Island and tried to determine if the surge was enough to worry about. I was conflicted because I KNEW if I filled it up, nothing would happen and I would waste the BOB. And if I didn't fill it up and tsunami washes ashore, knocks out the power, and shuts down water production, I would be kicking myself for not filling it up. So, in this event, I decided to play it safe and utilize the water BOB. At worst, it would be a $30 test to see if it worked as designed.
The water BOB fits very well in a standard size tub. Attachment to the spigot is a little tricky, so be sure to have some tape on hand to hold it in place, since it is basically a flimsy plastic sleeve that slips over the spigot. It took about 20 minutes to fill it up, and I didn't have the water on full blast (because of the flimsy sleeve / tape attachment). They say it holds 100 gallons, but I filled the bob to the top of my tub and there was still some excess plastic that it could have expanded with water, so this amount will vary based on the size of your tub. Realistically, I probably had 80-90 gallons in the BOB.
So sure enough, THANKFULLY, the Tsunami was a non-event. I left the water BOB in the tub for the remainder of the day to test the short term structural integrity, practiced pumping water using the very useful hand pump, and showing my wife how it worked etc. I then cut a long slit in the plastic and began the draining process. The plastic was thick enough for me to believe it would certainly hold up for as long as you had water in it (definitely a month minimum is my estimate - not sure about UV degradation though, so in all likelyhood in a cool, non-sunlit room - a very good amount of time) Also, the hand pump that I mentioned is really quite good, and in all likelihood could be used as an emergency bailer in an outrigger, or siphon pump in your gas tank (though I'm sure the manufacturer wouldn't recommend either of those uses. But the SHTF, so who cares, right!)
In the end, the water BOB is a very practical means for quick water storage, especially if you live in a condo and can't have 55 gallon drums sitting around everywhere. Very easy to use, I have confidence in it's structural integrity, and highly recommend it.
Caveat - only recommend for a bathtub. Not sure how it would perform structurally stand-alone or without other types of structural support.
I bought mine for Red Cross for $30 (I think), and the website sells them for Price of only $19.95 + $4.95 Shipping. Buy 4, get one free, so seems to make sense to get together with some family/friends and split the cost to get one free.
Regards and aloha,
KNOWLEDGEISPOWER
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Preparedness and Survival / Re: Looking for a multi-purpose survival knife
« on: July 30, 2010, 04:40:14 PM »
Check out TOPS knives. Superb craftsmanship and many different types of knife to fit various forms and functions. I follow all things edged, and it took me years of using Benchmade, Spyderco, SOG, Ka-Bar, etc. et al before I finally found these guys. Expensive, but you get what you pay for.
I personally have the Steel Eagle 107D ,
and it is extremely rugged design. A little heavy in some regards (22 oz) ,but the thing is the stoutest knife I own. I use it like a machete to chop bamboo, small saplings, etc., yet it has the form for effective slicing, stabbing, and tactical fighting, and in a pinch I wouldn't hesitate to use it has a pry bar (1/4" thick!). While I haven't tried it, I'd venture to say that the 3 small holes crafted into the single piece of 1095 High Carbon Alloy could be used to lash the knife to a stout stick with paracord to make a very effective spear (the advantage of having a tanto point). If tanto point isn't your style/need, the Steel Eagle comes in various points and serrations.
I swoon over other knives in their catalog ( Armageddon, Apache Dawn, Black Star, Covert Solution), but it's hard to justify to the wife extraneous purchases with money going to more important expenditures in the house, such as 6 month old.
I also have a SOG Seal Pup, a very nice knife, though I have the old style sheath which is a total POS. The new Kydex sheaths they come with are good, and I've been meaning to upgrade, since I use this as my standard dive knife. The powdered finish has kept the corrosion at bay for over 10 years.
I've read thru many different forums here, and though I've lived in Hawaii for nearly 4 years, I'm still brushing up on the laws, and contributors here seem to have a solid working knowledge.
In this respect, what are the laws regarding edge weapons? I've read how they don't interpret a "diving knife" as a dangerous weapon, but would more specifically like to understand any knife length / fixed blade / folding blade laws that exist.
Regards and aloha,
KNOWLEDGEISPOWER
I personally have the Steel Eagle 107D ,
and it is extremely rugged design. A little heavy in some regards (22 oz) ,but the thing is the stoutest knife I own. I use it like a machete to chop bamboo, small saplings, etc., yet it has the form for effective slicing, stabbing, and tactical fighting, and in a pinch I wouldn't hesitate to use it has a pry bar (1/4" thick!). While I haven't tried it, I'd venture to say that the 3 small holes crafted into the single piece of 1095 High Carbon Alloy could be used to lash the knife to a stout stick with paracord to make a very effective spear (the advantage of having a tanto point). If tanto point isn't your style/need, the Steel Eagle comes in various points and serrations.
I swoon over other knives in their catalog ( Armageddon, Apache Dawn, Black Star, Covert Solution), but it's hard to justify to the wife extraneous purchases with money going to more important expenditures in the house, such as 6 month old.
I also have a SOG Seal Pup, a very nice knife, though I have the old style sheath which is a total POS. The new Kydex sheaths they come with are good, and I've been meaning to upgrade, since I use this as my standard dive knife. The powdered finish has kept the corrosion at bay for over 10 years.
I've read thru many different forums here, and though I've lived in Hawaii for nearly 4 years, I'm still brushing up on the laws, and contributors here seem to have a solid working knowledge.
In this respect, what are the laws regarding edge weapons? I've read how they don't interpret a "diving knife" as a dangerous weapon, but would more specifically like to understand any knife length / fixed blade / folding blade laws that exist.
Regards and aloha,
KNOWLEDGEISPOWER
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