leroy

All:____________ Looked at my two sources for news (...the one's ive been linkin to...). Pretty quiet; no update yet. Still pumping to the fuel pits and working on the powerline. Mabee more later. RE: The discussion regarding the plant location. We all need to remember that the nuclear plant (...or a fossil plant, or a gas fired plant...) must be located near a large body of water (...in this case, the ocean...). The reason is that in order for the steam cycle to work, you need bunches of cooling water to pump thru the condensers of the units to cool the spent steam. We're talking lots of water here with a good cool temerature to increase the plant effiency. That, in a nutshell, is why the plant is situated on the ocean -- it simply aint a question of some nerdy engineer making a mistake as to where to locate the plant, or that property prices were lower there. Take the time to take a look at where your nearest powerplant to you is located. In every case, it's located on a sizeable body of flowing water. That location is not just a preference; it's a necessity. RE: Pumping water over a long distance. It aint as easy as it would seem. All pumps, no matter the size or number of stages (...some pumps are multistage to increase pressure --- more pump impellers on the shaft --...) will only lift or pump a certain vertical and horizontal distance. Then you need another pump to pick up the water and pump it another distance. My guess is that if you could see the firetruck setup all the way from the ocean to the delivery point, you would see several trucks, each pumping into a reservoir ahead of it (...higher in elevation...) until the water gets to the place they need to drop it on (...the fuel pits...). This is a helluva headache. You have to keep everything running (....that means fueled, serviced, constantly manned...) and in sequence. One hu-ho and the pumping chain stops. That's why i think you see the "staging area" full of trucks. They are being serviced, refuelled, etc -- you get the picture. That is why getting this powerline tied in and one of the D-G sets running is so important to them. Like kblem says, "It. is. just. not. that. simple..." His post is dead on target. What these guys are doing is a very large and complex job. It's being done around the clock and in real dangerous conditions. As far as im concerned, all these folks are real heroes who are doing things for the good of their families (...if there are any of them left...), their neighbors (...if there are any of them left...), and their country. They are a far different breed than some in our country who squall for help or run away when things get tough; or call an international meeting complete with a bunch of pseudo-experts to study the problem. They aint got time for that. They have to do something NOW -- a few hours later, it may be too late. Remember General Patton's great quip: "A workable plan now is better that an great plan five minutes from now"... That is the situation these folks are in. I say they are "the best of the best" among the human creatures. Let's keep sending up the prayers that these folks get this powerline tied in soon so they can handle this a bit easier. Hope this gives a bit more perspective. leroy

Thanks to all who have taken the time to post; i really appreciate it. I ordered the glock replacement parts a few minutes ago. Will take another look at the ghost triggers. Thanks again, leroy

Dear fellow TGO'ers:______________ Just came into possession of a lightly used Glock 27. It shows almost no use; but appears to have been mechaniced on to comply with some unknown (...to me at least...) LEO departmental requirements for heavier than stock trigger pull. The trigger pull is noticeably heavier than either of my stock glock 33 or 32 triggers. I would like to return this pistol to the "stock" configuration; but im not sure that i know which of the parts should be replaced. I also suspect that the firing pin spring is heavier than stock too. All that being said; I would appreciate your collecitive input as to what to do to get this little jewel back in the 5 lb trigger pull range. It would also help to clean some of the grittiness in the trigger too. Thanks in advance. leroy

All:_________________ Here is some more relatively good news concening the restoration of power and the on site D-G set. Link here: Fukushima – 18 March morning updates, radiation and tsunamis « BraveNewClimate. If the plant guys and the transmission line guys can make the tie in they can power the plant systems they need to run back up from the control room and make life a bunch easier for those working on this problem; as it eliminates the gilflirting and changing of piping systems around by hand -- they can do it with a mouse click from the control room. They should also have intertie capability between the indvidual units so they can run the needed equipment and pumps on any other units too. I know this sounds crazy; but it also allows them to make make-up water. They need it top off the reactor cooling systems and (....idealy...) the fuel pools. The plant uses extremely clean deionized water for all this in normal operation. It also looks as if the radiation levels from the fuel storage pools are going down. Looks like the water spraying with the fire trucks and helicopter water drops have (...and are...) worked. The more water you add to the pools, the better the shielding and less the radiation. That allows folks to work longer and safer. It will make life easier for all these folks and is a good indicaor that they are finally getting all this multi-faceted nightmare under control. Keep sending up the prayers that these folks dont fall over or get killed working on this extremely serious bunch of problems. leroy

All:_____________ New good news. Looks like they have got one of the emergency diesel generators going. Link here: Progress by on-site workers . Go all the way to the bottom of the article for the info. leroy

All:______________ RE: The replacement pump and generator thing. OS asked the question about replacement generators and bklem basically answered it along with crimsonauto. The emergency diesel generator sets that the tsunami wave took out were probably about 3300 HP per set (...if i remember right from brown's ferry...) and i think there are 3 sets to run and one spare. That means 10,000 hp is on the line to provide power to the plant for emergency shutdown. Each of these gen-sets are the size of a diesel electric locomotive and are housed in sturdy concrete buildings. My guess is that one of these gen sets weighs 75 to 100 tons each. Each nuclear unit has this same installation. Package diesel-generator sets just are not big enough to provide the power needed to run the plant equipment. That's why they have the emergency d-g sets built as part of the plant. I understand they brought in several smaller sets to get some of the systems running; but it would probably take a bunch of them to provide the power they need to do everything they need to do. Diesel generator sets have their own set of problems too; we used them on my old job from time to time; and keeping them fueled, serviced, and running 24/7 is a continuing headache. I've seen the little ones 700 hp or so, suck down 200 gallons of fuel an hour under a heavy load. Diesel drive pumps are basically the same problem. You can pump water around with them, but you loose lots of efficiency running the long distances with temporary piping. Fueling and keeping them running is the same headache as with the d-g sets. All this is why they need the power line tying the plant's back on to the grid. Thet's why they are working so hard to get the line built. Hope this gives a bit more perspective on the d-g / pump thing. PS-- If your are inclined to be curious about this d-g thing; go to this link (http://www.americanmachinist.com/Calculators/HorseToKilo.aspx ...) and play with the kw (...1kw is 1000 watts, a megawatt is 1000 kw or one million watts...). Plug in 6000 kw (...that's 6 mw; probably about what the plant systems need to maintain shutdown...). That gives a pretty good perspective on how much power these plants take. The horsepower to kw convertor assumes 100% efficiency. My guess is that the d-g efficiency is on the order of 85%; but i dont know for sure. leroy

The good thing about getting power back is that all the systems have backup systems (...they call them redundant systems...) that allow for working around problems with the "main systems". I understand the concern about "assuming everyting is working properly" -- it has probably sustained some damage; but it's a lot easier to fix and work around when the plant has power. leroy

Yup, you are exactly right. If they can get power to the plant (....and it takes a bunch....). They can crank up all the cooling systems, start making clean make-up water for both the reactor and the fuel pits and get everything back under control using the existing plant systems. That will make life lots easier for them. There are some who say the fuel in the fuel pits has been uncovered. Check this link for a great discussion of this: http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/17/fukushima-redux-design-basis-godzilla/. There is also a good discussion of the spent fuel problem here: http://reindeerflotilla.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/fukushima-redux/ leroy

All:_________________ Here is an update on the fuel pool situation that all the talking heads and experts are wringing their hands about: Attempts to refill fuel ponds. I think its just another extremely dangerous (...for those fixing these problems...) and serious problem for these worn out techincians and others to work on. Let's keep sending up the prayers that these heroes can get this back under control and keep the fuel pits flooded and water in the reactors. I also read the TEPCO has almost completed an emergency power line back to the plants. If they get that finished, the plant guys can crank up the big pumps and plant systems and furnish all the water they need to keep everything calmed down. leroy

Grunt has an excellent solution with the "limb saver". I think i've got one laying around from our big bore rifle days. Fits over your shirt or shooting coat and has some recoil absorbing magic material in it. We used to shoot some 375 H&H too. I learned early to either shoot offhand (...will help ya to learn to use a sling...) and let your upper body and torso rotate some under the recoil; or to use a "sissy bag" of some sort. Keep a good solid cheek weld and remember to pull the rifle solid agains your shoulder (...or the bag...). Hold on; but let the rifle rise in recoil (...it will anyway!...). We also used the "shooting stick" trick too (...like the old buffalo hunters...). The absolute worst thing you can do is shoot these things from a bench or prone. We used to use shot bags (..."sissy bags"...) to cushion the top of the shoulder for prone shooting and to cushion the front of the shoulder from the bench. Use your extra "rabbit ear" bags and make sure they have shot or dry sand in them. You may want to make a couple about 6 X 6 X 6 out of old shot bags or benchrest bags. I know you already know this; but it also helps to load em down a bit; but that takes the fun out of it!! Hope this helps. leroy

All:_______________ RE: The "spent fuel rod "swimming pool blowing upl" comments in the InfoWars article. Take the time to look at the link in post #68 and follow the link to the fuel pool discussion. The fuel pits are evidently in tact. They are built to withstand earthquates and explosions. The problem is that there is no power or water on hand for the pool cooling (...same problem with the reactor....) and the guys are pumping water in to cool them down. Water is simply evaporating out of them both (...the reactor and the fuel pits...). The hydrogen explosions were evidently above the fuel pit area. As long as the TEPCO guys are able to add water to the fuel pits (...think giant swimming pools here...) the spent fuel rods will stay at a reasonable temperature. They may be damaged from heat; but now that aint a big deal considering the overall damage done to the plants from this catastrophe. The TEPCO plant guys are (...and have been....) pumping pumping water into both the reactor suppression chamber(s) and the fuel pits. leroy

All:____________ An excellent update for March 16 is posted here: Fukushima Nuclear Accident – 16 March update « BraveNewClimate. Be sure to check out the notes on the spent fuel pit cooling. RE: Professionalism, courage and heroism under fire. AR and other posters are exactly right. The TEPCO plant guys are, indeed, heroes and real nuclear guys ---they do make some of our "nuclear experts " (...thankfully; not all...) look like chumps. They have regularly been doing things at these plants that would make John Wayne afraid and Superman swoon. Let's hope they dont poop out before they get this thing whipped. leroy

You are exactly right. These guys probably have family they cant account for and are worn plumb down from fighting one problem right after another for the last 4 or 5 days straight. As was said before; these guys are the real heroes that are solving problems instead of wringing their hands about them. I say, God bless 'em. They are busy saving their neighbors, families, and the country of Japan from more disaster while the rest of the world (...us included...) watches in horror. They are great and heroic folks. leroy

Bingo!! We have a winner!!! dlm is exactly right. It is, INDEED, the exact same. We shouldn't be tolerating this either. Either make pseudpephedrine based medicine a prescription item or catch the dammed methhead thugs making it. My guess is that we'll do neither. Too much money to made in both areas. Keep up the good work. leroy

I like 'em man!!!! What great creatures. leroy

All:______________ You may want to take the time to look at this link: http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Possible_damage_at_Fukushima_Daiichi_2_1503111.html. Take note of the "loud noise" discussion in the beginning of the post. Ir appears that the problem may be that the vibrations and continual heavy loading of the supports, piping, and valves from the continuing suppression of steam (...steam is generated by the sea water cooling the reactor core...) in the torus region (...the "right" name is the suppression chamber - torus and suppression chamber are the same thing--the guys use it interchangeably when talking about the plant components...) may have torn piping or valve supports loose inside the torus. Imagine holding onto a jet of hot steam and shoving it into water to condense the steam to water. It both heats the water and generates a helluva thrust and vibration while it's doing all this. I've got buddies that worked on the pre-operational testing at Browns Ferry in alabama (...a sister plant, but 1300 mw instead of 748...) of this same system. They said that you simply could not imagine the roar and vibration from the blowdown. As i remember (...this is a long time ago...) there was damage as the result of the initial testing of this system within the torus structure --- supports torn loose and some piping components torn up. That (...of course...) resulted in a re-design and beefing up of the components to stand the thrust loads involved; along with a subsequent re-test. The forces from this blowdown of steam are unimaginable to most folks and a genuine design challenge to the nerdy engineers. The fact is that all this stuff is working pretty well considering the situation they are in. All that being said; this is still a serious situation and a genuine danger to those working so hard to fix these problems and cool this unit off. The bottom line is that with all the problems, mayhem, and other things going on here; the guys working on this (...the real heroes in this story...) are doing a good job of using what they have to fix what they need to fix in unimaginably bad personal and enviornmental conditons. Continue to pray that these guys continue to manage this extremely dangerous (...for them...) situation. leroy

All:_______________ Take the time to read this: Fukushima Nuclear Accident – a simple and accurate explanation « BraveNewClimate. This is an accurate assessment of the situation from someone with good sense. Leroy

Like several others, i'm having a bit of a problem trying to understand how a background check should be a requirement for the purchase of anything (...guns included...). It's nothing more than an attempt by the Nobama machine and other anti-gunners to whip up sentiment for stricter gun laws at a time when support for stricter gun laws is at an all time low. I see this as a "non-starter" for the Demorats and the anti-gunners. As i remember, Laughtner (...nutty as he is...) could legally own a gun and had probably passed a "background check". In a free society; you simply cannot "anticipate" the actions of the nutty and plan for the unplanned. Criminals dont bother to legally buy guns; they steal or trade in them. No system would have picked up Laughtner because he was not a felon at the time; only a trouble making nut. The local authorities well knew that Laughtner was at the minimum; a troublemaking nut. He didn't need a background check for that; the "authorities" already knew that. Dont ever concede the ground that says that "background checks" should be anything other than an abridgement of your second amendment rights. If we are going to institute background checks; lets check the background of potential auto buyers for reckless driving, computer users for evidence of "bad computer use" habits like saying bad things on internet forums and message boards, and other equally foolish tripe. The fact is that this idea is a looser and Nobama is busy making himself a one term president (...thankfully...) and marginalizing the Demorats as a real political party (...thankfully...). More and more people are coming to the conclusion that the world is a dangerous place and that when you need help in a deadly situation in a matter of seconds, the police are only minutes away. I say these clowns need to keep on talking and exposing themselves for what they really are. Leroy

pfries:___________ I use kroil too. But i use it in place of hoppes. If you let the barrel sit a few minutes, the kroil will penetrate under the fouling and make it turn loose (...kroil is an excellent, high quality penetrating oil...). I've seen small slivers of lead turn loose in revolver barrels after the barrels sit a few minutes. kroil is good stuff. So is hoppes. I never thought of mixing them together. Hope this helps. leroy

All:______________ Here is a good place to keep up with what' going on with the Japanese Nuclear Plants. World Nuclear News leroy

All:___________ Im sure you all remember the firestorm that swirled around the Oklahoma City Bombing; along with the tons of pages of copy written concerning Timothy McVeigh and "the threat of domestic terrorism" done by disgruntled us citizens. This crime was quickly solved and attributed to a lone act of "domestic terrorism" perpetrated by a hate filled white american -- Timothy McVeigh, and closed quickly. It seems that there is some other info out there that has bubbled to the surface again. Check this link out: Libertarian Republican: Hussain Al-Hussaini, alleged OKC Bombing John Doe II, arrested in Quincy, Mass. Note the names and nationalities of the co-conspiritators. I think it is very interesting revelation. As usual in cases like this, the means justify the ends; and there may have been an overriding need to not tell the whole truth about this truly heinous act of barbarism against innocents. Said another way, the political class (...and their "servants" in the investigative branches of government...) most likely thought it was better that americans think that a hate-filled kid from the usa could kill his brothers and sisters in a most heinous way; than it was to find out exactly who might have helped and even bank-rolled this attack. I'm sure this apparent little oversight was done for the "collective good". It will be interesting to see where this one goes. Food for thought. suspicious leroy

Twenty seven to thirty dollars per thousand. Quick look. Was there from about 12 noon to 1.30 pm. leroy

All:______________ Check this link for a bit more techical discussion of what is happening at these plants. I'm not minimizing the situation; but i hate the news media when it comes to this stuff: Battle to stabilise earthquake reactors. Here's the latest press release from the Tokyo Power Company: TEPCO : Press Release | Plant Status of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (as of 11AM March 12th ). The big hitter is the sentence here: The on site power plant guys need extra on site power to run the core cooling (...that's what the on site diesel generator sets were for; they were evidently hurt in the initial earthquake shock or the wave; and quit after running about an hour. They are huge; several thousand HP per set....) and add water to the reactor vessel to keep the water level over the fuel rods. They are evidently working on that and have some package diesel generators on site (...and i would presume running...) to run the injection water system and the core cooling system. The water level in the reactor is most likely decreasing due to evaporation because they dont have enough power yet to run the pumps fast enough to get the cooling water going fast enough to overtake and calm down the heat buildup in the fuel rods; but they dont say that anywhere (...too busy, i would guess...). All that being said; ive got a lot more faith in the Japanese Nuclear guys and the Japanese news media than i do these ink splashing sensationalist clowns over the globe that are putting out the news releases about meltdowns and explosions. This is, indeed, a serious situation. It is dangerous (...especially to those on site doing the work...). We need to be in prayer for all the folks in Japan, especially the ones working on this problem. It will be solved by the technical guys on site; not a bunch of third basers, newspaper hacks, Union of Concerned Scientist spokesmen, assorted talking heads, regulators, and polititians. RE: The "explosion". My guess is that when the steam vented from the reactor containment; it pressurized the inside of the building (...which is a concrete structure with a steel frame -- i think --that is what most of them are...). Between the damage to the concrete from the initial quake and the over pressure inside; the cracked concrete gave way (...the "explosion; look at the steam vent at the beginning of the clip...) and left the steel building frame intact; again, all conjecture. Bottom line; there aint been a "nuclear explosion". There has been an over pressurization that evidently knocked down the wall panels on a severely damaged concrete building. It demonstrates the dangers that these on site guys are facing while working on the very serious problem. leroy

Greg:________________ We dont like 41's at our house; we just have six. Three ruger sa's (...one new model--2 old...) and three brothers to your smith model 57. The 41 mag is the caliber i started shooting "magnum" loads in. They are a great thing!!! PS-- I love Oakland's model 58. They are a great thing!! I'm sorry i didnt pick a couple of them up when you actually could find (...and afford....) them. They have turned into a pretty valuable collector's item now. Keep up the good work! leroy

Will:_____________ I didn't know either; and im almost as old as dirt. It was a helluva idea though! Keep up the good work! leroy