The ATFs gun smuggling program has finally gotten the attention of our elected representatives. 

“These extremely serious allegations were accompanied by detailed documentation which appears to lend credibility to the claims and partially corroborates them,” Grassley wrote.

This whole sequence of events reads like the plot out of Enemies Foreign and Domestic.  No spoilers here so go read it, suffice it to say, I’ve heard this play before hopefully this one ends better.  Especially since the ATFs budget is up to get slashed. 

The proposed ATF cutbacks, which would amount to nearly $160 million out of a $1.25 billion budget request – a 12.8 percent reduction that would also be 3.6 percent below the current budget – are outlined in a preliminary budget document obtained by The Washington Post. ATF spokesman Scot Thomasson declined to comment, because the budget process was not complete.

This agency continually harasses law abiding citizens who are doing no harm to anyone but merely minding their own business.  Doing that though gets them more press time and funding that nailing someone with a pack of camels from across state lines. On the upside it appears that their plan to use smuggling as the justification to increase their budget may have royally backfired now that it had congressional attention that they were moving material across the border.

H/T to Alan.

In this part of the series I’m going to cover the basics of AC machinery.  More specifically I’m going to focus on synchronous machines, both in motor and generation aspects.  Synchronous generation is important since that is the production method used by most major power plants, from steam to hydro.  Why it’s used with be made more apparent at the end.

Basics of AC Machines:

If you’ve ever played with magnets you know that two magnets will try to turn to line up with one another.  In an AC machine that behavior is leveraged to cause the rotor (the rotating part of the machine) to chase proper alignment with the stator (the stationary part of the machine). 

If you remember that a moving magnetic field induces a current in a wire.  Just the same a current in a wire creates a magnetic field.  Here’s a quick side cut away of a simple 3 phase machine:

In the diagram current flows in the standard letter and out the prime, for example in A and out A’.  The math and details behind the magnetic forces and how it works as a motor isn’t going to be covered in detail.  The only understanding needed is that as a particular pole passes a wire it induces a current in a particular direction, the opposite pole causes current to flow in the opposite direction.  AC current switches direction constantly throughout it’s supply, this is because the poles on the magnet have switched direction for the other half of the cycle. 

The above example is a “2 pole” system displayed by the fact there are only two magnetic poles in use.  The mechanical rotational speed is directly tied to the electrical frequency.  This relationship is described by the following equation:

Which states that the electrical frequency in Hertz is the product of the speed of mechanical rotation in RPM and the number of poles in the rotor, divided by 120.

So for example a 2 pole generator producing a 60Hz signal is spinning at 3600 RPM.  We can increase the number of poles in the rotor to decrease the rotational speed required. In doing so we also increase the number of windings required as well.

The windings when wired together correctly produce a standard 60Hz signal.  The reason you would do this is it allows you to operate at a much lower mechanical frequency.  For instance the 4 pole system above would operate at 1800 RPM instead of the 3600 RPM of the two pole system.

Efficiency

No system is 100% efficient, thermodynamics guarantees this since we are converting energy from one form into another.  You have numerous losses that are caused by the following items:

1. Copper Losses, remember I mentioned that long wires have a voltage drop across  them, well in a generator/motor you have a very long wire that is coiled up.  There are losses that occur due to I²R in the generator.
2. Core losses, These are losses caused by limits of the metals within the motor regarding the magnetic fields.
3. Mechanical Losses: Friction in the machine causes losses, as will as windage which occurs because of air moving within the casing.
4. Stray Losses: Everything else not covered by the previous categories, by convention this is usually about 1% of full load.

Synchronous generators are so popular for generation because their design lends them to be considerably more efficient than any other design for generation.

Synchronous Machines

Synchronous machines are like what was described above, however their rotor contains a set of windings that are energized by a DC current.  IE they use an electro magnet to provide the magnetic field that the rotor uses to generate current in the stator windings.  These two sets of windings are referred to as field windings and armature windings.  Armature windings also referred to as stator windings is where the main voltage is induced, while the field windings produce the main magnetic field within the machine.

This DC current supplied to the field windings can be supplied by an external source through the use of slip rings and brushes, or it can be generated directly on the shaft of the machine. 

Synchronous machines are a very special type of motor as they are locked to the frequency of operation.  When starting a machine you synchronize it to the power system prior closing the circuit. Once locked with the power system it’s frequency is stabilized by the rest of the system.  In order to shift the frequency, it has to shift at ALL the machines, not just that one.  Prior to the machine being actually turned on though you must spin the machine up to speed by external means.

For instance say you were using the machine as a motor, you could NOT just supply power and expect it to spin at synchronous speed.  In the instance of using the machine as a motor, you short the armature winding, once this is done you allow the three phase AC to the field windings.  This will cause the rotor to begin spinning.  Once it is very close to synchronous speed remove the short supply current to the armature winding at which point it will synchronize with the system.

In the case of self starting generation, a pony motor is uses to bring the  generator to synchronous speed.  Once there a small current is applied to the armature winding and it is synchronized with the power system.  Once synchronized it is connected to the grid, at which point the armature windings are fully energized.  If the armature winding is energized prior to being connected to the grid, a very large voltage can be produced on the field windings.  Ultimately when you parallel the system, you want the same magnitude and frequency as the output for your generator.

Other than efficiency though the synchronous machine provides some other benefits in that you can adjust the power factor of the output of the generator.  For instance if you have a load that is leading the generator, you can back the generator off so that the leading load supplies power to other surrounding loads.  This is known as power factor correction.  It is done by altering the excitation current used for the armature.  Operating the generator in an over excited state to deal with a leading power factor, where you have a lagging load, can actually cause the generator to fail eventually due to overheating.

This ability to help correct power factor issues coupled with the high efficiency and constant speed operation leads many facilities to use it for generation.

Review:

So there was a quick run down on the most common AC machine, how it works and why it’s used.  Next week will be induction machines, these are becoming more prevalent in generation thanks to wind power.

“Liberty is the power to do everything that does not interfere with the rights of others: thus, the exercise of the natural rights of every individual has no limits save those that assure to other members of society the enjoyment of the same rights.” –Thomas Paine, Plan of a Declaration of Rights

[I do not understand what is so difficult about this for people to understand.  Maybe it is because I was raised in a very libertarian household.  What I do in my house, on my property, with my friends is my business.  No one, not my neighbors, not the city, not the state, not the federal government has any right to stop me except in the case of my interfering with the rights of others.  The hard part though is the definition of the word right has been twisted and mangled to the point where people don’t really understand what a right is any more.  Even more than that though, potentialities are commonly called actualities when they are NOT.

A right to have something provided is not actually a right.  You can have rights to be able to do XYZ, but you do not have a right to XYZ.  Because if you did have a right to XYZ, it means that someone else rights must be violated to provide it to you. 

It is obvious though that when you step back, many liberties have been destroyed in this country.  The damage from prohibition still lingers as people still attempt the same approach with other materials they dislike.  The substitute for alcohol has been firearms and other drugs.  Materials that truthfully are no one’s business but the claim for potentiality provides the power.  I could care less if my neighbor wants to sit in their house and get high.  I could care less about who has a relationship with whom.  The bottom line is no one should be regulating what I can and cannot do that does not infringe upon the actual rights of others.

I was raised constantly hearing the following, “There are three types of people in the world.  Those who want to be slaves, those who want to be slave owners, and those who wish to be neither.”  I was raised to be in that third class.  I wish more people actually wanted to live in this third region.  If it wasn’t for groups one and two, this place would be a hell of a lot more fun.  -B]

Today TMW was happy she had a “job interview”.  I use quotes because it ends up it was really just a job offer.  It would be a regular day shift which makes life considerably easier on us.  Rotating schedules and night shifts are a pain.

So the above was the “Yea”, now for the “Boo”.  It ends up that this job offer had one string, one serious string which has placed my rage meter through the roof.

Image courtesy of Robb Allen found via JayG

This string violates one of our core morals, evidently the facility CNAs are unionized.  She has no choice if she takes the position, she must join the union and pay 3%, yes 3%, of her salary to the union.  She must pay 3% of her earnings so that someone can “represent” her, to “collectively raise wages” and aid in the event of “wrongful” termination.

Think about that for a second, the dues paid to the union are a percentage of wages and the union is collectively bargaining for higher wage.  They make more money by getting raises for workers that aren’t that productive.   The union automatically gets new members when someone wants a job.  They get new income to use to support their political ends, because someone wants to work.  They get this income even if the new employee does not want anything to do with the union.

Unions are dying.  Especially when you consider the fact that many are in unions because they are given no choice to get employment.  Morally we have a serious issue, we want absolutely nothing to do with the union.  She doesn’t have to take the new job, but she would actually make more in the new position, the commute is considerably shorter, and the hours and schedule would be more regular.  The difference in pay is more considerable when given the fact she is paying more in income tax to a state she doesn’t live in than she would in dues. The main thing we want is the shorter commute, and the wage isn’t really higher than Idaho, it is mainly the shift in taxes versus dues. She would take the job even if she was returning back to the night shift. Those extra perks are nice, but we’d ditch them to get rid of the union.  At the same time Unions have helped contribute to the fiscal problems in government and need to be destroyed.  The union of choice in this case also appears to be one of the most despicable, SEIU.

Unions are pointless and do nothing more than take money to fund politicians that wouldn’t get elected any other way.  Now it ends up that their method of collection is by force, preventing employment of those unwilling to pay.  If you want to work, you have to be willing to fund whoever they like.  If we really had “free employment”, union membership would be optional and not forced.  Though if that were to ever happen, unions would finally die and their power would be lost.

It is so nice when then New York times actually provides us ammunition to use against gun control. 

Getting a handgun legally in New York is a two-step process. First, applicants must obtain a license, which costs $340, takes about 12 weeks to process, is good for three years and requires a background check by the New York Police Department. In addition, fingerprinting costs about $100.

Those who pass that hurdle then must get a purchase authorization from the police for the particular weapon they intend to buy. One handgun license may list up to 25 weapons (so far, no one has tried to register more than that, officials said), but buyers must wait 90 days between purchases.

So it costs $440 dollars for the ability to ask the New York police department, “Can I purchase this gun?”.  Many, especially in these harder economic times, do not have the disposable income to spend $440 on a weapons permit, especially given the cost of living in New York.

Continuing on through the article they provide a nice list of prominent names that have weapons permits.  Of the entire population of New York City, only 4,000 have permits that allow them to carry a concealed weapon.  That’s 0.0477% of the population of New York.

Compare that to Washington State, where in 2007 there were 258,000 permits, coming to a ratio of 3.9%.

The government can discriminate against who it issues permits to, and lower class individuals are prevented from owning firearms due to the high costs of licensing. 

This also completely disregards the fact that New York released the names of permit holders to the public. While they may have withheld street address, it still provides a shopping list for criminals.

Sen. Harry Reid of Nevada called Tuesday for the state’s brothel industry to be outlawed, saying Nevada’s connection with prostitution harmed its image and could damage its ability to bring in investment.

He’s taking one of the best parts about Nevada and trying to destroy it.  Of course he does this just after getting reelected for another six years.  He’s probably hoping that the serfs voters will forget by the time he’s up for reelection. 

It’s yet another example of the government sticking it’s head where it doesn’t freaking belong.  The thought of a business owner refusing to locate a business there because something is legal bugs the hell out of me.  What would you call someone who refused to open a business in an area because they allowed gay marriage.  Who cares, you aren’t being forced to use the brothel, but you have no business telling others how to live their lives.

This is by no means the first time a horrible idea like this has come up, but this is just unbelievable. 

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has issued a letter instructing state police to release the names of authorized gun owners in Illinois to the press, the Associated Press is reporting.

Why would anyone think this is a good idea?  Whose business is it who owns a firearm.  All this serves to do is provide a shopping list for criminals.  They know which houses are armed and which houses are not.  They know which houses to wait until the owner leaves which will have another weapon for them, and which houses are unarmed to invade after stealing the weapon.  It’s a shopping list for criminals.    Not only that though, it provides a starting place for bigots to find and harass gun owners.

So the WSU Daily Evergreen ran a horrible opinion piece today regarding carrying concealed weapons on campus.  The piece was so full of inaccuracies, it just couldn’t be ignored, especially since many will take it as fact.

She starts by listing off Texas and Arizona which are currently looking at legalizing concealed carry on campus as Utah has done.  She then follows this up with this baffling quote of contradiction. 

I believe people should exercise their right to bear arms. Though I believe the right to bear arms should not be negated under any circumstance and strongly agree with the National Rifle Association slogan which states, “Guns don’t kill people; people kill people,” I have to question the expected benefits that come from passing these laws. Texas and Arizona are known for their gun friendly customs, but most students and faculty do not want this legislation passed. If the state’s efforts are to create a safer environment for the campus, they should pay more attention to the desires of the student body.

There is a common theme throughout that entire comment, feelings.  There are no facts presented, she attempts to justify the position by how most students and faculty feel.  Her arguments then continue on to what is called projection.  She uses many of the classic examples that we often hear the VPC or Brady Campaign use.

• The problem is actually quite rare and carrying is unnecessary.

Most people have a fire extinguisher in their kitchen, not because there is a high likelihood of fire, but because it’s a tool that can stop the problem before it becomes severe.  People have disaster preparedness kits in their garages for rare and statistically unlikely events.  Many have training in CPR and First Aid, I also am a Certified Rescue Diver, not because I expect to use any of them, but they are tools and training to help in an emergency.

Firearms are tools, they are carried not in the hope that something will occur, but to be used in the event of the unexpected.  Hope is not a plan, and wait is not a verb.  People who can defend themselves as well as others are disarmed and forced to be victims by the ban of weapons on campus.

People carry all the time, more than you probably even realize.  How is there a magical line that makes the campus any more safe than any other place?  Also, firearms are not used only in the incident of a mass shooting, but are used in other forms of self-defense against violent crime.

• Police won’t be able to differentiate between the good guys and bad guys.

This is a classic argument used by gun grabbers.  It has been proven false numerous times, including at Appalachian School of Law,  New Life Church Shootings, and even in Tucson a carrier not only wasn’t shot, but didn’t shoot the person who disarmed the shooter.  Searching through Google, I was not able to find any news article, or standard post indicating this has ever actually happened.  All I was able to find was stuff from the VPC and Brady Campaign spreading their lies.

• Someone else may obtain the weapon and use it.

Not everyone attending the university lives in the dorms or in Greek housing.  Why should they be punished and prevented from defending themselves because others do?  That aside, there are methods that can easily be employed to secure a weapon, even in dorms or Greek houses. 

• Carriers could go and get drunk while carrying.

This shows a complete ignorance of the law.  It is illegal to be drunk and carry.  Not only is it illegal, but it can result in your permit being suspended, weapon confiscated, and a mess of legal bills.  This whole assumption centers around projection.  The author sees herself doing it and assumes that everyone else would.  The bigger problem with that though is permit holders are some of the most law abiding people in the country.

These points also ignore the fact that 26 different colleges in three states have legalized carry on their campuses for permit holders and none of these points has been a problem. 

At the end, she closes that the school should fund alternative methods of security.  This action is nothing more than a security theater.  The fact is you are responsible for your own safety and security.  No matter how much money you throw at the problem, you will not be able to solve it by alternative methods.  Preventing people from effectively defending themselves serves no other purpose than to ensure that they are nothing more than defenseless victims should the unlikely actually happen.  This whole argument is about being prepared for the unexpected.  Just because it is unexpected doesn’t mean it can’t happen here.