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Wednesday, April 4, 2012

When The World Goes To War

A war is possibly the last thing anybody would want to live to experience. The world has already been a witness to several wars. As students, we have studied different wars and how the people during those times have lived. War times are definitely not good times.

Recently, different parts in the world have gone to war. We see different war footages on television and notice how the number of casualties exponentially rises up. Although almost everybody realize that there are no victors in wars, we can’t seem to totally eliminate the prospect of having to go to war.

Somebody famous once said, if we want peace, we have to prepare for war. But as mere civilians, we don’t have that much power to largely make a difference during war times. The most we could probably do is to prepare ourselves, if in case war breaks out suddenly.

Just like in preparing for natural calamities, we need to stock as much food and water as possible. Equally important are pieces of cloth that we could use to cover our mouth and nose, and sunglasses for our eyes as protection against dust particles brought about by bombings and the like.

On a larger scale, the government planning to involve in a war should have prepared emergency underground facilities. These facilities would contain grain silos and medical stockpiles. Civilians and injured soldiers are usually housed in one of these underground facilities.

Large cities in the United States have several underground centers that they could use during war emergency situations. Examples of these are the underground facilities near major railroads.

Aside from gun and ammo, the government should also equip themselves with machineries such as truck transportable bridges, mobile refineries, mobile decontamination services, and water purification systems. Other amenities such as petroleum supply are especially reserved for times of war.

Of course, the government will have to organize effective cooperation between its different civil services. The police, healthcare service, fire service and other public utility providers are expected to work together to ensure that civilians get as much protection as possible. Sometimes, able bodies might be requested to undergo special training programs to help protect the rest of the civilians.

War is such a large scale event that as individuals and small communities, we could only do so much. Most of the preparations involved are left to the national government and international security institutions. As citizens, we will be left with no choice but to follow where the government leads us in times of war. Collective effort is very important for survival.

Probably the most effective way of preparing for war is to disseminate information effectively and rapidly. Information on self-protection should be disseminated to the public. Concerned international authorities will alof high technology, which greatly affects how the world goes to war, preparing for war is getting more and more complicated. We already have nuclear, chemical and biological weapons which can wipe out a continent within a few minutes. High walled palaces made of stone which used to protect early civilizations from war are not enough anymore with the severity of the damage which these weapons can cause.

because so be able to benefit from information sharing. A large pool of information resources will be helpful for both parties, and would allow them to hopefully come into an agreement even before war could eventually break out.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Leatherman Multi-Tools Get The Best Reviews

Leatherman and beltholder, photo taken in SwedenImage via Wikipedia

Leatherman multi-tools get the best reviews

Multi-tools combine pliers or scissors with at least one knife blade and a few other useful tools such as screwdrivers -- and fold up compactly between uses. A full screwdriver or pair of pliers will always be easier to use, but a multi-tool give you a way to carry lots of functionality in a small package for quick everyday tasks.
Although it's tempting to look for a multi-tool with everything, reviewers warn about two drawbacks. The more tools inserted into a handle, the harder it can be to get out the one you really want. The second issue is that the more tools you load onto a multi-tool, the heavier it becomes. A multi-tool that weighs half a pound is fine for a glove compartment, but not much fun to carry around all of the time.

Smallest, lightest multi-tools

What To Look For
  • Consider which tools you use most.
  • Look for blades and tools that lock open.
  • How easy is it to access each tool?
Read More
For carrying with you all the time, in pocket or on a keychain, Leatherman multi-tools get mostly positive reviews (Leatherman is certainly the best-known brand). We saw more positive feedback about the Leatherman Micra (*Est. $20) than about any other multi-tool. The tiny Micra includes scissors, tweezers, a nail file and a small blade -- plus three screwdrivers (including a tiny one for eyeglasses). The scissors are the main tool you get when you unfold the Leatherman Micra, and in general, Leatherman scissors earn high marks for sharp cutting.
Owners also like the fact that the tweezers on the Micra are built in, so they can't get lost. You do have to unfold the Micra to get to the knife blade or other tools. Then when you fold the handles again, you have a very smooth, secure handle. Larger Leatherman keychain multi-tools let you open the knife blade (and lock it into place) without unfolding the handles.
If miniature pliers are more important to you than scissors, the Leatherman Squirt PS4 (*Est. $25) unfolds to show pliers where the Micra has scissors. A tiny pair of scissors unfolds from the Squirt's handle, but there are no tweezers. For wiring repairs, the Squirt ES4 (*Est. $25) has more appropriate tools. At Amazon.com, about 85 percent of the owners say they're very satisfied with a Leatherman Squirt; complaints center on the scissors and some trouble getting the bottle opener out, though we also saw some reports that say that the scissors work very well.
These keychain multi-tools have one short knife blade, 1.6 inches long, and are light, less than 2 ounces total. The two Squirt multi-tools come in red, black and blue; the Micra adds green, gray and stainless steel for a total of six color choices. Like all Leatherman multi-tools, they carry a 25-year warranty.
If powerful scissors, a toothpick and a sheath are more important to you than a Phillips screwdriver, the SOG Crosscut CC51 (*Est. $15) keychain multi-tool provides all three. The scissors have compound leverage, and that has positives and negatives compared to the Micra. Owners comparing the two at the Multitool.org forum note that the Crosscut multi-tool makes short work of opening plastic clamshell packaging, but that paper can get hung up on the compound gears. Both tools are about the same weight and length, but reviews note that the Crosscut is thicker. Overall, feedback indicates that the Micra is a more useful all-around tool.

More tools equal a larger size

Stepping up in size, we also found some good comments for the Leatherman Skeletool (*Est. $45) and the Skeletool CX (*Est. $65), which has a carbon fiber handle. These multi-tools weigh about five ounces each, with knife blades that are about 2.6 inches. The main compromise compared to heavier multi-tools is in the strength of the pliers, which are thin to save weight. We found complaints about pliers breaking under very little stress. Still, reviews praise both Skeletool models for their nicely contoured, comfortable shape plus the easy access to all the tools -- no nail-breaking attempts to pull out a tool wedged into a handle. The knife opens one-handed, and the carabiner doubles as a bottle opener.
The main difference between the two Skeletool multi-tools is the stainless steel used for the knife blade. The Skeletool CX has a plain blade that's easier to sharpen than the partially serrated blade on the regular Skeletool. Also, the blade on the CX is made of 154CM stainless steel, which reports say holds an edge better than the 420HC steel used in the regular Skeletool.
The Skeletool multi-tools also have a universal bit holder in the end of one handle. This is a mixed blessing: it's easily accessible and you can use any standard bit -- but it's possible for a bit to fall out if the bit driver spring isn't just right. We found quite a few complaints about faulty bit holders, a nuisance even though such a defective tool would be replaced by Leatherman under warranty. Owners also report that the contoured handle makes using the screwdriver a bit awkward.
If utility and versatility are more important than portability, the Leatherman Charge TTi (*Est. $90) has four blades that are accessible without unfolding the pliers: a regular knife, serrated knife, saw and file. All the tools built into this model lock into place, and the total weight for 19 tools is 8.2 ounces -- heavy enough that the Charge TTi multi-tool is most appropriate for a glove compartment, tool box, desk drawer or tool belt. The Charge TTi comes with a removable belt clip as well as a sheath that has extra pockets to hold more screwdriver bits or a mini-flashlight.
Unlike the Skeletool discussed above, the Charge TTi folds the universal bit holder into the handle, so the bit can't fall out. The Charge TTi comes with eight driver bits, including a Torx bit, and you can also buy extra bits. The blade is 2.9 inches long and is made of S30V stainless steel.
The Swiss Tool Spirit (*Est. $85) might also be worth considering, and it earns kudos for tools that are easy to open -- all from the outside when folded -- and lock into place. The main negatives in user reviews surround the knife -- it takes two hands to open and is mostly serrated, with a blunt end like a butter knife. Also, some reviewers lament the lack of ruler. A kit of extra driver bits is available, but they mount on a completely separate little tool, not the Spirit multi-tool itself.

Expert & User Review Sources

We found the comparison review of multi-tools at Popular Mechanics helpful because it covers three major brands, even though tests here cover only five of the many multi-tools on the market. The nonprofit Multi-Tool Museum site also provides a good comparison review, and we also found some useful comparisons atCrunchgear.comHandymanClub.com, and MultitoolGuide.com. We found expert single-product tests at Wired,Backpacker and Outside magazine magazines. Amazon.com publishes the most owner-written reviews of multi-tools, but reviews at REI.comBackcountry.comKnifeCenter.com and Walmart.com are also helpful.YouTube.com provides loads of video demonstrations and reviews of multi-tools -- helpful once you've narrowed your choice to two or three models. 
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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Fwd: Afren prepares Africa drilling spree



-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Afren prepares Africa drilling spree
Date: Tue, 9 Aug 2011 14:12:24 -0500 (CDT)
From: Offshore <news@os-media.com>
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To: nbrauchitsch@yahoo.com


Offshore West Africa Report
Offshore West Africa Newsletter |View online| August 9, 2011|Forward to a Friend
Offshore West Africa Report | August 9, 2011

Drilling & Development
Afren prepares Africa drilling spree
Pan-African independent Afren plans to participate in wells in wide-ranging basins offshore West and East Africa.
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Rialto seeking entry into offshore Ghana concession
Rialto Energy is seeking to farm into the Accra block offshore Ghana.
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Dominion bags further block offshore Kenya in Lamu basin
Kenya’s government has awarded block L15 in the offshore Lamu basin offshore Kenya to Dominion Petroleum.
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Discoveries & Well Results
Ophir terminates Kora deepwater well
Ophir Energy has completed drilling the Kora-1 exploration well in the AGC Profond PSC offshore Senegal/Guinea-Bissau.
Full Article
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Kosmos hits targets in Ghana well
Kosmos Energy has issued an update on its Makore-1 exploration well on the West Cape Three Points Block offshore Ghana.
Full Article
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More natural gas discovered by Eni offshore Ghana
Eni has discovered gas and condensate in the OCTP block, 50 km (31 mi) offshore Ghana, West Africa.
Full Article
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Production
Xikomba oil field offshore Angola depleted says ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil Corp. says it is stopping production at Xikomba oilfield offshore Angola.
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Olowi midwater arch repaired, production resumes offshore Gabon
Canadian Natural Resources has reinstated production at the Olowi field offshore Gabon.
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Libya closures impact Eni natural gas, liquids production
Events in Libya hit Eni’s second-quarter liquids and gas production figures.
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Rigs & Vessels
Songa Eclipse gets first award
The newbuild semisubmersible drilling rig Songa Eclipse has a letter of award to drill offshore West Africa, says Songa Offshore SE.
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Equatorial Guinea FPSO nears completion
Keppel Shipyard is on schedule to complete conversion of the FPSO Aseng, which has been chartered by Noble Energy.
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Gulmar Condor heads for West Africa
Gulmar Offshore Ltd. says its Gulmar Condor DP-2 construction vessel is on its way from the Gulf of Mexico to Port Gentil, Gabon.
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Equipment & Engineering
BP tests capping stack off Angola
BP has successfully tested a deepwater well emergency capping stack offshore Angola.
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Saipem to lay Niger Delta gas line
Shell Petroleum Development has contracted Saipem to install the Otumara-Saghara-Escravos gas pipeline in Nigeria.
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Sea Trucks to support Usan hook-up
Hyundai Heavy Industries has contracted Sea Trucks Group to support the Total-operated Usan development off Nigeria.
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October 11-13, 2011
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