Re:US passes emergency waiver over fuel pipeline cyber-attack
by d110af5ccf on Tuesday May 11, 2021 @12:58AM
(#27114371)
It's a good point but that's a particularly bad analogy. Brewing and distilling are strongly culturally ingrained, at least in the west. I live in a state where (last I checked) no legal method exists to distill ethanol for personal use. Nonetheless, a surprising number of acquaintances over the years have had stills and offered me samples.
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Re:US passes emergency waiver over fuel pipeline cyber-attack
by jacksonkmarley on Tuesday May 11, 2021 @05:59AM
(#27116184)
Do you think your local circumstances are broadly generalisable? I would be surprised.
Re:US passes emergency waiver over fuel pipeline cyber-attack
by d110af5ccf on Wednesday May 12, 2021 @05:59AM
(#27128551)
In the US, honestly, yes. I've had the same experience in two different states at this point and friends who relocated from other places have reported similar. I mean, you can literally order a small still that you use on your stove top from Amazon!
I think it just depends on the sort of people you choose to spend time with.
Re:US passes emergency waiver over fuel pipeline cyber-attack
by jacksonkmarley on Wednesday May 12, 2021 @11:01AM
(#27131145)
Well mark me down as dubious but not invested enough to research it. However, I do wonder if you/they test or filter for poisonous impurities like methanol? Seems like a bit of a risk?
Re:US passes emergency waiver over fuel pipeline cyber-attack
by d110af5ccf on Wednesday May 12, 2021 @06:01PM
(#27135681)
Testing and filtering is accomplished by the distillation itself. A very basic understanding of what comes out when is more than enough for a simple pot still and only one or two passes. Humans have been doing that since long before the concept of a molecule even existed.
If you decide to mess around with a large fractionating column though, do read up and make sure you have a full conceptual understanding of how the chemistry works. Even seemingly benign chemicals can be extremely dangerous to ingest or handle once concentrated. (For example, vinegar. Dilute acetic acid makes for a good salad dressing. Above 90%, contact will leave you with severe burns and scarring.)