From the 'Nuclear reactor under every hood!' department...

[N8YX]

Remember when this country was younger...and fearless?

Remember when we had to "...keep the Russian bear in the squeeze..."? And pollution, greenhouse gases and excessive neutron bombardment were the further things from our collective mind?

I present to you the SLAM...the ultimate NIMBY vehicle:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supersonic_Low_Altitude_Missile

http://www.merkle.com/pluto/pluto.html

http://www.merkle.com/pluto/fig3a.jpg


Interestingly enough, a 1958 movie - "The Lost Missile" - showcased just such a construct...albeit alien in origin. The premise - and side effects - were eerily familiar.

Cooler heads (along with ICBMs) prevailed and this contraption never made it off the launch pad.

[suddenseer]

It seems people have forgotten that the nukes are still here, and MAD is still a reality. I saw a film about this subject. I guess we were seconds away from Armageddon when Boris Yeltsin was the first president of Russia. A simple clerical error almost killed me (I live too close to ground zero Wright Patterson AFB) All of the modern states communicate when a rocket is planned to launch. It seems some one in Russia did not notice that the NASA was launching another satellite via multiple staged rockets that have the same radar signature of an ICBM. The Russians saw what they thought was an ICBM headed their way. Yeltsin was awakened from his vodka induced sleep. He was lead to the Russian situation room. The "football" was opened up, and given to him. He had the launch codes. He stared at the screen with his fingers literally on the keyboard. The military commanders were advising him to hurry up and launch the large retaliatory strike. Yeltsin still waited, something told him to wait. I am glad he did. One of the officers announced that they were monitoring a multi stage rocket carrying a satellite, as per the announcement from NASA. Someone forgot to enter that data. I came fingertip close to being melted by a clerical error. This should not be a reality. Something must be done.

[W3WN]

You guys would bring this thread up, after I've spent the last few months hearing the exultations of Enrico Fermi High and the cooling towers of the Gary F. Powers Nuclear Power Plant.

I agree that there are too many nuclear weapons, and that the odds are that sooner or later, the inevitable accident will happen, and people will die & suffer in the millions because of a stupid clerical error or misunderstanding... or even a blown capacitor in a teletype machine. (If you didn't catch the reference, go back and read Fail Safe.)

But here's the problem... the knowledge to build these isn't going away. Even if you somehow destroyed all the blueprints, all the text books, anything and everything that could possibly be used to reconstruct these nasties... it's inevitable that someone will figure out a way to build another one, simply from the historical knowledge that it was done once, therefore it can be done, therefore it will be done again.

Besides that, you have rogue states run by power-hungry dictators who will build them, just to have... or as nuclear sabers to rattle... or if they're insane enough, to actually think of using...

Yes, something has to be done. But what? Simply passing a law to ban them, destroy the stockpiles, and sit around the campfire singing "Kumbaya" doesn't solve the problem, merely masks it.

[KC2UGV]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14403432

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/130889208.html

http://www.grandchallengestories.org/stories/story/39

It's not nuclear physics or anything to build something to split the atom... In fact, building a reactor is the first step to making weaponized plutonium.

[n2ize]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14403432

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/130889208.html

http://www.grandchallengestories.org/stories/story/39

It's not nuclear physics or anything to build something to split the atom... In fact, building a reactor is the first step to making weaponized plutonium.

Sure it is. You need to have some knowledge of what you are doing and what is more likely to work. However, the difference is that a person does not have to re-invent the wheel. Much of the pioneering groundwork was done decades ago. Google "radioactive boy scout" for the story of a young man who built a crude breeder reactor in his backyard shed that eventually had to be dismantled by HazMat teams.

I have my doubts about those claiming to have built functioning fusion reactors in their garages, basements, etc. I place it on a par with "cold fusion".

[W2NAP]

hell were still using DU ammo on people.

[W3WN]

< snip >I have my doubts about those claiming to have built functioning fusion reactors in their garages, basements, etc. I place it on a par with "cold fusion".You should have a word with Frank Sanns N3XI.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that he used to work for Westinghouse Nuclear, so at least he really does know what he's doing.

[KG4CGC]

I was hoping this was about a nuclear road vehicle. All you have to do is just say the word, "nuclea ..............

[n2ize]

You should have a word with Frank Sanns N3XI.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that he used to work for Westinghouse Nuclear, so at least he really does know what he's doing.

I can't rule it out but I remain skeptical of miniature sustainable fusion (i.e. desktop fusion/home fusion) or cold fusion claims. However many researchers are confident that well controlled, sustainable, fusion at a practical (usable) level will be a future reality. Indeed there is a great deal of research in this area exploring a vast array of methods and variants of such methods. Far more than I have the time to keep track of. It's an interesting area to keep an eye on however and could be a key solution to our energy needs. Unfortunately it will still be a hard sell to the anti-nuke crowd. Once they hear the words "nuclear" or "atom" they put on the kabosh.

[W3WN]

I can't rule it out but I remain skeptical of miniature sustainable fusion (i.e. desktop fusion/home fusion) or cold fusion claims. However many researchers are confident that well controlled, sustainable, fusion at a practical (usable) level will be a future reality. Indeed there is a great deal of research in this area exploring a vast array of methods and variants of such methods. Far more than I have the time to keep track of. It's an interesting area to keep an eye on however and could be a key solution to our energy needs. Unfortunately it will still be a hard sell to the anti-nuke crowd. Once they hear the words "nuclear" or "atom" they put on the kabosh.I understand. That's why you should have a word with Frank.

Unlike many of the experimenters, he actually does know what he's doing.

[n2ize]

I understand. That's why you should have a word with Frank.

Unlike many of the experimenters, he actually does know what he's doing.

Sounds great. Maybe I'll get a chance to talk with him sometime.

[K7SGJ]

Sounds like a blast.

[kb2vxa]

"I was hoping this was about a nuclear road vehicle."
Yeah, powered by Mister Fusion with a couple of horn speakers on the back.

The Lost Missile was the second worst movie I ever saw, close behind Plan 9 From Outer Space. It was accurate in places though, an old fart ham would recognize the tube type repeater, paper tape punch and terminals used for RTTY among other things. Speaking of 9, (no, not 7 of 9) Eros had a good point; "Because all you of Earth are idiots. ... You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!" At that point Jeff Trent punched him out, he didn't say POLITICIANS. General Roberts had another good point; "Thats the end of that one. Atmospheric conditions in outer space often interfere with transmitting."

[WØTKX]

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/65/214358513_6b3ceabd72_z.jpg

[W2NAP]

back to the future!

[N2NH]

How about forward to the Past as in the Omega Bomb in the Planet of the Apes movie?

[N8YX]

How about forward to the Past as in the Omega Bomb in the Planet of the Apes movie?
Good to see you again, John. I had one of those Omega Bomb thingies...a '77, to be precise. With a 305 V-8, it was interesting in the snow.

[W3WN]

back to the future!Forward... Into the Past!

[kb2vxa]

If you were frozen in ice for 500 years would you still want Nintendo Wii?

[N8YX]

If you were frozen in ice for 500 years would you still want Nintendo Wii?

Will Tiger Woods' PGA Tour 2512 be out in time for the thaw? :chin:

[K7SGJ]

If you were frozen in ice for 500 years would you still want Nintendo Wii?


Probably be tickled shitless just to get a blanket.