Heh.

One of the nuke-power pioneers and a genuine guru-level Ph.D. testified in Congress about the safety of nuclear plants.

Ted Kennedy asked an unfriendly question along the lines of "could one sleep safely atop a containment dome?"--to which the eminent scientist replied that it is actually SAFER to sleep on top of one of the domes than to sleep with two women concurrently.

IE., the mass of the two women throws off more radiation than is detected on top of a dome...happens to be a true fact.

My MIL was suffering from cancer at the time I was allowed into a working nuke to take a tour. When we were on the catwalk observing the spent-fuel-rod pool, I mentioned to my tour-guide (and close personal friend, at Ph.D/Health Physics) that 'we could save some $$ on radiation treatments by having MIL swim in the pool with the spent-fuel rods.'

Nope.

The radiation she would get from that swim would not be NEAR the radiation given during a treatment. She'd have to swim to the bottom of the pool and literally HUG one of the rods to get the same dosage.
Dad29 | Homepage | 12.29.05 - 1:29 pm | #

You'll like the fact that background radiation in Denver is higher than the US recommended levels then.

Also later I will have something about how low doses of radiation are good for you ...

It's amazing how much misinformation is general knowledge ... realized after you start reading the facts.
Julie D. | Homepage | 12.29.05 - 1:33 pm | #

Of course nuclear power is safe! Otherwise, they never would have let Jimmy Carter go in and mop up the core at the Two Mile Island Power Plant.

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/78/.../ 78ppepsi.phtml
Towelie | 12.29.05 - 5:22 pm | #

Brilliant!

I am going to use those photos for the next post. :-D
Julie D. | Homepage | 12.29.05 - 8:10 pm | #

Oops, my mistake -- it was Garrett Morris (Violet) that went in and mopped up -- Jimmy just went into the reactor room to inspect it after the "Pepsi Syndrome" began.

(Hey, you gotta give me credit for just remembering a 30-year-old bit from SNL. Remembering it correctly is a bit harder. After all, its not like its the Holy Grail.)
Towelie | 12.29.05 - 10:14 pm | #

But at least that was when Al Franken was actually funny.
Towelie | 12.29.05 - 10:16 pm | #

Ahhh, I remember those days. :-D
Julie D. | Homepage | 12.30.05 - 7:32 am | #

If anyone would like an entertaining way to learn how an American nuclear power plant works, see "Rad Decision" at http://Rad Decision.blogspot.com. Available at no cost to readers, this techno-thriller novel was written by a longtime nuclear plant engineer (me). It covers all the basics (and then some) amid a story of intrigue and betrayal.
James Aach | Homepage | 12.30.05 - 11:57 pm | #

Aha! I will check that out! Thanks!
Julie D. | Homepage | 12.31.05 - 11:43 am | #

I am not too convinced about the Cherynobyl reference. I attended a Russian language school with a session by one of the scientists who conducted studies after the incident. The things I saw on film were more disturbing than what most people see in horror films (because you knew they were real.) Also, nobody outside the facility may have died but the soldiers that had the honor to participate in the cleanup inside were not so lucky. Unless some action has been taken recently, the cement containment domes are full or cracks and holes and nothing good is coming out....
John | 01.04.06 - 7:48 am | #

Just keep reading bro ... I'll be putting more stuff up about it.

I'm sure it was gruesome inside the plant but I wonder if we saw film taken of other industrial accidents that happened on such a large scale if they also would not be equally gruesome.
Julie D. | Homepage | 01.04.06 - 7:58 am | #

This was of victims on the outside. Deformed children and animals.....creepy stuff and shows the power God never intended for us to abuse or let out of control.
John | 01.04.06 - 11:50 am | #