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VK3API > FUEL 15.01.08 04:03l 50 Lines 1995 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : BB0378VK3API
Read: GUEST
Subj: Re:Doubt peak oil.
Path: DB0FHN<DB0MRW<OK0PPL<DB0RES<ON0AR<HS1LMV<CX2SA<VK4TRS<VK3API
Sent: 080115/0259Z @:VK3API.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC #:4174 [Lilydale] FBB7.00g
From: VK3API@VK3API.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC
To : FUEL@WW
Hi Bob and others,
No argument from me anywhere here. It always seems that wherever there is
a sharp edge or an excess of stored energy, some idiot will find a way to
kill themselves, regulations not withstanding.
It is fairly true I guess that no matter what the regulations, the "human"
factor will enter into it and cause mayhem.
There was an article recently in New Scientist discussing the practicality
of generating power in space and "beaming" it back to the earth. This has
been on the books since the 1940's but has always been to expensive in the
face of cheap oil.
Now however the costs are almost acceptable. What sort of concerns me
with all the Giga watts being sent to earth is when the human factor steps
in and the beam is focussed by accident in my back yard.
There is a (true) story of a British war ship back in the mid 70's I think
which accidentally shelled the town of White Regis in the UK. It turned
out that the switch controlling the radar directed guns had been wired up
during maintenance with two wires swapped. This meant that the guns were
facing 180 degrees from where the officers in the internal control room
thought they were facing, they couldn't actually see anything outside the
ship. Several shots into the shoot someone woke up that the shells were in
fact landing in the town of White Regis and not on the target out at sea.
** See footnote
So my point is no matter how all encompassing the regulations, there is
still a fair chance that they will be ignored, either on purpose or
accidentally and something will go boom
Regards Tony VK3API
**
The town name may be incorrect or spelt incorrectly. The source of this
story was from a seaman that was actually on the ship and with whom I
worked for some years.
73 - Tony, VK3API @ VK3FBD.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC
Message timed: 10:57 on 2008-Jan-15
This message originated in Lilydale Melbourne Victoria Australia
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