Posts by Conscious and verbal

Fusion reactor safe?!!!!

Saying a fusion reactor would be safe ... doesn't make it safe.

See https://thebulletin.org/2017/04/fusion-reactors-not-what-theyre-cracked-up-to-be/

The saving grace for fusion reactors is that they are unlikely to ever exist, happily obviating all safety concerns.

IMO, the main reason governments fund fusion research (with paltry budgets) is to keep their nuclear genii busy and satisfied at home. This to forestall them being lured to go work in Pakistan or Russia on their nuclear projects, ones that are actually practical and nothing to do with cutting carbon.

A secondary reason is to keep punters and the Readers Digest set lulled into a sense of security about the future. Like my uncle who smoked all his life, saying "By the time I get cancer, they'll have found a cure for it" .

Funnelwebs and cats

In the sixties our pet cats used to play with funnelwebs they caught from the ground nest out front, then bring them inside, then forget about them and go eat dinner.

It was my job to kill the funnelwebs, I remember one with a big rip in its back from its play session.

Point is, cats are immune to funnelweb venom as well as quick with their paws.

Funnelwebs also wandered in of their own accord. We were never bitten, +1 to whoever pointed out that most Australian wildlife has no interest in humans

My cousin and I eventually located the funnelweb nest, poured petrol down it (leaded) and lit it. Out came a number of large black flaming funnelwebs.

I haven't seen another funnelweb on that property in 56 years.

Healthy people should wear masks to make it less likely they will touch their face.

The idea is to wear a mask to keep your fingers away from your face. Assume your hands are filthy with the virus after any bus or train trip, after pumping gas (petrol) or using a public restroom (toilet)

Wash your hands often, I will, but only a mask will protect you from your own hands