-------------------------------- "A mob is a place where people go to get away from their conscience" Atticus Finch
26 July 2023, 12:49 PM
wtg
quote:
I suggest the following proposition: Oppenheimer never agonized over the use of the atomic bomb on Japan. He made a show of agonizing after his clearances were suspended, but he did so mostly after all the critical decisions on the use of the bomb were made. He strongly supported the decision to use the atomic bomb on Japan.
Interesting. I thought Oppie's clearances were suspended post-WWII *because* of his opposition to the hydrogen bomb and other nuclear weapons. edit: The author of the post says as much later in the piece.
For some additional info, there was a piece in the BBC about Oppenheimer that I posted in this thread.
I just started American Prometheus, which Big Al recommended. A good read so far.
-------------------------------- We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home. - Australian Aboriginal proverb
Bazootiehead-in-training
26 July 2023, 09:00 PM
CHAS
quote:
Originally posted by Mikhailoh: Some more background on the history. Good piece, lots of stuff I was unaware of.
-------------------------------- Several people have eaten my cooking and survived.
10 August 2023, 04:17 PM
Qaanaaq-Liaaq
I haven’t seen the movie yet.
As I remember, a long time ago, some college student once wrote a research paper or book or dissertation or something on how to construct an atomic bomb. It was confiscated by the FBI.
If you liked the movie, see the documentary movie “Trinity & Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie“. I’ve never seen so many nuclear explosions in one movie before. If I remember correctly, there’s a sequence in the movie showing how atomic bombs are made. But the movie glosses over it quickly and superficially. They don’t want you to know too much about them.
I also saw the opera “Doctor Atomic” by composer John Adams. Oppenheimer is one of the principal characters. I think the opera is good but not great.
-------------------------------- We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home. - Australian Aboriginal proverb
Bazootiehead-in-training
12 March 2024, 04:33 PM
markj
Radioactive Toy - Porcupine Tree - 1991
Run through forests on a hot Summer day Trying to break down walls of numbing pain
Give me the freedom to destroy Give me radioactive toy
Taste the water from a stream of running death Eat the apple and cough a dying breath
Give me the freedom to destroy Give me radioactive toy
Feel the sun burning through your black skin Pour me into a hole, inform my next of kin
Give me the freedom to destroy Give me radioactive toy
Run through graveyards on a dusty Winter day Spit the dirt out and try to say
Give me the freedom to destroy Give me radioactive toy
12 March 2024, 06:23 PM
Mikhailoh
We're probably watching tonight. But I prefer Sting's ode... a bit more hopeful, but perhaps even more meaningful today than when it was released.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHylQRVN2Qs
In Europe and America There's a growing feeling of hysteria Conditioned to respond to all the threats In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets Mr. Khrushchev said, "We will bury you" I don't subscribe to this point of view It would be such an ignorant thing to do If the Russians love their children too
How can I save my little boy From Oppenheimer's deadly toy? There is no monopoly of common sense On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology Regardless of ideology Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too
There is no historical precedent To put the words in the mouth of the president There's no such thing as a winnable war It's a lie we don't believe anymore Mr. Reagan says, "We will protect you" I don't subscribe to this point of view Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too
We share the same biology Regardless of ideology What might save us, me and you Is if the Russians love their children too
-------------------------------- "A mob is a place where people go to get away from their conscience" Atticus Finch
13 March 2024, 08:23 AM
markj
Love this song too!
PT's Radioactive Toy is a little more "Floydian"
quote:
Originally posted by Mikhailoh: We're probably watching tonight. But I prefer Sting's ode... a bit more hopeful, but perhaps even more meaningful today than when it was released.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHylQRVN2Qs
In Europe and America There's a growing feeling of hysteria Conditioned to respond to all the threats In the rhetorical speeches of the Soviets Mr. Khrushchev said, "We will bury you" I don't subscribe to this point of view It would be such an ignorant thing to do If the Russians love their children too
How can I save my little boy From Oppenheimer's deadly toy? There is no monopoly of common sense On either side of the political fence
We share the same biology Regardless of ideology Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too
There is no historical precedent To put the words in the mouth of the president There's no such thing as a winnable war It's a lie we don't believe anymore Mr. Reagan says, "We will protect you" I don't subscribe to this point of view Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too
We share the same biology Regardless of ideology What might save us, me and you Is if the Russians love their children too
13 March 2024, 03:00 PM
Mary Anna
I've always loved the Sting song, too.
To research The Physicists' Daughter, I did research that included crawling around the internet looking for information about a small device that was part of a bigger device used to separate fissionable uranium.
A time traveler from 1944 would be astounded to know what's publicly available on the web these days. I'm talking about blueprint-level material pertinent to the Manhattan Project.
Granted, those methods have gone the way of the horse and buggy, and I believe there are calutrons for sale for anybody who'll haul them off, but it was still disconcerting to pull their design documents up on my little computer screen.
-------------------------------- Be calm, be brave, it'll be okay.
17 March 2024, 08:28 AM
Mikhailoh
We watched the movie last night. Truly deserving of best picture in any area you might look at.
-------------------------------- "A mob is a place where people go to get away from their conscience" Atticus Finch
17 March 2024, 10:00 AM
Piano*Dad
quote:
Originally posted by Mikhailoh: We watched the movie last night. Truly deserving of best picture in any area you might look at.
Agreed. Hollywood is capable of taking on a serious topic and treating it with care and respect.
18 March 2024, 04:27 PM
wtg
Just finished watching it. A really well done film.
Was surprised, but pleased, that the only commercials were at the beginning and the film was shown uninterrupted, even though I signed up for the ad-supported tier of Peacock.
-------------------------------- We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home. - Australian Aboriginal proverb