Avatar photoHasaka Spinning Factory

Reporters are calling around town inquiring about this site, which is located at 36°30’33.99″N, 40°46’34.75″E near the town of Al Hasaka in Syria (sometimes transliterated as Hasakah or Hasekeh).  The facility is said to be of some interest to the IAEA.  (Like my use of the ambiguous passive voice?) There will, undoubtedly be a story …

Avatar photoApogees of Dream-Catching

Before wars exhaust America’s patience and treasury, they can generate even more far-reaching aspirations. Higher purposes vary. During the Spanish-American War, President William McKinley felt obliged to set his sights beyond Cuba in order to uplift, civilize, and Christianize Filipinos. World War I was supposed to be the war to end all wars. When World …

Avatar photoMore on Iran at the GC

The other day, I posted a picture of an Iranian give-away at the IAEA General Conference — a laser-pointer shaped like a centrifuge. Another reader, who also must remain anonymous, sent along this image of the booth. Gosh, that’s a heck of an IR-1 model. You don’t see URENCO with those sorts of displays.  Just …

Avatar photoIranian Giveaway at the GC

Readers know that I yield to no one in my love of atomic schwag.  A colleague, who sadly must remain anonymous, snapped this picture of a giveaway from the IAEA General Conference held last month. Yes, the Islamic Republic of Iran distributed laser pointers in the shape of a  centrifuge — sort of stubby for …