I’ve been a little reluctant to write about the preparations for the Taepodong 2 launch. The press—especially the Japanese press—is filled with a huge amount of disinformation that really complicates things. Japanese news sources reported that North Korean television told North Koreans to “raise the national flag” and watch television for a “message to the …
Atomic Schwag
by | 2006-06-18 | 15 Comments
Friends know that I love shopping for used books. A few of my friends share my obsession, notably physicist Götz Neuneck (and, yes, that is a heavy metal umlaut). By far, my greatest used book pick up was a 1962 copy of Glasstone and Dolan, Effects of Nuclear Weapons complete with nuclear weapons effect computer …
Greetings from Sedona
by | 2006-06-17 | 4 Comments
I am in Sedona, Arizona through Wednesday, as a guest of the Stanley Foundation. As you can see from the picture of my Casita snuggled against the mountains, Sedona is cold and overcast. Sometimes, it is so tough to be a wonk.
Survival Secrets for Atomic Attacks
by | 2006-06-14 | 9 Comments
Michael Katz Hyman sends along this brilliantly funny manual, NSRB DOC. 130 Survival Under Atomic Attack (1950). Remember kids, “Beyond 2 miles, the explosion will cause practically no deaths at all.” The atomic age inspired all sorts of “you can survive” silliness, including this story from Friend of Wonk Stephen Schwartz: My favorite story concerns …
