On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:06:21 -0300, "Don White"
wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:00:56 GMT, "CalifBill"
wrote:


Plutonium is safe to pick up with gloves. Low energy particles, just the
low energy particles come off a substance with a 1/2 life of 25,000 years.
Most likely a plutonium particle will not pass through a sheet of paper.
Still a bad thing to throw it overboard. We might get Godzilla.

Thanks for that info. I always held that "pick-up-the plutonium" task
against the Navy. Now we're cool.

--Vic

You're taking Kalif Bill's word for that?
I'd get a second opinion.

Relax. I follow the "trust but verify" rule.
And Bill is right.

--Vic

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 16:06:21 -0300, "Don White"
wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
. ..
On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 18:00:56 GMT, "CalifBill"
wrote:


Plutonium is safe to pick up with gloves. Low energy particles, just
the
low energy particles come off a substance with a 1/2 life of 25,000
years.
Most likely a plutonium particle will not pass through a sheet of paper.
Still a bad thing to throw it overboard. We might get Godzilla.

Thanks for that info. I always held that "pick-up-the plutonium" task
against the Navy. Now we're cool.

--Vic

You're taking Kalif Bill's word for that?
I'd get a second opinion.

Relax. I follow the "trust but verify" rule.
And Bill is right.

--Vic


I understand that just a few atoms of plutonium in the lungs can produce
cancer in a relatively short time. I wonder why anyone would handle a piece
of the stuff at all, unless it was somehow contained, wrapped, etc.

On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:24:20 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:


I understand that just a few atoms of plutonium in the lungs can produce
cancer in a relatively short time. I wonder why anyone would handle a piece
of the stuff at all, unless it was somehow contained, wrapped, etc.

After reading what Bill said, I googled it and found that in warhead
form (solid, metallic-like) it is pretty harmless if not ingested or
inhaled. As I recall correctly my bucket was to contain a couple
quarts of lube oil into which the plutonium would be dropped.
The gloves were heavy rubber.
But the DC officer never mentioned that the stuff wouldn't kill
me, and whenever I thought back on the scenario and recall
the chalk marks representing plutonium on the deck near the ASROC, I
figured that was about the lamest - and last - thing I would have
done. The Navy isn't exactly death-averse.
But Bill said otherwise, and is right.

--Vic

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:24:20 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:


I understand that just a few atoms of plutonium in the lungs can produce
cancer in a relatively short time. I wonder why anyone would handle a
piece
of the stuff at all, unless it was somehow contained, wrapped, etc.

After reading what Bill said, I googled it and found that in warhead
form (solid, metallic-like) it is pretty harmless if not ingested or
inhaled. As I recall correctly my bucket was to contain a couple
quarts of lube oil into which the plutonium would be dropped.
The gloves were heavy rubber.
But the DC officer never mentioned that the stuff wouldn't kill
me, and whenever I thought back on the scenario and recall
the chalk marks representing plutonium on the deck near the ASROC, I
figured that was about the lamest - and last - thing I would have
done. The Navy isn't exactly death-averse.
But Bill said otherwise, and is right.

--Vic

ASROC? Automatic suspendible reptile oxidizing container?

On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:39:16 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:24:20 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:


I understand that just a few atoms of plutonium in the lungs can produce
cancer in a relatively short time. I wonder why anyone would handle a
piece
of the stuff at all, unless it was somehow contained, wrapped, etc.

After reading what Bill said, I googled it and found that in warhead
form (solid, metallic-like) it is pretty harmless if not ingested or
inhaled. As I recall correctly my bucket was to contain a couple
quarts of lube oil into which the plutonium would be dropped.
The gloves were heavy rubber.
But the DC officer never mentioned that the stuff wouldn't kill
me, and whenever I thought back on the scenario and recall
the chalk marks representing plutonium on the deck near the ASROC, I
figured that was about the lamest - and last - thing I would have
done. The Navy isn't exactly death-averse.
But Bill said otherwise, and is right.

--Vic

ASROC? Automatic suspendible reptile oxidizing container?

Yep. The nuke version.

--Vic

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:39:16 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
. ..
On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:24:20 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:


I understand that just a few atoms of plutonium in the lungs can produce
cancer in a relatively short time. I wonder why anyone would handle a
piece
of the stuff at all, unless it was somehow contained, wrapped, etc.

After reading what Bill said, I googled it and found that in warhead
form (solid, metallic-like) it is pretty harmless if not ingested or
inhaled. As I recall correctly my bucket was to contain a couple
quarts of lube oil into which the plutonium would be dropped.
The gloves were heavy rubber.
But the DC officer never mentioned that the stuff wouldn't kill
me, and whenever I thought back on the scenario and recall
the chalk marks representing plutonium on the deck near the ASROC, I
figured that was about the lamest - and last - thing I would have
done. The Navy isn't exactly death-averse.
But Bill said otherwise, and is right.

--Vic

ASROC? Automatic suspendible reptile oxidizing container?

Yep. The nuke version.

--Vic

I know these things. You can't fool me.

On Thu, 21 Jun 2007 19:44:50 GMT, "JoeSpareBedroom"
wrote:



I know these things. You can't fool me.

Damn straight. Wouldn't think of even trying.

--Vic