You’re right. I actually knew of a Mother Earth News as well, but I figured that, given the topic at hand, Rob probably intended to refer to Mother Jones, which is more political in a classical sense of the word. I may be wrong about Rob’s intentions, though.

Mother Jones is great, by the way. I wouldn’t recommend to those on the right side of the political spectrum, though (unless they’re interested in what the other side has to say).

...I actually knew of a Mother Earth News as well, but I figured that, given the topic at hand, Rob probably intended to refer to Mother Jones, which is more political in a classical sense of the word. I may be wrong about Rob’s intentions, though.

Heh. I read both.  But, yes, i meant the Jones, not the

Earth

in this case.

On a somewhat related note in today’s Times:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2391574,00.html

Siezures of smuggled radioactive material capable of making a terrorist “dirty bomb” have doubled in the past four years, according to official figures seen by The Times.
...
The disclosures come as al-Qaeda is known to be intensfiying its efforts to obtain a radoactive device. Last year, Western security services, including MI5 and MI6, thwarted 16 attempts to smuggle plutonium or uranium. On two occasions small quantities of highly enriched uranium were reported missing. All were feared to have been destined for terror groups.

It’s coming.

It’s coming.

Yes, I believe it is. And people are not mentally prepared for it.  When it happens it is really going to bring out the stupid in everyone, just like 9/11 did though maybe more so.

There is a perception that somehow a dirty bomb requires a vast conspiratorial network, smuggling, a team of experts.  Not so. 

I know quite a few ways to make things go boom - I could write pretty detailed descriptions including theory and practice all from memory.  And, I can think of five places right here in town to get adequate quantities of extremely nasty radiological material that is relatively unguarded.  None of this knowledge is esoteric though I have always refrained from writing about it in detail because I wouldn’t ever want to read “the perpetrators were inspired by a Decrepit Old Fool”.  Let them get their ideas somewhere else.

My qualifications?  I am a decent mechanic, a middlin’ machinist, have some knowledge of chemistry and rather more of physics and electronics.  I am a bit more creative than the average bloke though hardly extraordinary.  And that is the frightening part, because it is logical to assume I have counterparts among people who wish to harm others.