ScribbleLive

@Nancy SCRAM Scram is usually cited as being an acronym for safety control rod axe man, however the term is probably a backronym. The actual axe man at the first chain-reaction was Norman Hilberry. In a letter to Dr. Raymond Murray (January 21, 1981), Hilberry wrote:

When I showed up on the balcony on that December 2, 1942 afternoon, I was ushered to the balcony rail, handed a well sharpened fireman's ax and told, "if the safety rods fail to operate, cut that manila rope." The safety rods, needless to say, worked, the rope was not cut... I don't believe I have ever felt quite as foolish as I did then. ...I did not get the SCRAM [Safety Control Rod Axe Man] story until many years after the fact. Then one day one of my fellows who had been on Zinn's construction crew called me Mr. Scram. I asked him, "How come?" And then the story.

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission verifies that this etymology of SCRAM is the correct one in their glossary, stating:

Also known as a “reactor trip,” “scram” is actually an acronym for “safety control rod axe man,” the worker assigned to insert the emergency rod on the first reactor (the Chicago Pile) in the United States.[4]

@you Hard to believe, but the axe was the last line of defense

@UKVal Yes, we have issues with sewage and water drainage. Every year, regardless of the season, when heavy rain coincides with very high tides, there's a flood somewhere in the lower coastal areas. A few years ago, the pub where I had been playing the night before flooded knee high and my guitar amp went scuba diving. The year after, must have been 2008 or 2009, we had another flood at the same place right after my gig and we had just enough time to pile our gear up on the upper level of the stage (where the drum kit sits). I still retain a photographic memory of a bottle of Jack Daniels floating around. One of my friends grabbed it and we had a few shots to celebrate our quick response. It was like watching a miniature tsunami: one moment there was no water, a few seconds later it was up to the knees. We were lucky enough to have anticipated the event (from the previous year's experience). Multiplying that by 20 or 30 times gives a very scary impression of what a real tsunami would be like.

@dean sent email Going BB for bit

.. but I didn't know the real origin was so bizarre...

@deb - thanks. Have you the moment when the camera pic went pink, probably around 1906 JST? (Reported by bojack54)

@Nancy I think that was wise - noone who didn't know it would bleieve the derivation!

Trying to catch up, any new flashes/glowing/smoking, etc.?

@deb @nervous - so my rash prediction for today is that as we haven't had any strange flashes etc on camera tonight there won't be a 'big smoke/steam' event, just the usual gentle simmer. No, I won't be putting any money on it!

@hudebnik Interesting, and i hope you're right :)

another facebook group tracking info about Fukushima I talked to the group owner this morning. Posting in case anyone is interested in joining. www.facebook.com

@NervousinNJ - it's right not to prolong the discussion as this isn't the right place, but felt I had to let you know

@LM and @UKVal Thank you :)

Wouldn't this create damage to fuel thus negating the 'pristine' pics on video ofSFP 4? reference below

Kan denies he pulled plug on seawater search.japantimes.co.jp

People said early on that their water storage system is insufficient and couldn't process water back out as fast as it is produced. They will be out of storage in 3 days. So what happens when things start filling up further? Doesn't this mean draining buildings to put a recirculating pump into the suppression chamber is not going to happen? www3.nhk.or.jp

New Fairewinds video. www.fairewinds.com

@Nancy Well, they have the superfloat. What you wanna bet they have a way of dumping superfloat directly in the ocean in an "emergency" Sorry for being so cynical first thing in the morning.