As a tunnel engineer for many years having supervised 32km single and double track railway tunnels using drill and blast method for excavation in hard rock conditions on my last assignment, I would like to weigh in on the obliterated Fordo site.
Yes, I do believe the facilities were obliterated based on what has been reported to date. In a typical tunnel excavation round of say 1 meter advance, a pattern of holes would be drilled at the face of the advancing tunnel. Into the holes would be placed a small amount of explosive. The resulting explosion would bast out 1 meter of rock leaving fractured and sometimes loose rock at the face and perimeter of the round. The loose rock is excavated away and the fractured rock is sometimes bolted in place and covered with steel mesh and a thin layer of concrete to provide the required safety and stability to continue the excavation.
Now imagine what happened at Fordow. The Bunker Buster Bombs released maybe 5000x more energy than a normal excavation round. The surrounding rock at the point of impact would be highly fractured. Imagine the process of excavating through the rubble. One would start at the entrance locations and proceed to the galleries where the enrichment equipment was located. As one got closer to the impact point, more fractured rock would be encountered that would have to be removed for safety and stability reasons. Imagine trying to excavate a tunnel through a mountain of marbles. Not impossible but very, very difficult. And then to deal with the radiation emitting from the damaged reactors, It would be a fool’s mission to even think about, let alone proceed with remedial works. Therefore, I conclude, without firsthand knowledge that Trump’s assessment is correct, the facility is obliterated.
By the way, the contractor was Chinese who performed really well in extremely difficult conditions. We would prefer to work with western based contractors, but it is impossible for them to compete with Chinese prices. Western Construction Companies cannot compete against Chinese companies that are state owned and employ slave labor on the projects. Developing countries face a lot of criticism for employing Chinese firms on large infrastructure projects. However, in many cases they simply do not have the financial resources for the alternative.
As You Like It?
“BREAKING: SCOTUS in 6-3 decision authored by ACB;
“Universal injunctions likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has given to federal courts….” https://instapundit.com/728874/
A number of decisions are due today from the Supreme Court, and it starts off with a 6-3 in the birthright citizenship case (not on the merits of question of birthright) on striking down universal (nationwide) injunctions by district courts. No, says the holding, district courts haven’t got nationwide powers but should stick to their districts (gisting, there).
“Universal injunctions likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has given to federal courts. The Court grants the Government’s applications for a partial stay of the injunctions entered below, but only to the extent that the injunctions are broader than necessary to provide complete relief to each plaintiff with standing to sue.”
Good beginning.
Xylourgos, thanks for the comment. Very interesting.
Neo, thanks for the video. Interesting. I took several Art History classes in Grad School. I try to visit Museums when ever I go to Europe. I truly cannot understand how painters paint.
And the SC ruled, 6-3, that Maryland parents can opt their children out of public school lessons which violate their religious beliefs (the lessons involved homosexuality and transgenderism).
That’s a link to a quick survey of the Vera C. Rubin telescope and its new first images — from Chris Pattison. Very cool instrument.
Fordow didn’t have reactors; it had centrifuges. Not that UF6 (the gas that is separated in the centrifuges) is a pleasant substance, and U235 is somewhat radioactive.
As usual, the 3 lefty women can’t seem to understand the Constitution. Though most lefties are the same way.
sdferr: the Rubin telescope is unique not so much for its record breaking size of the CCD camera, but the fact that it scans the sky so quickly. It really is designed to detect motion and intensity variations….it’s more of a “time” telescope as opposed to more conventional ‘scopes.
I am happy to see the project I work on is part of the RSP (Rubin Science Platform). We were also used in the Event Horizon Telescope (Black hole image) and LIGO (gravity wave) projects. Nice to see all those uses downstream of the software I got involved in 24 years ago.
So very cool, physicsguy; a whole new view of the immediate neighborhood, to say nothing of the new views of the distant!
I love Barrett’s response to Jackson in the birthright case: Barrett sharply rebuked Jackson’s rhetoric as a “startling line of attack” and said she would not dwell on her “extreme” argument, claiming it is at odds with centuries of precedent and the Constitution itself.
“We observe only this: Justice Jackson decries an imperial Executive while embracing an imperial Judiciary,” Barrett wrote. “No one disputes that the Executive has a duty to follow the law. But the Judiciary does not have unbridled authority to enforce this obligation—in fact, sometimes the law prohibits the Judiciary from doing so.”
She continued to suggest that Jackson should “heed her own admonition.”
“‘[E]veryone, from the President on down, is bound by law,’” Barrett wrote, quoting Jackson. “That goes for judges too.”
James Bacon writes, “The making of an intellectual monoculture at UVA”
Jim Ceaser retires, the breadth of intellectual light at UVA grows dimmer. So UVA can forget where it came from.
Ceaser launched the Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy two decades ago. The inspiration was Thomas Jefferson and James Madison’s 1818 “Rockfish Gap Report,” which advocated a curriculum to foster an “enlightened body of citizens for a liberal democracy” that came to be embodied in the University of Virginia.
Few professors at UVA’s political science department have an interest in political theory, much the less foundational theory of the 18th and 19th centuries, Ceaser observes. UVA political scientists today are data-oriented and focused on modern political structures. PCD fills the void. Its flagship courses include the American Political Tradition and American Political Economy. Students are exposed to thinkers ranging from John Locke and Adam Smith to Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton and, later in American history, Abraham Lincoln.
Were it not for the Program for Constitutionalism and Democracy, Ceaser says, “these courses would not be taught.”
POTUS: “In a few short months, we’ve now achieved peace between India and Pakistan, Israel and Iran, and the DRC and Rwanda.”
Ceremony at the Oval Office.
And yet not much progress vis-a-vis the Russia – Ukraine conflict.
Putin’s intransigence is the main problem in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
It’s always easy to say “what about”. Requires no effort at all and no thought.
Fascinating video. The “Lamb Who was slain” is, of course, Christ, so I am not surprised that Van Eyck gave the figure of the lamb a human appearance.
I like the more human eyes better, but it is quite a difference.
Reminds me a bit of the Keane “Big Eyed” children and the scandal that it was the wife, not the husband, who painted them. She sued and won $4 mil plus the rights to the paintings.
The van Eycks unreal presentation of the lamb foreshadows surrealism. Compare that central panel with Salvador Dali’s “The Sacrament of the Last Supper” in our National Gallery. Both are finely detailed and beautifully painted in an ultra realistic style displaying religious symbolism in an unsettling “non-real” manner.
In van Eyck’s lamb the forward looking eyes are those of a man being sacrificed. That simple combination is piercing. It draws you in. You can feel the pain.
In Dali’s “Last Supper” Christ’s hands are so super real they almost envelope you when you stand in front. Way back in 1965 I was led into the Gallery basement by a young woman friend who wanted to get my reaction to Dali’s then 10 year old painting. She distracted me until we were middle front and then had me look up. It was overwhelming! To appreciate it, and Dali, read the National Gallery website article.
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New post in my Technology 1925 series. This one is about domestic technologies and municipal infrastructure.
https://chicagoboyz.net/archives/74391.html
As a tunnel engineer for many years having supervised 32km single and double track railway tunnels using drill and blast method for excavation in hard rock conditions on my last assignment, I would like to weigh in on the obliterated Fordo site.
Yes, I do believe the facilities were obliterated based on what has been reported to date. In a typical tunnel excavation round of say 1 meter advance, a pattern of holes would be drilled at the face of the advancing tunnel. Into the holes would be placed a small amount of explosive. The resulting explosion would bast out 1 meter of rock leaving fractured and sometimes loose rock at the face and perimeter of the round. The loose rock is excavated away and the fractured rock is sometimes bolted in place and covered with steel mesh and a thin layer of concrete to provide the required safety and stability to continue the excavation.
Now imagine what happened at Fordow. The Bunker Buster Bombs released maybe 5000x more energy than a normal excavation round. The surrounding rock at the point of impact would be highly fractured. Imagine the process of excavating through the rubble. One would start at the entrance locations and proceed to the galleries where the enrichment equipment was located. As one got closer to the impact point, more fractured rock would be encountered that would have to be removed for safety and stability reasons. Imagine trying to excavate a tunnel through a mountain of marbles. Not impossible but very, very difficult. And then to deal with the radiation emitting from the damaged reactors, It would be a fool’s mission to even think about, let alone proceed with remedial works. Therefore, I conclude, without firsthand knowledge that Trump’s assessment is correct, the facility is obliterated.
By the way, the contractor was Chinese who performed really well in extremely difficult conditions. We would prefer to work with western based contractors, but it is impossible for them to compete with Chinese prices. Western Construction Companies cannot compete against Chinese companies that are state owned and employ slave labor on the projects. Developing countries face a lot of criticism for employing Chinese firms on large infrastructure projects. However, in many cases they simply do not have the financial resources for the alternative.
As You Like It?
“BREAKING: SCOTUS in 6-3 decision authored by ACB;
“Universal injunctions likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has given to federal courts….”
https://instapundit.com/728874/
A number of decisions are due today from the Supreme Court, and it starts off with a 6-3 in the birthright citizenship case (not on the merits of question of birthright) on striking down universal (nationwide) injunctions by district courts. No, says the holding, district courts haven’t got nationwide powers but should stick to their districts (gisting, there).
Good beginning.
Xylourgos, thanks for the comment. Very interesting.
Neo, thanks for the video. Interesting. I took several Art History classes in Grad School. I try to visit Museums when ever I go to Europe. I truly cannot understand how painters paint.
And the SC ruled, 6-3, that Maryland parents can opt their children out of public school lessons which violate their religious beliefs (the lessons involved homosexuality and transgenderism).
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/supreme-court-decides-whether-allow-parents-shield-children-from-lgbtq-books-school
As to the sheep, it is a touch odd to see a sheep with the forward facing eyes of a predator, yet so we humans go, even in the realm of symbolon.
“…likely exceed…”
How about straight yes or no you grifting clowns.
https://youtu.be/XsSkmOSC_oU
That’s a link to a quick survey of the Vera C. Rubin telescope and its new first images — from Chris Pattison. Very cool instrument.
Fordow didn’t have reactors; it had centrifuges. Not that UF6 (the gas that is separated in the centrifuges) is a pleasant substance, and U235 is somewhat radioactive.
Related (rather quaintly)…
“…SCOTUS Quashes Federal District Courts’ Nationwide Injunctions, 6-3.”—
https://instapundit.com/728886/
H/T Instapundit…which follows up with:
“…RFK Jr. Axes ALL Funding For Bill Gates’ Global ‘Vaccine Alliance.’”—
https://instapundit.com/728838/
I think the expression is…”Brutal…and sublime…”
As usual, the 3 lefty women can’t seem to understand the Constitution. Though most lefties are the same way.
sdferr: the Rubin telescope is unique not so much for its record breaking size of the CCD camera, but the fact that it scans the sky so quickly. It really is designed to detect motion and intensity variations….it’s more of a “time” telescope as opposed to more conventional ‘scopes.
I am happy to see the project I work on is part of the RSP (Rubin Science Platform). We were also used in the Event Horizon Telescope (Black hole image) and LIGO (gravity wave) projects. Nice to see all those uses downstream of the software I got involved in 24 years ago.
Mike and Gadi make a new Israel Update (57:23), “New Mid-East Order?“: https://youtu.be/SS9yV3TQabc
So very cool, physicsguy; a whole new view of the immediate neighborhood, to say nothing of the new views of the distant!
I love Barrett’s response to Jackson in the birthright case: Barrett sharply rebuked Jackson’s rhetoric as a “startling line of attack” and said she would not dwell on her “extreme” argument, claiming it is at odds with centuries of precedent and the Constitution itself.
“We observe only this: Justice Jackson decries an imperial Executive while embracing an imperial Judiciary,” Barrett wrote. “No one disputes that the Executive has a duty to follow the law. But the Judiciary does not have unbridled authority to enforce this obligation—in fact, sometimes the law prohibits the Judiciary from doing so.”
She continued to suggest that Jackson should “heed her own admonition.”
“‘[E]veryone, from the President on down, is bound by law,’” Barrett wrote, quoting Jackson. “That goes for judges too.”
https://www.theblaze.com/news/vance-boelters-wife-speaks-out-for-first-time-since-june-14-shooting-rampage?utm_source=theblaze-
Here is the logic so called behind the dissent
https://open.substack.com/pub/escapekey/p/valis?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2czur
And this is the strategy from the usual suspects
https://x.com/bhweingarten/status/1938659683268542537
“‘[E]veryone, from the President on down, is bound by law,’”
Hahahahaha
“No one disputes that the Executive has a duty to follow the law.“
I do dispute this. Sometimes things need to happen faster than the law moves. Rule of law is also not a suicide pact. Can you say Lahaina?
https://jeffersoncouncil.org/news/one-down-six-to-go
James Bacon writes, “The making of an intellectual monoculture at UVA”
Jim Ceaser retires, the breadth of intellectual light at UVA grows dimmer. So UVA can forget where it came from.
Back to the book
https://x.com/Osint613/status/1938650652789326055
https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1938693550884937933
Ceremony at the Oval Office.
And yet not much progress vis-a-vis the Russia – Ukraine conflict.
Putin’s intransigence is the main problem in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
It’s always easy to say “what about”. Requires no effort at all and no thought.
Fascinating video. The “Lamb Who was slain” is, of course, Christ, so I am not surprised that Van Eyck gave the figure of the lamb a human appearance.
I like the more human eyes better, but it is quite a difference.
Reminds me a bit of the Keane “Big Eyed” children and the scandal that it was the wife, not the husband, who painted them. She sued and won $4 mil plus the rights to the paintings.
https://artlyst.com/news/margaret-keane-kitsch-painter-big-eyed-children-dies-aged-94/
The van Eycks unreal presentation of the lamb foreshadows surrealism. Compare that central panel with Salvador Dali’s “The Sacrament of the Last Supper” in our National Gallery. Both are finely detailed and beautifully painted in an ultra realistic style displaying religious symbolism in an unsettling “non-real” manner.
In van Eyck’s lamb the forward looking eyes are those of a man being sacrificed. That simple combination is piercing. It draws you in. You can feel the pain.
In Dali’s “Last Supper” Christ’s hands are so super real they almost envelope you when you stand in front. Way back in 1965 I was led into the Gallery basement by a young woman friend who wanted to get my reaction to Dali’s then 10 year old painting. She distracted me until we were middle front and then had me look up. It was overwhelming! To appreciate it, and Dali, read the National Gallery website article.