"The mean value of acute fatality risk by radiation exposure resultant from an accident of a nuclear installation to individuals of the public, who live in the vicinity of the site boundary of the nuclear installation, should not exceed the probability of about 1x10^6 per year."

That's the Japanese Nuclear Commission in 2003, via Nassim.

A friend and I have a running dialogue on whether or not some sort of major institutional cataclysm is likely to occur in the next decade or so (yes, really). The other night we started talking about things one could do that would have some benefit under stability but a potentially enormous benefit under instability. I think of acquiring skills -- ( Read more... )

I want to condense two good points, made by Ben Casnocha and Seth Roberts (via colinmarshall and patrissimo, respectively) into one: that in order to challenge what's established, you have to remain independent of the establishment -- socially, financially, intellectually. It sounds obvious when you put it that way, but there are so many forces trying to lull you into ( Read more... )

*low, long whistle* (via Brad ( Read more... )