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NORAD wants to know if you’ve been naughty or nice.

Deterrence, History, John, Lagniappe, Stranger than Fiction, Tracking, Targeting and Predicting

YHtLm

This article from The Atlantic is too good not to share.

In 1955, Sears ran a ‘call Santa on the phone’ newspaper promotion. Due to a (frankly wonderful) typo, however, it listed NORAD’s top-secret, “the-Russians-are-attacking” telephone number by mistake. (Actually NORAD’s predecessor, CONAD, but whatever.)

But wait, it gets better. After some initial confusion, the officer on duty, Colonel Stroud (a name that should be immortalized by Hollywood immediately), played along.

Bemused by the first caller — a lachrymose girl who wanted to know if he was one of Santa’s elves — the good Colonel couldn’t bring himself to deny it. The steely-eyed missile men of CONAD soon found themselves roped into quizzing children on whether they’d been naughty or nice. And so began an endearingly incongruous holiday tradition; NORAD offers a ‘Santa tracking’ service to this day.

The fifties really was a simpler time.

The price of peace

Disarmament, Iran, John, Lagniappe, Nuclear Japes, Nuclear News

Possible detente with Iran, but nobody considers the human cost. As ever, America’s finest news source has the story that other outlets refuse to cover.

Fukuppy

Disaster, Fukushima, John, Lagniappe, Marginalia, Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Japes, Nuclear News

Fukuppy

Meet Fukuppy, the inadvertent Fukushima mascot. As explained in this article from today’s Guardian Online.

I am sure there is something desperately insightful to be said here about the co-option of symbols as protest in an international digital age, but right now it escapes me. I post it mainly as light relief. Feel free to opine in the comments.

Shock and Awe (and Irony)

Deterrence, Disarmament, For the Nerds, John, Lagniappe, Nuclear Japes

colbert explosion

More considered stuff on nuclear power’s complicated origins soon.

But in the meantime here’s Stephen Colbert impersonating a nuclear explosion. Just because it’s kind of awesome, and it’s kind of Monday.

(I’m having trouble embedding it because it’s not a Youtube. Anne, Matthais, any thoughts?)

Nuclear Headline for the Ages

Disarmament, History, John, Lagniappe, Marginalia

Michael_Foot_1982

In 1986, the (then) leader of the UK Labour Party, Michael Foot, was made the chair of a European committee dedicated to the abolishment of nuclear weapons. The Times reputedly published an article on the appointment with the classic headline “Foot heads arms body”.

Plus ça change

Deterrence, John, Lagniappe, Nuclear Relationship Advice, Uncategorized

It’s been almost a quarter of a century since the BBC broadcast this magnificent sendup of the UK’s deterrence policy, but its critique seems just as trenchant today. (Minus the conscription stuff).

Would we ever really use the bomb?

 

What’s the big deal? It’s just a biscuit.

Anne, Lagniappe, Nuclear Security, Stranger than Fiction

clinton_1724016c

Next time you can’t find your keys, don’t beat yourself up. It could be worse.

Just ask Bill: “Bill Clinton ‘lost vital White House nuclear codes'”

More Lagniappe

Photo: Former U.S. President Bill Clinton,  Photo Credit: REUTERS