SeanTerrill.com » nuke http://seanterrill.com If accidentally read, induce vomiting. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:13:51 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Permafucked http://seanterrill.com/2004/08/03/permafucked/ http://seanterrill.com/2004/08/03/permafucked/#comments Tue, 03 Aug 2004 23:40:38 +0000 webmaster http://seanterrill.com/?p=200 I had an interesting, if brief, conversation today with someone whose job it is to perform economic analyses for the DOE. Essentially he’s scared shitless about “Peak Oil” – the idea that the world has, or soon will, stop its net increase in oil production. The ensuing scenario, as envisioned by yours truly, goes something [...]]]> I had an interesting, if brief, conversation today with someone whose job it is to perform economic analyses for the DOE. Essentially he’s scared shitless about “Peak Oil” – the idea that the world has, or soon will, stop its net increase in oil production. The ensuing scenario, as envisioned by yours truly, goes something like this:

  • 2005 World oil production reaches peak.
  • 2006-07 Facing political and economic pressure, OPEC countries are forced to revise “proven reserves” to match actual supplies. As oil production declines and investor confidence erodes, prices reach $100/barrel.
  • 2008-10 Faced with steady decline in the US Dollar and an increased need for outside investment, Russian oil sales begin to be valued in Euros. OPEC, its margins slashed by dependence on the “petrodollar”, follows suit, causing a free fall in the US Dollar.
  • 2011-15 With no currency to back foreign oil purchases, US initiates a crash program in alternative energy. Manufacturing capabilities are compromised as oil prices reach $200/barrel. Unemployment reaches record highs. Compulsory draft is reinstated, with soldiers being paid in long-term Treasury bonds, floated on the devalued Dollar. China attacks Russian oil fields.
  • 2015-25 US, China, European Union, and India vie for Middle Eastern oil fields. This conflict would almost certainly be military and could conceivably be nuclear.
  • 2025-50 50-90% of population dies off as food and water production return to 19th Century levels.

This is something of a worst-case scenario, although the real pessimists expect it to happen much sooner. So, pretend you’re the US government. What do you do?

Short term, invest heavily in nuclear energy research and construction. Triple the installed nuclear capacity in the next ten years, and move to a fast reactor fuel cycle based on decommissioned weapons materials to stretch uranium resources.

Medium term, continue nuclear construction to supply electricity needs while using diminishing oil resources to construct a new energy infrastructure based on wind, solar, and/or geothermal power plants. Simultaneously, accelerate adoption of fuel cells. Use reactor-produced hydrogen for all transportation needs by 2025. As US transitions to a net energy producer, reinvest foreign capital in research into renewable energy sources and petroleum replacements.

Long term, retire nuclear power plants by 2075. Use synthetic petroleum products to maintain wind/solar/geothermal plants while continuing research into renewable energy resources like fusion.

]]> http://seanterrill.com/2004/08/03/permafucked/feed/ 0 Hello (again) http://seanterrill.com/2004/04/04/hello-again/ http://seanterrill.com/2004/04/04/hello-again/#comments Sun, 04 Apr 2004 19:09:41 +0000 webmaster http://seanterrill.com/?p=134 I really am going to try to update this more frequently in the future. The past few days I’ve been so unmotivated it’s ridiculous. There are four weeks of classes left and I feel like I won’t make it.

XY Update: Formal last weekend wound up being a really good time. I don’t want to [...]]]> I really am going to try to update this more frequently in the future. The past few days I’ve been so unmotivated it’s ridiculous. There are four weeks of classes left and I feel like I won’t make it.

XY Update: Formal last weekend wound up being a really good time. I don’t want to jump to conclusions so for the time being I’ll just say that we’re spending a lot of time together.

I got the internship at Oak Ridge over the summer. I could tell you what I’ll be doing but I’d have to kill you.

I’m just kidding. The government has people who take care of that.

There isn’t really a whole lot else to say. My SPSB program is still in progress, so I guess now it stands for Six Pack by Summer Break. I really need to start hitting the gym hardcore. Tomorrow.

Keep on rocking.

]]> http://seanterrill.com/2004/04/04/hello-again/feed/ 0 Problems and Bigger Ones http://seanterrill.com/2004/03/26/problems-and-bigger-ones/ http://seanterrill.com/2004/03/26/problems-and-bigger-ones/#comments Fri, 26 Mar 2004 10:45:10 +0000 webmaster http://seanterrill.com/?p=130 Fucking insomnia.

It’s that time of year again. Formal is Saturday night in Chicago, and you know what that means: I had to find a date. I’m taking Chelle. A splendid time is guaranteed for all, even though her boyfriend comes back from Iraq on Monday or so. And I’ll probably spend most of the [...]]]> Fucking insomnia.

It’s that time of year again. Formal is Saturday night in Chicago, and you know what that means: I had to find a date. I’m taking Chelle. A splendid time is guaranteed for all, even though her boyfriend comes back from Iraq on Monday or so. And I’ll probably spend most of the night holding back her hair. And when we’re both drunk I’ll probably be tempted to try something. The silver lining is that it’s pretty much guaranteed to be better than last year, and I’m hanging out with Irina on Saturday, so that will be awesome. Can you say deep dish pizza and the Field Museum? Yes, that’s English you’re speaking, and no, you aren’t English, you’re American. You acquired your incredible language skills through Muzzy.

The only person with keys to the boiler room is out of town. It’s 80 frickin’ degrees in here.

Just when I thought all hope was lost and I was getting ready to call Wal-Mart, someone from Oak Ridge sent me an email and let me know that they’re looking at my application. It’s hard to imagine that I would be the most qualified candidate, but it’s nice to know that they didn’t circular-file that thing. I just need to find a way to let people know how awesome I am, like my mom does.

As I sit here watching the sky turn from gray to lighter gray, I wonder if maybe I sleep less than all those people who do homework nonstop and brag about how little they sleep. It’s like a badge of honor for some people and I just want to slap them and tell them to go sleep for eight hours and damn well enjoy it.

Fucking insomnia.

]]> http://seanterrill.com/2004/03/26/problems-and-bigger-ones/feed/ 0 DNS http://seanterrill.com/2004/02/16/dns/ http://seanterrill.com/2004/02/16/dns/#comments Mon, 16 Feb 2004 05:12:41 +0000 webmaster http://seanterrill.com/?p=88 Well, the new domain should be up and running for the most part. No luck in getting spiffy.com, but oh well.

I’ve decided to start spelling “exothermal” without the “e”. It makes nuclear chemistry seem much more xtreme.

Valentine’s Day came and went without much fanfare. I went out with Cap and Beth, who is [...]]]> Well, the new domain should be up and running for the most part. No luck in getting spiffy.com, but oh well.

I’ve decided to start spelling “exothermal” without the “e”. It makes nuclear chemistry seem much more xtreme.

Valentine’s Day came and went without much fanfare. I went out with Cap and Beth, who is now his fiancée. It just seems so weird that someone I know can get married. Half of the group was minors, so they were nice enough not to go to the bars and we wound up car-barring in my Civic. We were listening to music and getting hwasted and it seemed like something was happening with Beth’s friend Lydia. I ain’t really sure how to tell though, and I think she ended up going to bed with Kyle Smith, so who knows.

I bought Lost in Translation at Best Buy. I was a little wary about paying $20 for a movie I’d never seen, but then this hoosier saw me looking at it and said he thought it was boring, so I bought it and it’s excellent.

As soon as I take out my contacts, my body stops expending the energy required to hold them in my eyes or something and I get tired immediately. I think I’ll go to sleep for a change.

]]> http://seanterrill.com/2004/02/16/dns/feed/ 0 Catch Up http://seanterrill.com/2004/02/09/catch-up/ http://seanterrill.com/2004/02/09/catch-up/#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2004 22:15:20 +0000 webmaster http://seanterrill.com/?p=63 What’s up, readers? It’s been a while since I’ve rapped at ya.

Actually, I’m not quite sure how often I want to update this thing. Time will tell, I suppose.

I went to a party at Sieckmann’s house on Saturday night and actually had a good time being social for a change. It was either [...]]]> What’s up, readers? It’s been a while since I’ve rapped at ya.

Actually, I’m not quite sure how often I want to update this thing. Time will tell, I suppose.

I went to a party at Sieckmann’s house on Saturday night and actually had a good time being social for a change. It was either the change of pace or I’m adjusting to the environment. Scary thought, me enjoying myself at a “FRAT PARTY”. I still couldn’t bring myself to talk to strange girls though, so at least some things never change. A female friend of mine did make an attractive offer, but I thought it best to decline. Sorry I can’t say more, but you never know what people will find on the Internet.

Speaking of which, someone (not me) allegedly posted a naked picture of Glynis somewhere. The amusing part of this, at least for me, is not the picture itself (which I haven’t seen) but the fact that pretty much everyone except Glynis thinks I would have been justified in doing something like this. Crazy though it might seem, I don’t harbor a grudge about things at all. I guess I am a little wishy-washy sometimes; I’m going to make an effort to call people on shit more often.

Sieckmann and I are driving down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras (well, the weekend anyway). It should be a good time, meaning, if I may paraphrase Yuri, beer and boobies.

I have an interview with Westinghouse’s Nuclear Fuels division next Tuesday, so hopefully I won’t be spending another summer at Wal-Mart. I still have no idea what I want to do with my life, but at least I can get paid to do math for a few months while I figure it out.

SPSB Update: Don’t mix protein powder and lemonade.

Terrill Sean: Samantha, teach me how to meet girls.
Jacobs Samantha is pretty: ok
Jacobs Samantha is pretty: first of all
Jacobs Samantha is pretty: i dunno

]]> http://seanterrill.com/2004/02/09/catch-up/feed/ 0 Infantile http://seanterrill.com/2004/02/06/infantile/ http://seanterrill.com/2004/02/06/infantile/#comments Fri, 06 Feb 2004 21:05:07 +0000 webmaster http://seanterrill.com/?p=32 The most common source of fast neutrons in laboratories is plutonium beryllide, PuBe13.

Heh.

]]> The most common source of fast neutrons in laboratories is plutonium beryllide, PuBe13.

Heh.

]]> http://seanterrill.com/2004/02/06/infantile/feed/ 0 Class http://seanterrill.com/2004/02/06/class/ http://seanterrill.com/2004/02/06/class/#comments Fri, 06 Feb 2004 17:36:18 +0000 webmaster http://seanterrill.com/?p=28 I got an email this morning notifying me that my Nuclear Engineering lecture next Monday will be held in the usual time and place. I received no email last week notifying me that the lecture had been cancelled.

Speaking of Nuclear Engineering, NUCL 200 is the first class I’ve enjoyed since high school. I highly [...]]]> I got an email this morning notifying me that my Nuclear Engineering lecture next Monday will be held in the usual time and place. I received no email last week notifying me that the lecture had been cancelled.

Speaking of Nuclear Engineering, NUCL 200 is the first class I’ve enjoyed since high school. I highly recommend it.

The class is held in the chemistry building and I found myself walking out with a group of freshman who were talking about a quiz they had taken. I told them the right answer and they looked pissed.

I’m going running.

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