Just realized photons were too complicated and went with something simpler. Was tempted to say nothing and let it look like ita just spontaneously decided to mention photons, but... nah.

And also! I thought a nuclear explosion caused a magnetic pulse. Is that correct? Cause I got all nitpicky on The Sum of All Fears, and I'm wondering if I'm right.

Also, can someone tell me some basic facts about photons?

You can make torpedos out of them.

OK, photons can be visible light, but in fact photons can be any electromagnetic radiation, like microwave or radio or whatever. Photons are emited when an electron goes from a higher-energy orbit of an atom to a lower energy orbit. Photons are weird in that they behave both as particles and as waves.

I thought a nuclear explosion caused a magnetic pulse. Is that correct?

Yes. It will disable radios, comptuters, cars (except for old diesel cars that don't need electricity to run) and other electronics.

I thought a nuclear explosion caused a magnetic pulse. Is that correct?

Yes it is. Hence the EMP bombs they've designed.

Apparently a hybrid is not only possible, it's very common in Europe. I stand corrected! Never had heard of it before.

A choke controls the tightness of the spread. This is a good overview of chokes, etc.

I can't believe I am the first person to say this:

I'm having my first Girl Scout cookies ever.

Deprived freak.

I have work I could be doing. I could even be cleaning my office. Right now, though, not so much.

I do get to cross one more thing off my move to do list, which is to find a home for my old G3.

Deprived freak.

I prefer to call it "being from the 3rd world." I have had many nummy Girl Guide cookies (which are very different from what y'all have here), but where in hell would I find a Girl Scout?

That's rhetorical. I don't actually need a Girl Scout.

Photons are energy *coughlightparticlewhatevercough*s, and therefore have no mass? That's the thing I'm struggling with getting an intuitive understanding of.

Also, so would an MP damage electronic stuff (like, the data stored in it) or just turn it off? There's still issues -- the PDA "Ryan" ends up with, with an email message still onscreen, is definitely out -- but I'm wondering about the Marine helicopters that show up rather soon after the blast, cell phones, radios, etc.

I say "Ryan" because that ain't Jack Ryan. Sorry. No.

I prefer to call it "being from the 3rd world." I have had many nummy Girl Guide cookies (which are very different from what y'all have here), but where in hell would I find a Girl Scout?

But you've been in this country for years now.