• Beehaw_Girl@beehaw.org
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    15 hours ago

    As long as they’re asking themselves “Are we the baddies?” Because self-awareness is the most important thing 😄

  • FedX@quokk.au
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    1 day ago

    This isn’t exactly new. And it didn’t end well in the past either. After the completion of the Manhattan Project, a number of private entities begun building plutonium weapons. Notably, Rockwell International (yes, that Rockwell), ran a site outside of Denver called Rocky Flats. Ended up being one of the worst ecological disasters in American history. Plutonium will catch on fire, so there were a number of plutonium fires at the plant, but that wasn’t the worst of it. Their disposal and treatment techniques were woefully inadequacy, and untold amounts of plutonium leaked into the environment. The EPA, CDPH, and DOE all knew about the process and did nothing. The FBI had to step in and raid the plant, and even still, it ran for years during court proceedings. Rather conveniently, those court documents were sealed, and later lost.

    What is new here is the fact that the Trump administration already plays fast and lose with the rules. Moreover, random tech billionaires have no right so much as looking at the most dangerous substance in the world, weapons grade plutonium. So to say this will end poorly would be the understatement of the century.

    P.S. Highly recommend reading up on the history of the DOE. The story of Rocky Flats, the national labs, and nuclear weapons program is so much longer and wilder than what I could put here.

    • OwOarchist@pawb.social
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      1 day ago

      What legitimate purpose does a tech billionaire even have for wanting weapons grade plutonium?

      What possible use could they have for it besides building a bomb with it?

      • Diurnambule@jlai.lu
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        1 day ago

        Thèse Guy are preparing bunker, with robots as personal and guards. Why would they want a way to start the apocalypse, I wonder ? (Their is a game about the extreme greedy people go )

      • trolololol@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Selling to Iran and North Korea for profit? I mean, who else is paying, and why would billionaires want it if not for profit?

  • kibiz0r@midwest.social
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    1 day ago

    I’m okay with providing plutonium rods to Palmer Luckey, on the condition that he shoves them up his ass using sriracha as lube.

  • Lovable Sidekick@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    There are billionaires who create startups, but they’re not the issue here. The US has around 1.7 million startups right now, almost all run by little entrepreneurs. The issue is furnishing plutonium to private sector people.

  • Etterra@discuss.online
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    1 day ago

    I’m sure there’s no way this could possibly go wrong. I can’t wait until I can buy a new computer that emits gamma radiation.

      • notabot@piefed.social
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        1 day ago

        No, you have to subscribe to the shielding component, which blocks up to 90% of harmful emissions for a mere $49.99 per month, shielding+, which blocks 99% for only $79.99 per month, or “ultra shield”, which actually removes the emitter, for just $99.99 per month, first month half price! (but if you cancel, or downgrade, they’ll break in to your house, reinstall the emitter, kick your dog, and leave muddy footprints on the carpet).