🚀 go-pugleaf

John M Atkinson wrote:
> 
> Thus Spake Kapt <rlh8e@pcmail.virginia.edu>:
> 
> %Matthew T. Russotto wrote:
> %
> %> }Well dynamite was invented by a civilian. *grin*
> %>
> %> Didn't he invent the blasting cap as well?  Guy named Nobel, family
> %> was into nitroglycerine, IIRC...
> %>
> %> People like to see things blown up.  Evidence: the popularity of
> %> fireworks and building implosions.  What's wrong with that?
> %
> %Yes , Nobel invented Dynomite and the blasting cap. Also the coveted
> %Nobel Peace Award is in his honor.. Go Figure..
> 
> If you become filthy rich and endow a bunch of Swedes with the ability to focus
> the world's spotlight on themselves and their pet causes, they'll name the damn
> thing after you too.

Actually, it is my understanding that Nobel, having given the world
high-explosives in forms safe enough to be used in warfare, in
particular his gelignite, nitrocellulose and trinitrotoluene, was so
appalled at the destruction wrought that he decided to use some of the
immense profits gathered as the result of so much destruction, to
promote the practice of peace and the development of disciplines which
would tend to promote peace.

Hey, if you had given the world the means to blow itself up, you too
might not rest easy until you did something to try to ensure that your
products wouldn't be used to kill evryone.


> 
> John M. Atkinson
> jatkinso@gmu.edu
> "A nation which despises its soldiers will all too soon
> have a despicable army
>                  --Jerry Pournelle

-- 
Be kind to your       | When the going gets weird the weird turn pro.
neighbors even though | http://www.clark.net/pub/klaatu/
they be transgenic    | Now. chock full of uninteresting links.
chimerae.             |-- Genesis 19:1-13 - Hebrews 13:2 -- 
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Usually I work within the system when it's not trying to get me killed.