OT Don't read this (was Re: Altair MBL source)

[CRC]

On Thu, 21 Apr 2005 09:39:09 -0700 (PDT)
Tom Jennings <tomj at wps.com> commented:
>> Each "tube"
>> consisted of an Americium cathode, the necessary grids (perforated 
>> plates),
>> and a plate evaporated on the wall of the cavity.

> .... But this is fairly amazing, and I've never heard of it before.
>
> Why Am for cathodes?! Alpha particles instead of electrons? (I'm
> kidding there.)Or did they somehow come up with a nasty, toxic an
> short-lived way to produce clouds of electrons? Or another way to
> lob our toxic waste at our 'enemies' ala 'depleted' (sic)
> uranium?!

Because of a head-fart. I've been disecting smoke detectors in the 
recent past and I'm afraid the alpha radiation has left an imprint. 
What was used was a soft beta emitter in place of a heated filament. If 
interested, look up the HIBEX missile.


	CRC