The atomic bomb, developed during WWII, uses a nuclear fission chain reaction. Energy released by 1 bomb is equal to that produced by the explosion of 20,000 tons of TNT.

An atomic bomb is made of uranium or plutonium. However, it is unlike a nuclear reactor, that is operated at a relatively slow, controlled level. The chain reaction goes on for days, weeks, or months. This is not the case in the atomic bomb where fission is rapid. The complete chain reaction inside the atomic bomb occurs within a fraction of a second.

How is such a rapid nuclear reaction possible?

What's the American take on Canada's un-cooperative stance taken on the North American missle defense system spearheaded by the US?

Have you ever been to Canada, Dan?

yeah, I've been around the Calgary/Edmonton/Banff area and to Leamington/Point Pelee. Being in such a foreign land made me nervous, but luckily there was a Wal-Mart nearby to protect me

lol

yeah, I lived in cowtown from '90 to '97, it's a great city, with lots of wal marts.

What were you doing up there, chillin'? Skiing/boarding in Banff at Lake Loise or Sunshine?

I was visiting relatives from Hanna, Alberta (my uncle ran away from the U.S. in the late 70's to be a Lutheran preacher in Canada). We went on the 'whirlwind' tour of Alberta. I even visited the big-ass mall in Edmonton, where I enjoyed both the indoor amusement park and the indoor water park (originally, we chose the amusement park but somebody set off a homemade bomb/firecracker so we got our money refunded which we immediately used to go to the water park)

Hanna eh? Home of Nickleback. Cool.

Did you try the roller coaster or the drop of doom?

the drop of doom wasn't operational, and we didn't make it to the rollercoaster before the 'bomb' scare. and the Nickelback connection is rather interesting

Yeah, Chad Kroeger and the boys rock the house.