I just received my annual TCP-1 letter from LLNS and a summary of the LLNS Pension Plan. Looked in pretty good shape in 2013. About 35% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 134.92%). This was a decrease from 2012 where it was 51% overfunded (funding target attainment percentage = 151.59%). They did note that the 2012 change in the law on how liabilities are calculated using interest rates improved the plan's position. Without the change the funding target attainment percentages would have been 118% (2012) and 105% (2013). 2013 assets = $2,057,866,902 2013 liabilities = $1,525,162,784 vs 2012 assets = $1,844,924,947 2012 liabilities = $1,217,043,150 It was also noted that a slightly different calculation method ("fair market value") designed to show a clearer picture of the plan' status as December 31, 2013 had; Assets = $2,403,098,433 Liabilities = $2,068,984,256 Funding ratio = 116.15% Its a closed plan with 3,781 participants. Of that number, 3,151 wer...
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Hear hear, that will certainly solve NIF's problem. But I guess what you really want is NIF to never reach fusion, so do not fund it.
Ten shots a second on NIF is a wet dream. What NIF is, is just another toy to keep the well to do employed and a toy for weapons research which noone cares about and is not needed. We all know they work when need be and they all will be fine just as long as you keep up the maintenance or build replacements. The five billion + dollars should have been spend on building wind turbines. We'd have been far ahead and actually gotten something useful for our tax dollars.
Ten shots a second on NIF is a wet dream. What NIF is, is just another toy to keep the well to do employed and a toy for weapons research which noone cares about and is not needed. We all know they work when need be and they all will be fine just as long as you keep up the maintenance or build replacements. The five billion + dollars should have been spend on building wind turbines. We'd have been far ahead and actually gotten something useful for our tax dollars.
"We all know they work when need be and they all will be fine just as long as you keep up the maintenance or build replacements."
Just remember Maxwell at the turn of the century, who claimed all discoveries in physics have been done.
Also I fail to see the connection between your ten shots claim and the August 28, 2013 at 5:48 PM post.
But I guess you just mix and match your arguments in any way to make a point.
Great scientific mind
Not going to happen, ever !
When is the next version of NIF with the 512 arms going to be announced. It's a corporate contractors wet dream. I'm sure that's what the review will decide is needed to get this thing to actually work. MOX and NIF ... let the good times roll and the huge Yachts sail!
Totally agree!!! NIF is an excuse to entertain physicists. Employ them doing useful research to help us address today's energy and climate crises.
Without taking a position one way or the other on NIF, that is pretty stupid. "No more money for you until you accomplish what we were giving you money to do." What are they supposed to do--have a bake sale to keep going? Car washes? Not to mention that, again, whether one thinks it a good idea or not, they do have a mission that's not about fusion per se.
The mission of EOS does not have to be done. The weapons work and as any good mechanic knows. If it isn't broke, don't fix it. You guys are just sucking the tax payer dry for all they have to assure you still have a job. There's your per se mission bubby.
If anyone dares to looks inside the black box at the burning cash, it disturbs the experiment due to "Schroedinger's Cat" quantum phenomena and the fusion will not be seen. Therefore, peer review is not necessary and non-NIF scientists should just shut-up and see to it that more loads of cash are constantly shoveled in to the NIF facility to keep the NIF employees protected, fat & happy.
What we do without NIF keeping our stockpile safe, secure, and reliable".
HO HUM