Slashdot Mirror

This was taken sitting on the top of the pyramid of Cheops in Cairo a few weeks ago.

Gibbous moon, 20s exposure - it looks like day.

http://travel.ninjito.com/2013-02-19-Egypt/SLR/qx-cairo-9.jpg

Hardly:

http://www.ninjito.com/2009-10-07-NYC

"Lax Security" is pretty much everywhere.

USA: Genuine NASA motor:
http://www.ninjito.com/images/2007-01-25/qx-door-3.jpg

Russia, particle colliders:
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-08-24/qx-collider-1.jpg

France, air tunnels
http://www.ninjito.com/_2010-05-07/qx-xx-4.jpg

USA, a certain famous bridge in NYC
http://www.ninjito.com/images/2009-10-07-NYC/qx-b-1.jpg

The only reason this never comes to public attention is because generally, the people that do it don't want public attention.

"Lax Security" is pretty much everywhere.

USA: Genuine NASA motor:
http://www.ninjito.com/images/2007-01-25/qx-door-3.jpg

Russia, particle colliders:
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-08-24/qx-collider-1.jpg

France, air tunnels
http://www.ninjito.com/_2010-05-07/qx-xx-4.jpg

USA, a certain famous bridge in NYC
http://www.ninjito.com/images/2009-10-07-NYC/qx-b-1.jpg

The only reason this never comes to public attention is because generally, the people that do it don't want public attention.

"Lax Security" is pretty much everywhere.

USA: Genuine NASA motor:
http://www.ninjito.com/images/2007-01-25/qx-door-3.jpg

Russia, particle colliders:
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-08-24/qx-collider-1.jpg

France, air tunnels
http://www.ninjito.com/_2010-05-07/qx-xx-4.jpg

USA, a certain famous bridge in NYC
http://www.ninjito.com/images/2009-10-07-NYC/qx-b-1.jpg

The only reason this never comes to public attention is because generally, the people that do it don't want public attention.

"Lax Security" is pretty much everywhere.

USA: Genuine NASA motor:
http://www.ninjito.com/images/2007-01-25/qx-door-3.jpg

Russia, particle colliders:
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-08-24/qx-collider-1.jpg

France, air tunnels
http://www.ninjito.com/_2010-05-07/qx-xx-4.jpg

USA, a certain famous bridge in NYC
http://www.ninjito.com/images/2009-10-07-NYC/qx-b-1.jpg

The only reason this never comes to public attention is because generally, the people that do it don't want public attention.

Had the chance to trapse through Chenobly / Pripryat a few years back - thought some of you guys might appreciate seeing what's what there.

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16 [Selection of about 20 photos]

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg [ the famous hotel ]
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg [ roof of said hotel with the reactor in the background ..

simon

Had the chance to trapse through Chenobly / Pripryat a few years back - thought some of you guys might appreciate seeing what's what there.

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16 [Selection of about 20 photos]

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg [ the famous hotel ]
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg [ roof of said hotel with the reactor in the background ..

simon

Had the chance to trapse through Chenobly / Pripryat a few years back - thought some of you guys might appreciate seeing what's what there.

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16 [Selection of about 20 photos]

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg [ the famous hotel ]
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg [ roof of said hotel with the reactor in the background ..

simon

It's kind of like:
this or this - but with less testicles :)

It's kind of like:
this or this - but with less testicles :)

Actually, the area is already open to a plethora of tourists and buses. You pay your $50USD, and you get taken through the exclusion zone(s), stopping at the monuments, reactor, and Pripryat.

Some snaps from my trip, for the interested:

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16

The reactor:
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-ch-6.jpg
'The' hotel in Pripryat
http://ninjito.com/2008-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
Roof of the hotel, with the reactor in the background [Note, this was seen by 'straying from the group ;)]
http://ninjito.com/2008-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg
Neat shot of some of the hidden murels
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-pripyat-1.jpg

Actually, the area is already open to a plethora of tourists and buses. You pay your $50USD, and you get taken through the exclusion zone(s), stopping at the monuments, reactor, and Pripryat.

Some snaps from my trip, for the interested:

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16

The reactor:
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-ch-6.jpg
'The' hotel in Pripryat
http://ninjito.com/2008-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
Roof of the hotel, with the reactor in the background [Note, this was seen by 'straying from the group ;)]
http://ninjito.com/2008-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg
Neat shot of some of the hidden murels
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-pripyat-1.jpg

Actually, the area is already open to a plethora of tourists and buses. You pay your $50USD, and you get taken through the exclusion zone(s), stopping at the monuments, reactor, and Pripryat.

Some snaps from my trip, for the interested:

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16

The reactor:
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-ch-6.jpg
'The' hotel in Pripryat
http://ninjito.com/2008-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
Roof of the hotel, with the reactor in the background [Note, this was seen by 'straying from the group ;)]
http://ninjito.com/2008-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg
Neat shot of some of the hidden murels
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-pripyat-1.jpg

Actually, the area is already open to a plethora of tourists and buses. You pay your $50USD, and you get taken through the exclusion zone(s), stopping at the monuments, reactor, and Pripryat.

Some snaps from my trip, for the interested:

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16

The reactor:
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-ch-6.jpg
'The' hotel in Pripryat
http://ninjito.com/2008-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
Roof of the hotel, with the reactor in the background [Note, this was seen by 'straying from the group ;)]
http://ninjito.com/2008-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg
Neat shot of some of the hidden murels
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-pripyat-1.jpg

Actually, the area is already open to a plethora of tourists and buses. You pay your $50USD, and you get taken through the exclusion zone(s), stopping at the monuments, reactor, and Pripryat.

Some snaps from my trip, for the interested:

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16

The reactor:
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-ch-6.jpg
'The' hotel in Pripryat
http://ninjito.com/2008-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
Roof of the hotel, with the reactor in the background [Note, this was seen by 'straying from the group ;)]
http://ninjito.com/2008-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg
Neat shot of some of the hidden murels
http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-pripyat-1.jpg

Actually, this would be it:
http://www.ninjito.com/images/2008-09-12/qx-mongolia-warrior-2.jpg

Soviet Warrior, loose translation is: that which was built by the people will be protected for the people. ..and yet..

No glowing artifacts, but it looks like there could be an alien in the left side of the hotel Polissia photo.

Are you really sure ?
Check out in front of the big column in the middle... ;-)

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg

For 100 points, spot the zombie in http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
Finally, the clear proof !!! :-)))

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg

What does "dA3TO7" mean?

It means "letoH" :-)

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg

What does "dA3TO7" mean?

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
The hotel Polissia. It was quiet a pleasant day.

I recognize that place.... that's where you take your sniper shot from in CoD4.

Was there on a lovely day and managed to slip off from the group at Pripryat to see some unique perspectives.

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
The hotel Polissia.

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg
Roof of said building, you can see reactor 4 in the distance to the right.

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-pripyat-1.jpg
Rarely seen fresque honouring the cosmonauts.

Getting to Chernobyl isn't the overwhelming task of mental fortitude and endurance most of these 'reporters' want you to think it is. You go to Kiev, you spend 40 - 80USD, and you get taken there. It's very official, it's very routine, and you get an interesting experience from it. And a delicious meal at the end of it..

Was there on a lovely day and managed to slip off from the group at Pripryat to see some unique perspectives.

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
The hotel Polissia.

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg
Roof of said building, you can see reactor 4 in the distance to the right.

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-pripyat-1.jpg
Rarely seen fresque honouring the cosmonauts.

Getting to Chernobyl isn't the overwhelming task of mental fortitude and endurance most of these 'reporters' want you to think it is. You go to Kiev, you spend 40 - 80USD, and you get taken there. It's very official, it's very routine, and you get an interesting experience from it. And a delicious meal at the end of it..

Was there on a lovely day and managed to slip off from the group at Pripryat to see some unique perspectives.

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
The hotel Polissia.

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg
Roof of said building, you can see reactor 4 in the distance to the right.

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-pripyat-1.jpg
Rarely seen fresque honouring the cosmonauts.

Getting to Chernobyl isn't the overwhelming task of mental fortitude and endurance most of these 'reporters' want you to think it is. You go to Kiev, you spend 40 - 80USD, and you get taken there. It's very official, it's very routine, and you get an interesting experience from it. And a delicious meal at the end of it..

Just as Chernobyl nature has taken back the surrounds of Pripryat, the Chernobyl stories take on mythical proportion.

Unfortunately, most people who go to Chernobyl (TFA author included) - seem to adopt this faux-investigative journalist approach, as if the entire experience is touch and go.
This is entirely not the case - and while there are many interesting elements to Chernobyl, its surrounds, and its history, the above really just isn't one of them.

For those of you who are interested - I've been. It's interesting enough. You pay 40 - 80USD, hop in a bus, drive 2 hours, and you're there. There's a quick paper check on the edge of the exclusion zone. You drive to a small village that has more kittens than people, and you're told a little about the history. You drive a little further into a larger town, and buy some Kvass and sausages, and keep going.

From there, you're back in the bus - you see a memorial on the eastern side of Reactor 4, drive to the western side, at another memorial. This is as close as you can get to the reactor (and it's where the author shot his photos from)

From here, it's a crapshoot depending who you went with. Normally, you'll get a speed-tour of Pripryat. They used to do the helicopter / heavy equipment graveyard, but that's no longer done.

Pripryat is quite interesting, but the tours are always superficial. You follow a set path, and everyone sees the same thing: The ferris wheel, the school, the swimming pool. The buildings are decayed - not due to radiation, but simple weather exposure, yet peeling-paint photos somehow always manifest into drama-heavy recants.

On my trip, I was lucky enough to slip away from the group, and get some more interesting perspectives:
http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
The hotel Polissia. It was quiet a pleasant day.

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg
Roof of said building, you can see reactor 4 in the distance to the right.

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-pripyat-1.jpg
Rarely seen fresque honouring the cosmonauts.

Interesting things to take away from the trip are:
- There's a lot less 'fuss' than most people imagine
- There are active buildings, people in the region
- The unchecked nature growth has resulted in truly beautiful surrounds - the forests and plant life are stunning.
- Radiation is pervasive and scary. While it's obvious that you can't see, touch, or smell it, it's truly startling to stand somewhere that has slightly-higher than background radiation, take two steps to the right, and suddenly be exposed to several-hundred times background radiation.

Summary: Go and see it for yourself, but don't buy into the mythology.

Just as Chernobyl nature has taken back the surrounds of Pripryat, the Chernobyl stories take on mythical proportion.

Unfortunately, most people who go to Chernobyl (TFA author included) - seem to adopt this faux-investigative journalist approach, as if the entire experience is touch and go.
This is entirely not the case - and while there are many interesting elements to Chernobyl, its surrounds, and its history, the above really just isn't one of them.

For those of you who are interested - I've been. It's interesting enough. You pay 40 - 80USD, hop in a bus, drive 2 hours, and you're there. There's a quick paper check on the edge of the exclusion zone. You drive to a small village that has more kittens than people, and you're told a little about the history. You drive a little further into a larger town, and buy some Kvass and sausages, and keep going.

From there, you're back in the bus - you see a memorial on the eastern side of Reactor 4, drive to the western side, at another memorial. This is as close as you can get to the reactor (and it's where the author shot his photos from)

From here, it's a crapshoot depending who you went with. Normally, you'll get a speed-tour of Pripryat. They used to do the helicopter / heavy equipment graveyard, but that's no longer done.

Pripryat is quite interesting, but the tours are always superficial. You follow a set path, and everyone sees the same thing: The ferris wheel, the school, the swimming pool. The buildings are decayed - not due to radiation, but simple weather exposure, yet peeling-paint photos somehow always manifest into drama-heavy recants.

On my trip, I was lucky enough to slip away from the group, and get some more interesting perspectives:
http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
The hotel Polissia. It was quiet a pleasant day.

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg
Roof of said building, you can see reactor 4 in the distance to the right.

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-pripyat-1.jpg
Rarely seen fresque honouring the cosmonauts.

Interesting things to take away from the trip are:
- There's a lot less 'fuss' than most people imagine
- There are active buildings, people in the region
- The unchecked nature growth has resulted in truly beautiful surrounds - the forests and plant life are stunning.
- Radiation is pervasive and scary. While it's obvious that you can't see, touch, or smell it, it's truly startling to stand somewhere that has slightly-higher than background radiation, take two steps to the right, and suddenly be exposed to several-hundred times background radiation.

Summary: Go and see it for yourself, but don't buy into the mythology.

Just as Chernobyl nature has taken back the surrounds of Pripryat, the Chernobyl stories take on mythical proportion.

Unfortunately, most people who go to Chernobyl (TFA author included) - seem to adopt this faux-investigative journalist approach, as if the entire experience is touch and go.
This is entirely not the case - and while there are many interesting elements to Chernobyl, its surrounds, and its history, the above really just isn't one of them.

For those of you who are interested - I've been. It's interesting enough. You pay 40 - 80USD, hop in a bus, drive 2 hours, and you're there. There's a quick paper check on the edge of the exclusion zone. You drive to a small village that has more kittens than people, and you're told a little about the history. You drive a little further into a larger town, and buy some Kvass and sausages, and keep going.

From there, you're back in the bus - you see a memorial on the eastern side of Reactor 4, drive to the western side, at another memorial. This is as close as you can get to the reactor (and it's where the author shot his photos from)

From here, it's a crapshoot depending who you went with. Normally, you'll get a speed-tour of Pripryat. They used to do the helicopter / heavy equipment graveyard, but that's no longer done.

Pripryat is quite interesting, but the tours are always superficial. You follow a set path, and everyone sees the same thing: The ferris wheel, the school, the swimming pool. The buildings are decayed - not due to radiation, but simple weather exposure, yet peeling-paint photos somehow always manifest into drama-heavy recants.

On my trip, I was lucky enough to slip away from the group, and get some more interesting perspectives:
http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-1.jpg
The hotel Polissia. It was quiet a pleasant day.

http://ninjito.com/2009-09-12-PANO/qx-pano-pripyat-2.jpg
Roof of said building, you can see reactor 4 in the distance to the right.

http://ninjito.com/2008-08-16/qx-pripyat-1.jpg
Rarely seen fresque honouring the cosmonauts.

Interesting things to take away from the trip are:
- There's a lot less 'fuss' than most people imagine
- There are active buildings, people in the region
- The unchecked nature growth has resulted in truly beautiful surrounds - the forests and plant life are stunning.
- Radiation is pervasive and scary. While it's obvious that you can't see, touch, or smell it, it's truly startling to stand somewhere that has slightly-higher than background radiation, take two steps to the right, and suddenly be exposed to several-hundred times background radiation.

Summary: Go and see it for yourself, but don't buy into the mythology.

Slightly offtopic, but still geeky.

The enwave tunnels were being extended even as late as mid last year (I'm assuming it's either finished, or close to it).

I managed to get in and pay them a visit while construction was stopped for the winter. It was a fascinating peek into their system - the tunnels are placed in overlapping crosses from as far North as Bay and Elizabeth, as far south as Lakeside. I assume the cross pattern is to give as much coverage as possible.

For the intruiged, here are a few snaps.

http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-29a/qx-to-2.jpg [bottom of entry shaft, entry point for TBM]
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-29a/qx-to-3.jpg [Inside an unformed tunnel - the cooling pipes are laid in the bottom, then covered with concrete, leaving the top semicircle as walk access]
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-29a/qx-to-1.jpg
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-18/qx-to-3.jpg [close up of the trains they used for construction]

Slightly offtopic, but still geeky.

The enwave tunnels were being extended even as late as mid last year (I'm assuming it's either finished, or close to it).

I managed to get in and pay them a visit while construction was stopped for the winter. It was a fascinating peek into their system - the tunnels are placed in overlapping crosses from as far North as Bay and Elizabeth, as far south as Lakeside. I assume the cross pattern is to give as much coverage as possible.

For the intruiged, here are a few snaps.

http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-29a/qx-to-2.jpg [bottom of entry shaft, entry point for TBM]
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-29a/qx-to-3.jpg [Inside an unformed tunnel - the cooling pipes are laid in the bottom, then covered with concrete, leaving the top semicircle as walk access]
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-29a/qx-to-1.jpg
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-18/qx-to-3.jpg [close up of the trains they used for construction]

Slightly offtopic, but still geeky.

The enwave tunnels were being extended even as late as mid last year (I'm assuming it's either finished, or close to it).

I managed to get in and pay them a visit while construction was stopped for the winter. It was a fascinating peek into their system - the tunnels are placed in overlapping crosses from as far North as Bay and Elizabeth, as far south as Lakeside. I assume the cross pattern is to give as much coverage as possible.

For the intruiged, here are a few snaps.

http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-29a/qx-to-2.jpg [bottom of entry shaft, entry point for TBM]
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-29a/qx-to-3.jpg [Inside an unformed tunnel - the cooling pipes are laid in the bottom, then covered with concrete, leaving the top semicircle as walk access]
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-29a/qx-to-1.jpg
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-18/qx-to-3.jpg [close up of the trains they used for construction]

Slightly offtopic, but still geeky.

The enwave tunnels were being extended even as late as mid last year (I'm assuming it's either finished, or close to it).

I managed to get in and pay them a visit while construction was stopped for the winter. It was a fascinating peek into their system - the tunnels are placed in overlapping crosses from as far North as Bay and Elizabeth, as far south as Lakeside. I assume the cross pattern is to give as much coverage as possible.

For the intruiged, here are a few snaps.

http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-29a/qx-to-2.jpg [bottom of entry shaft, entry point for TBM]
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-29a/qx-to-3.jpg [Inside an unformed tunnel - the cooling pipes are laid in the bottom, then covered with concrete, leaving the top semicircle as walk access]
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-29a/qx-to-1.jpg
http://www.ninjito.com/2008-02-18/qx-to-3.jpg [close up of the trains they used for construction]

Interestingly, a lot of the equipment still exists, but is long forgotten:

http://www.ninjito.com/dump/2007-01-25/qx-door-3.j pg
http://www.ninjito.com/dump/2007-01-25/qx-door-2.j pg

You can google the ID on the side to see the role they played in Saturn V history...

Interestingly, a lot of the equipment still exists, but is long forgotten:

http://www.ninjito.com/dump/2007-01-25/qx-door-3.j pg
http://www.ninjito.com/dump/2007-01-25/qx-door-2.j pg

You can google the ID on the side to see the role they played in Saturn V history...