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Guy Fawkes' Explosion Would Have Devasted London

Anonymous Coward writes "Experts at the University of Wales in Aberystwyth have worked out for the first time the true extent of the damage Guy Fawkes would have caused if his daring deed had not been foiled on November 5, 1605. " Sorry - history geek/major in me coming out, but this is definitiely one of those major points in history when things Could Have Gone Differently.

14 of 546 comments (clear)

  1. My old uni! by Cockney · · Score: 4, Funny

    For the first time ever my old university is mentioned on Slashdot. I'm so happy!

    1. Re:My old uni! by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 4, Funny

      Fucked up your A levels, then?

      --
      That was classic intercourse!
    2. Re:My old uni! by Eunuchswear · · Score: 5, Funny

      Hah! I was at UEA 26 years ago, and here I am reading slashdot.

      Might as well kill yourself now, you have nothing to look forward to.

      --
      Watch this Heartland Institute video
  2. well at least by cassidyc · · Score: 5, Funny

    He has been the only person to go the parliament with honest intentions

    CJC

    1. Re:well at least by corbettw · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yes, we're much better off over here in the Colonies. Our policians never lie, cheat, or steal.

      --
      God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
  3. In other news.... by Skraut · · Score: 5, Funny

    Experts at the Slashdot labratory have worked out for the first time the true extent of the possible damage to the University of Wales in Aberystwyth's web server due to the posting of a story about Guy Fawkes

    --
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  4. From the article: by plexxer · · Score: 4, Funny

    He said the physicists used the weight of explosive to work out how it would affect its surroundings.

    "We know that the more explosive we have the more energy will be released when the charge is set off.

    "From the pressure pulse generated by the explosion, we can tell if windows are going to be smashed or if whole buildings will be demolished," he said.

    He explained that the further from the blast the lesser the effects until only a faint bang is audible.


    Obviously they had their top minds working on this.

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  5. Re:Future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    he Guy Fawkes day was a frightning day for all of us British.

    it happened in 1605. How exactly was it a frightening day for you, again?

  6. University/School by The+Grassy+Knoll · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's a school of whales, not a university, you insensitive clod!

    .

    --
    They will never know the simple pleasure of a monkey knife fight
  7. Re:Sorry for being American but... by Burb · · Score: 3, Funny
    We forgive you for being American.

    Technically we are celebrating the failure of a plot to bring down the government (King+Parliament) by means of an explosive nature.

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  8. Re:Future by Alan+Partridge · · Score: 3, Funny

    I would be, they might miss by half a mile and blow up my bloody office.

    --
    That was classic intercourse!
  9. Damn, you beat me to it! by uradu · · Score: 3, Funny

    > Obviously they had their top minds working on this.

    That's the first thing that came to my mind, too. I think he's also a founding member of the Royal Society For Putting Things On Top Of Other Things.

  10. How come they didn't have this at my school? by m0smithslash · · Score: 4, Funny
    Physicists from the university's Centre for Explosion Studies found that the amount of gunpowder Guy ...

    Centre for Explosion Studies!! Now there is a cool major.

    Bob: Hi, what's your major?
    Jane: Theater. How about you?
    Bob: Explosion Studies.
    Jane: Wow, that is soooo cool. Wanna go out tonight?

    Doesn't work that way with CS I can tell you. Seriously, was there ever a cooler thing to major in? I would have even dropped out of CS to be able to blow things up. They also get to study all the great explosions of all time.

    I wonder what kind of job Explosive majors get? Cool stuff like special effects, building demolition, pyrotechniques, rodent control. I think I missed my true calling in life.

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  11. Re:Child's play by Gudlyf · · Score: 3, Funny
    Caption of this image:

    "Hmmm...strange these all have their detonators still installed. Meh, no matter."

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