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September 28, 2008

Thanks, Stanislav Petrov

Twenty-five years ago this weekend, people all over the world woke up and went about their lives, unaware that human civilization had just been saved from nuclear armageddon by Stanislav Petrov.

—Jonathan Schwarz

Posted at September 28, 2008 05:49 PM
Comments

thanks to you too, for telling us about him-- I must admit I'd never heard of Petrov before today.

Posted by: Jonathan Versen at September 28, 2008 08:30 PM
According to Petrov, this was because the incident and other bugs that were found in the missile detection system embarrassed his superiors and the influential scientists who were responsible for the system, ... and suffered a nervous breakdown.

Nervous breakdown? A slow life of retirement is unsuitable for some after a lifetime of pressure.

It does seem odd that scientists may want to hush up their failures; it's a good thing we trust ours with the LHC and all.

...the San Francisco-based Association of World Citizens gave Colonel Petrov its World Citizen Award along with a trophy and US$1000 "in recognition of the part he played in averting a catastrophe".

A thousand bucks, huh? Sounds about right.

What did Angelina Jolie get for the baby pictures anyway?

Posted by: Labiche at September 28, 2008 08:58 PM

And a shout out to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasiliy_Arkhipov
who, near my birthday, gave me several chances more.
And if anyone can inform me: who gave the orders to depth bomb the Soviet subs?

Posted by: Woodyeofalb at September 29, 2008 07:31 AM