Why does Homer handle a rod of uranium in the opening?
up vote
36
down vote
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In The Simpsons opening Homer handles a rod of uranium, that he gets rid of while commuting to home afterward. However, as he works as a safety inspector, it doesn't seem to be part of his work responsibility to deal with uranium directly. Is there any explanation why he does that?
plot-explanation the-simpsons
edited Nov 16 at 6:39
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
asked Nov 15 at 17:05
Aleksandr Medvedev
295126
add a comment |
up vote
36
down vote
favorite
In The Simpsons opening Homer handles a rod of uranium, that he gets rid of while commuting to home afterward. However, as he works as a safety inspector, it doesn't seem to be part of his work responsibility to deal with uranium directly. Is there any explanation why he does that?
plot-explanation the-simpsons
edited Nov 16 at 6:39
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
asked Nov 15 at 17:05
Aleksandr Medvedev
295126
7
events in the opening aren't canon anyway ;)
– NKCampbell
Nov 15 at 22:32
4
@NKCampbell [citation needed] -- I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just curious what your basis for the statement is.
– KlaymenDK
Nov 16 at 21:01
4
Is there any explanation why he wouldn't do that? Homer hasn't generally been shown to be an extremely competent Nukulur Safety Inspector. ...or an extremely competent anything (so long as that Crayon is in his nose anyways).
– BruceWayne
Nov 16 at 21:48
Also neither do actual nuclear power plants have any nuclear fuel rods in this form, nor do they handle the nuclear fuel in this way, nor does the nuclear fuel glow green. The entire scene is a combination of silly clichés.
– Loong
Nov 17 at 10:23
Why wouldn't it be a plutonium rod, and why couldn't it just be a stray one?
– amI
Nov 18 at 6:09
add a comment |
up vote
36
down vote
favorite
up vote
36
down vote
favorite
In The Simpsons opening Homer handles a rod of uranium, that he gets rid of while commuting to home afterward. However, as he works as a safety inspector, it doesn't seem to be part of his work responsibility to deal with uranium directly. Is there any explanation why he does that?
plot-explanation the-simpsons
edited Nov 16 at 6:39
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
asked Nov 15 at 17:05
Aleksandr Medvedev
295126
In The Simpsons opening Homer handles a rod of uranium, that he gets rid of while commuting to home afterward. However, as he works as a safety inspector, it doesn't seem to be part of his work responsibility to deal with uranium directly. Is there any explanation why he does that?
plot-explanation the-simpsons
plot-explanation the-simpsons
edited Nov 16 at 6:39
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
asked Nov 15 at 17:05
Aleksandr Medvedev
295126
edited Nov 16 at 6:39
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
asked Nov 15 at 17:05
Aleksandr Medvedev
295126
edited Nov 16 at 6:39
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
edited Nov 16 at 6:39
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
edited Nov 16 at 6:39
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
69.2k58360567
asked Nov 15 at 17:05
Aleksandr Medvedev
295126
asked Nov 15 at 17:05
Aleksandr Medvedev
295126
asked Nov 15 at 17:05
Aleksandr Medvedev
295126
295126
7
events in the opening aren't canon anyway ;)
– NKCampbell
Nov 15 at 22:32
4
@NKCampbell [citation needed] -- I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just curious what your basis for the statement is.
– KlaymenDK
Nov 16 at 21:01
4
Is there any explanation why he wouldn't do that? Homer hasn't generally been shown to be an extremely competent Nukulur Safety Inspector. ...or an extremely competent anything (so long as that Crayon is in his nose anyways).
– BruceWayne
Nov 16 at 21:48
Also neither do actual nuclear power plants have any nuclear fuel rods in this form, nor do they handle the nuclear fuel in this way, nor does the nuclear fuel glow green. The entire scene is a combination of silly clichés.
– Loong
Nov 17 at 10:23
Why wouldn't it be a plutonium rod, and why couldn't it just be a stray one?
– amI
Nov 18 at 6:09
add a comment |
7
events in the opening aren't canon anyway ;)
– NKCampbell
Nov 15 at 22:32
4
@NKCampbell [citation needed] -- I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just curious what your basis for the statement is.
– KlaymenDK
Nov 16 at 21:01
4
Is there any explanation why he wouldn't do that? Homer hasn't generally been shown to be an extremely competent Nukulur Safety Inspector. ...or an extremely competent anything (so long as that Crayon is in his nose anyways).
– BruceWayne
Nov 16 at 21:48
Also neither do actual nuclear power plants have any nuclear fuel rods in this form, nor do they handle the nuclear fuel in this way, nor does the nuclear fuel glow green. The entire scene is a combination of silly clichés.
– Loong
Nov 17 at 10:23
Why wouldn't it be a plutonium rod, and why couldn't it just be a stray one?
– amI
Nov 18 at 6:09
7
7
events in the opening aren't canon anyway ;)
– NKCampbell
Nov 15 at 22:32
events in the opening aren't canon anyway ;)
– NKCampbell
Nov 15 at 22:32
4
4
@NKCampbell [citation needed] -- I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just curious what your basis for the statement is.
– KlaymenDK
Nov 16 at 21:01
@NKCampbell [citation needed] -- I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just curious what your basis for the statement is.
– KlaymenDK
Nov 16 at 21:01
4
4
Is there any explanation why he wouldn't do that? Homer hasn't generally been shown to be an extremely competent Nukulur Safety Inspector. ...or an extremely competent anything (so long as that Crayon is in his nose anyways).
– BruceWayne
Nov 16 at 21:48
Is there any explanation why he wouldn't do that? Homer hasn't generally been shown to be an extremely competent Nukulur Safety Inspector. ...or an extremely competent anything (so long as that Crayon is in his nose anyways).
– BruceWayne
Nov 16 at 21:48
Also neither do actual nuclear power plants have any nuclear fuel rods in this form, nor do they handle the nuclear fuel in this way, nor does the nuclear fuel glow green. The entire scene is a combination of silly clichés.
– Loong
Nov 17 at 10:23
Also neither do actual nuclear power plants have any nuclear fuel rods in this form, nor do they handle the nuclear fuel in this way, nor does the nuclear fuel glow green. The entire scene is a combination of silly clichés.
– Loong
Nov 17 at 10:23
Why wouldn't it be a plutonium rod, and why couldn't it just be a stray one?
– amI
Nov 18 at 6:09
Why wouldn't it be a plutonium rod, and why couldn't it just be a stray one?
– amI
Nov 18 at 6:09
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
75
down vote
accepted
Homer's first job was actually not a Nuclear Safety Inspector. He was a "nuclear technician" or "technical supervisor" (No one really knows. Not even him). In S01E03, he is fired from this job. He eventually becomes a "safety crusader" after witnessing all the safety violations the plant commits. Mr. Burns re-hires him as a safety inspector to shut him up.
That part of the opening sequence has been unchanged for the entire span of the show. What you're actually seeing is Homer at his original "Nuclear Technician" job before he became a safety inspector.
answered Nov 15 at 17:23
DeeV
2,59811015
4
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer%27s_Odyssey_(The_Simpsons)
– Paulie_D
Nov 15 at 17:23
25
(It's spelled "Nukulur") :P
– BruceWayne
Nov 15 at 21:15
2
I thought he was a supervising technician? (as opposed to nucular technician)
– colmde
Nov 16 at 7:59
4
@colmde I think the joke was his job was so meaningless that nobody actually knew what it was.
– DeeV
Nov 16 at 13:41
9
@Studoku Technical supervising assistant to the assistant supervising technician.
– R.M.
Nov 16 at 15:19
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
22
down vote
DeeV answered it quite well but one more update it's not even rod of uranium but a carbon rod. And to be accurate Inanimate carbon rod.
There were two such rods prominent in the show as detailed in linked wikia. And it shows he is less valuable to the plant than an inanimate object and also during NASA mission history repeat itself.
And he did use to work in Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, so having a carbon rod is not so strange especially when you envy it so much.
edited Nov 16 at 8:52
A J♦
39.4k15209222
answered Nov 16 at 6:38
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
27
To be even more accurate: an animated inanimate carbon rod.
– T.J. Crowder
Nov 16 at 10:46
3
@T.J.Crowder Whereas, if I drew such a rod in the style of The Simpsons, it would be an imitated animated inanimate rod.
– David Richerby
Nov 16 at 19:11
3
The rod in the opening appears to be glowing, while the inanimate carbon rod pictured in the wiki article does not seem to be. Are we sure they're the same thing?
– Zach Lipton
Nov 17 at 3:51
5
@ZachLipton Fuel rods don't glow either.
– David Richerby
Nov 17 at 11:41
They do if underwater, Cherenkov radiation and all...
– Drunken Code Monkey
Nov 18 at 12:58
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
75
down vote
accepted
Homer's first job was actually not a Nuclear Safety Inspector. He was a "nuclear technician" or "technical supervisor" (No one really knows. Not even him). In S01E03, he is fired from this job. He eventually becomes a "safety crusader" after witnessing all the safety violations the plant commits. Mr. Burns re-hires him as a safety inspector to shut him up.
That part of the opening sequence has been unchanged for the entire span of the show. What you're actually seeing is Homer at his original "Nuclear Technician" job before he became a safety inspector.
answered Nov 15 at 17:23
DeeV
2,59811015
4
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer%27s_Odyssey_(The_Simpsons)
– Paulie_D
Nov 15 at 17:23
25
(It's spelled "Nukulur") :P
– BruceWayne
Nov 15 at 21:15
2
I thought he was a supervising technician? (as opposed to nucular technician)
– colmde
Nov 16 at 7:59
4
@colmde I think the joke was his job was so meaningless that nobody actually knew what it was.
– DeeV
Nov 16 at 13:41
9
@Studoku Technical supervising assistant to the assistant supervising technician.
– R.M.
Nov 16 at 15:19
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
75
down vote
accepted
Homer's first job was actually not a Nuclear Safety Inspector. He was a "nuclear technician" or "technical supervisor" (No one really knows. Not even him). In S01E03, he is fired from this job. He eventually becomes a "safety crusader" after witnessing all the safety violations the plant commits. Mr. Burns re-hires him as a safety inspector to shut him up.
That part of the opening sequence has been unchanged for the entire span of the show. What you're actually seeing is Homer at his original "Nuclear Technician" job before he became a safety inspector.
answered Nov 15 at 17:23
DeeV
2,59811015
4
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer%27s_Odyssey_(The_Simpsons)
– Paulie_D
Nov 15 at 17:23
25
(It's spelled "Nukulur") :P
– BruceWayne
Nov 15 at 21:15
2
I thought he was a supervising technician? (as opposed to nucular technician)
– colmde
Nov 16 at 7:59
4
@colmde I think the joke was his job was so meaningless that nobody actually knew what it was.
– DeeV
Nov 16 at 13:41
9
@Studoku Technical supervising assistant to the assistant supervising technician.
– R.M.
Nov 16 at 15:19
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
75
down vote
accepted
up vote
75
down vote
accepted
Homer's first job was actually not a Nuclear Safety Inspector. He was a "nuclear technician" or "technical supervisor" (No one really knows. Not even him). In S01E03, he is fired from this job. He eventually becomes a "safety crusader" after witnessing all the safety violations the plant commits. Mr. Burns re-hires him as a safety inspector to shut him up.
That part of the opening sequence has been unchanged for the entire span of the show. What you're actually seeing is Homer at his original "Nuclear Technician" job before he became a safety inspector.
answered Nov 15 at 17:23
DeeV
2,59811015
Homer's first job was actually not a Nuclear Safety Inspector. He was a "nuclear technician" or "technical supervisor" (No one really knows. Not even him). In S01E03, he is fired from this job. He eventually becomes a "safety crusader" after witnessing all the safety violations the plant commits. Mr. Burns re-hires him as a safety inspector to shut him up.
That part of the opening sequence has been unchanged for the entire span of the show. What you're actually seeing is Homer at his original "Nuclear Technician" job before he became a safety inspector.
answered Nov 15 at 17:23
DeeV
2,59811015
answered Nov 15 at 17:23
DeeV
2,59811015
answered Nov 15 at 17:23
DeeV
2,59811015
answered Nov 15 at 17:23
DeeV
2,59811015
2,59811015
4
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer%27s_Odyssey_(The_Simpsons)
– Paulie_D
Nov 15 at 17:23
25
(It's spelled "Nukulur") :P
– BruceWayne
Nov 15 at 21:15
2
I thought he was a supervising technician? (as opposed to nucular technician)
– colmde
Nov 16 at 7:59
4
@colmde I think the joke was his job was so meaningless that nobody actually knew what it was.
– DeeV
Nov 16 at 13:41
9
@Studoku Technical supervising assistant to the assistant supervising technician.
– R.M.
Nov 16 at 15:19
|
show 1 more comment
4
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer%27s_Odyssey_(The_Simpsons)
– Paulie_D
Nov 15 at 17:23
25
(It's spelled "Nukulur") :P
– BruceWayne
Nov 15 at 21:15
2
I thought he was a supervising technician? (as opposed to nucular technician)
– colmde
Nov 16 at 7:59
4
@colmde I think the joke was his job was so meaningless that nobody actually knew what it was.
– DeeV
Nov 16 at 13:41
9
@Studoku Technical supervising assistant to the assistant supervising technician.
– R.M.
Nov 16 at 15:19
4
4
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer%27s_Odyssey_(The_Simpsons)
– Paulie_D
Nov 15 at 17:23
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer%27s_Odyssey_(The_Simpsons)
– Paulie_D
Nov 15 at 17:23
25
25
(It's spelled "Nukulur") :P
– BruceWayne
Nov 15 at 21:15
(It's spelled "Nukulur") :P
– BruceWayne
Nov 15 at 21:15
2
2
I thought he was a supervising technician? (as opposed to nucular technician)
– colmde
Nov 16 at 7:59
I thought he was a supervising technician? (as opposed to nucular technician)
– colmde
Nov 16 at 7:59
4
4
@colmde I think the joke was his job was so meaningless that nobody actually knew what it was.
– DeeV
Nov 16 at 13:41
@colmde I think the joke was his job was so meaningless that nobody actually knew what it was.
– DeeV
Nov 16 at 13:41
9
9
@Studoku Technical supervising assistant to the assistant supervising technician.
– R.M.
Nov 16 at 15:19
@Studoku Technical supervising assistant to the assistant supervising technician.
– R.M.
Nov 16 at 15:19
|
show 1 more comment
up vote
22
down vote
DeeV answered it quite well but one more update it's not even rod of uranium but a carbon rod. And to be accurate Inanimate carbon rod.
There were two such rods prominent in the show as detailed in linked wikia. And it shows he is less valuable to the plant than an inanimate object and also during NASA mission history repeat itself.
And he did use to work in Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, so having a carbon rod is not so strange especially when you envy it so much.
edited Nov 16 at 8:52
A J♦
39.4k15209222
answered Nov 16 at 6:38
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
27
To be even more accurate: an animated inanimate carbon rod.
– T.J. Crowder
Nov 16 at 10:46
3
@T.J.Crowder Whereas, if I drew such a rod in the style of The Simpsons, it would be an imitated animated inanimate rod.
– David Richerby
Nov 16 at 19:11
3
The rod in the opening appears to be glowing, while the inanimate carbon rod pictured in the wiki article does not seem to be. Are we sure they're the same thing?
– Zach Lipton
Nov 17 at 3:51
5
@ZachLipton Fuel rods don't glow either.
– David Richerby
Nov 17 at 11:41
They do if underwater, Cherenkov radiation and all...
– Drunken Code Monkey
Nov 18 at 12:58
add a comment |
up vote
22
down vote
DeeV answered it quite well but one more update it's not even rod of uranium but a carbon rod. And to be accurate Inanimate carbon rod.
There were two such rods prominent in the show as detailed in linked wikia. And it shows he is less valuable to the plant than an inanimate object and also during NASA mission history repeat itself.
And he did use to work in Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, so having a carbon rod is not so strange especially when you envy it so much.
edited Nov 16 at 8:52
A J♦
39.4k15209222
answered Nov 16 at 6:38
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
27
To be even more accurate: an animated inanimate carbon rod.
– T.J. Crowder
Nov 16 at 10:46
3
@T.J.Crowder Whereas, if I drew such a rod in the style of The Simpsons, it would be an imitated animated inanimate rod.
– David Richerby
Nov 16 at 19:11
3
The rod in the opening appears to be glowing, while the inanimate carbon rod pictured in the wiki article does not seem to be. Are we sure they're the same thing?
– Zach Lipton
Nov 17 at 3:51
5
@ZachLipton Fuel rods don't glow either.
– David Richerby
Nov 17 at 11:41
They do if underwater, Cherenkov radiation and all...
– Drunken Code Monkey
Nov 18 at 12:58
add a comment |
up vote
22
down vote
up vote
22
down vote
DeeV answered it quite well but one more update it's not even rod of uranium but a carbon rod. And to be accurate Inanimate carbon rod.
There were two such rods prominent in the show as detailed in linked wikia. And it shows he is less valuable to the plant than an inanimate object and also during NASA mission history repeat itself.
And he did use to work in Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, so having a carbon rod is not so strange especially when you envy it so much.
edited Nov 16 at 8:52
A J♦
39.4k15209222
answered Nov 16 at 6:38
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
DeeV answered it quite well but one more update it's not even rod of uranium but a carbon rod. And to be accurate Inanimate carbon rod.
There were two such rods prominent in the show as detailed in linked wikia. And it shows he is less valuable to the plant than an inanimate object and also during NASA mission history repeat itself.
And he did use to work in Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, so having a carbon rod is not so strange especially when you envy it so much.
edited Nov 16 at 8:52
A J♦
39.4k15209222
answered Nov 16 at 6:38
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
edited Nov 16 at 8:52
A J♦
39.4k15209222
edited Nov 16 at 8:52
A J♦
39.4k15209222
edited Nov 16 at 8:52
A J♦
39.4k15209222
39.4k15209222
answered Nov 16 at 6:38
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
answered Nov 16 at 6:38
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
answered Nov 16 at 6:38
Ankit Sharma
69.2k58360567
69.2k58360567
27
To be even more accurate: an animated inanimate carbon rod.
– T.J. Crowder
Nov 16 at 10:46
3
@T.J.Crowder Whereas, if I drew such a rod in the style of The Simpsons, it would be an imitated animated inanimate rod.
– David Richerby
Nov 16 at 19:11
3
The rod in the opening appears to be glowing, while the inanimate carbon rod pictured in the wiki article does not seem to be. Are we sure they're the same thing?
– Zach Lipton
Nov 17 at 3:51
5
@ZachLipton Fuel rods don't glow either.
– David Richerby
Nov 17 at 11:41
They do if underwater, Cherenkov radiation and all...
– Drunken Code Monkey
Nov 18 at 12:58
add a comment |
27
To be even more accurate: an animated inanimate carbon rod.
– T.J. Crowder
Nov 16 at 10:46
3
@T.J.Crowder Whereas, if I drew such a rod in the style of The Simpsons, it would be an imitated animated inanimate rod.
– David Richerby
Nov 16 at 19:11
3
The rod in the opening appears to be glowing, while the inanimate carbon rod pictured in the wiki article does not seem to be. Are we sure they're the same thing?
– Zach Lipton
Nov 17 at 3:51
5
@ZachLipton Fuel rods don't glow either.
– David Richerby
Nov 17 at 11:41
They do if underwater, Cherenkov radiation and all...
– Drunken Code Monkey
Nov 18 at 12:58
27
27
To be even more accurate: an animated inanimate carbon rod.
– T.J. Crowder
Nov 16 at 10:46
To be even more accurate: an animated inanimate carbon rod.
– T.J. Crowder
Nov 16 at 10:46
3
3
@T.J.Crowder Whereas, if I drew such a rod in the style of The Simpsons, it would be an imitated animated inanimate rod.
– David Richerby
Nov 16 at 19:11
@T.J.Crowder Whereas, if I drew such a rod in the style of The Simpsons, it would be an imitated animated inanimate rod.
– David Richerby
Nov 16 at 19:11
3
3
The rod in the opening appears to be glowing, while the inanimate carbon rod pictured in the wiki article does not seem to be. Are we sure they're the same thing?
– Zach Lipton
Nov 17 at 3:51
The rod in the opening appears to be glowing, while the inanimate carbon rod pictured in the wiki article does not seem to be. Are we sure they're the same thing?
– Zach Lipton
Nov 17 at 3:51
5
5
@ZachLipton Fuel rods don't glow either.
– David Richerby
Nov 17 at 11:41
@ZachLipton Fuel rods don't glow either.
– David Richerby
Nov 17 at 11:41
They do if underwater, Cherenkov radiation and all...
– Drunken Code Monkey
Nov 18 at 12:58
They do if underwater, Cherenkov radiation and all...
– Drunken Code Monkey
Nov 18 at 12:58
add a comment |
7
events in the opening aren't canon anyway ;)
– NKCampbell
Nov 15 at 22:32
4
@NKCampbell [citation needed] -- I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just curious what your basis for the statement is.
– KlaymenDK
Nov 16 at 21:01
4
Is there any explanation why he wouldn't do that? Homer hasn't generally been shown to be an extremely competent Nukulur Safety Inspector. ...or an extremely competent anything (so long as that Crayon is in his nose anyways).
– BruceWayne
Nov 16 at 21:48
Also neither do actual nuclear power plants have any nuclear fuel rods in this form, nor do they handle the nuclear fuel in this way, nor does the nuclear fuel glow green. The entire scene is a combination of silly clichés.
– Loong
Nov 17 at 10:23
Why wouldn't it be a plutonium rod, and why couldn't it just be a stray one?
– amI
Nov 18 at 6:09