Fukushima Japan: No More Headlines & Half-Life Headaches
Nearly 3 months after a devastating earthquake and tsunami struck, the reactors at the Fukushima nuclear plant are still spewing radiation. The plant's operator, Tepco, has now confirmed that three of their reactors likely suffered meltdowns.
(Sigh.)
But, wait...
There is... well, maybe not "Hope", but... there's definitely "Inspiration", and then some...
Enter: A tough, tried and tested team of Unassuming & Unexpected Heroes: The Skilled Veterans Corps.
Who are they?
They are a group of 200+ Japanese pensioners - mostly retired engineers and other professionals, all of them over the age of 60 - who have volunteered to tackle the nuclear crisis - and replace the younger workers presently at the site and those whom the crisis would, eventually, require to have available to work there.
Michio, a former primary school teacher who is spending his retirement helping out at a cafe that offers work experience to people with learning difficulties, had this to say...
"I don't think I'm particularly special," he says. "Most Japanese have this feeling in their heart. The question is whether you step forward, or you stay behind and watch."
Check out the inspirational story via the link below:
Japan pensioners volunteer to tackle nuclear crisis
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
World Health Organization: Cell phones/Mobiles 'May Cause Brain Cancer'
Hello? Mom? Dad? Bro? (Other Bro?)...
See! I told you guys that I wasn't a Conspiracy Theorist.
* I simply happen to be Waaay Ahead of my Time.
And no, don't worry... I won't say "I told you so".
But... (Argh! It's soo tempting!)
Please tell me that you guys all remember back when I was posting all of those "Cell Phone Use & Brain Cancer" flyers all around town and I was telling everyone I knew about the possible cell/mobile phone - brain damage/cancer link and about that one cell-phone industry-hired scientist (poor guy. was just doing his job. with Integrity) who had been - for all intents and purposes - blackballed after it had been revealed that the very research the cell-phone industry had paid him - quite handsomely - to carry out had produced - not their intended cell phones-are-harmless-to-the-brain results - but that, instead, pointed to the likelihood that long-term/repeated cell phone use might lead to brain damage and, possibly cancer?
It was years ago. Before I even had my own handy-dandy cell phone.
What? How many years?
Oh... Um, I'm really not sure. It's been quite a while, though, of that I'm sure.
And, I gotta tell ya something - I've been noticing that my memory's gotten kinda sketchy... over the last few years... Since I've had my cell phone... Hmmm.
How 'bout You?
Don't Forget To...
Check out the latest on the cell phone-brain cancer link story (based upon an evidence review by the World Health Organization) at the BBC:
Cell phones/Mobiles 'May Cause Brain Cancer'
See! I told you guys that I wasn't a Conspiracy Theorist.
* I simply happen to be Waaay Ahead of my Time.
And no, don't worry... I won't say "I told you so".
But... (Argh! It's soo tempting!)
Please tell me that you guys all remember back when I was posting all of those "Cell Phone Use & Brain Cancer" flyers all around town and I was telling everyone I knew about the possible cell/mobile phone - brain damage/cancer link and about that one cell-phone industry-hired scientist (poor guy. was just doing his job. with Integrity) who had been - for all intents and purposes - blackballed after it had been revealed that the very research the cell-phone industry had paid him - quite handsomely - to carry out had produced - not their intended cell phones-are-harmless-to-the-brain results - but that, instead, pointed to the likelihood that long-term/repeated cell phone use might lead to brain damage and, possibly cancer?
It was years ago. Before I even had my own handy-dandy cell phone.
What? How many years?
Oh... Um, I'm really not sure. It's been quite a while, though, of that I'm sure.
And, I gotta tell ya something - I've been noticing that my memory's gotten kinda sketchy... over the last few years... Since I've had my cell phone... Hmmm.
How 'bout You?
Don't Forget To...
Check out the latest on the cell phone-brain cancer link story (based upon an evidence review by the World Health Organization) at the BBC:
Cell phones/Mobiles 'May Cause Brain Cancer'
BBC: Blackpool Shale Gas Drilling (Fracking) Suspended After Quake
Fracking: It's not just about flame-throwing faucets, anymore...
(As if anyone could possibly need more reason than that to bring it the whole "Boom-ing" business to a grinding halt, bringing in Independent scientists/environmentalists and oversight and... take things S-L-O-W-L-Y.)
Apparently, the movie "Gasland" hasn't had it's needed impact in the ol' U.K.... yet.
Nope. Fire from our faucets isn't a cause celebre over yonder... But, having two very similar small earthquakes occurring in two month in the vicinity of the gas drilling seems to have gotten their attention.
Umm, Hello?... Commons Energy Select Committee Members?
Do you all honestly believe that whole '"tight regulation and good industry practice" will ensure safety' line you're running with?
Uh, you can't be serious?!
Your committee is actually putting your faith, trust and - not just the health - but, the very lives of your friends, neighbors and loved ones to...
To what - Bottom Line - amounts to nothing more than the Corporate Honor System?
"C'mon. You can Trust us. Just look at our Bottom Line."
The Corporate Honor System... Really?
(I dunno how you're able to sleep at night and/or look at yourselves in the mirror.)
Oh, I know what it is: You must be High.
Check out the latest on gas-fracking quakes from: BBC News:
Blackpool Shale Gas drilling suspended after quake
(As if anyone could possibly need more reason than that to bring it the whole "Boom-ing" business to a grinding halt, bringing in Independent scientists/environmentalists and oversight and... take things S-L-O-W-L-Y.)
Apparently, the movie "Gasland" hasn't had it's needed impact in the ol' U.K.... yet.
Nope. Fire from our faucets isn't a cause celebre over yonder... But, having two very similar small earthquakes occurring in two month in the vicinity of the gas drilling seems to have gotten their attention.
Umm, Hello?... Commons Energy Select Committee Members?
Do you all honestly believe that whole '"tight regulation and good industry practice" will ensure safety' line you're running with?
Uh, you can't be serious?!
Your committee is actually putting your faith, trust and - not just the health - but, the very lives of your friends, neighbors and loved ones to...
To what - Bottom Line - amounts to nothing more than the Corporate Honor System?
"C'mon. You can Trust us. Just look at our Bottom Line."
The Corporate Honor System... Really?
(I dunno how you're able to sleep at night and/or look at yourselves in the mirror.)
Oh, I know what it is: You must be High.
Check out the latest on gas-fracking quakes from: BBC News:
Blackpool Shale Gas drilling suspended after quake
Monday, May 30, 2011
Top Scientologist Charged With Coaching Sex Abuse Victim To Lie About Abuse
And this group campaigns against psychiatry??...
Eastgate is the international president of the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights, an organisation founded by the Church of Scientology that campaigns against psychiatry.
She was awarded the church's freedom medal for promoting human rights in 1988.
Police allege Eastgate threatened and intimidated Carmen Rainer when she was 11 into providing false statements to police about the sexual abuse she suffered from her stepfather."
Well... Truth be told, Jan Eastgate doesn't need a shrink, she needs to go to prison.
You can read the whole ABC News article on this breaking story by clicking on the following link:
L.
"One of the Church of Scientology's most senior figures, Jan Eastgate, has been arrested and charged in Sydney. She has been charged with perverting the course of justice in relation to allegations she coached an 11-year-old girl to lie to police and community services about the sexual abuse she suffered from her stepfather who was a member of the Church of Scientology.
She was awarded the church's freedom medal for promoting human rights in 1988.
Police allege Eastgate threatened and intimidated Carmen Rainer when she was 11 into providing false statements to police about the sexual abuse she suffered from her stepfather."
Well... Truth be told, Jan Eastgate doesn't need a shrink, she needs to go to prison.
You can read the whole ABC News article on this breaking story by clicking on the following link:
Top Scientologist accused of coaching witness
Peace,L.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
The Senate's LBJ Room: The Sistine Chapel Of The West It's Not. From TRMS
The Sistine Chapel Of The West It's Not...
In the 1850s, in what is presently the Senate's LBJ Room but what- at that time- was to be a library, the decorating decision-makers planned on showcasing four library-relevant-themed Neoclassic fresco-style paintings.
The four themes were to be: 1.) History 2.) Geography 3.) Philosophy and 4.) Print.
The first two paintings had been finished when, in the 1860s, the library plan was shelved (no pun intended - initially) and the room was, instead, to be made into a Post Office.
With the change of purpose, the latter two of the four themes were changed.
The four themes became: History, Geography, Physics and... The Telegraph.
I'm sure that the decorators/painters felt that their vision for the themes - particularly the last two paintings - showed reverence and respect for the exceptional painters/works from history... with a few upgrades.
End result? America is (metaphorically-speaking) depicted as the pinnacle of Health, Vitality and - as evidenced by the inclusion of a steamship and a train in the background of the "Physics" painting and the placement of a telegraph line in the hand of a cherub and placement of a telegraph pole in the background of the "Telegraph" painting - Modernity.
Hey! Look up... What's that? Oh, I know... It's Lady Liberty... and - whoa! - She's Hangin' Ten... and doing so noplace other than atop the crest of the latest wave of technological advancement!
I kid you not.
It's kinda weird - not that there's anything wrong with this variety of "weird" - but, in a trippy/quircky American History sort-of-way.
Check it out in the brief clip from TRMS that you'll find below.
Enjoy!
Peace,
L. :)
In the 1850s, in what is presently the Senate's LBJ Room but what- at that time- was to be a library, the decorating decision-makers planned on showcasing four library-relevant-themed Neoclassic fresco-style paintings.
The four themes were to be: 1.) History 2.) Geography 3.) Philosophy and 4.) Print.
The first two paintings had been finished when, in the 1860s, the library plan was shelved (no pun intended - initially) and the room was, instead, to be made into a Post Office.
With the change of purpose, the latter two of the four themes were changed.
The four themes became: History, Geography, Physics and... The Telegraph.
I'm sure that the decorators/painters felt that their vision for the themes - particularly the last two paintings - showed reverence and respect for the exceptional painters/works from history... with a few upgrades.
End result? America is (metaphorically-speaking) depicted as the pinnacle of Health, Vitality and - as evidenced by the inclusion of a steamship and a train in the background of the "Physics" painting and the placement of a telegraph line in the hand of a cherub and placement of a telegraph pole in the background of the "Telegraph" painting - Modernity.
Hey! Look up... What's that? Oh, I know... It's Lady Liberty... and - whoa! - She's Hangin' Ten... and doing so noplace other than atop the crest of the latest wave of technological advancement!
I kid you not.
It's kinda weird - not that there's anything wrong with this variety of "weird" - but, in a trippy/quircky American History sort-of-way.
Check it out in the brief clip from TRMS that you'll find below.
Enjoy!
Peace,
L. :)
Medicare Medicare Medicare Key To Dem Win In NY House Race
You're all familiar with the chant of "location, location, location", right?
Well, in yesterday's Special Election held in New York's 26th Congressional District, "location" certainly has special significance: Historically, NY26 has always been a Red oasis in the Great and predominantly Blue State of New York (they're so Red, they voted for Palladino...).
But, oh... The times... They are a'changin'.
The highly-noteworthy (for it's potential value as a "Coming Attractions" vehicle for upcoming national elections) Deal-Maker/Deal-Breaker in this instance was, in all likelihood, this variation: "Medicare, Medicare, Medicare".
Congratulations, Congresswoman Kathy Hochul!
And, Thanks, to the Great People of NY 26 and the Great State Of New York!
From: the AP NewsWire via NPR... Enjoy!
Well, in yesterday's Special Election held in New York's 26th Congressional District, "location" certainly has special significance: Historically, NY26 has always been a Red oasis in the Great and predominantly Blue State of New York (they're so Red, they voted for Palladino...).
But, oh... The times... They are a'changin'.
The highly-noteworthy (for it's potential value as a "Coming Attractions" vehicle for upcoming national elections) Deal-Maker/Deal-Breaker in this instance was, in all likelihood, this variation: "Medicare, Medicare, Medicare".
Congratulations, Congresswoman Kathy Hochul!
And, Thanks, to the Great People of NY 26 and the Great State Of New York!
From: the AP NewsWire via NPR... Enjoy!
Medicare Key To Shocking Dem Win In NY House Race
Friday, May 20, 2011
When Aliens Attack Interactive Survival Guide- National Geographic Channel
Hey Boys & Girls (And Aliens):
I just stumbled across this fun and interactive (and Informative) Survival Guide from the National Geographic Channel that helps to prepare you for when Aliens (or Republican Presidential Wanna-bes) Attack.
Several helpful games included.
Whatcha waiting for? Check it out!
Enjoy!
When Aliens Attack Interactive Survival Guide- National Geographic Channel
I just stumbled across this fun and interactive (and Informative) Survival Guide from the National Geographic Channel that helps to prepare you for when Aliens (or Republican Presidential Wanna-bes) Attack.
Several helpful games included.
Whatcha waiting for? Check it out!
Enjoy!
When Aliens Attack Interactive Survival Guide- National Geographic Channel
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
McCain: Torture Ineffective. Santorum: McCain Doesn't Understand Torture. Dumb-De-Dumb-Dumb
Both Senator John McCain & the Director of the CIA (who would definitely know) publicly refuted last week's rampant GOP claims which gave credit to the use of torture ("enhanced interrogation") in bringing about the death of Bin Laden.
Decidedly Un-Presidential candidate, Senator Rick Santorum's reply to McCain:
"McCain is wrong. He doesn't understand how enhanced interrogation works..."
Oh, is that so, Mr. Santorum? You have a Guinness-record-setting amount of hubris (and completely-dead/necrotic gray matter) to make the declaration that a man who - unlike yourself - has actually experienced being tortured (he endured 5 yrs. of torture when he was held as a POW in Vietnam) "... doesn't understand" torture.
Mr. Santorum's personal experience with torture: None. Unless you count how he tortures us everytime he opens his mouth.
"For pure, blind stupidity. nobody beats Santorum. In my 20 years in the Senate, I never met a dumber member." - Mark Salter - McCain Senior Staffer - 20yrs in Senate.
Please enjoy this brief clip on this remarkable story from last night's The Rachel Maddow Show:
Decidedly Un-Presidential candidate, Senator Rick Santorum's reply to McCain:
"McCain is wrong. He doesn't understand how enhanced interrogation works..."
Oh, is that so, Mr. Santorum? You have a Guinness-record-setting amount of hubris (and completely-dead/necrotic gray matter) to make the declaration that a man who - unlike yourself - has actually experienced being tortured (he endured 5 yrs. of torture when he was held as a POW in Vietnam) "... doesn't understand" torture.
Mr. Santorum's personal experience with torture: None. Unless you count how he tortures us everytime he opens his mouth.
"For pure, blind stupidity. nobody beats Santorum. In my 20 years in the Senate, I never met a dumber member." - Mark Salter - McCain Senior Staffer - 20yrs in Senate.
Please enjoy this brief clip on this remarkable story from last night's The Rachel Maddow Show:
GOP Senators Vote To Keep Greasing The Palms Of Big Oil - With $21 Billion In Taxpayer Subsidies
GOP Deficit Reduction Ideas:
Liquidate Fort Knox?
(This was satirical suggestion which appeared in The Onion about 3 weeks ago. And, it has actually been a suggestion offererd by some conservative politicians)
Sell Off Utah?
(The Federal government owns about 70% of the state. Armed with this little fun-fact, one conservative congress member, Dennis Ross (FL), voiced his opinion that we should liquidate Utah,)
Well... How 'bout this:
Let's end the ludicrous $21 Billion in taxpayer subsidies given to enormously profitable oil & gas companies?
* 74% of Americans say "End the subsidies.".
* Several GOP Congress members even said, on the record, that they supported ending the subsidies.
So...Why, then, did those same GOP Senators vote (only yesterday) to keep those ridiculous oil & gas subsidies in place?
Those very same elected GOP members of Congress who most recently voted in support of Paul Ryan's Budget Plan and it's plan to End Medi-Care... those same GOP members who want to make the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans permanent... have now refused to end $21 Billion (with a "B") in taxpayer-paid subsidies which have - for no conceivable reason - been given to two of the most profitable industries on the planet.
But, it's perfectly reasonable to them to begin liquidating the gold bouillon in Fort Knox and to start placing federally-held parcels of Utah on the auction-block?
Uh, yeah... Riiiiight.
Please enjoy this funny & informative clip from last nights Rachel Maddow Show:
Liquidate Fort Knox?
(This was satirical suggestion which appeared in The Onion about 3 weeks ago. And, it has actually been a suggestion offererd by some conservative politicians)
Sell Off Utah?
(The Federal government owns about 70% of the state. Armed with this little fun-fact, one conservative congress member, Dennis Ross (FL), voiced his opinion that we should liquidate Utah,)
Well... How 'bout this:
Let's end the ludicrous $21 Billion in taxpayer subsidies given to enormously profitable oil & gas companies?
* 74% of Americans say "End the subsidies.".
* Several GOP Congress members even said, on the record, that they supported ending the subsidies.
So...Why, then, did those same GOP Senators vote (only yesterday) to keep those ridiculous oil & gas subsidies in place?
Those very same elected GOP members of Congress who most recently voted in support of Paul Ryan's Budget Plan and it's plan to End Medi-Care... those same GOP members who want to make the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans permanent... have now refused to end $21 Billion (with a "B") in taxpayer-paid subsidies which have - for no conceivable reason - been given to two of the most profitable industries on the planet.
But, it's perfectly reasonable to them to begin liquidating the gold bouillon in Fort Knox and to start placing federally-held parcels of Utah on the auction-block?
Uh, yeah... Riiiiight.
Please enjoy this funny & informative clip from last nights Rachel Maddow Show:
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
From: J. Smooth. A Brief Note On Not Feeding The Trolls. (Troll: trump,d.)
If you're unfamiliar with J. Smooth or "Ill Doctrine.com"...
Please check out this brief video.
It's a hip, clear, concise & to the point 'teaching moment' on...
The 24-Hr Cable News-Created Cult of Personality:
Subject: trump, d. (Small-case lettering is Intentional.)
Enjoy! (I did.)
(Thanks to The Rachel Maddow show for bringing J. Smooth and Ill Doctrine.com to my attention.)
Please check out this brief video.
It's a hip, clear, concise & to the point 'teaching moment' on...
The 24-Hr Cable News-Created Cult of Personality:
Subject: trump, d. (Small-case lettering is Intentional.)
Enjoy! (I did.)
(Thanks to The Rachel Maddow show for bringing J. Smooth and Ill Doctrine.com to my attention.)
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wasilla High School Choir fights intolerance to perform Queen song at graduation
Wasilla's (Yes, that Wasilla) High School symphonic jazz choir has been rehearsing Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" for their upcoming graduation all year.
Then, Principal Dwight Probasco yanked the classic hit from the playlist.
Why?
Because, allegedly, a parent (intolerant twit) had made multiple complaints of inappropriateness since Queen's phenomenal late lead singer, Freddie Mercury, was gay.
... People... people... people... (sighs and shakes head in mournful disappointment).
P.S.~ This Sad, But True story doesn't have what I'd describe as a "Happy Enlightened Ending" but... it does improve, somewhat.
Peace,
L.
Here's the link to the story:
Local News : WHS choir, school caught in landslide over Queen song - Frontiersman
Then, Principal Dwight Probasco yanked the classic hit from the playlist.
Why?
Because, allegedly, a parent (intolerant twit) had made multiple complaints of inappropriateness since Queen's phenomenal late lead singer, Freddie Mercury, was gay.
... People... people... people... (sighs and shakes head in mournful disappointment).
P.S.~ This Sad, But True story doesn't have what I'd describe as a "Happy Enlightened Ending" but... it does improve, somewhat.
Peace,
L.
Here's the link to the story:
Local News : WHS choir, school caught in landslide over Queen song - Frontiersman
We Only Have Your 'Asbestos' Interests In Mind, Eh?
"We Only Have Your 'Asbestos' Interests In Mind, Eh?..."
You might find this shocking, if you still live under the delusion that Canadians are harmless:
Asbestos, Quebec - a blue-collar Canadian mining town - is proudly selling 400,000 tons of chrysotile fiber (asbestos) a year to India. Not only that, they are also actively promoting greater use of the slow-hacking-death-inducing stuff elsewhere... Specifically targeting those places, like India, where its use has not (yet) been banned despite being known to cause mesothelioma (lung cancer) - killing 100,000 people each year.
The more cynical among us might say, "Well, that's one way to reduce the world's unsustainable (over)population.".
And although that's true, personally, I consider doing such business - whilst, all the while, knowing of the painful, slow deaths that will come as a result - is wrong.
If any for-profit business wants to beat the rush and be among the first to promote the undeniably Enlightened goal of humanity maintaining a sustainable human population...
Human beings actively promote and enforce population control of every other prolific and not-so-prolific species... So why won't they actively control their own resource-decimating numbers?
... Then, produce and promote condoms and birth control... Not chrysotile or other carcinogens.
Peace,
L.
Enjoy this brief, funny and very informative clip from from The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, with correspondent Aasif Mandvi (5/12/11):
You might find this shocking, if you still live under the delusion that Canadians are harmless:
Asbestos, Quebec - a blue-collar Canadian mining town - is proudly selling 400,000 tons of chrysotile fiber (asbestos) a year to India. Not only that, they are also actively promoting greater use of the slow-hacking-death-inducing stuff elsewhere... Specifically targeting those places, like India, where its use has not (yet) been banned despite being known to cause mesothelioma (lung cancer) - killing 100,000 people each year.
The more cynical among us might say, "Well, that's one way to reduce the world's unsustainable (over)population.".
And although that's true, personally, I consider doing such business - whilst, all the while, knowing of the painful, slow deaths that will come as a result - is wrong.
If any for-profit business wants to beat the rush and be among the first to promote the undeniably Enlightened goal of humanity maintaining a sustainable human population...
Human beings actively promote and enforce population control of every other prolific and not-so-prolific species... So why won't they actively control their own resource-decimating numbers?
... Then, produce and promote condoms and birth control... Not chrysotile or other carcinogens.
Peace,
L.
Enjoy this brief, funny and very informative clip from from The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, with correspondent Aasif Mandvi (5/12/11):
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