Gravity Is Like SF's MUNI: Frequently Helpful. But, Sometimes, It Really Sucks.

Everyone's familiar with that ol' quote that declares: "Nothing in Life is certain but Death & Taxes." - right?

Well, I'm hereby making a well-deserved (and proven) addition to that itty-bitty little list.

There's another thing in Life that's certain and this is it:  If you ride a skateboard, it is absolutely certain that you're gonna wipe-out, eventually. (And yet again (eventually) after that. And again (at some point) after that; etc., etc.).

Many skateboarders may - in fact - enjoy being wipe-out free for weeks; months (I was); perhaps even years...

But, eventually, as with the aforementioned D. & T. - It's just gonna happen.

It's an unwritten law (like the "Law of Gravity"). It's understood by those of us who love skateboarding. And to us, obviously,  it's worth it ("Give Blood: Ride A Skateboard.").

Case-in-point: Yours Truly this Monday afternoon. And, I must admit... it was a good one.

*Only one witness, Thankfully (He was great).

What happened?

Well, here's a Clue: As of Monday afternoon, I'm considering ditching my beloved lace-up Vans for some with SK8 shoes with Velcro closures.

'Nuff said. :)

Details later...

Peace,
L

Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant vs Missouri River: Everything's Fine... (Not.)

Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant vs Missouri River...

Fort Calhoun had been using 8ft., inflatable "aqua-dams" in an attempt to prevent the rising floodwater from the Missouri River from repeating a series of events similar to those which recently led to Japan's significant and ongoing nuclear disaster at Fukushima (the tsunami knocked out the power; stopping the flow of massive amounts of water necessary to keep everything cool; leading to cores/rods overheating; leading to nuclear melt-downs/throughs.).

At Fort Calhoun on Sunday, crews working near the aqua-dams "brushed against one" and punctured it, which caused the one dam to collapse. The collapse of the dam allowed floodwater to reach Fort Calhoun's turbines & transformers (keeps water flowing/cools everything).

Official Statement: "Everything's fine. The aqua-dams weren't key to safety, they were an extra."

Oh, really?

If that's True...

Then how is that - with the collapse of that one aqua-dam - 2ft of the Missouri River managed to get through the cement barrier placed around the transformers? The very cement barrier that's not "extra" and is in place specifically to keep floodwater away from the plant's transformers? This breach then forced Fort Calhoun to disconnect from the power grid... which meant they had to switch to diesel-powered generators (Is this sounding familiar, yet?)?

Fukushima lost power. Then lost their generators. During the disaster, plant officials behaved very much like British Petroleum officials after the oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico, leading to one of the worst (if not the worst) oil spills on record: The officials played down how serious the events were and what had resulted; they intentionally provided false figures/information about what was happening to those who were trying to help; they lied, repeatedly; they denied, repeatedly; they turned down/away help.

The end result in Fukushima: 3 Nuclear Melt-downs (and, possibly, Melt-throughs).

The Fort Calhoun Nuclear Power Plant is now Two Feet below the current level of the Missouri River.

And, the consistent statement made by Fort Calhoun officials: "Don't worry everything's fine."

Yeah, right. (Initially, Fukushima officials had said pretty much the same thing.)

(From last night's TRMS)

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Peace,
L.

New York State Moves To Legalize Same-Sex Marriage (CNN)

Today the Republican-controlled New ("If You Can Make It There, You Can Make It Anywhere!") York State legislature cleared the way for the legalization of same-sex marriage.

The bill is now on its way to the governor's desk to be signed into law. (Whew!)

Visualize me doing "The Snoopy Dance".

Intolerance is so Dark Ages.

* In the interest of full-disclosure... Personally, I agree w/Mae West on the subject of marriage (*Google it).
But, I also agree that every adult human being has the right to live Happily with the ones they Love - regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Here's the link to the article and video at cnn.com 
Enjoy!
Peace,
L.

Ahh, The Good Ol' Days... Remember When They Did This...? (Yeah, Me Neither.)

I received this priceless gem in an email today from Peter Koechley of MoveOn.org and was inspired to share it with as many of you as possible... Enjoy!

Supreme Court Rules for Wal-Mart, Against Complainants in Sex Discrimination Case | AlterNet

First there was the disastrous "citizen's united" ruling and, now, here's yet another example of how urgently we need to overhaul/change the Supreme Court.

1.) Change the nomination/appointment process. 2.) Throw out the "for life" clause in the appointments/Add the option of issuing "pink slips" for incompetence. and 3.) Add some serious independent oversight.

The Dark Ages have crept far enough into the 21st Century and I, for one, am over it.

This is a huge blow - not only to the women involved in the sex discrimination case against Mal-Wart - but to working women everywhere and to working Americans everywhere.

The message from the SCOTUS: "Screw you, workers of America. Why should we care about your little lives? We're set "for life" in our cushy positions of influence and we and our really wealthy friends and neighbors couldn't care less. Because, seriously, what are you gonna do about it? What can you do about it? Absolutely nothing. Hey, we're The Supreme Court. We're untouchable." (insert chorus of evil, cackling laughter, here.)

My response to those justices and those self-serving, self-important, bought-and-sold people like them everywhere: No one's untouchable.

"We The People...", like all whom have faced tyranny throughout history, have our limits.

Supreme Court Rules for Wal-Mart, Against Complainants in Sex Discrimination Case | AlterNet

Business Insider: Second Nebraska Nuclear Plant Threatened By Flooding

Have YOU heard about the 2 nuclear plants in Nebraska threatened by floodwater?

If not, you're not alone.

Even before it was acknowledged that the second nuclear plant was being threatened, the threat to the first plant seems to have been rather - I dunno - methinks hush-hush is quite apropos.

As you probably recall, the Fukushima nuclear disaster involving three nuclear reactors and at least 2 - if not - 3 nuclear melt-downs (no, I'm not kidding.) resulted not from the earthquake, but from the floodwater and its effects.

But... fear not, good people!  At least that's what the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is saying (though not in those exact words).

"Officials say a key difference between the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan..." and the threats to Nebraska plants is that the NE plants "... have had weeks to prepare flood defenses." *

* They've "... had weeks to prepare", huh?

Well, that's all well and good... but, honestly, just because someone has had weeks to do anything - that doesn't mean they actually did it/did enough, now does it?

From: businessinsider.com:
Second Nebraska Nuclear Plant Threatened By Flooding

VIDEO: At Republican Leadership Conference, Obama Impersonator Tells Racist Jokes; Audience Laughs

IMHO...

That any political group - let alone one of our two major parties - would sink so low as to open their "Leadership" Conference with such a disrespectful (of our sitting President) and utterly racist manner is shameful, embarrassing to our nation and nauseating.

Btw: Anyone know the name of the Uncle Tom?

(From: Thinkprogress.org)
"The nation’s GOP elite gathered in New Orleans this weekend for the Republican Leadership Conference.

In attendance were presidential candidates Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, and potential candidate Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

Prior to a speech by RNC Chair Reince Preibus, an Obama impersonator took the stage and told a series of racist jokes."

VIDEO: At Republican Leadership Conference, Obama Impersonator Tells Racist Jokes; Audience Laughs:

Wisconsin's Most Anti-Woman Budget

The nationwide (and still ongoing) legislative attacks on women's health and healthcare providers are a timely (and serious) example of Why it is So Important that Every American Be Registered To Vote; Also, That Every One Understands The Facts Re: The Politicians and Measures/Propositions To Be on Their Particular Ballot; And, Especially, Everyone (Please) Vote, dammit.

Here's an article, posted just today, on yet another aggressive assault on women, women's health and women's healthcare providers via legislative budgetary strangulation, courtesy of (Recall-Worthy) Wisconsin Governor, Scott "Otherwise Worthless" Walker:

(From: Madison, WI's The Cap Times)

Wisconsin’s most anti-woman budget

You've Got The Look! You've Got The Look!... (Ugh!)

Ladies (& Guys, I guess):

D'ya know that look a guy gives you - even one you know - where it's painfully obvious that said fellow is just seeing/looking at "a girl" - in fact, could be any girl - and he's not seeing/looking at You, whatsoever?...

(He could be looking at the proverbial "piece of meat"?)

As for me... I really, really abhor that look...'specially when it's followed by a come-on/pick-up line/"so what'cha doin' later?" - sort of waste of his breath & my presence.

I just had to get that off of my chest... Thanks.

Peace,
L.