Circe Noodgelet

Update on the nuke issue

2005-08-05T15:57:30Z

Well, this just gets worse. The public meeting to re-license the plant? The plant is in South Haven, Michigan. It's called Palisades. It's the oldest plant in the U.S. (40 years), has had hundreds of safety violations/fines, and it's on the freakin' shores of Lake Michigan. There's already many many tons of nuclear waste being stored there. And they want to re-license it for another 20 years.

Let's just think for a minute, shall we, about the repurcussions if the worst happens. They're risking contaminating the water supply for ALL of us in the Midwest forever. And, you know that wind off the lake? Fallout. Hello? This plant, by the way, is not needed. It's only operating at 40 percent right now which is equivalent to wind power and could easily be taken off the grid and replaced with that. Of course, Consumer Power (who owns the plant) will dispute that.

There's much more to this, but I'll put it here in little chunks as I find the time. I think that nuclear power could be the defining issue of our time. The plants are old, there's better renewable sources now that are clean and don't produce lethal waste that can't be disposed of. It's time to start replacing the nuclear plants, not re-licensing them. The clock is ticking, folks. There's gonna be an accident, if not here, then somewhere else in the U.S. And, personally, I would feel awful if I hadn't at least done something to try to prevent it.

I'm trying to find the website where you can make comments to the NRC re the relicensing and I'll post it here.

And, this just in...

2005-08-04T20:34:21Z

*Smoocha* to my girls!

Distressing news about the energy bill too, CB & Meeby. Geez. By the way, it was a member of the NRC who said this, several times. To her credit, she didn't sound happy about it, but that doesn't change the situation, does it?

On the plus side, a plant in Maine was shut down because enough people caused a ruckus about it.

They keep yacking on about the economic impact if the plant shuts down. No, it's never good when people lose their jobs. But, ya know, one door closes, another opens. There'd be a lotta jobs in alternative energy sources too.

And what's the economic impact of a meltdown, exactly?

Something else to worry about

2005-08-04T18:44:35Z

Well, where have I been? Beats me. I will try to be better. Yeah, yeah, you've all heard that tune before.

Well, I thought I'd share some worrisome news. There was this public meeting for the re-licensing of a nuclear plant in which they said, several times in fact, past and present performance IS NOT, repeat, IS NOT considered when re-licensing the plant! So, the number and types of any violations the plant has plays no part in the NRC's (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) decision to renew the plant's operating license.

In other words, for those of us paying attention, they're not going to consider a shoddy safety record when deciding to renew the license for another 20 years.

Oh, they consider performance on an ongoing basis by fining and having investigations and so on day to day. But, apparently, it doesn't matter, because no matter how many fines and violations you have, it's not going to effect whether you can get your licensed renewed.

How does that make sense? What company do you know of that renews a contract without considering how the vendor performed? Even politicians have to
stand for reelection on their performance. Three Mile Island, anyone?

The Oscars & LotR

2004-02-02T22:34:48Z

Someone sent this to me & I found it highly amusing...

Rings' characters discuss Oscar snub
by Molly J. Ringwraith
Jan. 27, 2004

MINAS TIRITH (AP) – The city of Minas Tirith has been abuzz today over the news that 'The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King,' while receiving 11 nominations including Best Picture and Best Director, did not receive any nominations for acting.

"Eleven nominations?" said Pippin Took, of the Shire. "Well, that's good news." His friend Meriadoc Brandybuck responded by swatting him over the head with the newspaper and protesting, "But the cast is a part of this movie! Aren't they?"

Their kinsman Frodo Baggins shared Brandybuck's dismay. Upon reading the list of nominations, Baggins commented with an ironic chuckle, "They've left out one of the chief characters: the cast. I want to hear more about them." Waxing solemn and soulful, he added, "The movie wouldn't have got far without the cast."

"You almost don't want to watch the awards ceremony," contributed Baggins'gardener and loyal valet, Samwise Gamgee, "because how can it be happy? How can the awards go right when so much bad has been nominated? Folks in that Academy had lots of chances of voting for these actors, only they didn't."

Legolas Greenleaf, of the Mirkwood realm, commented somewhat cryptically on the Academy's choices, "A red sun rises. Lame decisions have been made this night." When asked to clarify his opinion, he told reporters that he had not the heart, for the grief was still too near, and retired for a walk in the forest.

His companion, Gimli son of Gloin, had sharper remarks to make upon the chosen nominees. "Mystic River? What madness drew them there? You'll find more cheer in a graveyard!"

But wizard Gandalf the White urged a more optimistic approach. "Do not be too eager to deal out Oscars in judgement," he advised. "That is not for us to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the Oscars we are
given."

Meanwhile, his colleague Saruman the formerly-White was in favor of retaliation against the Academy: "Too long have those peasants stood against us," Saruman said, referring to the Academy's failure to give any fantasy film the Best Picture Oscar yet. "Leave none alive! To war! There will be no dawn for film critics!"

Treebeard, of the Ents, told reporters after much deliberation and exchanging of long names, that he was in agreement with this proposed course of action. "There is no curse in Elvish, Entish, or the tongues of Men for this treachery," he declared. "My business is with Beverly Hills tonight. With heads made of cotton candy and rock."

"I do not doubt their hearts," Eomer of Rohan conceded. "Only the size of their brains." He then returned to the task of loading up forty of his men and horses with toilet paper and Maps to the Stars' Homes, for a "secret midnight mission" that he regretted he could not give details about.

At least one individual, calling himself Smeagol, claimed to be making plans to steal the Oscar statuettes. "Oscar is sooo pretty, sooo golden," said Smeagol. "We will take the statuesss once the Hollywood snobses are dead! Ye-esss, precious!" He then quickly added, groveling at the feet of reporters, "No! No! We were only joking! Smeagol wouldn't hurt a fly! Nice movie industry." He crawled away before he could be questioned further.

Still others appeared not to care about the snub. Lady Eowyn of Rohan said with a shrug, "The women of this country learned long ago that those without Oscar nominations may still get dates to awards ceremonies. I fear neither critics nor fans." Lord Boromir, a native of Minas Tirith, dismissed the concerns, claiming, "Gondor has no actors. Gondor needs no actors."

But overall the mood was one of mild disgust. As Lord Aragorn put it to reporters, "The day may come when the Academy is able to find their ass with a flashlight. But this is not that day.

The Golden Globes

2004-01-28T03:44:18Z

What Meeby said. Of course, it also probably doomed LotR's chances for an Oscar (tho it was probably doomed already), since the Academy likes to think it's so much more sophisticated and knowledgeable than "those foreigners." Any chance they'd pick the same movie for best pic? Nah, it'll be Sea Biscuit or Master & Commander. And Clint will win best director. Look, if they didn't give it to E.T., they ain't never giving it to sf/fantasy film. Ever.

At least LotR got three best picture nominations. Can't take that away from 'em.

Joan of Arcadia

2004-01-12T21:16:26Z

Can't believe I forgot to say this...

Last week's ep was excellent. This is definitely my new fave show of the season. Such amazing writing and such a terrific cast. They make it look so easy. And it's so damn difficult.

Even the end carried the theme through. Ripples...

And I loved Joan's "eulogy." Funny and sad.

Where the hell have I been?

2004-01-12T20:11:19Z

Happy New Year, all!

Let's see, what's my excuse? Holiday madness took over. Oh, wait, that's kinda boring. Ok, I was taken hostage during post-it prison break that I set in motion after breaking the pencil sharpener out of jail. Which was ironic since it was me who put the pencil sharpener in the slammer to begin with. Oh. Hold on. I'm channeling 24 again. Crap!

Yeah,I'm back. And I will be adding new buddies and icons and such but figgered I'd better post something before I forgot how to do that, too.

Nationals: It's such a joy to see Michelle skate with such passion again. She was magnificent. I cried. And hey, the men didn't fall down this year. Always nice.

Alias: Heh, heh. Meeby was right. Soooooo evil.

And finally a new Angel this week. It's about time!

Hope y'all had big fun over the holidays. Too bad it's back to reality now, eh?

My buds

2003-11-29T23:50:48Z

Hope all my buds had a happy turkey day!

And Meeby, I can't even remember how to upload this icon you gave me. I'm such a goober (but not as big a goober as CB ;-)
So what do I do?

Look at me, I've updated my lj! Woo-hoo!