1 Here's what tops global warming. Leave it to the Brits to announce for NASA, no longer the United States.

from the Daily Mail:

Nasa to shoot lasers at space junk around Earth to prevent collisions with satellites

Nasa fears ‘Kessler Syndrome’, where there is too much space junk for it to be safe to fly out, leaving us trapped on Earth

[Illustration] "Crowded": An artist's impression of space junk in low-Earth orbit. Nasa is considering using lasers to deflect the debris and stop it colliding with satellites

 Nasa is considering using lasers to deflect space junk around Earth and stop it colliding with satellites. The process could also avoid what is known as ‘Kessler SyndromeÂ’, where there is too much space junk flying around Earth for it to be safe to fly out, leaving us trapped on our own planet. Such a situation has been predicted by Nasa for more than 30 years and a string of recent near-misses have added urgency to the need to find a solution.

2 You'd think the green peabrains would be against piercing the atmosphere with lasers. But then, piercings and tattoos are their calling cards. Next phase to come? Arrange the space litter into collective shapes after authorizing the National Endowment for the Arts supervisory administration over NASA.

3

Well happy St. Pat's day to ya'll. It's acutally supposed to hit 80 today. And it snowed here Monday.

And yeah, I haven't fallen off the earth yet...

4 Oh God... not this fool again.

5 Welcome to my nightmare....

President Barack Obama found out years ago he had an Irish ancestor who fled the potato famine in Ireland in 1850. He can now claim 28 living relatives who also descended from that Irishman, including a Vietnam veteran, a school nurse and a displeased Arizona Republican.

Among Obama's newly identified relatives is 83-year-old Dorma Lee Reese, of Tucson, Ariz.

"I'm not a Democrat, so I can't say I clapped," said Reese, a retired brain-imaging technologist. "I don't appreciate what he's done by any means, but I do appreciate that he holds that office."

6 Puhleeese. I've been watching NHK (Japanese feed) for the past 20 minutes, and no one's said anything of the sort. Peddle that c*ap elsewhere.

7 Just in: NHK says spraying of water from ground onto reactor abandoned due to operation difficulty and high radiation" Posted by: Downscaled Upscale at March 17, 2011 07:11 AM (IhHdM) Don't kinda miss the Old Soviet Union. They would just order men to their death no matter what?

8 You'd think the green peabrains would be against piercing the atmosphere with lasers.

How long until we see the first concerns about the air leaking out?

9 So now that they're already tired of shooting  lasers at air travelers junk they want to shoot lasers at my junk? Keep your hands off my junk.

10 Nobody knows what's going on in Japan.  So, really, YOU'RE ALL EQUALLY CORRECT.

11

DU...

You do realize that was yesterday's news...

Thanks for playing, though.

 

12 Rory, Rory, little Reid
how much money do you need?

13 Shoe spammers using current events??? Wow. We have reached a new level...

14 ...to keep from falling off the earth.

Having fled the US in time to evade celebrating his mother's Irish heritage, from Rio, O'Bama issues a proclamation to preserve the endangered Unicorns. The NASA Beer Summit will test laser beams by targeting radical Leprechaun space pirates littering Lucky Charms. Those aren't stars you see.

Didn't the serpents St. Patrick banished from Ireland emigrate to Brazil?

15

And then you up it w/3 day old info. 

Brilliant!

16

St. Pattie's Day is today?

Damn!!! Now I've got to start all over.

17 #19... ???? Man, that's some heavy drinking for breakfast

18 Don't kinda miss the Old Soviet Union. They would just order men to their death no matter what? Some 'unnamed' US official seems to agree: "They need to stop pulling out people—and step up with getting them back in the reactor to cool it. There is a recognition this is a suicide mission," the official said. Posted by: Downscaled Upscale at March 17, 2011 07:23 AM (IhHdM) I was being sarcastic. I wonder if that un-named Official would volunteer if the same happened here in the US of A?

19 nevergiveup,  of course that "unnamed official" wouldn't volunteer.  He sees this as a job for those people less important than he:  the expendables.

By the way,  we all fall into that category,  since we aren't super-genius elite Ivy League democrats.

20 Woah, check out the picture of Palin's facebook ghostwriter Rebecca Mansour in an LA Times profile. We're talking major, major Cyrano issues here. Explains a lot about the scripted nature of "Sarah Palin's" political dialogue.

21
How Washington Ruined Your Washing Machine

In protest, send your best pair of tighty-whities with side marks to your Congresscritter, and a note demanding they change the law and stop fucking with your shorts.

22 Now if only St. Patrick could come back and drive the spammers out...

23 Mmmmm, Anderson Cooper,  fap   fap   fap  fap,fap,fap

24

From the Tokyo Power presser - spraying underway @ 7:00 PM (local time)

Other powerplants (across Japan) are being restarted

Seawater (salt) damage is unknown

Exterior walls of unit 4 show damage, but unit 4 is secure (??)

It was a severe event (no kidding)

 

25 Mmmm, Neil Cavuto, fap  fap   fap    fapfapfap

26 You'd think the green peabrains would be against piercing the atmosphere with lasers.

"How long until we see the first concerns about the air leaking out?"

Popping our protective atmosphere like a burst balloon.

Contrary to the pacifist Peabrains, the Noodleheads are pro-NASA military target practice, imbibing reports of extraterrestrial alien invasion. Having prepared visas for all, O'Bama isn't worried about aliens of any sort. Only meteorites.

27  #20 Jess, riff on #1

28

Rebecca Mansour

She's not ugly-ugly.  She's normal people average-ugly.  For instance, she's not as ugly as the normal democratic broad.

29
This is fag free zone, and no fapping!

30

O'Bama isn't worried about aliens of any sort. Only meteorites.

Golf-ball sized meteorites?

31

Moar:

Second time someone mentions #4 is "secure" (this could be very good news or a case of no news)

don't know the actual volumes of water used (no surprise)

they can replace the batteries (whew)

My $.02 - still a great deal of work to do, and yes, it's dangerous, but progress is being made, hour by hour.

32 riff on #1

ahem. FIRST!

33 OK question for this moron dentist. If they are dropping water on the "reactor" intending that water to "cool" the rods, doesn't that seem to indicate then the the inner steel casing is broken and open? I mean otherwise how would the water get in to cool the rods?

34

O'Bama isn't worried about aliens of any sort. Only meteorites.

Golf-ball sized meteorites? --Posted by: HH at March 17, 2011 07:43 AM

You caught the funny animation on NASA v. Obama?

35
Those meanie republicans only want to wring my neck.

36 Happy St Patricks day!

37

Okay scientists/engineers/mathmeticians amongst you. Clarify this for me.

This nuclear expert on CNN just made the following statement:

If 250 units(rems?) definitely causes cancer, then 100 people exposed to 2.5 units(rems?), someone is likely to get cancer.

What?!

Am I mistaken, ot would the equivalent be the following?

If one person who cannot swim is exposed to a pool of water they will drown, but if 100 people are exposed to a teaspoon of water, one will likely drown.

38

Posted by: by any other name at March 17, 2011 07:45 AM (H+LJc)

No, haven't seen it. Any link?

39 balls to Mel Gibson. If he wants a second chance let him get it bagging groceries. No way in hell that the disgusting self-centeredness or the racism were "not him." He might know better than to express them most of the time but the man is a genuine asshole in a bad way. I can only hope that rdbrewer's comments are some sarcasm that I'm not picking up on.

40

38,

Not dropping water "on the reactor", and no.

41
I'm very busy Saturday morning, with a visit to Christ the Redeemer on the hill, and a two hour session at La Trocadero for a Brazilian wax and manicure. 

42

Bon vivant Lee Stranahan puts some knowledge to the lefties in his HR Puffington Post article entitled

Shame: Ignoring Death Threats to Wisconsin Politicians Is Media Bias

Warning:  link goes to bon vivant Lee Stranahan writing in the HR Puffington Post.

43

#42,

Here's the clarification:

An "Expert" from "CNN" hasn't a clue @ radiation, but is certain that 80 rounds of Obungme golf is less of a vacation than Bush @ Crawford...

44 Hey Tom, what's the rumpus?

45

Oh my.

 

You know that SNL skit that had the two New England women with their own radio show? I can't remember the name of the skit, but I swear the two anchors on CNNs morning show remind of that skit.

46 Not dropping water "on the reactor", and no. Posted by: Jess at March 17, 2011 07:48 AM (cNHhh) OK then what is the water doing?

47

With all apologies, another link to the huff po:  Man jailed for death threats against NPR hosts.  No political persuasion mentioned, but he just sounds deranged.  Which means he's either a lefty, or just deranged.

The threats were made in January, so it's not exactly timely.

48

For the 3rd time, reporters are emphasizing that Defense forces are spraying water directly into #3 as of 7:00 PM (local time). 

Read between the lines what you will... I take it as improving news.

49 Well happy St. Pat's day to ya'll. It's acutally supposed to hit 80 today. And it snowed here Monday.

We're supposed to hit 81 tomorrow. Today would be a good day to go to Charleston and hit Tommy Condon's except yopu wouldn't be able to get within 2 blocks of it.

50

Cantor and the gang will try to defund NPR today.  If you have a sympathetic or ambivalent rep, call them today:  202-224-3121

 

51

Okay scientists/engineers/mathmeticians amongst you. Clarify this for me.

This nuclear expert on CNN just made the following statement:

If 250 units(rems?) definitely causes cancer, then 100 people exposed to 2.5 units(rems?), someone is likely to get cancer.

What?!

The best thing to do is to turn the TV off and avoid any media news outlet. If you want to know what is going on in Japan log into the thread from last night. It is still active.

Currently there has been no release that would have any statistical impact on cancer to the public.

52

A nice commentary on how congressional Republicans are using a teaspoon to bail out the Pacific ocean:

U.S. Debt Jumped $72 Billion Same Day U.S. House Voted to Cut Spending $6 Billion

53

#53 is correct - "spraying water on rods" is incorrect (FWIW, there are a few markers I use to dismiss reports - when the story mentions something along the lines of "spraying the rods" I bail).

In the case of #3, the "pool" containing the core is full of water - they're now spraying the outside of the the pool (think massive concrete tank) to keep it cool

54

The best thing to do is to turn the TV off and avoid any media news outlet. If you want to know what is going on in Japan log into the thread from last night. It is still active.

Currently there has been no release that would have any statistical impact on cancer to the public.

I'm not alarmed by what the guy said. I'm just trying to figure out exactly how his calculation adds up.

55

A good yardstick on how little radiation from a nuclear reactor matters:

In the town of Chernobyl, approimately 1,000 people got cancer in the year following the meltdown.

990 of them were cured.  With Russian medical technology.

We're all gonna be fucking fine.

56 Posted by: HH at March 17, 2011 07:48 AM (6oDXl)

I can't find it bing-ing youtube...thought maybe I'd seen it here at AoS featuring plastic anime characters with automated voices arguing. Obama limits NASA to attacking an astroid.

57 I'm not alarmed by what the guy said. I'm just trying to figure out exactly how his calculation adds up.

It doesn't, it was meaningless gibberish.

58 They're just being lazy - semantic shorthand. They're dropping water on the roofless reactor (building), hoping to fill the spent fuel ponds. Posted by: Downscaled Upscale at March 17, 2011 07:52 AM (IhHdM) Ah right OK--Thanks

59

Cantor and the gang will try to defund NPR today.  If you have a sympathetic or ambivalent rep, call them today:  202-224-3121 --Posted by: Truman North

Geez, and this makes headlines just in time for the media to play the NPR sympathy card.

John Crosby, who graduated from the University of Southern Maine in 2009 with a degree in electrical engineering, threatened to kill or harm two of the hosts of “All Things Considered,” the popular National Public Radio news program, and was arrested in the University's library by the FBI for death threats emailed to NPR hosts Melissa Block and Guy Raz.

60

It doesn't, it was meaningless gibberish.

Precisely. My What?! wasn't exactly a question as much as an expression of  WTF?!

61

@by any other name:  Yep, had that story linked, too.

Kill NPR, and you won't have that problem anymore.

62 The deaths from Chernobyl have always been greatly exaggerated. Check here for the latest findings:

http://tinyurl.com/48j6b6m

63 Cowboy poetry:
Not hog butcher to the world,
But pork none the less.

64 Anybody else notice the news reports using the miniature models of the plant? Had a 60's James Bond flashback for a second...

65

We're supposed to hit 81 tomorrow.

And of course a cold front moves in tomorrow here. But not too bad. Meanwhile, we have warm moist air moving up from the south. It's actually getting pretty humid, and I can see the low clouds racing towards the north as I type. The temps here have jumped up 10º/day since Monday, when it snowed.

66 Woah, check out the picture of Palin's facebook ghostwriter Rebecca Mansour
Posted by: Natwest




Gee, Dr. Okun has really let himself go.....

67 Oh - and I so want one of those sealed/self contained "riot sprayers" trucks....

68 US ‘No Speak English, No Service’: Restaurant Owner Removes Controversial Sign After Bombarded With Threats... and a brick through his window

69 Michigan Dems Charged in Forging Fake Tea Party Election Documents

70 Rush issues a delightful smackdown to congressional Republican leadership

71

Which means he's either a lefty, or just deranged.

There's a difference?

72

WTF time from Weasel Zippers

Faced with a Congress hostile to even slight restrictions of Second Amendment rights, the Obama administration is exploring potential changes to gun laws that can be secured strictly through executive action, administration officials say.

We made a lot of jokes about him becoming a dictator for life and ruling by decree. It looks like he is going to try to make it happen.

Again, suppose RR had said we will defund the Department of Education and I am going to fire everyone there because he could not get it through the Dem congress.

73 More italic fail.

74
America no longer needed NPR after Al Gore invented the Internet.  We could see the sniveling and condescending tripe from the elitist liberals as they spoke down to members of the unwashed proletariat.  All this in the privacy of our homes while we fapped to the sight of Tipper's fat ass.

75 Carlos Beltran has another impressive day of not falling apart and dying

76 ok, I just cribbed that last one from the Onion

77

We made a lot of jokes about him becoming a dictator for life and ruling by decree. It looks like he is going to try to make it happen.

You wuz joking?

78 Sweet biblical cures!
My heart yearneth for gubmint:
Wash away my cares!

79 Mel Gibson can go fuck himself. In vino veritas.

80 Happy Let's Get Drunk Day.  (like we need an excuse)  green beer!

81

Vic,

I think I've a handle on the fire truck/spray story - it seems to me that the first attempt tonight used "civilian" fire trucks, which in Japan, are generally designed as "street" vehicles (think ground clearance, etc. similar to an everyday light duty vehicle). Those "everyday" fire trucks are so low slung and simply unable to maneuver as needed around the damaged grounds, so Defense Forces  trucks (more robust) were called in w/success.

 

82 An Irishman is never drunk as long as he can hold onto one blade of grass to keep from falling off the earth.

Earth spins are a bitch!

83
Need Monty's help in explaining the "Doom" in this:

Despite the crisis in Japan, the yen has risen close to its highest value against the US dollar since World War II. The BBC business reporter says the yen is being driven by market belief that Japan will need to repatriate some of its huge foreign holdings to pay for reconstruction.

Posted by: Downscaled Upscale at March 17, 2011 08:13 AM (IhHdM)

It means Japan will have to sell us lots of our bridges and buildings and stuff that they own. Which will put us further in debt. DOOM!

84

Good morning, Morons. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

May the wind at your back not be your own.

 

85 It seems that Obama's foreign policy in regard to the middle east is predicated on not insulting Iran.  Over at the WSJ.  I'd post the link but can't do it at work.

86 What do you call an Irishman leaving the country with a muzzie under each arm?

A good start.

87

Kill NPR, and you won't have that problem anymore.

Posted by: Truman North at March 17, 2011 08:06 AM (8ay4x)

You can say that again.

Crosby's insanity and antisemitism aside (too much of Crosby), his sense of being picked on by Melissa Block files under Monty's male victimization weekend thread.

Aside from utilizing the by reason of insanity not guilty plea, on behalf of Crosby and highly educated schizophrenic males tuning into NPR as students, faculty and alumni do, his defense lawyer would additionally file a PC lawsuit against Block for selecting disturbing materials to publicly broadcast that effectively destroyed and sacrificed Crosby's sanity.

88 What do you call a Welshman leaving the country, period?

Sending home the hired help.

89 How do you confuse an Irishman? Put three shovels against the wall and ask him to pick one.

90 The one I always liked..."May you be half an hour in Heaven before the Devil knows you're dead".

91 'Chelle, 'Chelle, you're so swell,
How does your garden (book) grow?
Fine, thanks ... so shut up!

92 Don't worry....its Washington math... WTF! Republican House Leadership Willing To Spend An Unnecessary $105 Billion Extra So They Can Cut $61 Billion?!?

93 This is the kind of shit we are getting here from everyone. This is a headline at the NY Post:

Fukushima's nuclear plant workers walking into certain death by radiation

This is insane. The highest dose documented so far to any of the workers has been 10 Rem. You have to get 25 Rem before a blood test will even reveal that you have picked up dose.

94 Some of the reactor buildings store spent fuel rods in large water tanks. These rods generate a lot of heat and radiation and must be kept cooled and submerged. The water in the tanks is evaporating because the they are open to the atmosphere and water is not being replaced fast enough, if at all. When the water level gets low enough the temperature and radiation release increases a lot. The helicopters were used to try and restore the water. It did not work because the wind and drop distance (the copters had to drop the water from high up due to radiation) made much of the water miss the target.

95 Another aftershock!

96

Did you guys know that the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Jaszko is the one pumping up the nuclear threat? He's not even a nuclear engineer. He was appointed as a political trade off.

Jaszko as the chair of the NRC is making these dire statements and he has no credibility. His career has been in the political wing of government as a senior staffer to Harry Reid and, before that, Ed Markey. Jaszko is known as an anti-nuclear fanatic. The only reason he is on the NRC is because Harry Reid put him there to thwart the repository at Yucca Mountain. Jaszko has ravaged the credibility of the NRC becase of his blatantly political moves with no scientific basis, all at the direction of Reid.

Jaszko knows as much about nuclear energy as any of us, which is nothing. His degree is in physics and philosophy, and his entire career has been in politics. Worse, he has a sharp political agenda and has a political interest in making this situation seem apocalyptic. Pay no attention to what he says.

If we have to choose between the Japanese government and utlities, and Jaszko, bet on the Japanese government.

97
Vic:

Executive orders only affect the federal government. I'm not quite sure what kind of EO could be used further gun control. The most logical thing to do would be to simply increase enforcement, but I doubt that would satisfy Obama. He may do something nuts like order the seizure of all imported "assault weapons" at point of entry. Whatever he does by EO will be unprecedented and very unpopular.

98 What do you call an Irishman, a Scotsman and a Welshman walking into a bar?

A mandatory "time out" during their never-ending street brawling.

99 9:32 PM Quake - 5.8 Magnatude...

100 Didja hear about the Irishman who was so drunk he kissed his wife and beat the Pope's foot with a coal shovel?

101

May the bags under your eyes never grow so large that you accidentally trip on them, fall in, and are never seen again.

Actually, I think that one's Sicilian.

102

Memo to Naturalfake:

Your blog is hilarious and informative.

The font is too small for me to see comfortably, and I'm not even really that old.

103
A man-child, the Wookie, and Orca walk into a gay Brazilian bikini waxing emporium in Rio........

104 68 The deaths from Chernobyl have always been greatly exaggerated. Check here for the latest findings:

http://tinyurl.com/48j6b6m

Posted by: Vic at March 17, 2011 08:07 AM (M9Ie6)

So I should stop waiting for my three boobied Chernobyl bride?

105 79

WTF time from Weasel Zippers

Faced with a Congress hostile to even slight restrictions of Second Amendment rights, the Obama administration is exploring potential changes to gun laws that can be secured strictly through executive action, administration officials say.

Posted by: Vic at March 17, 2011 08:16 AM (M9Ie6)

And this is why, upon reading a comment along the lines of, "NOONE will take away gun rights these days!! It's political SUICIDE!!1" I just want to hit the poster over the head with a tack hammer. It is the dharma of leftists to confiscate firearms.

Gah, time for work.

106 "Ireland must be Heaven cuz me Mother comes from there!" Urp.

107 103
Did you guys know that the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Jaszko is the one pumping up the nuclear threat? He's not even a nuclear engineer. He was appointed as a political trade off.
Posted by: dagny at March 17, 2011 08:34 AM (KGUi

Our betters are such intellectual titans that they needn't be schooled in the subject matter at hand in order to direct government agencies and spray obfuscatory statements around the room. To wit: appoint a former employee in the Indian railway system as head of the IPCC.

108 Someone say "Beer Summit" ?

109 I'm so irish I've got green discharge shooting out of my chacha. That's normal, right?

110 Happy St. Paddy's Day to one and all.

111

Top o' the mornin' to ya, M&Ms, and happy St. Patrick's Day!  The weather promises to be lovely here in NH, but New England weather is a cruel mistress that looks lovely one minute then turns into a vicious hag the next.  So I'm taking the sunshine with a grain of salt.

Other than the weather, today has not gone very well.  I'm pretty sure something somewhere has started to bud, because my allergies are starting to ramp up again.  Considering they never actually ramped DOWN from last year, I'm not thrilled. 

Also, our president is an ass. 

Okay, work time.  Please chat amongst yourselves. 

112 Today is special.  I celebrate St. Patrick's Day by having whiskey on my corn flakes, but that's not what makes it special because I do that every day.  It's special because the whiskey is store bought.

113 110
A man-child, the Wookie, and Orca walk into a gay Brazilian bikini waxing emporium in Rio........
Posted by: Fish the Impaler at March 17, 2011 08:41 AM (ZHsNw)

Pictures and we'll find you and hunt you down like a duck ...

114 Hugh Hewitt asks a good question of Jack Kingston.  Video worth a look

115 Urp.

Posted by: eman: Japanese Babe Rescue Team at March 17, 2011 08:43 AM (G8NKv)

Hell, all my grandparents were from Ireland, but I'm not buying that one either.

116

A man-child, the Wookie, and Orca walk into a gay Brazilian bikini waxing emporium in Rio........

Didn't I see that on Discovery Channel?? or was that Logo...

117 Anybody else hAving issues on the site via mobile? It started yesterday, site locks up and posting comments is all wonky

118 Most of life is insufficiently full of ejaculations.

119 morning all
I'm at IHOP having an AoSHQ-approved bacon-filled breakfast
mmm

120 I'm very busy Saturday morning, with a visit to Christ the Redeemer on the hill, and a two hour session at La Trocadero for a Brazilian wax and manicure. 

Posted by: Barack Obama, Gadfly Golfer at March 17, 2011 07:48 AM (ZHsNw)

 

I'm sure that Barry wonders why there isn't a statue of himself that size in this country

121 How many rescued Japanese babes can fit on the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan?

122 Did you guys know that the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Jaszko is the one pumping up the nuclear threat? He's not even a nuclear engineer. He was appointed as a political trade off.

The NRC started out pretty good as an independent agency after the AEC was disbanded. However it didn't take long for the anti-nuke is the Carter regime to politicize it by appointing rabid anti-nukes.

If anything, it has gotten worse since then.

123 I'm sure that Barry wonders why there isn't a statue of himself that size in this country Posted by: TheQuietMan at March 17, 2011 08:53 AM (1Jaio) There is one. It's called the New York Times Building.

124

Heah is ya'all's heapin' helpin' o' daily stoopid.

I sweat this guy is too stupid to be left alone. The dumb sob shouldn't be able to read and write, he is complete waste of education.

125 73 Oh - and I so want one of those sealed/self contained "riot sprayers" trucks....

Posted by: Jess at March 17, 2011 08:11 AM (cNHhh)

Could have used one of those in Wisconsin

126 My point was that the hysterical statements from the NRC are coming from an anti-nuke Yucca hating politician who was Harry Reid's chief of staff not anyone with nuclear expertise.

127 @ 109 Thanks. Also thanks for the font tip. I'm pretty much a moron but I'll see if I can find a wp page format that allows me to increase font size. I know the current one doesn't. Any wp users have a tip?

128 Hollywood scorns Mel Gibson but reveres Roman Polanski.

129 There's a picture of Glenn Beck's "breakfast" on the blaze here.  It's worth the look, I won't even tell you what I think it is, it will gross you out.

130

Nothing better than waking up to two perfect loaves of soda bread cooling on the counter. It can only be one day.

Happy St. Patrick's day to all!

131 On Saint Patrick's day we're all Irish, so we better be holding on to those blades of grass!

132 satellite photos

133

Nobody knows what's going on in Japan.  So, really, YOU'RE ALL EQUALLY CORRECT.

If that's true then the reports of them trying to bukake the reacter fires our must be accurate.

134

Okay back, because I have to share this.  If anyone thought there was a chance in hell of saving Canada from its own stupidity... Sorry, you're wrong.  Though maybe there's still some hope for the prairie provinces...?

From the National Post, via Big Peace:

Canadian mayor plans to bring town back to life by attracting Muslims

HUNTINGDON, Que. — The textile mills here have closed, the population is shrinking, but Mayor Stéphane Gendron is not abandoning hope. Elected in 2003 under the slogan, “Let’s bring this town back to life!” Mr. Gendron has a new plan to revitalize his community of about 2,600 people — build a mosque and establish a Halal slaughterhouse in a town with hardly any Muslim residents...

Good luck with that, buddy. 

Oh, and Joy Behar is an evil scrunt.  But we all knew that.

135

Dirty Harry Reid Moonbatism's -

http://tinyurl.com/49md9wj

136

#134, may I edit your post?

"My point was that the hysterical statements from the WH are coming from an anti-nuke Yucca hating politician who has no practical expertise outside of fundraising."

See, your statement works for anyone in the Obungme Admin.

137 This is insane. The highest dose documented so far to any of the workers has been 10 Rem. You have to get 25 Rem before a blood test will even reveal that you have picked up dose.

What's the frequency kenneth?

138 It's O'Sullivan's law, any organization that is not explicitly conservative, becomes liberal.

139 Sports radio co-host in Boston:
I was wrong about Obama, he's doing a good job,..........in his role as first lady.

140 How Washington Ruined Your Washing Machine



My mother and my mother in law both have the front loading washers and they either take their blankets to the 'Mat' or they take them to my house to have me wash them in my top load washer.  It takes a few minutes to cram them in (the washer, morons ) but they come out fresh and clean.  Their washers don't even get all the dog hair off.

Even when there is no room for the water to move around (hardly), my washer kicks their washer's ass!

Yeah, I said it.  Now go fix me a chicken pot pie!

141 Okay, Morons

How many of you played it safe in the brackets?  I'm hoping for some early upsets!

142 As Ghaddafi's forces are on the cusp of final victory...

UN Poised To Vote On Libyan No-Fly Zone, As U.S. Urges Stronger Action

143 Anybody else hAving issues on the site via mobile? It started yesterday, site locks up and posting comments is all wonky

Yesterday? It started about two years ago......

144 57
Okay scientists/engineers/mathmeticians amongst you. Clarify this for me.
This nuclear expert on CNN just made the following statement:
If 250 units(rems?) definitely causes cancer, then 100 people exposed to 2.5 units(rems?), someone is likely to get cancer.
What?!
Posted by: Vic at March 17, 2011 07:57 AM (M9Ie6)

He / she / it is full of shit and lacks credentials in the field. Is there any statistically significant difference between the "one in one hundred will get cancer" and the baseline rate for "naturally"' occurring cancer in the area?

The MBM is going all in on this one to be as alarmist as possible and is pulling "facts and figures" out of their asses. Big surprise. Turn 'em off.

145

The irony, she burns: 

The McGill administration is currently investigating Haaris Khan, a McGill student who, using Twitter, threatened to shoot a roomful of other students last week at a campus film screening.

Khan made the threats at a screening of "Indoctrinate U," a documentary, on March 8 hosted by Conservative McGill and Libertarian McGill. "I want to shoot everyone in this room," he tweeted at one point during the film, adding, "I should have brought an M16."

146

A nice commentary on how congressional Republicans are using a teaspoon to bail out the Pacific ocean:

U.S. Debt Jumped $72 Billion Same Day U.S. House Voted to Cut Spending $6 Billion

Posted by: Truman North at March 17, 2011 07:58 AM (8ay4x)

We go $4,000,000,000 deeper in debt EVERY FUCKING DAY!!!

Real good thing that they cut $6 billion, I was starting to worry.

147 Erin go bragh, jackwagons!

148 Sports radio co-host in Boston:
I was wrong about Obama, he's doing a good job,..........in his role as first lady.

Posted by: ontherocks at March 17, 2011 09:13 AM (HBqDo)

My guy yesterday said, 'I'd like to say that BO finally made a centrist decision when he filled out his bracket....he had to choose teams from each division/side... but hell, he probably didn't even pick these himself....FORE!

Later he said:

Finally, Mr.President, you actually listened to the experts when making a decision.

149 That's "Quebec".

It's not really "Canada".

150 You ever have that kind of day where it starts off with you wanting to go Moe Howard on everyone?

151 Anybody else tired of looking at goddam yellow teeth?

152 125
Anybody else having issues on the site via mobile? It started yesterday, site locks up and posting comments is all wonky
Posted by: IP at March 17, 2011 08:50 AM (wpMM/)

Present. And it is happening to me posting from a PC hooked into the net via cable modem (up yours, Comcast). It started yesterday.

Hmm ... background radiation counts are higher than normal: that must be the cause ... oh, sorry, unexpected cross-talk between me and the lying douchedrippings of the MBM.

153

momma:  last year, I finished second to last in the AoS brackets.  I'm aiming lower this year.  My name on the Yahoo thingy is "DFL" for "Dead Fucking Last"

So, I hope you picked different from what I done!

154 Her's links from last night (sorry if you posted them up above, I scanned but didn't see them):



First lady to pen book about White House garden

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday described the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis in Japan as "beyond biblical in terms of its proportion."

Two must see videos:

Marxist Classes the LA experience ....
Rev. Wright Rants on Socialism, Capitalism, Beck, Palin, Tea Party and Israel

Oh the hypocrisy:

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, along with 18 other Democratic senators, penned a letter Wednesday in support of Vice President Joe Biden's effort to maintain government subsidies for Planned Parenthood in the final budget negotiations for the 2011 funding bill.

The group said a Republican-led proposal to de-fund the organization would harm the economy.

"This ideological agenda cloaked in a budget document isn't even good fiscal policy....As a matter of creating jobs and bolstering the economy, this rider would have the opposite effect: not only will health centers be forced to close but many uninsured women and their families also may go without care, become more ill, and be kept away from their jobs," the senators wrote.

155 Erin go bra-less!

156 If you can find the time and $$, rent or buy The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara and directed by John Ford, and watch it during this most Irish of all days.

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

157

momma:  last year, I finished second to last in the AoS brackets.  I'm aiming lower this year.  My name on the Yahoo thingy is "DFL" for "Dead Fucking Last"

So, I hope you picked different from what I done!

Posted by: Truman North at March 17, 2011 09:23 AM (8ay4x)

I picked the sleepers.  I figure if I go with the flow, I'm picking like Obama, I sure as hell don't want that!

Plus,  I hate the praise Kansas has received all year (even after their loses to much slower teams), so it is also my 'dream' bracket because I have them tanking

158 127
I'm at IHOP having an AoSHQ-approved bacon-filled breakfast
mmm
Posted by: chemjeff at March 17, 2011 08:52 AM (riAeC)

Hey, I responded to your inquiry on the ONT last night, but just after you signed off. The shorter version: Ixnay on my attending the ACS onferncekay.

159 What is the over/under that Obama comes out today and says: 'We're all Irish today.'

160 Gen. Petraeus reveals that his son served combat tour in Afghanistan.

That's called "having skin in the game", Mister Preznint.

I know, I know: all available evidence points to you knowing more about the "Skins Game" than performing honorable service for your country.

161 Big Brother? Feds Order Schools to Monitor Kids Facebook Posts & Lunchtime Chatter

162

WTF time from Weasel Zippers

Faced with a Congress hostile to even slight restrictions of Second Amendment rights, the Obama administration is exploring potential changes to gun laws that can be secured strictly through executive action, administration officials say.

Posted by: Vic at March 17, 2011 08:16 AM (M9Ie6)


Vic -

Sunday I posted Obama's 'op-ed' about Giffords and gun control.
He says he supports 2nd Amendment, BUT . . . .

163 168 What is the over/under that Obama comes out today and says: 'We're all Irish today.'

Posted by: momma at March 17, 2011 09:30 AM (penCf)

That's a sucker's bet.  If he says it at all, he'll be reading it off a teleprompter...

164 138

Nothing better than waking up to two perfect loaves of soda bread cooling on the counter. It can only be one day.

Happy St. Patrick's day to all!

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 17, 2011 09:03 AM (xMT+4)

ooo Happy St. Patrick's day.  I love Irish Soda Bread and my mom's best friend has sent it over every year since I was a kid and I'm jealous, I'm not living at home and I don't get any.

165 Tennis Elbow Brace | Magnetic Elbow Wrap | Tennis Elbow Strap

166 My name on the Yahoo thingy is "DFL" for "Dead Fucking Last"So, I hope you picked different from what I done!
Posted by: Truman North at March 17, 2011 09:23 AM (8ay4x)

In '04 myself and 4 friends (including my brother and my best friend) signed up for the ESPN version of bracket tracking. I don't remember how I did, but what followed was a bad year.
In '05 when I got the email prompting me to remind my "group" to re-up, I realized that of the 5, only 2 had survived the interim.
I had to have colorectal surgery (and missed my best friend's services) and the other surviving bracketeer was still recovering from a stroke, this with only one of the "starting" five being (barely) over fifty.

I'm not particularly superstitious, but the brackets and the draw that goes with them is no longer there for me.

However, if the drunken Irishman blade of grass thing weren't the truth, I would have been space junk long before that.
So enjoy the day but stick to whiskey and stay away from the damn green beer.    

167

Morning.

Vic's link at #79 is worth clicking on just for the picture. It's almost as good as the bike helmet/mom jeans one.

We need a combo pic...

168

ABC is carrying news stories about how badly the Japanese are responding to the threat. Who do they quote? Jaczko. Harry Reid's boy who is fighting Yucca. Un friggin believeable.

169 Psst, Bloomberg, fuck off.

God bless out Irish heroes!

story under the video!

170 THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
March 16, 2011

DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2011

10:00AM THE PRESIDENT receives the Presidential Daily Briefing

10:30AM THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT meet with Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny

11:05AM THE PRESIDENT and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny will deliver statements to the press; THE VICE PRESIDENT also attends

12:00PM THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT and Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny attend a St. Patrick's Day lunch

7:05PM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY host a St. Patrick's Day reception; THE VICE PRESIDENT also attends



So, from 10:30 AM on, today is a playday for Obama.  After all, he spent a whole half hour Presidentin', time to chill.

171

Faced with a Congress hostile to even slight restrictions of Second Amendment rights, the Obama administration is exploring potential changes to gun laws that can be secured strictly through executive action, administration officials say.

Exactly where is gun control on the list of issues that given the current "circumstances" the executive branch should be devoting time to?  ATF IS NOT EVEN ENFORCING THE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS.  See:  Mexico "let's see where they go."

If I am correct, the administration's current priorities are gay marriage, bullying, fat kids, the NCAA basketball tournament, backdoor gun control, EPA CO2 meddling, and telling the Governor of Wisconsin what to do.  Does that about sum it up?

Thanks 52%.

172 At about 4 am the news started saying that the state department was getting all the Americans out.  So I put the link to the official "japan warning" in the ONT.  Since most companies and colleges, etc have been getting people out for days, the government was a little late to the party.

When I was a kid we had green bagels on St. Patty's day and green milk.  The orange juice, the mom's could do nothing about, it wouldn't turn green.

173 Vic, any idea of the size of those spent fuel pools - length, width, depth? Because I'm coming up with 7,500 gallons from the "30 tons of water".

Deadrody may know. Usually that is plant specific. Ours held around 200,000 gal if I remember correctly but it was a big SFP.

But 30 tons (assuming 2K/ton) would be 7500 gal of which not all went in the pit.

174  I heard on the news that Cuomo has ordered a complete inspection of Indian point.  I guess everyone saying that were Indian Point in Japan, that NYC would have to be totally evacuated, spooked him.  Plus it is now coming out that it was built on a fault.

175 Just have to wonder how our "never let a crisis go to waste" government will try to screw us, while everyone seems focused on Japan.

Hard to imagine the gun control by executive order would fit with Obama's campaign mode, though he would love to do it.

The biggest problem seems to be the currency ... Japan may sell US treasuries, or issue their own, which would raise rates I'd think.  Bad for the dollar and inflation.

176 In honor of St. Patty's Day, take the drunk test.   When you drink, do hot girls get ugly, or do ugly girls get hot. 

So, would you hit it or hit it?

177 ok, this is the fourth day in a row where Glenn Beck is replaying his discussion of the plane or rocket or whatever that launched from the ocean thirty miles off the coast of CA.  He must be trying to make a point and no one is getting his point.  Anyone have any idea as to why he is truly harping on this every single day?

178

Posted by: momma at March 17, 2011 09:59 AM (penCf)

_{only excuse for hitting that would be bad acid}

179

ATF IS NOT EVEN ENFORCING DELIBERATELY VIOLATING THE LAWS THAT ARE ON THE BOOKS. 

FIFY. 

180

Okay, the article in the WSJ about washers says this:

In 1996, top-loaders were pretty much the only type of washer around, and they were uniformly high quality. When Consumer Reports tested 18 models, 13 were "excellent" and five were "very good." By 2007, though, not one was excellent and seven out of 21 were "fair" or "poor." This month came the death knell: Consumer Reports simply dismissed all conventional top-loaders as "often mediocre or worse."

I checked Consumer Reports and the top rated top loaders have a high score of 75 while the front loaders have quite a few models from 80 to 84 on their scorecard.

And I double checked that they have better ratings for washing well, not just that they ranked them well for using less water.

181 133 Could have used one of those in Wisconsin
_______

It would have been run by either firemen or policemen: union members.

182 Posted by: curious at March 17, 2011 10:00 AM (k1rwm)


He always says, 'my apartment in the city'.  He is now saying 'my apartment'.  He also hasn't mentioned his family lately (that I've heard).

Is he getting a divorce?

He was gone last week, part of Monday (he was there with a live show, then they just reran 1st hour, at least in Ohio).

Something is up.  Do you know what is is?  Has he said?

183 Corned-beef and cabbage,
my St. Patrick's day fare,
washed down with a hearty
pint of fine Guinness beer

Oh where are me lassies?
A lass no' 'ere to be found.
They've run for the hills,
from the stench hangin' 'round.

Cheers.

184

Posted by: momma at March 17, 2011 09:59 AM (penCf)

_{only excuse for hitting that would be bad acid}

Posted by: ontherocks at March 17, 2011 10:04 AM (HBqDo)

She's one ugly bitch isn't she? 

185

When I was a kid we had green bagels on St. Patty's day and green milk.

No Shamrock shakes in this part of the country, sad to say.

186 MamaAJ, go to Amazon and read the customer reviews. I had to buy a new dryer recently when the bearings froze up on my old one which wasn't that old.

ALL appliances now are crap. You used to expect 15 to 20 years out of a washer with no work and the same out of a dryer except you would have to replace the heater element on electric ones every 5 or 6 years.

Now you are lucky if you get 5 years out of one regardless of what you pay for it. I bought the cheapest POS I could find.

From what experience my older brother has recently had refers have gone the same route.

187

Just have to wonder how our "never let a crisis go to waste" government will try to screw us, while everyone seems focused on Japan.

Nuclear wind blowing across the Pacific could accidently set off guns, esp in the hands of bitter racist clingers. We'd better step in.

How about we give California a billion dollars for every 3 handguns turned in?

188 I had a backyard pool where 7,500 would only fill it four feet deep -- and it wasn't that big.

My old pool when filled to the skimmers held about 22,000 gal. The thing on these SFPs though is that they are about 36 feet deep when filled to normal level.

189 She's one ugly bitch isn't she?

Like the worst nightmares (usually after bad food), I've not only stopped trying to identify "it" I try to block that out altogether.

190 187 In honor of St. Patty's Day, take the drunk test.   When you drink, do hot girls get ugly, or do ugly girls get hot. 

So, would you hit it or hit it?

Posted by: momma at March 17, 2011 09:59 AM (penCf)

With a brick, or like a club-wielding Canadian surrounded by baby harp seals?

191
My old pool when filled to the skimmers held about 22,000 gal. The thing on these SFPs though is that they are about 36 feet deep when filled to normal level.

Posted by: Vic at March 17, 2011 10:11 AM (M9Ie6)

36' deep?  how big are they?

192

Now you are lucky if you get 5 years out of one regardless of what you pay for it.

Seems like some are okay, but the quality standards are so low that it's a crap shoot.

My washer is 9 years old and I'd really like one that works better...it used to get stains out...

193

And I double checked that they have better ratings for washing well, not just that they ranked them well for using less water.

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 17, 2011 10:04 AM (XdlcF)

You shouldn't put too much Consumer Reports anymore, sad to say.  They are no longer reliable and unbiased.  They were bleeding money  and then, all of a sudden, they backed ObamaCare and voila!  No more problems.  Plus, if you look at the products they recommend, most are a side group of GE or GE brand.  When I started noticing the trend I stopped my subscription (which, before this, I relied heavily on their articles/tests).

Plus, the higher the energy star, the better the review.  They use to say 'you might give up ... to have a greater energy saver, but it is worth it'.  Now, they don't even put in that little disclaimer.

194

"The students are to be evacuated via Hong Kong on a flight Saturday, according to the notice on the school's Tokyo website.

Some students have left already on their own."

195 I hate like hell for our kid to have to fly back into Tokyo.

196

Well, it's still a bit misleading to quote Consumer Reports from 2007 when they are saying something rather different now.

Consumers Union, meanwhile, which publishes Consumer Reports, claims that new washers can't be compared to old ones—but that's belied by the very language in its articles.

It's belied by 4 year old articles. Okay...

197 Posted by: momma at March 17, 2011 10:15 AM (penCf)

my mom has an LG machine that is belt driven.  I don't know exactly what that means but my mom did a lot of research when her other machine died.  She loves the machine.  It takes a little longer but, then again, so does the new dishwasher but they use less water and less electricity and she can set them to run in the middle of the night when the electric rates are lower.

198

My washer is 9 years old and I'd really like one that works better...it used to get stains out...

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 17, 2011 10:14 AM (XdlcF)

Star buying your soap and a business depot.  Laundry soaps are crap now, so it might not be your washer.  Or, start adding vinegar in the water (I add it in at the start, but others say to add it to rinse cycle.)  It really helps with the stains and blah colors.

You can also buy a cartridge at walmart that you throw into your washer (hot water setting, empty drum), that cleans your washer.  Vinegar (and if you are feeling spunky add a little baking soda - not too much or you will have bubble galore) in your washer, put it on hot water and run on longest cycle, empty (or with a few laundry soap lids in it, or tennis balls, etc to bang around washer)

199 anybody know what actual materials if any have been sent to Japan by US?
 I heard that 18,lbs  of aid was sent  by US. Thats "one" truck load.  Wow can we spare that much???. Where are the cruse lines? Get these people some shelter dammit they are our Ally for fucks sake.
     I'd like to know if we sent them Tents,cots,blankets,portable heaters, kerosene, as well as food. Is there a reporter in the house? I have not heard any mention of immediate shelter. But I hear lots of "shelters full,no water,no food,spending nights out in the cold"?
Oh and is it too early to start drinkin' totally fucking irresponsibly?

200 204  I'd hit that with a whiskey bottle.

201 Happy St. Pat's Day, morons/ettes! 

I hate the media. 

I very rarely watch tv news, but we do tend to catch the local news broadcasts each workday morning.  Bearing in mind that I am in deep red Utah, imagine my amazement when this morning's 2 minute national news summary included a clip from some brouhaha down in Texas (were there union protests down in Houston yesterday?) in which the only intelligible words from the 15 second video clip of the protest were the words "Some conservative is getting violent here.  We need the police." 

I have not seen a single mention of any of the crap the unions have pulled in Wisconsin or elsewhere.  But somehow this 15 second shoving match makes our local news. 

If I were as rich as Soros or Gates I'd offer to make huge, restricted gifts to every J-school in the country with massive strings attached to require them to eliminate the lefty-politics and require real ethics training for the students (and enforcement of same for the faculty).  Any school that turned down the gift would see their in-state rivals get a brand new, super well-funded J-school with the "right" outlook. 

202

We had so much crap in the water in Texas that I had to use vinegar regularly in the washer.

And in the coffee maker every month or it would start taking 15 minutes to make a pot! Run vinegar or the coffee maker cleaner through and dump out all the particles sitting in the filter.

I guess I haven't done that lately for the washer , so thanks for the reminder!

203 36' deep?  how big are they?

As I said, ours held about 200,000 gal. These are plant specific.

This is all the info on theirs I have seen:

NEI Fact sheet about the storage of spent fuel

204

I hate like hell for our kid to have to fly back into Tokyo.

Does he have a date to go back?

205 Posted by: momma at March 17, 2011 10:15 AM (penCf)

I am very happy with my Whirlpool Duet front-load washer.  It's doing a very good job and it never gets out of balance. Pretty quiet, too (although I think I read somewhere that Bosch front-loads are the quietest). 

206 Plus, the higher the energy star, the better the review.

I gave up on Consumer Reports long ago. When they started caring more about green shit than they did whether the product worked and was reliable I knew they were toast.

I use Amazon customer reviews now.

207 Wheeee!!! The gummint is deploying radiation monitors in Hawaii and along the west coast to watch for the arrival of the massive plume of radiation from Japan, according Fox News.

208
American ingenuity that created great washers and dryers has now succumbed to political correctness, and have gone the way of dishwasher soap with phosphates into the deep dark abyss of superior liberal management of proletariat machines, gizmos, and doo-hickey's.

209 Posted by: melvin at March 17, 2011 10:23 AM (3OCZw)

even the libs are getting annoyed wondering if we are indeed "really helping" but the one thing that seems to be even getting under their skin is the trip to Rio.  They are telling me it's another "extravaganza trip".  So I said "ok, i'll bite, what is an extravaganza trip?"   Apparently they think it's going to be another bring 125 cars and all your best buds deal.  I said well we didn't hear that and they said well we didn't hear it last time either until it was upon us.  So, their point is it's fine if he takes these working vacations but why does he have to take so many people and spend so much money?  I guess that is their version of WTF?

210 214 anybody know what actual materials if any have been sent to Japan by US?
 I heard that 18,lbs  of aid was sent  by US. Thats "one" truck load.  Wow can we spare that much???. Where are the cruse lines? Get these people some shelter dammit they are our Ally for fucks sake.
     I'd like to know if we sent them Tents,cots,blankets,portable heaters, kerosene, as well as food. Is there a reporter in the house? I have not heard any mention of immediate shelter. But I hear lots of "shelters full,no water,no food,spending nights out in the cold"?
Oh and is it too early to start drinkin' totally fucking irresponsibly?

Posted by: melvin at March 17, 2011 10:23 AM (3OCZw) 

The day after the tsunami, my kid's unit fast-boated food, water and other supplies to Sendai. 

211 Oh and is it too early to start drinkin' totally fucking irresponsibly?
Posted by: melvin at March 17, 2011 10:23 AM (3OCZw)

_{Maybe both would be pushing it, but the drinking lamp is lit for sure.}

212 Oh and is it too early to start drinkin'

Thanks for the reminder.  I need to make a beer run today. 

_{B double E double R U N, beer run!}

213

Some users of front-loading washers have experienced mold or mildew problems from water remaining in the door seal. Check the owner's manual for guidance and if kids aren't running about, leave the washer door open after each load, allowing air to circulate, and wipe dry the door gasket and glass. Some manufacturers suggest regularly running an empty load with bleach added. If you do, run another load after that to rinse out any residual bleach

From CR. Sounds like just the kind of extra work I love!

Top rated top loader is $2000. Next one is $620.

214 Posted by: Y-not at March 17, 2011 10:26 AM (pW2o

you are lucky then. I have a friend who has it in her apartment and her's is always being fixed.  I think hers was one of the earlier ones and they fixed all the problems in the later models.

215 219

I hate like hell for our kid to have to fly back into Tokyo.

Does he have a date to go back?

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 17, 2011 10:26 AM (XdlcF)

He flies back April 1. 

Right now he's drinking green beer at Savannah's 187th St. Patrick parade.  Heh.  (He went with an adult friend of ours and his big-boobed teenaged daughter.)

216

Soldiers' Angels:

We collected almost one ton of supplies, and over $60,000 to help Japan.  Thank you so much!  Everything has been sent and the Marines are very grateful to have supplies to give to the families and children affected--all because you cared.  Our thoughts and prayers are with Japan. 

217 Posted by: Mama AJ at March 17, 2011 10:24 AM (XdlcF)


I am lucky enough to still have well water, so though my water is pure (no chlorine, fluoride, etc.) I have high calcium.  My washer/coffee pot/dishwasher/drains are always getting gunked up, so I have to clean them bi-weekly.

218 Posted by: Mama AJ at March 17, 2011 10:29 AM (XdlcF)

One of my friends has that problem with her stackable machine.  She always says that she has to run bleach through it a lot.  She says cause she has to do it so often, she isn't saving any water and it's stupid.

219 Re the dog hair, momma.  (I just read upthread.)

I have a rough collie and two cats.  The hair comes out.  Sometimes I get a ball in the washer, but mostly it comes out in the dryer.   The only things that remain hairy are some of my man's dress socks, but I think that's just something to do with the texture of the material (and I need to stop buying him cheapo socks at Walmart.) 

I do a king-sized quilt/comforter in mine.  I do not do the really super-puffy king-sized comforter, but that one says dry clean only.  But my washer handles a summer weight king comforter fine.

220

I gave up on Consumer Reports long ago. When they started caring more about green shit than they did whether the product worked and was reliable I knew they were toast.

Oh, I've had issues with them forever. They were stupid and condescending in other ways before the green stuff.

I pay for the online subscription, but it's not the only thing I check.

 

221 I'm watching our St. Pat's parade on TV.  I'd normally be listening to Beck, but the geniuses at the local radio station decided it would be really exciting to listen to coverage of the damned parade on the radio.

I love seeing the soldiers with the 3rd ID getting kisses from the girls in the crowd.  And ever since 9/11 we get loads of NYC firefighters and police in the parade.  They love it here, they're treated like kings.  And the girls leave lipstick kisses on their faces. 

222 you are lucky then. I have a friend who has it in her apartment and her's is always being fixed.

Yeah, maybe as you say the earlier models were a problem.  Ours is three or four years old. 

And, if it's from a rental, maybe the previous tenants abused it.

I haven't stacked mine yet, but that was part of our motivation for getting the duets.  In our old house, the laundry area was cramped and we were thinking of fixing it.  But it seems like most of the houses here have gloriously large laundry areas to go along with the gloriously large families, I imagine! 

And, yeah, I tend to leave the washer door open while the drying cycle is doing its thing.  Other than that, I've cleaned it maybe twice with the packet from Lowe's. 

223 CNN had some numbers, said from NHK. They had tonnage #s for each reactor's Rods.   Were showing numbers for each - the old rods and the main ones.
   They gave numbers like 90 to 140 tons of storage and 90 or so for main fuel of Each Reactor or visa versa . So times 6  Reactors = an average Total of 1200 tons of Rods at risk.
 Is that about correct? If so what is the significance, because that is what.... 3 times more tonnage than Chernobyl ?
 

224

My washer/coffee pot/dishwasher/drains are always getting gunked up, so I have to clean them bi-weekly.

Yeh, that crap bent a metal piece in the dishwasher. And I don't want to talk about the sprinkler system.

Oh, I hope I can get that house sold soon before anything else happens...before we moved, I was looking into getting a whole-house water filter thing.

 The only things that remain hairy are some of my man's dress socks, but I think that's just something to do with the texture of the material (and I need to stop buying him cheapo socks at Walmart.) 

Word.

225 I hate Consumer Reports' car section.  It seems so arbitrary, like they've decided that Toyotas are always reliable and VWs are always unreliable, even when it's a new model year. 

My dad sends it to us which is a complete waste as it just goes in the trash. 

226

Y-not, my husband has been complaining about that since 1993.

Of course, they may actually be right. Still no reason to pay to find out they like Toyotas.

227 Planned obsolescence

Got to keep the customer

satisfied buying new every 3-5 years

228 "Rita King, Former Journalist"???? Where does Fox News find these nuclear "experts"?

229 Whole house water filter is easy to put in ... I have one for well water, then charcoal filter the coffee water so it doesn't keep plugging up.  Don't like the slick feel of showering with softened water, nor the hassle of adding salt. 

I just pull out the little screen on the back of the inlet for the washing machine.  Shower heads still get clogged a little ... ones with a course spray not too bad.

But my water is cheap.

230

IN an article published in The Daily Telegraph yesterday headlined “Bully’s angry mum wants victim to apologise”, it was written that bully Ritchard Gale’s mother Tina wanted her son’s victim to apologise for slamming her son to the ground.

But she had, in fact, said she wanted her son to apologise to his victim.

The Daily Telegraph apologises for the error.

Oh. HA Headlines.

231 I do a king-sized quilt/comforter in mine.  I do not do the really super-puffy king-sized comforter, but that one says dry clean only.  But my washer handles a summer weight king comforter fine.

Posted by: Y-not at March 17, 2011 10:33 AM (pW2o

I'll have to ask them if they've cleaned them recently.  I know they both own older F-L models. 

232 Uhh . . I've had two VWs now they are unreliable I still love them tho. I guess I like going to the mechanics'

233 So where is the current radiation coming from?  I'm guessing from the stored/spent rods, mostly in 3, maybe in 4? ... and their cladding is now shattered from the cold water.  Not clear to me, is what is left after the cladding is shattered, and how bad it is.

I'm thinking if they had just run a couple garden hoses to each tank they could have at least kept them filled, unless they have big leaks.  By day six, it seems they'd have fire hoses run to the pools at least.  And they seem to have men on the ground, but the helicopters don't want to be exposed for a minute?  Hard for me to figure what is really going on.

Vic already gave them the hose on a ladder solution ... midnight over there now, guess they'll work on it through the night, but we won't know anything till morning.

234

But my water is cheap.

I'm still adjusting to going from cheap (albeit crunchy) water and high electrical rates to the other way around.

We had super cheap water for the sprinkler system. There was a different water line and 2nd water meter.

Kids were heart broken last summer that they couldn't play in the water all the time! Cheap water and over-flowing reservior is different than minor drought conditions and expensive water.

235

 I had come upon an old woman rummaging through wreckage. Yes, she said, nodding politely with each sentence. They had lost everything. The house used to be right here. Nothing left. And a daughter missing as well. I had been overwhelmed that day, as I am again today, with the unimaginable scale of such cataclysm. Beyond even tornadoes. But then I became even more stunned by the response of those Japanese people, their strength and stoicism. No self-pity. No wailing, whining. No blaming government. No victimhood. No what-will-we-ever-do? In fact, the less they said, the stronger they seemed.

Then, the Japanese farm woman bowed deeply, mumbling something. Sorry, I asked, what did you say?

Turns out, the newly homeless woman was apologizing for being unable to serve me tea.

HA quoting Andrew Malcolm in the LA Times.

236 I think with the reliability/unreliable thing on cars, word of mouth and personal observations are the best indicators.  I also think that some makes are more prone to having lemons and, if it's a poorly designed car, getting the car fixed becomes a nightmare. 

So, for example, there are tons of Jeeps around here.  I know they've had electrical issues, but you look around and Jeeps and Lexus RXs are the two most popular SUVs around here.  Talking with owners, some are loyal to the Jeep and have never had major problems. 

Same thing with VWs.  I've known people with VWs who bitterly complained about them, but when you scratch beneath the surface, it winds up being that they are hard to repair.  So there's one problem, but it takes multiple trips to fix.  I think it's a German thing.  I found the same thing with high-end light and electron microscopes.  The German models had novel features, but the service blew.  You basically needed to a be design engineer to fix the damned things.  Japanese microscopes, in contrast, were relatively easy to service and troubleshoot. 

I had a Toyota RAV4 and was quite happy with it.  It died in an accident at age 11.  Then again, we had an early model Saturn SL (small sedan) that was also going strong until we had an accident.  The thing is, if you take care of your car, it'll last.  I think the difference is that Toyotas will last even if you abuse them, whereas other cars need more attention to maintenance. 

Fingers crossed, but so far my VW Eos which is about three years old has had no issues.  

237 The 'last in' fuel rods would be nearest to the top and be the 'hottest' most likely?

The assemblies are not stacked on top of each other. Imagine a swimming pool 36 feet deep with a metal grid as a rack located in it at the bottom with square holes in it. The assemblies are about 12 ft long (W). You fit the assembly in the grid squares which then hold them vertical. The racks are impregnated with boron. Shutdown Margin is maintained by a combination of grid spacing and the impregnated boron.

My understanding is that they do not store fuel in those pits long term so pit 4 has the total core offload, pits 5 & 6 have an offload of 1/3 each. There may be some older elements in the "combined" big pit that are awaiting shipment for reprocessing but they will have been there for a long time and the decay heat is minimal (in other words no concern at all).

238 Reading comprehension fail. That Andrew Malcolm quote was from a previous disaster.

239 Thirty-one Republicans on the House Energy And Commerce Committee — the entire Republican contingent on the panel — declined on Tuesday to vote in support of the very idea that climate change exists.Democrats on the panel had suggested three amendments that said climate change is a real thing, is caused by humans and has potentially dire consequences for the future.

If these amendments had passed, there would be no need for the scientific community any longer.

240

Saw linked at Jihad Watch about the Islamic militant character of the Libyan rebellion.  Is there any way both sides can lose? 

 

241 Do you know how much time someone in the plant would have to do a walk around and visual inspection of the SFP at that level.

LOL, if the fuel is partially uncovered it would be an eternity for them. If the helo was getting 87 Rem/hr shine, imagine what it is at the pit itself 300 feet closer.  Keep in mind that this works on the inverse square law.

And I would expect the rad levels to go up initially as they dumped water and it flashed to steam.  The steam will carry some of that nasty junk up in the air with it. The key will be what the rad levels do long term.

The utility does maintain that the fuel is not completely uncovered  and that is born out by the 87 Rem figure. If they were completely uncovered the dose rates would be much much higher above the pit and at the sides.

242

 Is there any way both sides can lose? 

Send me in to talk about winning!

243 So, what do you think this is?  LINK

244 Then how can they expect to get into the building(s) to wire the circulating pumps or is just this one unit?

Getting into the building should not be a problem, only going up on the refueling floor. They will not be able to go there until the fuel elements are covered by at least a few inches of water.

Even without the water the sides of the SFP are normally anywhere from 3 feet to 5 feet thick.

245

They should first evaluate what might be possible with robots. HP Departments in the US were acquiring them back when I was still working in the field (~1999).

246 so they are mostly shielded from below ... but the helicopters get more direct "shine", if I'm reading correctly.

I'd guess the steam would raise levels briefly, and it would blow away quickly, or stick to the structure.

Is there a translated version of the press conference, that anyone knows of?

247 They are giving press conference in the middle of the night? Have they been doing that all along? Hopefully they have good news.

248 News scroll at Kyoto: Pentagon to send 9 experts to help with nuke problem.

WTF does the Pentagon know about a nuke?

249 WTF does the Pentagon know about a nuke?

It would think Pentagon would know how to make nuclear explosions happen, on the intended target. As opposed to keeping them from happening.

250 Pretty reliable source for Japan tweets - Voice of America Bureau Chief Steve Herman

251 OT:  Molotov Mitchell put out a great video yesterday, entitled:  My interview with Barack Obama.  It is at WND.  My 8yo son was cracking up.  WINNING!

252 WTF does the Pentagon know about a nuke?

It would think Pentagon would know how to make nuclear explosions happen, on the intended target. As opposed to keeping them from happening.

Posted by: Long Island

All the nuke power plants the Navy has might be the source of experts.

253

All the nuke power plants the Navy has might be the source of experts.

Posted by: todler at March 17, 2011 12:48 PM (fPOY0)

Navy plants have just about nothing in common with this plant and the people who are knowledgeable on them do not operate out of the Pentagon.

254 here's a pic of the spent fuel pool from 2003, or one of the pools, this is at reactor 3, might be more than one pool per reactor

http://fwd4.me/xql

255 Looks like their pools are smaller (LxW) than ours.  That is good in one way and bad in another. Good because there will be a lot less fuel there, bad because there is a lot less water inventory.

256 A dog won't leave his injured companion's side.

Doctors deliberately let a premature infant die.

Note to self: If a life is in peril, call a dog.

What a fucked up world.

257

Could be NBC experts in decon and logistics

 

258 when my mom's last top loading machine started to go it began to rip some of the clothing.  Oddly enough, when it ripped my dad's favorite shirt, she got her new front loading machine.

259 rush is playing Jake Tapper asking Carney a question and carney says something on the order of "you've got reporters there, don't ask us, we are here in DC."

Now that is a totally bizarro answer.

the odd part, he doesn't even see the prez, he answers to someone else?

260 Joke that is currently circulating in Beijing:

Would you like to marry me? I have 30 kg of salt at home.

Observation from a friend in Beijing,
All the Grandmothers in the Hutong neighborhoods are very excited. They all have rushed out and bought salt. Now all the salt has sold out. The grandmothers are buying up all the soy sauce. Tomorrow they will grab up all stuff with a salty taste.

It is nice to know the US doesn't have a corner on stupid behavior.

261 Reports now that power cables have been run to the plant...

262 Certainly getting water there should always have been a high priority.  But it seems likely they did not boil dry, but we don't know?  Maybe the US spy plane got better pictures, and know more.  They seem to think #4 was dry?

Getting a constant supply to these seems relatively simple .. can't tell why it hasn't been done already.  Hopefully they are pumping now, at least to the ones without a roof.  And why not knock or shoot a hole in #2 so they could shoot water right in.  The pool is a fairly large target.

One fire hose could do 6000 gallons per hour?  And it would be cool water, spraying on the rods, even if they were not submerged.  A live feed would sure be nice.

263

Latest update from WNN:

The Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry said at 8.38pm that a cable was being laid to bring external power from transmission lines owned by Tohoku Electric Power Company. This was to be connected when radiation levels had died down after a planned venting operation at unit 2.

In addition, one of the emergency diesel units can now be operated and will be used to supply unit 5 and 6 alternately to inject water to their used fuel pools. Later, the power will be used to top up water in the reactor vessels.

264 Based on 7.5 gallons of water that would equal ~622,080 gallons of water.

You have to be way off somewhere. As I said, ours were about 195,000 gal and they look to be twice as big as theirs.

That depth BTW is controlled by the height of the fuel assemblies. The depth is usually 3 lenghts because you need to move the assemblies around. So if it is 12 ft then you need 12 ft plus a few inches underneath, then allow for a few more inches and add another 12 ft so you can move an assembly over the others, and then another 12 feet above them for shielding.

265 Latest from NEI:

Radiation readings at the Fukushima Daiichi site boundary were measured today at a lower level, between 2 and 3 millirem per hour.

More good news

266 Are you sure about the 36 feet depth? If they say they maintain 16 feet of water over the fuel rods, are the fuel rods 20 feet long?

You must have at least 3 rod height's worth plus some allowance for space between then. When they say 16 ft above the element, you have to ask is that 16 ft above one sitting in the rack, or 16 ft above one being moved.

Or they may be willing to shave some margin for shielding of the people moving the stuff.

267 One thing I thought about outside waiting on the school bus just now. All the indications are starting to look up now. And here we are recalling all the dependents and citizens.

We are going to look like horse's asses. But I guess when you have a horse's ass in the WH there is no way to not look like one.

268 Whoa.... have you heard about the new Red Dawn story line that's now being censored?  The Chi Coms are involved....
http://tinyurl.com/4pokn39

269 Radiation readings at the Fukushima Daiichi site boundary were measured today at a lower level, between 2 and 3 millirem per hour.

that sure seems to indicate these pools are not empty

other readings had been 35 to 100, and even a 33 reading 20 kilometers from the plant.  So perhaps just the spraying of the cool water has cooled them enough to get things under control. 

If they do get better power back, this could be "over" today ... at least the "run for your lives, leave the country" scenario.

270 For those on the West Coast... Looking for that perfect beverage when the Fukushima Plume hits? The Perfect Beverage In Case Of Nuclear Meltdown, Radioactive Plume, or Atomic Attack.....Yes, Really! Its science! And its great with potassium iodide pills! Bottoms up!

271

NJ Closes Barack Obama Middle School

 

...they couldn't borrow any more money from Hu Jintao High School

272 Per BBC the power cable has reached #2.

273 House passed the NPR defunding bill today.

Seven House Republicans vote against measure to defund NPR

Not a single House Democrat voted with the majority Thursday on a bill to ban all federal funding for National Public Radio, but seven House Republicans did opt to vote against the measure. 

The bill passed 228-192 and now heads to the Senate, where the Democratic majority is unlikely to take it up.

The seven Republicans who voted against the bill include four GOP freshmen -- Reps. Sean Duffy (Wisc.), Richard Hanna (N.Y.), Chris Gibson (N.Y.) and Rob Woodall (Ga.). Of the four, just Duffy and Hanna endured close races in 2010. 

Republican Reps. Steve LaTourette (Ohio), Pat Tiberi (Ohio) and Dave Reichert (Wash.) also voted against defunding public broadcasting. Freshman Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) voted present.  

274 Posted by: Downsized Upscale at March 17, 2011 05:31 PM (IhHdM)

The common pool doesn't have any of the fresh assemblies in it. They have been over there for years on some of them. I doubt if the common pool has dropped much at all or heated up much at all.

The only ones they have talked about being a concern or 4, 5, & 6 which are the small ones and have fresh elements with a high decay heat load.

And recriticality in the SFP is prevented (called Shutdown Margin) by spacing between the racks and impregnated boron in the racks.

275 The probability was low but the Japanese are careful. The only thing that could cause it is if the explosion had rearranged some of the racks removing the spacing in "just the right manner" and the racks themselves with the boron maybe got stripped.

As for MOX, as long as the enrichment is the same there is no difference.

276 If they do get better power back, this could be "over" today ... at least the "run for your lives, leave the country" scenario.

I'm still concerned about the spent fuel pool in #3.  30 tons of water sounds like a lot, but according to NHK the pool size is something on the order of 2000 tons.  Even if they got ever drop into the pool that's only a 1.5% increase.  It has to be boiling away more than that every day for us to be at this point, doesn't it?

277 For the:  NJ Closed Barack Obama Middle School  in the sidebar.

Barak Obama:  Not enought Bangs for the buck!

278 Being Irish Catholic by heritage, but certainly not religious by inclination, sorry, boyos', but I am an atheist, I was asked by someone on this special day, "You're Irish, why aren't you wearing green?" To which I replied, "What am I to you? A fucking leprechaun"?

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