Friday, March 11, 2011

No reports of radioactive leaks..

But the AP is reporting an urgent: Miyagi prefecture nuclear plant fire update: Smoke seen at building separate from reactor; no reports of radioactive leaks, injuries



AP reports: Utility reports fire at turbine building at nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan





Up to a 33 foot wave slammed Japan.. I can only believe that no image, not even this one, does any justice in showing the horror.. More images from Boston.com

Some of the destruction in Japan

URGENT: Abnormality reported at Fukushima nuclear plant | Kyodo News

pantslessprogressive:





The operator of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant reported an abnormality Friday following a powerful earthquake which hit a wide area in northeastern Japan including Fukushima Prefecture, the industry ministry said.


The system to cool reactor cores in case of emergency stopped at the No. 1 and No. 2 reactors of the plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co., it said.





Anyone mind explaining what this means? Is it as horrific as it sounds?




URGENT: Abnormality reported at Fukushima nuclear plant | Kyodo News

The force of nature

Cars, trucks, and ships swept away in life altering tsunami..

200 to 300 bodies reportedly found in Japan

200 to 300 bodies reportedly found in Japan

Good luck in the islands

Tsunami waves slam Hawaii

Up to 33 feet of water washed over parts of Japan after the 8.9 quake

UK Sky News reporting...

Tokyo Electric Power Co confirms a “falling trend” in the water levels inside reactors at Fukushima nuclear plant.

To my Hawaiian readers

Find higher ground now.. Don’t panic. Whatever will be will be, and the rest if the world is hoping for you .. And praying for lost lives in Japan after the tremendous natural disaster we will never forget

A Friday in March..

…at the mercy of nature

Reports: 6 to 7 foot wave may hit Hawaii--a 23 foot wave slammed Japan

Smaller after shocks 'in the hundreds' hitting Japan

But about 20 or so large quakes hit after the 8.9

Earthquakes, tsunamis, and nuclear emergencies

The world has not held its breath like this in quite some time

My posting times are not accurate

It seems Tumblr switched me to another time zone…?

Officials fear tsunami may have washed over entire islands in Pacific


A terrifying CNN news alert

Japan fighter jets deployed to inspect damage in the nation// 5th largest quake in history

Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Chile: all nations, along with the United States, under a tsunami warning..

The US chooses to keep ships in port at Pearl Harbor despite tsunami warnings in Hawaii

The images coming from Japan are outright frightening this morning..

Nuclear power plants shut down in Japan

Initially thousands are without power in Tokyo


Nuclear power plants shut down in Japan
Tsunami warnings issued for Hawaii, U.S.West Coast and 19 other countries after major quake and tsunami off Japan


CNN news alert

One of the largest quakes in history.. 8.8 mag was previously the largest quake Japan had—now this 8.9 ..

Prayers for Japan after killer quake

MASSIVE 8.9 QUAKE IN JAPAN--TSUNAMI DAMAGE

MASSIVE 8.9 QUAKE IN JAPAN--TSUNAMI DAMAGE
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywX3vZaE7Hc?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Flogging Molly - Irish Pub Song

Thursday, March 10, 2011

....something more to worry about

Health officials alarmed at cancer rates in our modern age: According to numbers released today, the number of cancer survivors in the United States is increasing by hundreds of thousands a year, and now includes roughly one in 20 adults..

The Hamster Killing

Brooklyn teen charged with killing pet hampster.. Monique Smith, 19, is charged with one felony count of aggravated cruelty to animals for allegedly killing the 4-ounce hamster during a family dispute..
And if convicted, the teen could also face two years in prison..


Perhaps a good punishment, without any flippancy intended, would be for the teen to run in a steel wheel for hours on end, only being supplied water and bread crumbs? 

The battle for the box office


Box office this weekend: The battle for LA tops? A UFO sighting that inspired the new flick written about..
Aliens take to the box office..
A review: “Immitation”..
Review: The big what if..
This week at the box: BATTLE: LOS ANGELES expected to pound contender MARS NEEDS MOMS.. Because Mars may need moms, but big box office budget busting techniegraphic flicks need disaster, UFO invasions, and a city being destroyed. And this weekend, the box office will get it.

Debate on Congress goes to the toilet. No really, it does. Rand Paul wants the government out of our toilets.

Debate on Congress goes to the toilet. No really, it does. Rand Paul wants the government out of our toilets.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3iPP-tHdA?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Good evening everyone..

Eva Braun, captured in time.. Never captured in life:


Rare photos of Hitler’s wife surface

The more things change, the more they stay the same.. A decade ago we were watching Seinfeld on Thursday night while Gadhafi ruled with an iron fist. And now, Seinfeld is gone.. but Gadhafi still rules with an iron fist

Rainy days and Thursdays always get me down..
I actually recall Thursday night TV back in the heyday of NBC sictomland of the late 1990s.. Seinfeld at 9.. (Friends at 8, but I never watched).. and if you cared to take it, ER was still on at 10 before your late local news.. 
The only constant in life is the late local news after all—fires, floods, ravages of nature, and stabbings. And that’s before weather 15 after and sports before JAY.. 

Now the new modern age is filled with ‘days of rage’ and gas prices sky high.. When Seinfeld was on, I remember gassing up the car to get to high school for the minor price of $.99 a gallon.. Times change indeed. Hurricane Katrina, OPEC, and lots of Middle Eastern skirmishes later, and the powers that be were able to call it a day on low prices.. 

Our modern life is filled with union vs non union.. peace vs war.. 

But the constant still appears to be one person: Moummar Gadhafi — and no one STILL knows how to spell his name..

BUZZ: UN SAYS BEE COLLAPSE IS DUE TO GLOBALIZATION AND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY

Amazing color photo of 1906 San Francisco earthquake found.. 



More here..

THIS IS AMERICA, 2011.. WISCONSIN EDITION…

The fat lady sings in Wisconsin. And she's not union friendly

The fat lady sings in Wisconsin. And she's not union friendly

Solar flares abound

Maybe the sun finally had enough of Charlie Sheen..

Geomagnetic activity coming from the solar flare?

Geomagnetic activity coming from the solar flare?
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzI4QN1ML6I?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Juice Newton - Angel Of The Morning

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

As of now, looks like an X-class flare.. here is the government site with the latest..

Solar flare blasts off the sun.. ..more..

Wisconsin Republicans vote to strip public unions of their bargaining rights

Wisconsin Republicans vote to strip public unions of their bargaining rights

Nice ash

Back to work after paternity leave for a few weeks.. Last night felt like the last night of summer. The sick pit of the gut feeling set in..

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx9br5ISRpo?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

This song reminds me of a warm night under summer stars.


A shame I can’t swim.


Goodnight all.


R.E.M. - Nightswimming

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Reuters Photo: People look at fish lying dead in the harbor area of Redondo Beach, south of Los Angeles, California March 8, 2011

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNW809QqF1g?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Good evening.

My niece is in Florida this week.. And from her comes a beautiful image of a beautiful sunset with a sailboat going into the distance.. Jealousy takes over as more snow is expected for parts of Coal Speaker territory..

Think winter is over? .. If you're on the East Coast, there is a chance March 20th will make you think otherwise

Think winter is over? .. If you're on the East Coast, there is a chance March 20th will make you think otherwise

Just when we forgot about them, animals deaths are back


Millions of dead fish in Rodondo Beach....
Mystery..

More on the mass fish death: Anchovy Carcasses Blanket Los Angeles Harbor..
Official says no foul play..
Millions dead..

Pennsylvania plans big cuts to colleges

Pennsylvania plans big cuts to colleges

Sheen lost the shine

…and it’s for all to see.

What I originally thought was inventive marketing seems to have spiraled out of control..

Just as CBS fired Sheen from TWO AND A HALF MEN, Chuck took to a roof waving a machete..

Just as I thought the machete was just one last attempt to get some attention, he appeared on the internet, looking more like a corpse than a man, looking less like a star of a hit TV sitcom, and more like SKELETOR from the 1980s cartoon HE-MAN..

Is this the light of fame shining down on a soul of someone who has no shame? Is this, perhaps, the ultimate of greed profit in the sin city of Tinseltown..? Is this the image of a man who will one day have a star on the Hollywood walk of fame? .. shame.


No, this is the image of a troubled soul, empty and void of common sense at the moment.. And the world’s watching. But then again, all the world’s a stage.. And Charlie Sheen may be one of its best players..

Cool cover


theatlantic:



NEW ISSUE: Why the new media isn’t so bad, the secret fears of the super-rich, sympathy for Tiger Moms, and more


[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7E88RUqyjts?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Goodnight world at war.
Be at peace.


Grandpa Tell Me Bout The Good Old Days — The Judds

Monday, March 7, 2011

News from the heartland: The Dusk Bowl coming back strong?

The UK TELEGRAPH reporting on some interesting, and really not good news, that farmers are worried about the Ogallala Aquifer, which is now running dry..


(Some of the comments on the article are just as interesting as the article itself)





News from the heartland: The Dusk Bowl coming back strong?

Four minutes with Charlie Sheen: Tonight's version featured sweating, ranking, and drinking

…and the face of a very aged man. Or half man?


Four minutes with Charlie Sheen: Tonight's version featured sweating, ranking, and drinking

We already knew gadgets were running our lives, now we're told they're ruining our lives..

Or at least causing us not to sleep well


We already knew gadgets were running our lives, now we're told they're ruining our lives..

It’s official: Charlie Sheen just turned 90

Good evening.. The warmth of spring will soon bloom. Until then snow can happen anytime..

'Spectacular' cyber attack hits French government

…watching this one closely..


infoneer-pulse:




The French finance ministry has shut down 10,000 computers after a “spectacular” cyber attack from hackers using Internet addresses in China, officials and reports said on Monday.


The hackers were hunting for documents relating to the Group of 20 (G20) developed and developing nations, which this year is led by France, said Budget Minister Francois Baron, adding that a probe was under way into the attacks.


“We have leads,” Baroin told Europe 1 radio, saying that what he called a “spectacular” attack was “probably the first time” that the French government’s computer system had been hit on this scale.



» via Yahoo! News



'Spectacular' cyber attack hits French government

A tale of two positions

2008: McCain in favor of tribunals, Obama opposes..


2011: White House Says Tribunals Can Resume at Gitmo..

A new and chilling 9/11 tape emerges from the vantage point of a NYPD helicopter

According to Gawker:  The National Institute of Standards and Technology requested the 17-minute video through the Freedom of Information Act, and the video was sent anonymously to the secret-sharing website Cryptome..


Cryptome has famously led the way in posting secret government documents throughout the years—much longer in operation than Wikileaks as well..


A new and chilling 9/11 tape emerges from the vantage point of a NYPD helicopter

Restaurants not faring very well on the 'germ' list

As a proud germaphobe, I was eager to read This: The top germiest places you’d never realize..


Restaurant menus. I can see that. Lemon wedges in the restaurant? Sure.. they are never cleaned but yet put into your water glass.. 

Cleaning the clock

Me: Dad, why isn't this clock working anymore?
My Dad: It does work! It just always ticked but never tocked

It's really not news anymore, but oil jumped in price again

…and if there was any economic recovery, say goodnight Irene if oil keeps rising.


I think it was Gorilla Monsoon from the old 80’s WWF should perfected the saying ‘goodnight Irene.’


I wonder if Irene ever slept, really.. And if she still can knowing she will have to spend her entire savings by Memorial Day just to fill up her car was gas?


It's really not news anymore, but oil jumped in price again

An interesting CNN story on the exorcist behind the movie THE RITE


And no.. he does not do exorcisms on demand.


An interesting CNN story on the exorcist behind the movie THE RITE

Snowzilla? This is the name for it?

Either way, news agencies are accounting for the surprise snow that blanketed much of the Northeast.. 


I never liked the strange names we give weather events. Although I due sometimes wish major Nor’Easters would get named, just as hurricanes do..


Snowzilla? This is the name for it?

Tastykake is facing a big week

Tastykake is facing a big week

Japan halts Pfizer, Sanofi vaccines after four die

Japan halts Pfizer, Sanofi vaccines after four die

This is the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii Sunday as lava spewed 65 feet high.. An amazing image, and there are plenty of more online to view..

Lava spews 65 feet high after a crater collapse in Hawaii

 A new vent has opened at one of the world’s most active volcanoes..


The Kilauea volcano suddenly made news Sunday. MORE Kilauea volcano crater collapses in Hawaii

It began as a snowy morning..

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Just read an urgent weather bulletin from the National Weather Service about heavy snow and ice beginning tonight. It’s been raining heavy all day .. a few folks said “at least it’s not snow.” 


Now it will be…


Jinx.


Maybe I should start believing myself more often: On February 27, Accuweather reported and this website re-linked a possibility that this weekend’s rain would turn to snow.. I suppose that turned out to be true after all..


For those along the East Coast drenched in rain, be forewarned.. it may soon turn to a blinding heavy snow accumulation reminding everyone that March still can act as a lion before the lamb sets in…

Good evening all.. 

The UK TELEGRAPH reports on 'SAS mission to Libya resulted in humiliation after the troops were first captured by rebels, then a diplomat’s plea for their release was broadcast on state television'

The UK TELEGRAPH reports on 'SAS mission to Libya resulted in humiliation after the troops were first captured by rebels, then a diplomat’s plea for their release was broadcast on state television'

No skin off my back.. the tip of the spear.. the boiling point.. don't pull the wool over my eyes: The war over circumcision in San Francisco

Anti-circumcision groups want to stop the cutting. Some Jewish groups oppose. 


In a few years, will San Francisco be filled with foreskin or will it be cut? The debate rages..


No skin off my back.. the tip of the spear.. the boiling point.. don't pull the wool over my eyes: The war over circumcision in San Francisco

Who has the worst commute? It's in the eye of the beholder.. I'd say me. But experts say LA and DC

Who has the worst commute? It's in the eye of the beholder.. I'd say me. But experts say LA and DC

This is the Daily Beast and Newsweek.. Will it be newsweak with Tina or strong again? The redesign features bulky verdana letters.. And Hillary in her finest of light..

Tina Brown going where others have gone before: The logical choice for a logical cover.. The redesign looks a lot like the previous if you ask me. But no one did.

Government gets its first three subjects from Schuylkill County

A local story of interest to me, and maybe even you.. Three babies have been born in Schuylkill County, PA, and are going to take part in a decades-long government study on children..

The government study, according to the report, intends on asking not why children get sick, but instead why some children are healthier than others..

My wife and I were offered the chance to stick Ayden into the study a few weeks before he was born, but we declined. I am not accusing anyone of anything nefarious.. I just didn’t have the interest and maybe even the paranoia of untrustworthiness for any government study that will watch my child until the drinking age of 21..

As far as health? Schuylkill County!? If you’ve never been here, you’ll most likely not know it’s the home of a vast array of abandoned former coal mines.

Nothing unhealthy in the ground there, right?

And it’s the home of a sulfur creek that many have labeled the ‘shit crick’.. Yes, I said crick. Local word..

And this county of Coal Speaker home base is also the home of a rare cancer that has been seen more and more in the region.

So I hope the 21-year-long study goes well. I’ll be 51 by the time we find out why certain kids are sicker than others.

This image should have been attached to my thoughts on Abe Lincoln.. Somewhat fitting. 

The Lincoln history books neglect to mention

New book sheds new light on Lincoln’s racial


views


He wanted to send free blacks to Central America.. While that fact has been tossed around for generations, few took hold to it and spoke about it. And the new book by Philip Magness and Sebastian Page, they write about newly uncovered documents found in London on America’s hero president.


According to AP’s reporting on the new Lincoln book, Magness and Page’s book offers evidence that Lincoln continued to support colonization, engaging in secret diplomacy with the British to establish a colony in British Honduras, now Belize


It’s a history lesson few know.. and one most history teachers aren’t comfortable telling.


But we should face facts of American history more often. 


History is interesting, filled with complexities, and must (MUST) be viewed in the prism of then, and reflected on now with the knowledge of today.


After all, does anyone really think Dwight Eisenhower opened-armed loved African Americans enough to send forces in to help desegregate a school? No. He was just enforcing a Supreme Court decision. And in doing so, IKE accidentally became one of the most important presidents in history concern racial desegregation.


As far as honest Abe? He probably could tell a lie. He most likely was a typical politician. He probably did the 1800s version of Dick Morris type triangulation. And he was really successful.


And he, just like Ike, also accidentally did something wonderful: He spoke the Emancipation Proclamation as leverage against the South during the Civil War, held strong, and ended up freeing slaves, though Radical Republicans in the aftermath of his assassination would undue his successes through their punishments.


And yes, racial intolerance continues today.. Racial segregation continued for generations. Horrible racial crimes took place within the North and South of the United States. And even today, a few places proudly fly a confederate flag without abandonment.


So while Lincoln helped push the nation into the future, it is more than worthwhile to know the full history of the man who the 21st century feels to be a saint. He was not a saint, most likely a sinner, and a complex man who shaped history in ways he most likely never knew he would.


And since we’re talking about real history, he also declared Martial Law, suspended freedoms of press, fired lots of generals, mismanaged and micomanaged the Civil War, and had a really high pitched voice. But people said he knew how to tell a joke. Unless people were just laughing at how he sounded…. Those things don’t make history books.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILWSp0m9G2U?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=281]

Flashdance What A Feeling - Irene Cara

Saturday, March 5, 2011

X-37B up

…and we will not be told if it has a successful deploy..

A secret space flight launches on Saturday night..

A secret space flight launches on Saturday night..
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ejypIv8zSA?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Happy evening all


ABBA starts it with DANCING QUEEN

Don't put your iphone next to your head.

lindsaykap:



Today in things that creep me out. 



Indeed.. creepy is to understate it.. 


Don't put your iphone next to your head.

Party like it's 2008*

*Except gas prices were awfully high back then..


Party like it's 2008*

I actually received a sympathy card from the veterinary hospital where my dog Bailey was put down two weeks ago signed by the entire staff..

Even if they do it for all their cases, it still was very kind..

I miss Bailey. Hope she’s doing well.. Even if it risks sounding crazy, maybe one day I’ll write about how she stopped by to visit the house the night she was put to sleep..

Happy weekend: And as always I'm open for questions

Happy weekend: And as always I'm open for questions

Hey man, sorry I've been out of touch! Congratulations on the new offspring! It's a heavy responsibility, for sure. Did you change blogs? Suddenly Tumblr erased your question to me and says you're deactivated. Not sure what's up with Tumblr these days. Anyway, hope you're well, man!

I’ve had some issues with Tumblr recently.. not sure what happened. I also had a problem with posts being eaten as well.. 


Thanks for the message back. 


As in disagreement with Tumblr, I am not at all deactivated. Unless Mr. Karp just hasn’t told me yet..

Power outages: Hawaii

A storm did it. But workers walking off jobs aren’t helping either..


Power outages: Hawaii

The endgame begins: Wisconsin layoff notices sent by Walker

The endgame begins: Wisconsin layoff notices sent by Walker

HOW IN THE WORLD COULD THIS TROUBLE ANYONE!?

History repeats itself: Mike Huckabee calls Natalee Portman's pregnancy 'troubling' because she is not married

Reminiscent of years ago with another politician attacked a pregnancy, although Murphy Brown’s was fiction. But Dan Quayle wasn’t running for president. Mike Huckabee is..


Huckabee: If Natalee Portman’s pregnancy troubles you, guess what, your weird kinda creepy not at all interesting weekend talk show on Fox News troubles a lot more people than a gorgeous Natalee Portman carrying a baby with pride..


History repeats itself: Mike Huckabee calls Natalee Portman's pregnancy 'troubling' because she is not married

We all may be aliens

We all may be aliens
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNSK7D7VOvg?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=http://safe.txmblr.com&wmode=opaque&w=500&h=374]

Good evening.. Good night.. good day. Wherever you may be. Sleep in peace.. if you have children, laugh along with the and try not to cry when they do.. Goodnight 


This Woman’s Work — Greg Laswell

Friday, March 4, 2011

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Happy Friday night ..with Britney babe

I'm curious to ask my followers, and other Tumblr users, this question

Is Tumblr, in your mind, trustworthy? Do you feel confident not backing up your data? Do you think the amount of times the site goes down has been an impairment to gaining credibility? .. Someone I know told me every time they tried to read Coal Speaker, it was unavailable.. thoughts? ideas? ..

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