Scientists Warn Giant Nuclear Sarcophagus in Marshall Islands Is Leaking

Source: Truthdig




One hundred and eleven thousand cubic yards of radioactive debris lies within Runit Dome in the Marshall Islands, a “hulking legacy of years of U.S. nuclear testing” whose fragile structure is vulnerable to breaking from violent weather associated with climate change.

“Runit Dome represents a tragic confluence of nuclear testing and climate change,” Michael Gerrard, director of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, who visited the dome in 2010, told The Guardian.

Now locals, scientists and environmental activists fear that a storm surge, typhoon or other cataclysmic event brought on by climate change could tear the concrete mantel wide open, releasing its contents into the Pacific Ocean. …

In total, 67 nuclear and atmospheric bombs were detonated on Enewetak and Bikini between 1946 and 1958 – an explosive yield equivalent to 1.6 Hiroshima bombs detonated every day over the course of 12 years.

The detonations blanketed the islands with irradiated debris, including Plutonium-239, the fissile isotope used in nuclear warheads, which has a half-life of 24,000 years.

When the testing came to an end, the US Defence Nuclear Agency (DNA – later the DoE) carried out an eight-year cleanup, but Congress refused to fund a comprehensive decontamination programme to make the entire atoll fit for human settlement again.

Read More: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/03/runit-dome-pacific-radioactive-waste

This is for information only.

For the first time in my life.

I am registering as a Democrat. I have been an Independent since I first registered, but this time I want to have a say in the primary. I want to help Bernie all I can. Last election I volunteered to monitor polling places, to assure the republicans were not pulling anything to discourage or keep voter from voting. I'll do it again this time, too.

I have voted the Democratic ticket for the last six presidential elections. I have never once voted for a Republican, before they became against every thing in life, I used women's rights as my litmus test. Now I use the entire party and it smells like last weeks fish.

Shell's Arctic Drilling Plan May Have A Walrus Problem

Source: huffpo

WASHINGTON -- Shell's plan to drill in the Arctic this summer has met plenty of opposition from environmental advocates. But it might be the walrus that stops them from proceeding.

The Department of Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service issued Shell a letter of authorization on Tuesday allowing the company to have a small number of what are known as "incidental takes" of polar bears and Pacific walruses -- or harm caused to the animals or their habitats unintentionally in the course of permitted activities.

But the letter lists precautions the company must take to avoid contact with the walruses, which includes a directive to maintain a minimum of 15 miles between drilling sites in compliance with provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The act requires this distance between drilling operations to avoid impacts on foraging or migrating walruses, and as a number of environmental groups pointed out last week, Shell's two proposed drill sites are only 9 miles apart -- a violation of that law.

Interior granted Shell "conditional approval" to begin exploratory drilling in the Arctic this summer, but the company still needs additional permits before it can begin. The letter is another step in the process toward obtaining final permission, but the spacing requirement may present a challenge.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/01/shell-arctic-drilling_n_7701208.html

Incase there is any confusion. I'm for the Walrus

I would like to clear something up about that flag.

This is the first flag of the confederacy

This is the second flag of the confederacy

This is the third flag of the confederacy

And this is the battle flag of the confederacy

I am making NO excuses for these symbols. I am trying to show some who don't know, the battle flag, is not the flag of the confederacy. All these symbols are distasteful to me, but that does not preclude me from studying the subject.

Why Congress does nothing about gun control.

I know there is a massive gun lobby and plenty of money is passed around, but I don't think that is all of it.
I am convinced they don't act on gun control because the people getting killed are not people they care about. They are perfectly happy to see attrition by gun. They can't vote if their dead and that suits congress just fine. Voter suppression that can't be undone. There will be no action until it effects them directly and then watch them shove the NRA to the curb.

I know this is cynical but the older I get the uglier the country looks. Nothing, anymore, seems to be divorced from politics and hatred of the masses.
If you disagree please do so without snark, it just gets old.

Ok who took my avatar?

I got up this morning and my avatar is MIA. I have tried to restore it but I can't seem to upload it. The size has not changed and the number of megabytes are the same but it won't upload. Help I have sent a message to admin but it looks like they don't read those messages.

If you have some kind of mojo around here, please help.

Prince Performs With Stevie Wonder At The White House

Prince performed some of his greatest hits at a weekend White House party for President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle.

But although guests put details on social media, White House spokesman Josh Earnest is refusing to confirm the "Purple Rain" singer's attendance.

Earnest says he has no details about the private event. A reported 500 lobbyists, corporate executives, celebrities and other guests attended.

Earnest says the Obamas threw the party "on their own dime." He didn't say how much it cost or what they would pay for.

Source: Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/06/15/prince-private-show-white-house_n_7587992.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment&ir=Entertainment

A nice look at who this president is partying with. Disappointment doesn't begin to describe my feelings on a man I voted for twice.

13 Important Pieces Of Life Advice From Cats

Hillary, Hillary, Hillary...

Yesterday Hillary stopped all the suspense of when she was or not going to get in the race. Since that time, it seems everybody who has access to the internet are doing nothing but talking about Hillary positive and negative. The hyperbole is exhausting and I wonder how the tempo can be maintained until the election. I think everybody is going to run out of words before we get our say at the ballot box. I'm already close to burn out, how about you?

Gohmert weighing presidential bid

source: The Hill

Conservative firebrand Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) told The Hill that he might run for president in 2016.

Gohmert indicated he might launch an exploratory committee for president when originally asked if he would support Sen. Ted Cruz's (R-Texas) White House bid.

"Ted is a good friend and would be an outstanding President; however, I haven't ruled out an exploratory committee myself," Gohmert said in a statement to The Hill

Read More: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/237158-louie-gohmert-weighing-presidential-bid

Oh PLEASE let it be true. Run Louie Run! The entertainment value of the dumbest man in House running for prez can't be understated!