Monthly Archives: March 2011
I’ve been a fan of Flopping Aces for a long time, so when I was asked if I’d like to write here, it didn’t take long to respond even though I already write on two other sites, A Soldier’s Perspective … Continue reading
While there is no shortage of heartbreak and disaster to focus on in the wake of Japan’s (now upgraded) 9.1 magnitude earthquake, yesterday morning my thoughts concentrated on what was then a quiet story in the background… the problem with then one of Japan’s many nuclear power facilities that supply about 30% of their needs.
By yesterday eve, the story started gaining traction as rising radiation levels were detected at the two adjacent Fukushima facilities. Because the cooling back up generator systems had failed, the pressure was building in the core and plans were made to open valves, releasing some of that pressure. Apparently, the plant’s officials decided to use seawater as a coolant, which would indicate they had written off the 40 yr old plant’s functional future, as it would corrode the metal innards.
Despite efforts, in the US’s west coast mid-night hours, the Fukushima #1 facility exploded, blowing the roof off one building and destroying exterior walls where the troubled reactor was housed.
Michael Moore was out an about this last week espousing on his views on the economy.
His solution?
Confiscate the wealth of those few who are billionaires.
Yeah, you read that right. Go in and take it. They didn’t earn it anyways right? Continue reading
….or How to Haul Hay at Night.
Hay bailing, and hauling, in Oklahoma summers is like being in hell during a dust storm.
I recall one particularly hot day when it was well over one hundred degrees with no wind and no clouds to give shade. Continue reading
I just nailed up my shingle for my new business when I received a call from my first customer. His credit rating wasn’t up to snuff, but after a sizable advance through a bank transfer, we got down to serious … Continue reading
One of my first meetings with Iraqis in early 2003 was at a town hall meeting in Al Dujayl. I was a medical service corps officer. As such, I wear a caduceus on my collar. We are sometimes mistaken for doctors by non-military types.
My interpreter and I were making our way through a crowd of Iraqis outside of the meeting hall. One man was very persistent. He actually took hold of my wrist and thrust a handful of papers in my face. I didn’t want to be late for my first meeting. (At that time, I was on US time, not Iraqi time.) My interpreter carried on a fast paced conversation with the man. As he did, I looked at the papers. They were yellow legal sized with two columns of Arabic on both sides. There were 7 front and back pages. Continue reading
By now everyone has heard of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake off the coast of northern Japan, the devasting tsunami that hit there, and is now traveling to the US west coast. Since this is a constantly moving story, it seems … Continue reading
Congressman Charles Rangel: “Collective bargaining is something that is so close to slavery in terms of abolishing it, that it is not an American concept to tell people that they cannot discuss their economic position.”
Michael Moore, at a recent and smaller rally in WI: “Madison is only the beginning. The rich have overplayed their hand.” Continue reading
Below is a video of Megyn Kelly today, interviewing Jesse Jackson… a man who hates being left out of the limelight. Highlights? All of a sudden, all those protestor are unemployed teachers, with homes in foreclosure. OMG… the sob story, … Continue reading