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Cukes and Nukes!
Mar. 15th, 2011 05:46 pmMade pickles this weekend. New recipe. I need to make a pickle icon, I love them so much. Craving them right now after the workout.
I've been following the disaster in Japan fairly closely; it's interesting especially to compare media sources and the stories they report or re-report. However, my favorite quote on the whole thing comes from Charles Stross' weblog, where a contributor from Australia writes:
Here in Australia (another part of the anglosphere) we're getting the same sort of "eeeek, it's the N-word" idiocy from our press, along with dragging in experts from the Australian nuclear industry (which consists of approximately two mines and one small reactor in Sydney) to do the Monday's Expert thing live on national television etc. There's a lot of long-faced jaw waggling from the Greens, who are busy pointing and saying "see, this is why Australia shouldn't be looking at nuclear power" and similar.
Which, frankly, is bullshit. Australia is one of the most sesmically stable countries in the world. We're stable enough that other countries want to use our country as a nuclear waste DUMP, fergawdsakes. The fear of earthquake is not the reason Australia should be steering clear of nuclear power as a general rule. The reason why Australia should be steering clear of nuclear power as a general rule is because a nuclear power plant requires a large amount of fresh water as a cooling system, and despite what the northern Queenslanders are saying through their snorkels, Australia is the driest continent in the world. We don't even have enough water for our present population (which is why we're on constant water restrictions), much less the extra demand required to keep nuclear reactors running safely. Given there are already signs of climate change here in Australia, and they're fairly firmly pointing in the direction of the country getting drier, rather than wetter, nuclear power isn't really a sane option.
***
Wow. That's funny, far thinking, and well written! Even notes the recent flooding in a very humorous way.
I've given up coffee for Lent; I'll donate the money I saved either to the Red Cross or some Episcopal charity for Japan. And I think I'll go give the Red Cross a pint on Thursday--I'm sure it will be useful somewhere.
Also note, locals, that the meadery (Rabbit's Foot) is serving as a donation point. And I'll buy you a growler if you go donate a pint this week. Late notice, perhaps, but there's the offer.
I've been following the disaster in Japan fairly closely; it's interesting especially to compare media sources and the stories they report or re-report. However, my favorite quote on the whole thing comes from Charles Stross' weblog, where a contributor from Australia writes:
Here in Australia (another part of the anglosphere) we're getting the same sort of "eeeek, it's the N-word" idiocy from our press, along with dragging in experts from the Australian nuclear industry (which consists of approximately two mines and one small reactor in Sydney) to do the Monday's Expert thing live on national television etc. There's a lot of long-faced jaw waggling from the Greens, who are busy pointing and saying "see, this is why Australia shouldn't be looking at nuclear power" and similar.
Which, frankly, is bullshit. Australia is one of the most sesmically stable countries in the world. We're stable enough that other countries want to use our country as a nuclear waste DUMP, fergawdsakes. The fear of earthquake is not the reason Australia should be steering clear of nuclear power as a general rule. The reason why Australia should be steering clear of nuclear power as a general rule is because a nuclear power plant requires a large amount of fresh water as a cooling system, and despite what the northern Queenslanders are saying through their snorkels, Australia is the driest continent in the world. We don't even have enough water for our present population (which is why we're on constant water restrictions), much less the extra demand required to keep nuclear reactors running safely. Given there are already signs of climate change here in Australia, and they're fairly firmly pointing in the direction of the country getting drier, rather than wetter, nuclear power isn't really a sane option.
***
Wow. That's funny, far thinking, and well written! Even notes the recent flooding in a very humorous way.
I've given up coffee for Lent; I'll donate the money I saved either to the Red Cross or some Episcopal charity for Japan. And I think I'll go give the Red Cross a pint on Thursday--I'm sure it will be useful somewhere.
Also note, locals, that the meadery (Rabbit's Foot) is serving as a donation point. And I'll buy you a growler if you go donate a pint this week. Late notice, perhaps, but there's the offer.
