Explosion in Oak Creek Power Plant!

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Decapitated on ride

This news story is just horrifying. I know his family must be just completely grief-stricken by this. I feel terrible for them. Heck, this was a church outing, and he was 17. I know it's wrong of me, awful of me, terrible of me... but I can't stop thinking about the Dead Milkmen song, Stuart. You may recall these lyrics:

"You know that carnival that comes to town every year? Well this year it came with a ride called the Mixer. The man said "Keep your head and arms inside the mixer at all times." But Bill Jr., he was adaredevil, just like his old man. He was leaning out saying, "Heyeverybody! Look at me, look at me!" POW! He was decapitated. They found his head over by the snowcone concession."

I guess that's all I have to say. Oh, and I loved that album.

DWP drops 400,000 balls onto Ivanhoe Reservoir - Los Angeles Times

This is pretty cool. According tothis article in the LA Times, the LA DPW has just dumped 40,000 black plastic balls into the Ivanhoe reservoir. The reason? To protect the water from the sun. Apparently, there's a fair amount of bromine in the local water filling the reservoir. In the presence of sunlight, and the chlorine added to keep things potable, bromate can form. Long term consumption of bromate can lead to cancer. So, they blot out the sun with (eventually) 3 million balls, until they can construct a more permanent cover.

Now, the big question. In light of recent reports about plastics leaching into warm water, and given that black plastic balls will inevitably get hot in the summer sun, has Los Angeles just traded one carcinogen for another?

Web Research Update: The article says they're using airport "bird balls". If they're the same as those made by this manufacturer, they're made of high-density poly-ethylene (HDPE). And, good news! According to this page from the Sierra Club, HDPE is not know to leach harmful chemicals. Well. Apparently, the LA DPW knows what they're doing. Very good. Please continue with your Public Works.

The London-New York Telectroscope

This is pure genius. Check out the website.

The artist explains that he has completed a trans-atlantic tunnel begun by his great-grandfather in the 1890's. The tunnel was being built to accomodate the Telectroscope, and optical contraption that would allow clear viewing of the other end of the tunnel. So, a person in NY could see what was happening in London, or vice versa.

It appears from the pictures that the tunneling equipment broke through in New York on Wednesday, and the Telectroscope was installed shortly thereafter. No word if the device is operational yet.

Currency for the blind

The US Court of Appeals ruled yesterday that current US currency discriminates against the blind. I never really thought about it before, but I guess it could be a huge issue... especially given that most people are money grubbing bastards and would steal a twenty from a blind person without blinking.

The court didn't mandate a means of correcting it. Can't wait to see what they come up with. This website has a discussion of the topic, and some suggestions. Size is the most obvious one, but I'd love to see that combined with other things, like the hole punches or raised bumps. Of course, those types of items might reduce currency lifetimes, as well.

Still it's kinda funny that this is finally getting addressed at a time when use of cash is on the way out. I'm guessing that 20 years down the road, 95% of transactions will be electronic - even between individuals. But better late, than never, hmm? (Also, better Nate than Lever... go on, click the link. you know you want to.)

Tornados and Storms

Looks like elmina and libelleak were right in the line of the major storm damage and tornados tonight. Anybody heard from them?

UPDATE!
Both elmina and libelleak are fine and, from what I hear, their homes are undamaged. Unfortunately, it looks like libelleleak has some in-laws who were directly hit. I'm a little mixed up on details right now, but it looks like one or two family members have homes that are complete losses. More details as they become available.

A quotation...

From Agatha Christie's ABC Murders (first published, 1936):

"I shall, I think, remember that 11th of September all my life".

Me too.

A riddle

Q. What time is it when Bush visits Albania?
A. Time to get a new watch!

Check out the video here (the sites in dutch(?), but it's a nice vid), or a news story here.

PS: The White House denies his watch was stolen. Ok, if they say so.

Cairo Customs Stops Snake Smuggler

Foxnews reports:

Customs officers at Cairo's airport on Thursday detained a man bound for
Saudi Arabia who was trying to smuggle 700 live snakes on a plane, airport
authorities said.

If only there were some sort of witty cultural reference I could make here. Maybe connected to a movie or something. Oh well.

Explosion at Falk on Canal street

Anyone know anything?
(pic at left from the WISN weather camera)

UPDATE: Just got word from Daver the RADO is unharmed. Whew!I've been biting my nails. Now I can relax a bit.