Lest the earthquake/tsunami become all doom and gloom, let's take a minute to reflect on some good news from this catastrophe.
Large scale disasters in places with lots of cameras are good for the cable news network ratings. They'll get to show the full range of emotions from lip-quivering sorrow to joyful elation to fist-pounding rage to solemn, nodding understanding. It's got to be a pretty exciting time around the CNN offices. Could we see the next Wolf Blitzer emerge from the rubble? Only time will tell.
Trouble at the Fukushima nuclear power plant is good for anti-nuclear power groups. Three Mile Island was nothing. Chernobyl was sheer incompetent Soviet nincompoopery. Now we've finally got a big one brought on by the heavens (Earth, whatever...) themselves. Might as well say goodbye to any new nuke plants in the US in the immediate future.
Of course, even the greenies aren't too fond of the alternatives. Which gave me a brilliant idea that would kill a gaggle of birds with one stone. What I envision is millions of micro-generators attached to stationary bicycles - like an army of Gilligans pedaling furiously to power a coconut radio - wired to a common grid. The homeless and unemployed get coveted green jobs of the future. It'd even help with Lady Obama's Your Kid's Too Fat thing. No worries if it isn't energy efficient, it couldn't be any worse than ethanol.
Hell, I bet I could even Tom Sawyer people into pedaling the damn things for nothing.
Speaking of wealthy energy potentates, having the world's gaze fixed squarely on Japan for the near future is great news for Moomar Godaffy and the rest of the Middle East monarchs. To steal a bit from Southwest Airlines, "You are now free to bust heads all around your country." Godspeed gentle tyrants! Sure we're still sore over the Lockerbie incident, but not so sore we'd actually make sure you got a foot in your ass.
In fact, I'm pretty sure there are still a couple of those neat reset buttons laying around over at State that we hope you'll find as whimsical and fun as we do. Try it! It actually says "Reset" when you push it!*
* Actually translation may vary. Your language may not be available. Please see Ambassador for details. If you do not have an Ambassador please accept our humblest apologies.
Comments (10)
Actually I was thinking of ... (Below threshold)1. Posted by NickDeringer | March 12, 2011 10:12 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Actually I was thinking of putting generators on all the revolving doors in NYC.
1. Posted by NickDeringer | March 12, 2011 10:12 AM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on March 12, 2011 10:12
2. Posted by GarandFan | March 12, 2011 10:33 AM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
I'm sure we can get some hot air windmills in DC as well. I'd suggest one in the Oval Office and a couple outside Reid and Pelosi's offices.
2. Posted by GarandFan | March 12, 2011 10:33 AM |
Score: 1 (3 votes cast)
Posted on March 12, 2011 10:33
3. Posted by John S | March 12, 2011 10:41 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
You forgot about the six-figure teachers in Wisconsin, all on unauthorized taxpayer-paid vacation so they can riot in Madison. No one will pay any attention to them and wonder why they haven't been summarily fired.
3. Posted by John S | March 12, 2011 10:41 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 12, 2011 10:41
4. Posted by irongrampa | March 12, 2011 11:48 AM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Oh, the left is already fulminating on this. I fully expect the WH to announce that any construction of nuke plants to be halted, and that the continued operation of existing plants need to be regulated much more stringently (read that rendered inoperative)by a select committee.
The above to be followed by an increased push toward "clean SAFE energy for the future".
After all, camp fires and candles don't emit radiation.
4. Posted by irongrampa | March 12, 2011 11:48 AM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 12, 2011 11:48
5. Posted by Oyster | March 12, 2011 1:10 PM | Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Actually, on the more cynical side too, is that the media can now be relieved that they can ignore all the union violence in Wisconsin because, of course, Japan news take precedence.
5. Posted by Oyster | March 12, 2011 1:10 PM |
Score: 0 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 12, 2011 13:10
6. Posted by Jim Addison | March 12, 2011 3:59 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Relax. Obama has already dealt with the effects of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear plant accidents in Japan, chaos in Libya and potentially in Saudi Arabia, and economic crisis at home, and went golfing today.
We finally elected Alfred E. Neuman President.
6. Posted by Jim Addison | March 12, 2011 3:59 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 12, 2011 15:59
7. Posted by sadly | March 12, 2011 8:23 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
bad news, fossil fuels are running out. Alternatives gonna have to happen.
7. Posted by sadly | March 12, 2011 8:23 PM |
Score: -1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on March 12, 2011 20:23
8. Posted by David | March 12, 2011 8:29 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
While anti-nuke wackos will make all the hay that the Mass MEdia Podpeople Hivemind will allow, the only nuclear power plant so far reported to have had an incident in Japan as a result of the earthquake had a "Level Four" incident--an order of magnitude LESS than the (in real terms) non-incident at Three Mile Island.
Nuclear power: safe and clean... and virtually self-supplying, after an initial run-up, when sane policies are enacted.
Of course,asking for sanity from greenie wackos, politicians and Mass MEdia Podpeople is a venture into fantasyland.
8. Posted by David | March 12, 2011 8:29 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on March 12, 2011 20:29
9. Posted by Sabba Hillel | March 12, 2011 8:36 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Actually, based on the what has been reported as happenning, it appears that the nuclear plants are safer than anything else available. It reminds me of the old Timex commercials
...Takes a licking and keeps on Ticking9. Posted by Sabba Hillel | March 12, 2011 8:36 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on March 12, 2011 20:36
10. Posted by 914 | March 12, 2011 11:56 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Nero Neuman goes golfing? I'm cancelling my subscription.
10. Posted by 914 | March 12, 2011 11:56 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on March 12, 2011 23:56