Check out this map from the April 15th severe weather (much of which was centered in Alabama)....

View April 15, 2011 Tornado Outbreak in a larger map

NBC Nightly News corrects typewriter demise story; Chernobyl at 25; BAD Weather April

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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As I'm sure most folks are aware, today is the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl Accident. Just about three weeks ago, we hit 32 years post-TMI. And we are currently in the consequence mitigation and clean-up phase of the only other nuclear accident to rank with Chernobyl (the linked article includes all the Japanese nuclear plants affected by the earthquake but Fukushima Daiichi is the only other INES 7). However, there are differences. TMI was largely a result of poor maintenance/operation and needed improvement in training and information sharing. Many documents concerning TMI are available, but here is the TMI-2 Lessons Learned Task Force Final Report (NUREG-0585). Chernobyl was also mainly caused by people. Here's the NRC's Report on the Accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station (NUREG-1250). We've still got a long way to go and a lot to learn from Japan. However, at present, the bulk of the problems still appear to have been caused by Mother Nature. Mind you, we will probably discover mistakes made by people in the handling of the Japanese accidents. Speaking of which, the first and second public meetings regarding the NRC's Response to the Japanese events are coming soon. I think that the US nuclear industry will see quite a few changes.

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Well, I'll leave with the news of a record-breaking April regarding severe weather. Keep in mind, there are more serious storms wreaking havoc in the US as I type. Keep an eye to the sky!!!

Last Typewriter Factory in the World Shuts Its Doors - The Atlantic

Last Typewriter Factory in the World Shuts Its Doors - The Atlantic

I remember using a typewriter and now they are dying...

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For what it's worth, the NRC didn't post any documents regarding Browns Ferry in their online repository last week. If you have a particular nuclear plant you are keeping track of, I'll provide my example query and you can change it to your needs. First, go to the NRC ADAMS page. One you're there, click on the "Advanced Search" tab. Here's the query I used to find stuff about Browns Ferry (any of the three units) posted between 4/16/11 and 4/23/11:

e_create_date:{04/16/2011 TO 04/23/11} Docket_Number:(05000259 OR 05000260 OR 05000296)

The fields are pretty obvious. The info in the brackets with e_create_date is the date range and the numbers in the parentheses with Docket_Number are the Docket Number(s) you are interested in. Here's one place you can readily find docket numbers. Happy searching!

3 new footbags

I ordered these 3 new footbags from http://www.worldfootbag.com/ on 4/18/11 and received them in Alabama (from Colorado) on 4/21/11. If you're in need of footbags (aka hacky sacks), juggling equipment, Frisbees or a few other assorted items, give these guys a look!

One word...

PIZZA!!!

I hate it when...

I set my alarm to wake me up 3-1/2 hours before I'm supposed to be at work and I wake up half an hour before the alarm. By this point, many folks ask "Why 3-1/2 hours early?"...

I like to get up and pour/drink my first quart of coffee, check the news/e-mail, knock out several miles on the treadmill and get ready for work and do so at an "ease into the day" pace.

Oh well, it beats the heck out of yesterday when I woke up one hour before I was supposed to be at work...

Here we go!!!

Weird Al smacks it with Perform This Way (Gaga parody)

No earth-shattering info here. My new sacks are on the way.

I just ordered a Mr. Sandbag Footbag, Mr. Sandbag Facile Footbag and a SandBlaster Footbag. My old Stally® footbags were (and still are) rapidly approaching the great hack circle in the sky...

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Well, it's time for sustenance. As an accompaniment to our salmon, we've got this "Artichoke Casserole" from a Justin Wilson recipe:

4 cans artichoke hearts, drained
½ c. dry white wine
¼ c. olive oil
1 c. parmesan cheese
2 c. seasoned bread crumbs
1 t. onion powder
½ t. garlic powder
Cayenne pepper, to taste

Grease casserole dish
Quarter artichoke hearts
Combine everything but bread crumbs
Put in dish and top with bread crumbs
Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees

Weekly top 10 @ thomas.loc.gov & SUCKAGE

First, the weekly top 10 from thomas.loc.gov"

Top ten legislative items searched on THOMAS, compiled on 4/17/2011 from weekly usage statistics

1. H.R. 1473 - [112th] - Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
2. H.R. 1363 - [112th] - Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
3. H.R. 1 - [112th] - Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
4. H.R. 1380 - [112th] - New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions Act of 2011
5. H.R. 1217 - [112th] - To repeal the Prevention and Public Health Fund
6. H.R. 4 - [112th] - Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011
7. H.R. 1255 - [112th] - Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011
8. H.R. 25 - [112th] - Fair Tax Act of 2011
9. H.R. 1351 - [112th] - United States Postal Service Pension Obligation Recalculation and Restoration Act of 2011
10. H.R. 4173 - [111th] - Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

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If the cloud cover would cooperate, the International Space Station is supposed to be doing a North Alabama transit tonight (and a few more nights between now and May 2). I think viewing tonight is going to be right out...

Quickie here....

For all of you Alabama folks, if you're ever looking up the status of Alabama legislation and don't remember who your elected Senator/Representative is, you can use this:

Find Your Legislator

Enter ZIP Code

   

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While I'm at it...

Alabama taxpayer money funds the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL). You used to have to get a specific card from your local library. Now, the AVL uses Geographic IP guessing (Geotargeting). Geotargeting is generally pretty good, but if (as an example) you work at a place whose network address originates outside of Alabama, you'll need a username/password (i.e. AVL card). Hence, a card is still useful.

Sunny and comfortable and not too windy...

Time for about 7 miles

Dang!!!

Between 4/14 and 4/16 (according to preliminary data), there were 217 tornadoes (as of the time of posting this). If you click the image, you'll be taken to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center's storm report page for 4/15/2011. From there, it's easy to click and see the reports for the day before and the day after...

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I've posted here about the Yahoo! News Topics pages before. Here are two of interest regarding the Japanese quake and tsunami and the ensuing nuclear plant problems:

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

Japan Nuclear Crisis

Your cat as a masseuse

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Mo Brooks invokes Socialism (video and Congressional Record) and BFN docs from the NRC 4/9/11 to 4/16/11

Mo Brooks raised a bit of a stir by calling elements of the House "socialist" yesterday.

Video of Mo Brooks invoking the "S" word on the House floor (4/15/11)

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The Congressional Record (with the phrase stricken) page (H2867) of the House proceedings at the time (to provide context)

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NRC docs for BFN - week of 4/9/11 to 4/16/11

1. ML110940027 - LER 10-004-01 for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 Regarding Residual Heat Removal System Pump Motor Failure.
2. ML111010106 - 04/04/11 Summary Of Meeting With Browns Ferry To Discuss One Preliminary Greater Than Green Finding Associated With One Apparent Violation That Was Documented In NRC Inspection Report 05000259-10-005, 05000260-10-005, And 05000296-10-005.
3. ML110950683 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 & 3, Sequoyah, Units 1 & 2, Watts Bar, Unit 1, Submittal of Annual Insurance Status Report.
4. ML110960072 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, & 3, Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, Units 1 & 2 & Watts Bar Nuclear Plant, Unit 1, Guarantee of Payment of Deferred Premiums - 2010 Annual Report.
5. ML110960073 - Browns Ferry, Units 1, 2 & 3, Sequoyah, Units 1 & 2, and Watts Bar, Unit 1, Submittal of Decommissioning Funding Status Report.
6. ML110960589 - LER 10-003-01, for Browns Ferry, Unit 1, Regarding Failure of a Low Pressure Coolant Injection Flow Control Valve.
7. ML110960744 - LER 10-005-01, For Browns Ferry, Unit 1, Regarding Safety/Relief Valves As-Found Setpoints Exceeded Technical Specification Lift Pressure Values.
8. ML111030547 - Browns Ferry - NRC Generic Fundamentals Examination Results - March 2011.

Frightening in more than one way, yet hilarious...

As heard on NPR's All Things Considered this afternoon....

Japan 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami – U.S. Government Information: USA.gov

Japan 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami – U.S. Government Information: USA.gov

I before E, except after C; Or when sounded as A, as in neighbor and weigh...

Wow!

Sesquicentennial

150 years ago today, the shots that initiated the four years of the American Civil War were fired.

Top ten legislative items searched on THOMAS

Top ten legislative items searched on THOMAS, compiled on 4/10/2011 from weekly usage statistics

1. H.R. 1363 - [112th] - Department of Defense and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
2. H.R. 1 - [112th] - Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011
3. H.R. 1255 - [112th] - Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011
4. H.R. 4 - [112th] - Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011
5. H.R. 910 - [112th] - Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011
6. H.R. 658 - [112th] - FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011
7. H.R. 1297 - [112th] - Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011
8. H.R. 3590 - [111th] - Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
9. H.R. 4173 - [111th] - Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
10. H.R. 1246 - [112th] - To reduce the amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense for printing and reproduction

Boy Scout nuclear badge tweet and NRC docs for BFN 4/2/11 to 4/9/11

I like this info at usscouts.org: http://tinyurl.com/2evw5dvless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyArt Metcalf
artmetcalf

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1. ML110840041 - Comment (12) of R. M. Krich, on Behalf of TVA, on Draft Regulatory Issues Summary, "Adequacy of Station Electric Distribution System Voltages," (Docket ID NRC-2011-0013).
2. ML110840035 - Browns Ferry, Unit 1 - Letter re Licensee Event Report which Occurred on December 22, 2010, Concerning Low Pressure Coolant Injection Operability, TVA expects to Submit a revised LER by April 15, 2011.
3. ML110871250 - BWR Vessel and Internals Inspection Summaries for Spring 2010 Outages.
4. ML11095A073 - Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Unit 1 - Request for Additional Information Regarding a Request to Transition to Areva Fuel.
5. ML110940423 - ER 05000259-11-301, 05000260-11-301, and 05000296-11-301; 02/07/2011 - 02/16/2011; Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant, Units 1, 2, and 3 Operator License Examinations.
6. ML110950195 - Browns Ferry, Units 2 & 3, Acceptance of Requested Licensing Action re: Deletion of Low Pressure Coolant Injection Motor-Generator Sets (TAC Nos. ME5796 and ME5797).
7. ML110960332 - NRC Response to TVA concerning disputed NOV in NRC Inspection Report 2010005.