I just can't leave the nuclear power plant in my backyard alone. I recently discovered a site from the Eyeball Series that lists formerly public FEMA information about McGuire Nuclear Power Station, information which was taken offline in the aftermath of 9/11. The Eyeball site faithfully reproduces the FEMA information, which, according to what I've… Continue reading If you’re a terrorist and you’re reading this, then the terrorists have already won.
Author: Mark Sample
The Evil Democracy
Here is a lesson in ironic juxtaposition: A freeze-frame of President Bush delivering his State of the Union address, with the closed captioning scrolling the words "THE EVIL DEMOCRACY." The Evil Democracy (Larger Image) / Posted to Flickr by kunja. Ironies abound in this photograph (which I found on the Flickr Bush cluster). First, obviously,… Continue reading The Evil Democracy
Harry Potter, the first 100 pages
Okay, I admit it, I advance-ordered Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince from Amazon, and, as promised, Amazon had UPS deliver my copy first thing Saturday morning, the day of the long-awaited novel's release. I have serious mixed feelings about the Potter series. I've read all the books--twice, even--so it's obvious that they bring me… Continue reading Harry Potter, the first 100 pages
One Year Later…
Back from Spain, where, toward the end of our trip, our son celebrated his first birthday. What a difference a year makes! On the left is a picture we took in the hospital, two days after our son was born. On the right is our son, "calling" on the in-flight phone on our transatlantic journey… Continue reading One Year Later…
In Madrid…
Sorry, but it's going to be hard to blog for a while. I'm in Madrid. Plenty of internet cafes around, but it's not so easy to bring a 1-year old toddler along with me as I spend hours composing deep, reflective posts (yeah, right, that's what my posts are). Plus, I don't have any easy… Continue reading In Madrid…
Warning!! Stay Indoors
What Calendar is complete without evacuation plans? (Larger Image) Detail from the McGuire Emergency Planner (Larger Image) And here is more from my McGuire Emergency Planning Calendar, mailed by the nuclear family of Duke Power to every local resident just in case. My very own evacuation strategy! Three things I might be told to do?… Continue reading Warning!! Stay Indoors
Warning!! Unusual Event!!
My Emergency Planning Calendar from the local nuclear power plant includes many helpful reminders, such as: Martin Luther King Day is January 17; March 20 is the first day of spring; Father's Day is right around the corner on June 19; July 5 sees the emergency siren test at 11:50 AM; And "there are four… Continue reading Warning!! Unusual Event!!
Warning!! Emergency Planning Calendar!!
I know it's not July yet, but I wanted to share this lovely photograph of a local watershed, found on the July page of a calendar that I received in the mail, free, a few months ago. Who could be sending out these gorgeous free calendars to all the area residents? Why, Duke Power, of… Continue reading Warning!! Emergency Planning Calendar!!
Suburbia: The Unspeakable Peril in the Everyday
All this thinking about the dangers of suburbia reminds me of a passage from Joan Didion's great 1970 novel Play It As It Lays. Maria Wyeth, the washed-up, strung-out actress in the novel exists in a near catatonic state. For days during the rain she did not speak out loud or read a newspaper. She… Continue reading Suburbia: The Unspeakable Peril in the Everyday
Warning!! Duke Power!!
High Voltage in Suburbia (top) and detail (bottom) (Larger Image) Here's a common sight in my neighborhood: a locked utility box. I've already posted on a similar box powered by Energy United. This one is Duke Power. The warning is pretty straightforwardly lethal. The scary killer lightning windmill guy says it all. I guess all… Continue reading Warning!! Duke Power!!
Warning!! Playground Jungle Gym!!
Playground Jungle Gym (Larger Image) Posted to Flickr by samplereality. Continuing my series of posts on Danger in Suburbia, I want to highlight another lurking horror on the playground in my subdivision. Here is a sturdy metal and PVC slide/tunnel jungle gym, with a warning sticker posted in several places on the equipment: "Warning: Installation...may… Continue reading Warning!! Playground Jungle Gym!!
Reagan at Disney World, Memorial Day Fun!
LA Times, May 23, 1985 (Larger Image) In honor of Memorial Day, I'm taking a break from my Danger in Suburbia series, and am digging into the archives for this Memorial Day-related post. Twenty years ago, on May 23, 1985, the LA Times ran this article, reporting on President Reagan's plans for Memorial Day. The… Continue reading Reagan at Disney World, Memorial Day Fun!
Warning!! Playground Swing Seat
Playground Swing Seat (Larger Image) Posted to Flickr by samplereality. There's a playground around the corner in my subdivision, and it's loaded with warning signs. There's even one on the toddler swing seat, alerting all who read that "improper installation, maintenance, use, or vandalism can damage seat and lead to serious injury." What I find… Continue reading Warning!! Playground Swing Seat
Warning! Better Lawns through Chemistry
Lawn Doctor (Larger Image) Posted to Flickr by samplereality. Here's a sign in the front yard of a house in my subdivision. The "Lawn Doctor" has been there, doing whatever it takes to make the grass green, green, green. What's with the blue thumb? Instead of signaling competence with gardening (a green thumb) it's as… Continue reading Warning! Better Lawns through Chemistry
Warning! Energy United
Here is a power transformer on my street, operated by Energy United, one of the two power companies in the area. (The other is Duke Power. I'd have to say that having their own nuclear reactor probably gives Duke some sort of competitive edge.) This sign (larger image) gets right down to business, no subtlety… Continue reading Warning! Energy United