Nuclear power plant flooded -- officials optimistic

One of the year's most astonishing developments in news about technology is that of tsunami and floods around nuclear power plants. The Fort Calhoun plant near Omaha joins Fukushima Daiichi as a site of inundation. A story in the Wall Street Jounal notes, "A protective berm holding back floodwaters from a Nebraska nuclear power plant collapsed early Sunday after it was accidentally torn, surrounding containment buildings and key electrical equipment with Missouri River overflow....The berm's collapse allowed floodwaters to wash around the main electrical transformers. As a result, emergency diesel power generators were started."

Back-up generators? Where have we heard that before?

Predictably, officials of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission have been quick to reassure the public that " there is little cause for immediate concern." Still clean, safe and too cheap to meter.

No doubt this means, as in Japan, that swimming lessons will now be required for tritium and cesium atoms. Fish will be advised to avoid areas contaminated by high levels of radiation and to take their potassium iodide pills each day.

Update:  Surf's up at the Cooper Nuclear Station near Brownville too.  Waxing up my board!

Marriage equality law in New York: how far we've come

The fact that one of the deciding votes on marriage equality came from a Columbia County’s Republican state senator brought to mind the following true story.

Several years ago a north county friend, a well-known architect, hired a high school boy to do some lawn mowing for her. After several weeks he approached her and asked: “If you think I’ve done a good job, would you be willing to recommend me to do yard work for your friends?”

“Certainly, I’d be glad to,” she replied.

“There’s just one thing,” the boy continued. “I won’t work for gay people.”

“Oh, I understand exactly how you feel,” she said. “You know, I refuse work with Republicans.”

A worried look came across his face. “But I’m a Republican.”

She smiled and said, “Life’s full of surprises, isn’t it?”

- Langdon

Top Ten Secrets of Innovation Revealed

After years of reading the literature on “innovation” and listening to discussions among academics, business people and politicians about how to make it happen, I’m pleased to share the basic insights with you.

1. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, innovation, blah, blah, blah, blah.

2. Blah blah blah, innovation, blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, global, blah, blah, blah, blah.

3. Blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, entrepreneur, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, innovation, blah, blah, blah.

4. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, tech park, blah, blah, blah, blah, innovation.

5. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, military, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, innovation, blah, blah.

6. Innovation blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, research, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, partnership, blah, blah, blah, blah.

7. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, education, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, skills, blah, blah, blah, blah, tomorrow.

8. Blah, blah, blah, iPad, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, innovative, blah, blah, blah, blah.

9. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, White House, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, investment, blah, blah, blah, blah, jobs, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, future.

10. Blah blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, Chinese, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, innovation, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, China.