Vermont Yankee’s steam dryer has withstood the additional stress from a 20 percent jump in power production despite developing an increasing number of cracks, Entergy engineers told a panel from the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Wednesday.
And if the steam dryer was going to show serious problems, as it has at other, similar nuclear power plants which have increased power production, it would have by now, Larry Lukens, an Entergy Nuclear engineer, said.
Lukens said the steam dryer’s new cracks appeared in areas of the dryer that don’t receive a lot of stress, supporting his theory that the cracks are a result of natural aging in earlier welded areas rather than metal fatigue. He said the cracks did not affect the structural integrity of the large steel dryer.
Uhm… Good?
Or maybe not. What Lukens is saying is that (1) there are cracks throughout the system, (2) just because there are cracks is no reason to be concerned and (3) it’s just part of the aging process.
This is my take on it:
You. Have. Got. To. Be. Kidding. Me.
This is not rocket science, though it requires rudimentary knowledge of The Way Things Work.
Large structures with small cracks in them might last for years, but if those cracks are exposed to continual vibrations (you know, like the constant stress of power output designed beyond the device’s original intent) or used beyond their intended age limit (this is not a McCain joke), then maybe those tiny cracks can get a little… what’s the word for it? Oh yes. BIGGER.
But I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about it. It’s not as though any of the aging, antiquated equipment at Vermont Yankee has suffered from any sort of structural problems.
Mixed feelings. The content needs to get out there, and kudos to them for that. Lord knows the press corps doesn’t give a crap about reporting on this kind of shameful behavior from our chief executive.
But stylistically, I think the subject is too hot to deal with in standard political ad format. On this one, I think they would’ve been a lot wiser to do away with the sinister music and let the bobbing and weaving speak for itself. But that might just be me.
In any event, good for them for holding Douglas accountable like they never – and I mean never – have before.
I just have to laugh at the incessant whining from the McCain campaign, about how "the media loves Obama". Is Obama getting more minutes on the news? I don't doubt that, as what he's doing lately does make for a more newsworthy story, regardless of the political persuasion (first major presidential candidate of color repeatedly bucking the odds, and generating lots of enthusiasm, most lately on his Middle East trip vs. stodgy old fart with flappy cheeks who's one minute away from crapping his drawers, getting everything wrong so often you can't keep score anymore).
Plus, with all that extra media coverage of Obama, don't forget how many non-story/inflated b.s. sensationalist stuff was in that coverage… Rev. Wright, Bittergate, a bad bowler who just can't relate to the hicks in Appalachia, etc.
The press, with all of McCain's whining, is still his "base", and as he continuously goes more and more off the deep end into some factually-challenged twilight zone, we're seeing them actually cover up for him. This makes the press coverage of Bush in 2000 that downplayed he had the intelligence of a fourth grader look like nothing, by comparison. How perverted is it getting? McCain completely screwed up his facts regarding the timelines of the surge and events surrounding it. CBS actually went ahead and cut out his horribly mangled answer and inserted the answer to a different question. Yeah, you just can't make this stuff up, I tells ya.Your liberal media at work:
The economy is saved! As any serious economicalist surely knows, the only way to guarantee prosperity and a booming economy for all is to cut taxes, regulations, all those pesky government programs and stuff that interfere with the purity of an absolutely, unregulated, uninhibited global market, and allow the super-rich to become super-duper-extra-rich. They then use their powers of hard-working genius (because you can’t be rich unless you’re a hard-working genius) even more than usual, and the benefits trickle down to all. It’s all about supply side maximization. Rising tides and boat raising and such. So the Wall Street Journal report today is awesome!
In a new sign of increasing inequality in the U.S., the richest 1% of Americans in 2006 garnered the highest share of the nation’s adjusted gross income for two decades, and possibly the highest since 1929, according to Internal Revenue Service data.
Meanwhile, the average tax rate of the wealthiest 1% fell to its lowest level in at least 18 years. The group’s share of the tax burden has risen, though not as quickly as its share of income.
Yay! This means the economy must be great! Why, this must be a new golden age, just like it was back in 1929! Woo-hoo! Mission accomplished! I’m goin’ on a shopping spree (well, as soon as I get approved for my umpteenth credit card, anyway)!
Better not take our eye off these guys until the last minute, when “it’s” finally over.
How many regulatory time bombs are being slipped quietly into regulations in the last glory days of the Bush /Cheney administration ? The Dept.of Labor in a flurry of activity is making it harder to regulate work place safety from toxic chemicals.As with so many things in the up is down World of Bush this unannounced rule change allows additional ways for industry to challenge risk assessments.Dept of Labor as industry friend rather than labor advocate .
There are always last minute things to do for any administration leaving office but it is really boggling to think of the surprises the new White House occupant(and the entire country ) may be in for. Recall the accusation in 2000,later proven false ,that when the Bush team came to the White House Clinton staffers had taken the letter ‘W’ from some keyboards. Year 2009 may find a lot more than missing ‘W’ s. Chemical exposure in the workplace,factories and offices is a serious problem.Vermont had well documented problems with a toxic State office building .These are life effecting regulations that are being tampered with in secret that have the potential to damage peoples health. Compassionate conservatives at work.
The agency did not disclose the proposal, as required, in public notices of regulatory plans that it filed in December and May……………..
The change would address long-standing complaints from businesses that the government overestimates the risk posed by job exposure to chemicals.
The rule would also require the agency to take an extra step before setting new limits on chemicals in the workplace by allowing an additional round of challenges to agency risk assessments.
The department’s speed in trying to make the regulatory change contrasts with its reluctance to alter workplace safety rules over the past 7 1/2 years. In that time, the department adopted only one major health rule for a chemical in the workplace, and it did so under a court order.
David Michaels, an epidemiologist and workplace safety professor at George Washington University’s School of Public Health, said the rule would add another barrier to creating safety standards, in the name of improving them.
“This is a guarantee to keep any more worker safety regulation from ever coming out of OSHA,” Michaels said. “This is being done in secrecy, to be sprung before President Bush leaves office, to cripple the next administration.”
So we know that McBush's big selling point is that he has a lot of experience in foreign policy and knows a lot about it, right?
Here we have another example of what he knows. I know all about linguistic competence vs. linguistic performance. Still, when the guy consistently gets significant points wrong, pretty much every time he opens his mouth, shouldn't it make us wonder if he has the first idea what he's talking about?
On the other hand, the greenhorn, Obama, has been saying for months that we should be getting out if Iraq in about sixteen months after he takes office.
So if the young guy knows what he's talking about, and the people we're supposedly trying to help agree with him, and the old guy doesn't have a clue, maybe we're safer with the young guy, huh?
Now that the Secretary of State has posted the petitioned candidates, we are seeing what a good year this should be for the Democrats. A quick scan of the list shows that there are something like 25 more Democratic than Republican House candidates, and a similarly lopsided balance for the Senate. (One Republican candidate for six Chittenden County Senate seats, for one example.)
One example is in Barre Town, where for the first time in years we have two legitimate candidates for the House of Representatives. Take a look at what they have to say.
July 22, 2008- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: JP Isabelle, 802-999-7849 Isabelle.jp@gmail.com
Barre Town– John Pizzo, DC., and J. Guy Isabelle announced on Tuesday that they are entering the race to represent Barre Town in the Vermont State House. In a unique twist to their candidacies, they plan to limit campaign spending and are working to set up a fund that will provide fuel and food assistance for Barre Towners in need this winter.
In the spirit of former Vermont Governor and Senator George Aiken, Pizzo and Isabelle plan to spend as little as possible on their race. In Aiken’s 1968 race for US Senate, his final campaign after an illustrious political career, he spent only $17.09.
“We want to honor the memory of Senator Aiken by limiting our campaign spending to represent Barre Town in the legislature,” said Pizzo. “Sen. Aiken knew that politics was about helping your friends and neighbors, not who could spend the most money. We can’t justify spending large amounts of money on lawn signs and parade floats when our neighbors are enduring hard economic times. Guy and I are going to work hard without spending exorbitant amounts of money”.
“Our campaign is about people and policy, not politics,” said Isabelle. “At a time when Vermonters are having trouble paying their bills, we want to do our part, even before we get to Montpelier. Sen. Aiken worked with people of all political stripes to do what was best for Vermonters. John and I will model our campaign and our service in the legislature after him”.
Pizzo and Isabelle plan to hit the ground running after their announcement. They hope to meet with Barre Town businesses and community groups to hear what issues are important to them. The two candidates will also begin a vigorous door knocking campaign in neighborhoods across Barre Town.
“We want to hear from as many people as possible,” Pizzo said. “We encourage everyone in Barre Town to contact us to discuss the issues”.
Candidate Bios:
John Pizzo has lived in Barre Town for over 25 years and has owned and operated a private chiropractor practice during that time. He is a graduate of SUNY Buffalo and received his DC from the New York Chiropractic College. He was appointed to the VT Board of Chiropractic Examiners by Gov. Kunin in 1986 and served for 13 years, seven of them as the chairman. As a member of the board, Pizzo lead the effort to pass a scope of practice bill for chiropractors in 1992 and, in 1999, helped to write and enact into law a landmark law requiring insurance coverage of chiropractic services. In 1992, he was named the Vermont Chiropractor of the Year. He is a member of the National Board of Chiropractor Examiners test design committee and taught for four years at Community College of Vermont. He currently serves on the Spaulding High School Board, where he was first elected in 2004 and re-elected in 2007. He serves on the Negotiation Committee and the Policy and Curriculum Committee. He is the volunteer physician for the state champion Spaulding High School football team. He and his wife Lynda have two children and one grandchild.
J. Guy Isabelle has lived in Barre Town for over 50 years. He received his BA from Johnson State College and was the first in his family to graduate from college. He is the 58 student of long-time JSC professor and Washington county state senator Bill Doyle to run for office. Isabelle is currently the director of the RSVP for Central Vermont and the Northeast Kingdom, as well as the director of the statewide Senior Companion Program. He is also a member of the Governor’s Commission on National and Community Service, representing Vermont at various service oriented conferences around the country. He served a combined 15 years on the Barre Town Elementary School Board and the Spaulding High School Board, with several years as Chairman or Vice-Chairman. In 2000, he was named the recipient of the Wendell Pelkey Award by the Barre Town Selectboard for outstanding community service. He has coached youth sports in Barre for over 20 years, has been a justice of the peace for over 15 years, served on the local board of civil authority, and has volunteered in numerous capacities on various community boards. A British car enthusiast, he can be seen on weekends working in his garage or tending to his numerous flower and vegetable gardens. He has been married to his wife Rita, who is a nurse, for 29 years and they have two grown children.
Geez. Obama looks like a freaking action hero sitting next to Petraeus. Don’t suppose it matters in any meaningful way, but its reassuring that they won’t get us with that particular cheap trick this time…
Way back about 12 years ago I was a field organizer for the Sanders campaign (the year he went up against Susan Sweetser…. remember her?), and most of my “territory” was Washington County. Obviously, the election went well – and if I do say so myself, it was the first election up to that point (and thereafter, I believe) that Washington County was proportionately the strongest County for Bernie. We kicked Susie’s butt by nearly 2 to 1.
The Sunday after the election, there was a meeting of the handful of key progressive activists in the area – at the time, the “Washington County Progressive Coalition” – to go over how the election had gone and its impact for future movement building. I was there, as well as folks like Hal Leyshon, Ellen David Friedman – and Anthony Pollina.
We had somebody there from Burlington as well… I forget who, exactly – maybe Dean Corren? The conversation at one point went into a discussion of using the success of the Bernie groundgame and the Coalition successes in Burlington to jumpstart a statewide “Progressive Party” (there was also talk about a Labor party and a Green Party, at least briefly).
I chimed in at that point. I shared my opinion that, given the structure of the system and the inevitable marginalization that would occur, third parties just seemed like tilting at windmills. That if we wanted to send progressive messages and shake up the political institutions but still be viable electorally, running some targeted independents in key races made more sense, as doing so would not preclude support from partisans (or even parties themselves), and would better enable an opt-in dynamic for coalition building should some of these folks get elected (you know – like Bernie).
What can I say? I was a kid then: naive, ofttimes ridiculous, pretty new to the state, and had no idea of just how antithetical that view really was to the crowd in that room. There was a moment of silence while everybody looked at me, and gave a sort of collective “hmm” before moving on as though I’d said nothing.
Twelve years later, while its always nice to see one’s advice taken, there’s something to be said for the matter of timing…
The mood of the day in the Vermont media and blogosphere was one of shock, shock, shock over the announcement that the Progressive Party’s leader and co-founder, Anthony Pollina, decided to ditch his own political party and, instead, run as an independent for the position of Vermont’s governor. But none of us should have been shocked, especially if we’ve been following the whiplash-like switchbacks and flip-flops of Pollina’s rather miserable political career. If there’s anything Pollina does better than losing elections (o-for-whatever since the 1980s), it’s waffling, meandering and otherwise just floundering in the shallow end of his ideological pool.
Instead of being shocked, we all should have felt a little sheepish about watching the latest political wreckage of the latest Pollina campaign. I know, I know, you don’t really want to look at the wreck but you just can’t help it – especially with the Vermont media covering it as if it somehow matters.
Pollina’s bizarre yet predictable dissing of the political party he had only moments before anointed as “the answer” to Vermont’s political troubles is what we can only hope will be one of his last political acts. It reeks of desperation. You know, kind of like one of those “hey, look at me” antics of the ornery child in the corner – anything for just one more moment of attention.
If Pollina were to pull these kinds of stunts in most any other political climate besides the sleepy and incestuous political climes of Vermont, he would have been relegated to the laughing stockpile many elections cycles ago. Instead, in the comfy cocoon of the Vermont media and political elite, Pollina has been able to keep his name in play despite mountains of desperation, piles of losses, and a mere small valley of supporters. Hey, it sure beats Jersey, huh Tony?
For me, the worst part of the these all-too-frequent Pollina flip-flops is his apparent disregard and even disdain for his followers (few as they may be at this point) – all while parading in a charade of “caring for the little guys and gals.” Pollina, for example, is known for getting up on his high-horse and spewing his mostly borrowed rhetoric for causes such as campaign finance reform, fighting for farmers and building alternative political parties (yes, he said “parties”). But when it gets hot in Pollina’s political kitchen, he more often than not runs for the back door, leaving his guests with little but his stale rhetoric to pick over as they realize their “leader” has left the building.
Remember, Pollina loved campaign finance reform when he was rolling in $300,000 of the state’s money but suddenly found it objectionable when it didn’t fit his latest political goals. Similarly, Pollina loved to rail against the big, bad corporate dairies that were ripping off small farmers until, that is, he started his own dairy corporation and began ripping off small farmers. And now Pollina wants us to somehow ignore nearly a decade of his rhetoric about the essential importance of building his Progressive Party.
Pollina’s political career could be summarized as one, big “nevermind.” Emily Litela’s got nothing on Tony.
The most laughable spin of Pollina’s latest “nevermind” moment is his campaign’s assertion that his sudden adoption of the “independent” label will somehow amount to his reincarnation as what must be the immaculate conception of Bernie Sanders’ political son. Give me a break. Sure, in the shallowest of shallow interpretations, Pollina running as an “independent” is similar to Bernie’s many, many runs as an “independent.” But, other than the use of word “independent,” the similarities stop there.
First of all, Bernie won elections. And, more importantly, Bernie won LOCAL elections and built a formidable movement based on his political consistency (“people are suffering…”) and local election victories to vault him to where he is now.
Sorry, Tony, but you would have never seen Bernie Sanders touting a silly “credit card” as even the most remotest of “solutions” to Vermont’s economic woes. Earth to Tony: When the state wants a “certain percentage” of our purchases, we call that a “tax.” And, currently, the state is getting 6% off of every purchase. Besides, there is absolutely nothing “progressive” about promoting “credit” (read: debt) as a solution to our state’s economic woes. But I’ll bet those Republicans that the Pollina campaign claims to be targeting will love the idea of debt. Bush does.
While Pollina is aiming for the Sanders’ mantle, it would be more accurate to equate him with the Democratic fink known as Joe Lieberman. Yeah, you know, the guy who loved the Democratic Party’s warm glow when he was its vice-presidential candidate or getting its institutional support when fending off the liberal Ned Lamont, but just as quickly turning his back on it when he thought it would be best for him, and him alone.
The ugly truth in this latest Pollina “nevermind” is that he lied to his supporters and to the people of Vermont. He baited us with a decade of rhetoric about the importance of his “third party” and then switched when he thought it was best for him, and him alone. Worse, Pollina invoked the rhetoric of being against “party in-fighting” while, at the same time, managing to diss all parties – including his own. Go figure. Or, rather, nevermind.
Last Sunday, Pollina sat and watched as Peter Diamondstone of the state’s other major party, Liberty Union, got handcuffed and arrested for trying to participate in the first debate of gubernatorial candidates. Pollina said nothing. He refused to defend him. Instead, Pollina sat silently on his hands as he watched Diamondstone be forcefully removed and arrested for trying to bring his views forward, all the while knowing that the next morning he would be abandoning his own “major” party.
That, my friends, should tell us a lot about Anthony Pollina’s character. Please, oh please, let this be Pollina’s last campaign.
Don’t worry, Tony, we’ll remember you with your own favorite word: Nevermind.
    