Based on teh Twitter traffic, I think most of tonight's show will again be about the nuclear implications of the earthquake & tsunami in Japan this past Friday, so I offer advanced apologies for any zoning out that may occur.
Let's get historical with "this day in history." On March 15, 1965, addressing a joint session of Congress, President Johnson called for new legislation to guarantee every American's right to vote - unless you're a Dem member of the WI state legislature.
On this date in 1964, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton were married. Was this marriage numero uno or numero dos for the shy retiring couple?
And, 71 years ago today, my Mom was born in a house in the middle of nowhere in east central IL. Since she was in the hospital a year ago today on her birthday about a third of the way through a long long LONG year of uterine cancer treatments, the fact that she is happy & healthy & looking "like buttah" today deserves some dancing! :D
On to SPARK, I continue to be damn gratified & reassured that our Congress knows how to prioritize. ;D
I've been cold enough some winter mornings where something like this would be a welcome distraction! Talk about chestnuts roasting on an open fire...
Sadly, Fort Wayne won't have Hairy Balls to scratch around anymore. Well, MY reason to visit just went down the terlet! ;D
Finally, I'm going to end SPARK with a good "AAAaaaaaWWWWwww" rising triumphantly from the sadness in Japan. :D
On with The Rachel Maddow Show...
"Disaster in Japan: Response Ability" AKA "Know Nukes" - Look at those little uranium pellets; they are the most unassuming looking little grim reapers. I'll never look at Tootsie Rolls the same way again! Ya' cant just dump expired fuel rods down the drain like I do with bad milk? DAMN! OK...mind is beginning to glaze AGAIN. Rachel, I'm all for "understanding what's going on," but there's overkill, too. And, you're beginning to overkill with all this nuclear stuff. I...get...it. Something bad has happened, the bad thing could get worse, people are working damn hard to prevent the bad thing from getting worse, and these people who are working at preventing this bad thing from getting worse will need to be & should be taken care of. Fires at plants are still burning. OK, y'all are going to have to fill in the details about what the physics dude said - or repeated what's already been said - about this nuclear stuff; I'm over it.
Off topic, but is Twitter having a cow for anyone else, or is it just my POS laptop?!
"Disaster in Japan" Wednesday Morning in Tokyo" - OK, an honest - to - goodness question with no snark intent whatsoever, but what good will be done by wearing one of those flimsy masks against radiation exposure or if you've already been exposed? Tokyo may or may not get some radiation exposure. Guess where one of my nephews had planned to go to with one of his buddies who has grandparents who live in Japan? Japan, boys & girls! But, they live in Tokyo, so they're OK. My sister's about to have a herd, but she's the having - a - herd - type when it comes to her son. ;D Robert Bazell's in Tokyo, and he doesn't have a mask on or nothin'. People there are on - edge, and their already not - so - great economy is getting worse. Well duh, they're not exactly going to be dancing in the streets!
While Rachel continues with talking radioactive steam, where it might go, etc. (it ain't coming here), I'm gonna share some news that she's not talking about; people are still being found alive! If you want to do what you can to help so many people who need so much, start here. Yea, it's not as exciting or scary as the nuclear stuff, but there is SOME positive news coming out of all this, and, as I said, so many people need so much. I did briefly hear Rachel say, "More information is better than less information." But, this "more information" isn't anything new! *&^%$#@!
Since Rachel's continuing the nuclear news, here's a story about a college student who thought her entire family had died on Friday but found them alive on YouTube! :D
In other news not covered, the RNC must really be hard up for money!
"Disaster in Japan: Wednesday Morning in Tokyo" - Can you just imagine having to be a relief worker in Japan these days?! They will need some counseling & to be taken care for a long time, too. Heaven bless them for doing what they are doing! Chris Jansing is in Japan - specifically Tokyo. Are any reporters closer to the epicenter other than in Tokyo? Some pretty big aftershocks are still making a mess of an already - unimaginable mess. Many offers of outside help from over 90 nations have been accepted.
"Disaster in Japan: Response Ability" - The Department of Energy began as some sort of atomic energy department after WWII. SOE Steven Chu spent some time on Capitol Hill reassuring Congress critters that he's confident & is on top of monitoring efforts. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's doing its part, too, unless our GOBP Congress critters thinks they might be in cahoots with NPR; then, they'll get funding no more. ;D All US military personnel are safe & accounted for even though some have had limited radiation exposure.