The Tragedy and the Irony

The state of Kansas, it is thought, never inspected this amusement park ride. This, from the Kansas City Star, today.

State hasn't inspected Schlitterbahn water slide where 10-year-old died since it opened in 2014

In the meantime, the young boy tragically killed in the horrific incident was the son of a Republican, "small government" state representative who is likely against government oversight and regulation.

Let that sink in.

Quote of the Day

From Humans of New York

"I've been a deep believer my whole life. 

18 years as a Southern Baptist. 

More than 40 years as a mainline Protestant. I'm an ordained pastor. 

But it's just stopped making sense to me. You see people doing terrible things in the name of religion, and you think: 'Those people believe just as strongly as I do. They're just as convinced as I am.' And it just doesn't make sense anymore. 

It doesn't make sense to believe in a God that dabbles in people's lives. 

If a plane crashes, and one person survives, everyone thanks God. They say: 'God had a purpose for that person. God saved her for a reason!' Do we not realize how cruel that is? Do we not realize how cruel it is to say that if God had a purpose for that person, he also had a purpose in killing everyone else on that plane? And a purpose in starving millions of children? 

A purpose in slavery and genocide? 

For every time you say that there's a purpose behind one person's success, you invalidate billions of people. You say there is a purpose to their suffering. And that's just cruel."

Uncanny timing tonight

There was the most terrific 2 specials on tonight on the local PBS station, KCPT, about the Joplin tornado in 2011 since the anniversary was and is today.

I watched most of both.  Bawled like a baby.

The thing is, the reason I write is because, first, it was 2 years ago today but second, it's hot on the heels, of course, of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado just yesterday, the poor people.

Uncanny timing and coincidence.

Devastating.

Deadline in Disaster

A community newspaper helps its town find hope in the aftermath of the EF5-tornado that nearly destroyed Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011. The Joplin Globe rolled the presses the night of the storm and hasn’t missed a beat since: continuing long hours, enduring difficult working conditions, and uncovering stories from the disaster.

Here's the 2nd:

Heartland: Portrait of Survival – 9pm

Heartland is a heartfelt portrait of the people who survived the EF5-tornado and a tribute to the lives who were lost in Joplin, Missouri, on May 22, 2011. Amateur footage, home videos, news broadcasts, police dispatch transmissions, and interviews are woven into an inspiring narrative.

If you get a chance to see either or both, by all means do.

You've no idea what they've been through unless you know someone there or you've seen one of both of  these.

Kudos, KCPT and PBS.

And may we all help the people, now, in Moore, Oklahoma.

Link:  Remembering Joplin - KCPT

In remembrance

"Now, I think that I should have known that he was magic all along. I did know it - but I should have guessed that it would be too much to ask to grow old with and see our children grow up together. So now, he is a legend when he would have preferred to be a man." --Jackie Kennedy

Another poignant, touching commemoration of "that day"

Again, from the original post (a Story Corps recording): " Always a Family On the morning of September 11th, Michael Trinidad called his ex-wife, Monique Ferrer, from the 103rd floor of the World Trade Center's North Tower to say goodbye. In the wake of his death, Monique tells the story of Michael's lasting legacy—the family they built together." Story Corps link: http://storycorps.org/

One of the best ways to commemorate this day

From the original video post and NPR:

"John Vigiano Sr. is a retired New York City firefighter whose two sons followed him into service—John Jr. was a firefighter, too, and Joe was a police detective. On September 11, 2001, both Vigiano brothers responded to the call from the World Trade Center, and both were killed while saving others. Here, John Sr. remembers his sons and reflects on coping with his tremendous loss."

Story Corps link: http://storycorps.org/

On 9/11

I will forever be tired of September 11.

First because it never should have happened. If we merely had in place just a few of the most basic rules of safety and security that Europe and, honestly, the rest of the world has had in place for at least decades, it would never, never have happened.

Second, because it's been so politicized and used as a political football by the very Repubican party who was in charge of our same safety and security at the time, it makes me nauseous.

Third, simply because so many people died and for no reason and that it's just so disgusting and sad.

Pocket knives and box cutters were allowed on airplanes. And George W. Bush "kept us safe for 8 years"?

Joplin in the news at NPR this week

Joplin, Missouri, it's rebuilding and their trees are in the NPR news coverage yesterday:

Joplin's New Trees Struggle To Survive Amid Drought

Saplings — no more than 6 feet tall — dot the landscape in Joplin, Mo. They replace the large shade trees that were ripped out of the ground by a massive tornado that swept through town in May of 2011.

Nearly 7,000 new trees, donated by various organizations, have been planted. They include sturdy, mostly native, varieties, such as oak, sycamore and redbud — trees that can withstand strong winds when they're taller.

The path of a powerful tornado is seen in an aerial photo over Joplin on May 24, 2011.
With temperatures above normal for the past few months and precipitation below normal, those trees have had a hard time taking root.

Volunteers, though, are giving the 562 trees planted in Joplin's city parks a hand. Lugging heavy, 5-gallon plastic buckets from faucets to trees in the searing heat, they pour water onto the base of the trees, a little at a time, allowing it to slowly soak into the roots.

In Cunningham Park, which was rebuilt after the tornado obliterated it, 161 saplings were planted, each representing someone killed in the storm.

"It's hot and it hurts to bend over for a long time, but these trees symbolize the people who died, so it's important to me and the people who live here," says Drew Shuburte, a member of the Hayti First United Methodist Church.

Rest of the story here: http://www.npr.org/2012/08/11/158610662/joplins-new-trees-struggle-to-survive-amid-drought

The shame that is Joplin, Missouri right now

There's Joplin, Missouri, coming together and rebuilding after what was a horrible and very tragic tornado wiped out too much of the town and its hospital, sure. That's the good part--that they came together and people from the region and nation are helping them do just that.

We all get that.

It's covered well and some more today, in our Kansas City Star newspaper:

Joplin family, victim of ‘storm chasers,’ moves into rebuilt home

(Link to story at bottom of this post).

The good news is that this family is in their rebuilt home.

That's the good part, sure. Good for them and good for everyone who has helped.

Unfortunately, here's the flip side of Joplin, Missouri:

The bad news is that there are too many people, groups and companies trying to take advantage of the victims, as the article in The Star points out:

"Dozens of families trying to rebuild their homes have encountered contractors accused of doing shoddy work or worse — skipping town with their money and without doing the work."


Joplin mosque razed in fire; 2nd blaze this summer

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — A mosque in southwest Missouri burned to the ground early Monday in the second fire to hit the Islamic center in little more than a month, officials said.

The fire at the Islamic Society of Joplin was reported about 3:30 a.m. Monday, the Jasper County Sheriff's Office said. The sheriff's department said the building was a total loss.

The article goes on to mention that not only was this the second fire to hit the center in little more than a month but that it was the third fire to hit them, too: "A blaze at the same building July 4 caused minor damage and was determined arson."

You would think everyone in Joplin would understand the need for rebuilding. You would think everyone there would be at least preoccupied with the rebuilding of the town, first, but that they'd also be far more sympathetic and empathetic to anyone and everyone who suffered a loss.

And get that disgusting timing--someone apparently setting fire to someone's place of worship on our own "Independence Day." What should be a holiday turns into a disgusting, sinking feeling for people. They are Americans, after all, like it or not.

Arson would be the last thing that would come to someone's mind there, wouldn't you think, given the loss, losses and damage from their tornado?

If not would be, it at least should be the last thing on anyone's mind, no?

Nationally, with this Joplin loss for these people of the Islam faith on top of the shooting yesterday in Wisconsin of the six people who died and injuring three others in, again, their place of worhsip, it's nothing if not revolting and disgusting.

As people of Joplin and Missouri and Wisconsin and the nation and world, we should be better than this. We should be smarter than this.

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like any form of true, diagnosed insanity would explain away the setting of the fires in Joplin. That seems to be our only hope--that is, that both the arsonist in Southern Missouri and the shooter in Wisconsin are truly, certifiably insane.

It seems to be our only collective hope, their insanity.

Unfortunately, only naked, stupid selfishness and greed can explain the people who have tried or would try to take advantage of the people rebuilding there.

Links: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/05/3745161/in-joplin-a-rebuilt-home-and-renewed.html


http://news.yahoo.com/joplin-mosque-razed-fire-2nd-blaze-summer-160342127.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/us/shooting-reported-at-temple-in-wisconsin.html?pagewanted=all

President Obama coming to Missouri

President Obama, it has been announced, is coming to Joplin this Monday, to

Obama to visit victims of Joplin, Mo., tornado

"President Obama will visit Missouri on Sunday to meet with victims of the storm that devastated the town of Joplin, Mo., two days ago and to hear about the disaster response from emergency officials."

It's a smart move, too. This way he looks presidential and can hopefully get on the good side of "average Americans" in that whole area. In that area of the state, he might get some good feeling from Kansas and Oklahoma, which, of course, are nearby.

Note the quote: "He said that while in Missouri, he is hoping 'to pray with folks and give them whatever assurance and comfort I can that the entire country is going to be behind them.'”

That is one shrewd, likely transparent statement.

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/44/post/obama-to-visit-victims-of-joplin-mo-tornado/2011/05/24/AFvG3VAH_blog.html

Entertainment overnight

The Trayvon Martin tragedy and debacle, explained

Once again, Jon Stewart, the social and political observer and humorist brings terrific insight to a current topic:

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

The simple fact still remains, George Zimmerman is the known shooter and killer of Trayvon Martin. He needs to be arrested, charged with the crime and tried in a court of law to discern innocence or guilt. It's just that simple. No emotionalism, just let's get to the facts and move on.

Dr. Helen Caldicott on Fukushima and you, Part 4

More on Dr. Caldicott here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Helen_Caldicott

If you don't think Fukushima affects you, us...

Part 3: Seriously, each of these 4 14 minute talks are full of fascinating, though alarming, pertinent information for the entire nation. She's a wonderful speaker and extremely informative. Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Helen_Caldicott

This woman is bloody brilliant

Dr. Helen Caldicott speaking on the Russian Chernobyl nuclear accident, the Fukushima disaster and all the inherent radiation spread over the world, Part 2 (of 4): Compulsory voting in Australia or you're fined $50 for not voting. Three week long political campaigns. Wow. Fantastic political stuff but check this out, too--she states "In Seattle, the ambient levels of radiation went up about 40,000 times above normal." Concerned yet? And have we heard anything from our government about it? Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Helen_Caldicott

What we don't know about Chernobyl--and now Fukushima--and radioactivity

From the video information: "Dr Helen Caldicott spoke to a standing room only crowd at the Faulkner Gallery in Santa Barbara on Friday evening March 23, 2012 on 'The Medical Implications of Fukushima, Nuclear Power and Nuclear Proliferation'". This is so worth the fourteen minutes and 43 seconds it takes to watch this, it's stunning. Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Helen_Caldicott

Finally: News about the radiation on the US from Fukushima

Ever since the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan blew, I've wondered how much radiation hit the US. And since then, I've seen nothing, nothing about it from media or our government. That surprised me a bit--I'm very naive about far too much--and disappointed me. Finally, today, an article on the internets: California Slammed With Fukushima Radiation "The Journal Environmental Science and Technology reports in a new study that the Fukushima radiation plume contacted North America at California 'with greatest exposure in central and southern California', and that Southern California's seaweed tested over 500% higher for radioactive iodine-131 than anywhere else in the U.S. and Canada: Projected paths of the radioactive atmospheric plume emanating from the Fukushima reactors, best described as airborne particles or aerosols for 131I, 137Cs, and 35S, and subsequent atmospheric monitoring showed it coming in contact with the North American continent at California, with greatest exposure in central and southern California. Government monitoring sites in Anaheim (southern California) recorded peak airborne concentrations of 131I at 1.9 pCi m−3." As the post then so wisely and succinctly says: "Anaheim is where Disneyland is located." Just in case you're thinking no one's out there or effected.

But wait! There's more! There's much, much more! (Naturally) In addition, radioactive debris is starting to wash up on the Pacific Coast. And because the Japanese are burning radioactive materials instead of disposing of them, radioactive rain-outs will continue for some time … even on the Pacific Coast. Nice, huh? So what are our respective governments doing about it, if anything, you might ask? Your answers: Instead of doing much to try to protect their citizens from Fukushima, Japan, the U.S. and the EU all just raised the radiation levels they deem “safe”.

Nuclear expert Arnie Gundersen says that high-level friends in the State Department told him that Hillary Clinton signed a pact with her counterpart in Japan agreeing that the U.S. will continue buying seafood from Japan, despite that food not being tested for radioactive materials.

And the Department of Energy is trying to replace the scientifically accepted model of the dangers of low dose radiation based on voodoo science. Specifically, DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley Labs used a mutant line of human cells in a petri dish which was able to repair damage from low doses of radiation, and extrapolated to the unsupported conclusion that everyone is immune to low doses of radiation… Isn't that all just lovely? So, finally, what is our government's response to information and data going foward? Great question: American and Canadian authorities have virtually stopped monitoring airborne radiation, and are not testing fish for radiation. If you weren't sick before, you probably should be now. (If after all that, you really are nauseous--not surprisingly--the comments at the links below have some magnificent, very dry and ascerbic wit to them, if that helps). Links: http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2012-13-30/california-slammed-fukushima-radiation; http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/update-fukushima-0; http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/fukushima-radiation-highest-ever-exceeding-capacity-measuring-device-fuel-likely-leaking; http://www.zerohedge.com/article/no-amount-radiation-released-japanese-nuclear-reactors-not-safe; http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/radioactive-iodine-blankets-much-europe-everyone-points-fingers

Think you understand how many earthquakes Japan had last year?

What would you think? 2? 6? Well, check this out. This guy--StoryMonoroch, whoever that is, over in Japan, apparently--put together this graphic to show just how many earthquakes the island nation of Japan suffered through last year. You truly won't believe it. Have your sound on, too, because he added that to the graphics as well. And please be patient. Yes, it's in Japanese but just wait. When they start hitting, you'll know it. January alone is a surprise, sure. But just wait until March 10. Then stay tuned, too. Don't quit. It's fascinating, if a bit disturbing. Yikes. What those poor people have been through. Links: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/nuclear-reaction/fukushima-nuclear-crisis-update-for-january-3/blog/38925/; http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16795329; http://gma.yahoo.com/japans-nuclear-exclusion-zone-shows-few-signs-life-131155854--abc-news.html

Sheraton Hotels does what the Hyatt wouldn't--but still should

Here's some good news to brighten your holiday season. Maybe you've seen it already: Sheraton, Starwood will donate to Hyatt skywalk memorial (link below). With them coming to town, they saw the wisdom in making a contribution. Does this get the Hyatt "off the hook"? Certainly not. They still owe and they will always owe the 114 persons who lost their lives that day, all the wounded, and all the families and friends of those people, as well as the city of Kansas City to make a contribution to this memorial. And frankly, it should be a considerable one, at that. Link: http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2011/12/13/sheraton-starwood-donate-hyatt-skywalk.html

The Hyatt Corp. skips town, cheats the "skywalk" victims, if not the city itself

A friend of mine rightly pointed out today on his Facebook page that the Hyatt Corporation didn't make one contribution--at all--to the memorial to those killed. To an extent, you have to see they wouldn't want their name associated with the collapse but it's what happened--it's what it's called, like it or not. For that company to have done this, to have left town and not contributed at all, when they should have made a large contribution, let's face it, is a travesty, at least. This Skywalk Memorial Foundation needed the help, too, to make it happen. Once again, a group of people hiding behind the facade of a heartless corporation. It's shameful. It will not be forgotten. Link: http://www.kmbc.com/money/29900933/detail.html?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150428670651912_19945190_10150428974711912; https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/265286359372/