ADVANCE Into Dystopia

Despite adverse economics or perhaps because of them the Senate passed the ADVANCE Act, another massive subsidy of the decrepit nuclear power industry. Biden is expected to sign the bill into law. The truth is that alternative energy sources are cheaper than the power generated by nuclear fission. Every day California goes 100% renewable power for hours at a time, and in Texas so much wind power is being generated that electricity is given away at night.  

The four US nuclear power plants being built this century are in trouble because of skyrocketing costs.  Two in South Carolina were abandoned after construction costs spiraled out-of-control to $9 billion; the two Vogtle plants in Georgia are a $35 billion fiasco.  For the first time since 1954 no new large, nuclear plants are being built in the United States.  The hyped miracle tech that would save the industry, small modular reactors (SMRs), are already too costly to compete with alternative energy, and the first development [illustration: NuScale mock up] is over budget and behind schedule. NuScale's SMR lacks utility buyers due to cost concerns. There are no large reactors being built in the US since 1954, the beginning of commercial nuclear power in this country.  If Diablo Canyon in California is allowed to continue operating past its expiration date, its electricity would be $8-12 billion over market price through 2030.

This situation did not stop Congress, which seems enthralled by passing legislation with acronymic titles  regardless of merit.  Only two senators voted against this bill, Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Ed Markey (D-MA).  The Accelerated Deployment of Versatile, Advanced Nuclear for Clean Energy will relax the regulation process for licensing new reactors, allow foreign ownership in the US, and reduce licensing fees.  Nuclear opponents see the legislation as the biggest push in thirty-five years on behalf of an industry that has failed to materialize its promise to generate electricity "too cheap to meter".  Industry propaganda  attempts to portray nuclear power as the answer to the climate crisis.  The industry is neither clean nor without negative environmental impacts. The US has yet to solve the problem of highly radioactive waste disposal.  The 90 page bill was inserted into a must-pass wildfire grants bill of three pages--typical behavior for nuclear power hucksters in Congress, like Shelly Capito (R-WV), ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee.

A spokesperson for the Union of Concerned Scientists said, “Passage of this legislation will only increase the danger to people already living downwind of nuclear facilities from a severe accident or terrorist attack, and it will make it even more difficult for communities to prevent risky, experimental reactors from being sited in their midst...This is not about making the reactor licensing process more efficient, but about weakening safety and security oversight across the board, a longstanding industry goal. The change to the NRC’s mission effectively directs the agency to enforce only the bare minimum level of regulation at every facility it oversees across the United States.”

In US Person's opinion, the only miracle associated with commercial nuclear power in the US is that only one reactor, Three Mile Island, has melted down in a half century of operation.  

The Largest Migration on Earth

The migration of 2 million animals across Tanzania and Kenya was often cited as the largest migration of mammals on Earth.  But that title has been eclipsed by the six million antelope that have crossed Southern Sudan from Boma to Badingilo National Parks.  African Parks, an NGO that manages wildlife parks for governments not able or willing to do so on their own used specially outfitted aircraft to make a more accurate count of antelopes making the journey.  The migration dwarfs the "Great Migration" of the Serengeti and the North Slope migration of caribou in Alaska, which is the world's longest migration at 2,000 miles. 

These animals have endured an epic survival through decades of drought and civil war.  In 2007 the count was 1.3 million antelope. But using aerial photography that took pictures every 2 seconds, 330,000 photographs were produced. The aircraft covered 122,774 square kilometers including some areas that had never been previously surveyed. The work was a challenge requiring dedication and aviation skills of a high calibre. Using software at the University of Juba, graduate student were able to calculate the astounding six million figure that amazed astounded wildlife experts. The country's president said that Sudan is committed to developing its wildlife assets into a sustainable tourism industry.

The survey counted 5 million white eared mob, 300,000 ting, 350 Mongalla gazelles, and 160,000 bohor reedbuck making it the largest quadruped migration on Earth by far.  Zambia's ten million-strong fruit bat migration is the largest of any mammal migration. This Great Nile Migration is a year-round movement of animals from the southwest to the northeast passing into Ethiopia and back again.  The movement is probably driven by the availability of good grazing.  The region is also home to numerous people, some of whom live off the land and depend on the migration for sustenance.  Sudan is not safe for tourism at the present time, but efforts can begin to protect this amazing remnant of Earth's superabundant wildlife from destruction by man.

COTW: Where Democracy Dies

Yeah, it's rigged, but not how Lil' Duche claims.  The Founders, a white men's group of wealthy land-owners, deliberately skewed representation in Congress towards small, rural states in a series of compromises.  The Articles of Confederation were criticized as too egalitarian, but to appease small states, each one was to be represented by two senators regardless of population.  This arrangement over time becomes increasingly inequitable [chart above].  The chamber's procedural rules (e.g. the filibuster) also favor minority rule.  A Wyoming voter now has the 3.7 times the influence of a voter in California!  

Because of the Electoral College system of voting--also installed by the Founders to increase the influence of rural voters--seven swing states with large numbers of white conservatives decide a presidential election. In twenty years, white people will no longer be in the majority.  This unequal representation is also the reason Don the Con was nearly able to thwart the popular vote winner, Joe Biden.  There is definitely something wrong with a politcal system in which legacy billionaires* can pay to install a minority president into office.  We need a popular vote for president to counterbalance congressional inequity and Supreme Court corruption.

*Timothy Mellon, heir to the Mellon banking fortune, donated $50 million to a Trump superpac, MAGA Inc.  Billionaires see the Democratic Party as more of a threat to capitalism than Trump is to democracy.

Thy name is Greed!

TWIT: The Revengers

What was once known as the Republican Party now exists only as a rump party eclipsed by the extremist, neo-fascist MAGA cult.  They have promised vengeance on their political opponents for convicting their leader of multiple felonies.  This is not just vitriol--they mean it, just as did their Nazi forerunners in Germany. Jews were not the only ones persecuted by the Nazis, so were Communists, Socialists, and other leftists, Catholics, and liberal politicians who stood in their way of seizing power. They fought in the streets and in the Reichstag. The Weimar Republic crumbled under the Nazi onslaught.

Joe Biden has warned us, but it remains unclear if his warning will be headed by a disaffected electorate.   He pointed out at his Los Angeles rally that Trumpilini could appoint two more Supreme Court Justices, to replace Alito and Thomas which would cement MAGA control for the next forty years.  American democracy would be rendered unrecognizable.   It seems that a large segment of the 'Merican electorate is OK with that.

The MAGA cult has managed to block three out of four criminal prosecutions prior to the election, which is no mean feat. Conservative appellate courts in Colorado, Illinois, and Maine reinstated him to the ballot after being removed for violating the 14th Amendment insurrection clause. Democracy's one successful prosecution is not enough to stop the delusional MAGA horde since 'Merica has long surrounded prominent criminals with romantic halos--think of Jesse James, John Dillinger, Clyde Barrow, OJ Simpson, and John Gotti [above]. There are numerous other examples. 

Don the Con will portray his conviction and possible incarceration as a badge of honor. Hitler used the same tactic when he was imprisoned for the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923. While charged with high treason and sentenced to five years he spent only nine months in Landsberg prison where he wrote Volume One of his manifesto, Mein Kampf, which the Ochre Menace has never read*. Hitler declared he would ignore his conviction because the "Eternal Court of History" would acquit him. Sound familiar?  You decide.

credit: M. Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
BC Idonwanna sez: Stormy was accurate!

* Trump has no coherent politico manifesto other than self-enrichment under the guise of right-wing populism. His few policy proposals range from authoritarian to ridiculous.  His economic policy suggestion of replacing the federal income tax with tariffs is positively out-of-bounds.  To replace tax revenue, tariffs on imported goods would have to skyrocket to over 100% causing hyperinflation, unemployment, and retaliation against imported US goods. Such a proposal would exceed the economic harm that was caused by the Smoot-Hawley tariffs of 1930.

Buenos Aires Zoo Becomes Ecological Reserve

Buenos Aires closed its cramped, aging zoo in 2016. Public opinion had turned against exhibiting animals for amusement and profit. The mayor of the city said zoo conditions were "degrading for the animals." Now the former zoo has become a biological reserve in the heart of the city. The transformation began with the relocation of more than a 1,000 animals to wildlife reserves around the world.  Only a few older animals that cannot be relocated remain: two older elephants, two hippos, a pair of geriatric giraffes, and an arthritic camel.  They all receive specialized care from their captors such as acupuncture for the camel and podiatry sessions for the elephants.

The park's goal has changed from profit-making to education and conservation of species.  The zoo's baboon house has been renovated into a state-of-the-art wildlife hospital that cares for injured animals from all over Argentina. It also houses the largest gene bank in South America where genetic material from 120 species is stored in cryogenic suspension. Some of the older, listed building are also being restored.  But the transformation from zoo to ark was not without setbacks.  119 animals died after the zoo closed its doors to the public, primarily from lack of care and old age. Visitors are allowed to visit the eco- park, but are limited to 2,000 per day to reduce stress on the remaining captives. [photo credit: Getty Images]

conservation of vulnerable tapirs

Ecoparque runs a dozen conservation programs including one seeking to bring back red and green macaws,Ara chloropterus,from near extinction in Argentina.  Andean condors are also benefiting from the park's operation; in cooperation with Fundación Bioandina 240 condors were released to the wild.  An endangered frog, decimated by introduced trout, has been aided by the breeding and releasing 2,330 vacheta frogs that are endemic to thermal springs of Vacheta creek. The park's activities extend down the tree of life to snails that are imperiled by a parasite that causes infertility.  Several tanks now replicate the conditions needed for the snails to reproduce. Programs such as these have earned the trust of the public and conservation organizations that see the Ecoparque as a partner in the campaign to save Earth's biodiversity. [photo credit: T. Cuesta]

Sacred White Buffalo Born in Yellowstone

Native Americans hold the birth of a white buffalo to be auspicious. Lakota legend says that in a time of deprivation and despair, White Buffalo Calf Woman appeared to a tribe member and presented a bundle and pipe. She taught the Indians how to pray and said the pipe could be used to bring buffalo to the area for food. She then departed, turning into a white buffalo calf. Lakotas say the appearance is an omen of change for the better. [photo credit: AP]

The Yellowstone bison heard is culled annually due to objections to the growth of the herd from Montana stock owners who fear the spread of disease from the wild animals. Last year about 1500 were removed. Tribes have turned to raising their own herds and their number is increasing. Currently about 20,000 are located on reservations. The Park has set a population target of 5,200 bison.

Before western expansion the plains were home to an estimated 60 million animals. A form of genocide was committed against them, reducing the species to the edge of extermination. But for the survival of a few captive herds, bison would have perished.  Visitors photographed the white bison calf being born on June 4th in the Lamar Valley. The calf is not an albino since it has black eyes, nose, and hoofs. An albino has pink eyes. The calf is a rare genetic mutation. A naming ceremony has already been held, and a celebration of the arrival is scheduled for June 26th.

TWIT: Felon at Large

credit: B. Day
Idonwanna: sez: Color me magenta!

Even for a privileged former presidential felon, the consequences of his new status are beginning to trickle in.  Don the Con apparently owns three handguns for which he has a NY permit.  Two have been surrendered in New York, and the third transported "lawfully" to Florida according to information supplied by the defendant.  Under federal law a felon cannot own a handgun, so Don the Con is in technical violation of another federal criminal statute.  

He has been interviewed by a New York probation officer, who undoubtably took note of the stray handgun.  US Person assumes that fact has been reported to appropriate Florida officials.  An indication of his special status as the first former president to be convicted of a felony is that he was interviewed by video link from comfortable Mar-a-Lago with the presence of his attorney.  These arrangements are not afforded the ordinary Joe.

Also at risk, and potentially more impactful, are Trump's New Jersey liquor licenses.  A felon is prohibited from holding a liquor license in New Jersey if his conviction involves a crime of "moral turpitude", which includes types of fraud.  Don the Con could minimize disruption of his profitable golf course liquor trade by transferring the licenses to a trusted associate, perhaps one of his sons.

Judge Cannon denied another Trump motion to dismiss his espionage and obstruction case.  She did however strike one paragraph of the indictment on grounds that it alleged irrelevant allegations concerning the revealing of classified information to a campaign aide at his Bedminster, NJ Golf Club.  One informed pundit, Popock, thinks this may finally constitute reversible error that would allow the Special Prosecutor to ask she be reversed for the third time and be reassigned from the case.  Jack Smith would argue that inclusion of the information in a "speaking indictment" is appropriate as "Rule 404 evidence" of defendant's state of mind, since it shows consciousness of the classified nature of the Afghanistan map he shared with a person not cleared to view it.  Trump has been consistently claiming that he mentally declassified national secrets without the necessary procedures being followed.  Prosecutor Smith only has one shot at removing Trump's judicial handmaiden, so he has to be sure the appeal grounds are solid.

Aileen Cannon continues to slow-walk the case by scheduling multiple hearings on motions that could be dispensed with an order, including removing Jack Smith for improper appointment. That question has already been decided by other federal courts. Given her scheduling orders, unreviewable by the 11th Circuit, it is highly unlikely this case will go to trial before the presidential election.

credit: Darków, Columbia Missourian