Geiger Readings for Mar 24, 2021
Latitude 47.704656 Longitude -122.318745
Ambient office = 139 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 79 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 82 nanosieverts per hour
March 2021
Nuclear Reactors 879 - Problems With Welds Discovered At The Flamaneville EPR In France
EDF is a major nuclear company in France. They notified the nuclear safety regulator of France which is the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire (ASN) on March 3rd of a significant event related to a design anomaly on three nozzles of the main primary system of the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) currently under construction at Flamanville.
Geiger Readings for Mar 23, 2021
Latitude 47.704656 Longitude -122.318745
Ambient office = 84 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 95 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 96 nanosieverts per hour
Nuclear Reactors 878 - Lightbridge To Concentrate On Fuel For Small Modular Reactors
Lightbridge Corporation has decided to prioritize the development of fuel for future small modular reactors rather than producing fuel for current large power reactors. The company is also considering a zirconium-plutonium version of its fuel. Seth Grae is the President and CEO of Lightbridge. He made these comments in a public statement before a webcast.
Geiger Readings for Mar 22, 2021
Latitude 47.704656 Longitude -122.318745
Ambient office = 87 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 153 nanosieverts per hour
Soil exposed to rain water = 157 nanosieverts per hour
California Condors Return!
Can you believe that it's been 100 years since California condors were in the Pacific Northwest? A new release facility is changing all that, bringing the endangered species back to the region. If all goes well, you might see a condor the next time you visit Redwood National Park.
Doctor Says Poetry Helps With Patients
Recently my teenager, who wants to be an entrepreneur and comic artist but also loves psychology and philosophy, begged me why history was so important to learn. I pointed him to an article his philosophy teacher sent us about why philosophy should be taught to plumbers.
What's the First Game You Will Play in Person?
By now, a lot of us are making bucket lists of things we want to do once it's once again safe to do so. Many of us know exactly who we want to hug or where we want to eat. Some of us just want to do anything maskless at this point!
Creative Breakfast Ideas
Breakfast is often the most neglected or boring meal of the day. People like me who take part in intermittent fasting often skip it, but honestly we even make breakfast for dinner a thing in my family. With that in mind, most of us could use some creative ideas for our breakfast meals!
New Starbucks Spring Drinks
Oh Starbucks. Why am I such a sucker for all of your new drinks? I don't even love them all of the time (although I do most of the time)! When I cut out sugar, you can always count on Starbucks to pop its mermaid head around the corner and say, "Hey there, how about something fun?" It's like the ex that won't go away.
Two new drinks for spring are definitely delectable. I'd order both again, although I'm going to try not to:
Spring Must-Reads
Right now I'm finishing up my winter must-read list and I must admit that I went ahead and moved a few to next winter's lists. I never get though the whole list I create for myself, and honestly I think it's a fun problem to have! I will never run out of books that I want to read, for sure. According to Goodreads, I'm one book ahead of schedule for my goal of reading 121 books for the year, so I think it's fair.
An Ounce of Prevention
Any healthcare worker knows the importance of overall wellbeing. People are often blamed for "waiting until the last minute" to see a doctor but when they have to choose between rent and that bill, what do they pick? People are shamed for unhealthy bodies when they live in food deserts, work multiple jobs and/or sit at a desk for most of the day, among other complex issues in modern society.
Selfies With Deadly Animals
It's always terrible when a tourist unwittingly takes a selfie with a large animal only to be mauled or worse. While you have empathy for them not knowing better, you always wish they'd done a little research. Remember the young woman who was disappointed because she found out that mastodons were extinct and she thought she'd get to see one someday? A little research goes a long way.
Cage-Free Eggs are on the Rise
Did you know that global meat production has increased by 100 percent since 1988? That makes me so sad. I'm not a practicing vegetarian anymore but it makes me consider expanding my meatless days to most of the week instead of just three days. Wow, is that a lot of meat. And much of it is now produced via the American factory farm model, which is just awful.
Yummy Easter Beverages
Easter is almost here, so it's time to make those springy, flavorful drinks to celebrate! Personally we are thinking of getting Mexican for Easter this year--just as something different since we won't be able to be with family again--and I have jalapeno margaritas on the brain. Even so, there are so many other yummy concoctions that it's hard to narrow it down to just one.
The Best of the 80s
Sharing our favorite nostalgic things about the 1980s is keeping many a Milennial or Gen Xer going these days. Yes, we need to take on everything from voter suppression to universal healthcare, but we can also remember who the best drummer was.
Family Guy Wish List, 2021
After a couple of decades on TV, it's hard for a show to do something original, but Family Guy usually tries to keep things fresh. The show is no stranger to parodies, spoofs, satire and dark humor, but there are plenty of issues it hasn't yet taken on in 2021.
Make America Grateful Again
A shirt featuring the slogan "Make America Grateful Again" is making its rounds right now, and I'm really not sure ho