Bachmann Homeschool Overdrive

One of the the primary accusations against immigrants has always been that they know nothing of our country, its culture, or its history...     (BTW- she's running for, uh... President)

Obama Complicit In Prisoner Abuse

No, you won't find that headline even on FOX- but this NY Times editorial on Bradley Manning and this (former) State Department spokesman  is as close as we're gonna get to any official proclamation of the obvious (meanwhile, Guantanamo and extraordinary rendition continue to the day).

The Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, which sits less than a mile from an offshore fault line, was not required to include earthquakes in its emergency response plan...

Couldn't happen at Three Mile Island, couldn't happen at Chernobyl, couldn't happen in Japan and of course, it can't possibly happen here in CA...

Jürgen Nefzger- Fluffy Clouds

 Photo:  Jürgen Nefzger

Fluffy Clouds by Jürgen Nefzger is my third "photography" book (not incl a couple on Chernobyl) that surveys our nuclear landscape. One was American Ground Zero by Carole Gallagher, the other Nuclear Landscapes by Peter Goin. Both of the latter are serious inquiries into the history and consequences of America's atomic and thermonuclear weapons program(s) on the land, and its people.

Unlike them, Fluffy Clouds concentrates on... landscape photography, and how the nuclear power plants, cooling towers and steam ("fluffy clouds") they emit are incorporated into the European landscape.* Some are barely visible in the background (out of sight, out of mind), others dominate the picture area, still others are "hidden" in plain sight. And the photographs are indeed beautiful- serene, large format, idyllic. One plant (decommissioned) is directly on the grounds of a children's amusement park, the cooling tower festively painted and apparently open to visitors. The scariest ones however are those active and located directly beside towns, homes, farms. They seem as ubiquitous and "natural" as the trees, shopping malls and rivers that surround them.

But despite the prevailing scenic beauty, Mr. Nefzger does not leave us without a visual word to the wise. The very first photograph is a beachfront vista with a rather ominous warning sign: Radioactive particles are being found on the beaches at sandside. It imparts a distinct feeling of unease throughout the book; a very subtle, yet very direct reminder that what you can't see can kill you.
*Note: This was written before the Japanese catastrophe.

Photo:  Jürgen Nefzger

Not To Worry- Can't Possibly Ever Happen Here...

There are 23 reactors in the United States that are identical or close to identical to the first Fukushima reactor.

While the propaganda arm of the nuclear industry bestow their blessings and reassurances of safety on the US public (notice the zero representation of any contradictory opinion on corporate media), one question remains- do you think Japanese construction quality is better or worse than good ol' cost cutting Yankee ingenuity? Hint: Think Japanese v American car quality in the 70's when many a nuke plant was made.

Anyway, if you're not already scared shitless for the safety of you and yours- try this on for size:

The reactor that got me involved in this issue, in southwest Michigan, Palisades nuclear power plant, has been storing its high-level radioactive waste in outdoor silos of concrete and steel on the beach of Lake Michigan, a hundred yards from the water, in violation of NRC earthquake regulations since 1993. An NRC whistleblower in Chicago called attention to this problem in 1994. Nothing’s been done. There are two dozen containers, dry casks, of high-level radioactive waste next to the drinking water supply for 40 million people downstream in the U.S. and Canada, in violation of NRC earthquake regulations.

...Well, at Fermi 2 in Michigan, again, the same exact design as the Fukushima Daiichi unit 1, the emergency diesel generators in the year 2006 were discovered to have not been operable for 20 years. From 1986 to 2006, the emergency diesel generators at Fermi 2 in Michigan would not have operated if called upon. So, thank God that they were not needed during that 20-year period of time, or we could have lost Detroit, or we could have lost Toledo, or we could have lost Windsor, Ontario. That’s the level of safety with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the industry in this country.   --Kevin Kamps

Feeling reassured yet? For the rest of this rather enlightening info...

Our Friendly Atom!

This major catastrophe (which has the potential for far worse, long term after effects) within a major catastrophe has once again got me to thinking about our long term ally- the "friendly atom."

It was spawned to destroy on massive scale (its one inarguable ability and "advantage"), and ever since has been unsuccessfully coerced into donning its pro life, pro user friendly guise. If only all that time, all that money, all that energy had gone into developing renewable energy sources- we'd all be a lot safer now, without this looming, potential killer operating right beside many of us, ready to strike at any moment... then keep striking for millions upon millions of years.

Even in its infancy when it was only concerned with blowing things up and "defending" us, it still managed to become a money making enterprise that had little to do with "research," while leaving its tell tale legacy of slow, and painful death. It's sheer, overindulgent overuse both rampant and obvious...   (below via grubernd, thanks)

Pricelesss!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Nuclear Tide...

For some time now, the nuclear industry here in the US has been gearing up for a comeback. Already, its propaganda arm is boasting of how "safe" our plants are in wake of the developing Japanese catastrophe. I hope, just like this wave that reached here from halfway across the world, that the word continues to spread that the nuclear industry, by its very nature, is inherently deadly- for millions of years...

8.9

Just hearing this- and we on the West Coast can commiserate. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Japan.

A Little Help, Please...

So a pig like Limbaugh can say shit like---

Take that bone out of your nose and call me back.

Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?

---directly to and about African-Americans, and the slence is deafening! Meanwhile, a charlatan, sleazebag anything but a "journalist" O'Keefe gets someone to admit the blatantly obvious- that Tea Baggers are white, racist, pseudo religious kooks, and all hell must come asunder...

And let's not forget that the only reason that ACORN was targeted, attacked and destroyed was simply because they were so successful at registering Democratic voters (the same for unions).

Light The Spark Wisconsin!!!

Someone, Something Has Got To Wake This Goddamn Country Up!*


*(cause it sure as hell aint gonna be this guy) 

A Life Of Protest- Chauncey Hare

Blake Andrews recently reminded me about Chauncey Hare, one of photography's great riddles, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma- a person both very much at odds with, and yet highly attuned to his fellow man. There is no doubt that he lived, breathed and practiced photography for a very intense period of his life- and yet, eventually walked away from it without looking back. A man who won three Guggenheims and never sold a print in his life- because it would have dishonored those photographed; a man who boycotted the Windows and Mirrors group show he was in at SFMOMA because of a tobacco sponsor, and in so doing, knowingly doomed any chance of his dream to teach photography. His work appears spawned from the loins of the FSA itself, and yet, his dated images still manage to remain uniquely fresh and original- and his influence can be seen even in those working in color to this day. No, they don't build 'em like that no more...

For all working people*

These photographs were made by Chauncey Hare to protest and warn against the growing domination of working people by multinational corporations and their elite owners and managers.

*(Intro to Chauncey Hare's Protest Photographs)

How Does One Apologize?

How does one apologize for killing nine boys? Sorry... We never meant to do that- I mean, you know it was an accident, right? It's not like we... did it on purpose. No, really- sorry. OK? I mean it is a war, and it's not even the first time, so let's get real, huh? Aint gonna be the last...

Remember the movie Fail Safe, when the USA accidentally nuked Moscow? Do you remember when President Henry Fonda then ordered New York City to be nuked in order to make things "even?"

That was an apology...

Proof Of Extraterrestrial Life!?!

The scientist who discovered it definitely seems to have his head screwed on right- a lot more than can be said for the certain news media reporting it... And if after all the controversy, if this is, in fact, proven to everyone's satisfaction, a good majority will still insist- oh, sure microbial life maybe, but not anything, you know, like... intelligent. That's Impossible!

Yeah, and your girlfriend's just a little bit bit pregnant.

First Sign Of Spring

 

Or not... But a guy with a hook wearing slippers is usually some kind of good omen.

Who Said It?

"...where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost."

Bruce Haley- SUNDER

 
Photos: Bruce Haley

 

I've posted on Bruce Haley before- one look at his photography (particularly his "gorgeous" panoramics of the most blighted, post apocalyptic landscapes imaginable) will tell you why. And while those landscapes are what I best remember, I clean forgot just how damn good his portraiture is!

And you can finally get them both in his brand new book- Sunder...  (book launch- NYC 3/4/11)

WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE END THIS GODDAMN WAR!!!

Experiencing Technical Difficulties...

Mouse died last night- could not get online. Got new mouse, but can't use keyboard. Using online keyboard- clicking o-n-e letter at a time. Funnn...

Alternate Realities...

Of course, by now "everyone" knows that the foremost "unknown" photographer of the latter twentieth century, none other than the illustrious Ms. Vivian Maier, was both nanny, as well as accomplished photographer. I was recently looking at the well researched and photographed Chernobyl The Hidden Legacy by Pierpaolo Mittica, when I was surprised to learn that he was not a professional photojournalist or documentary photographer, but a... dentist.

This got me to wandering how many other photographers out there have created substantial, indeed, exceptional bodies of work while not earning their living through photography. And no, I don't mean people who became photographers after first doing something else- that list is too long and renowned. Salgado, Meyerowitz, Rogovin immediately come to mind; and I most certainly don't mean those who don't have to do anything whatsoever to earn a living (yeah, I'm real sorry, Bill). I mean people who concurrently support themselves through jobs other than photography. I remember yet another dentist, Toby Old (glad to know at least some of them put their Leicas to good use) made some great work back in the late seventies, early eighties and more recently, Jason Eskenazi, a museum guard amongst other "trades," compiled the enchanting Wonderland.

I'm sure there are others I've missed...

Two To Remember...

Director of Oscar winning documentary Inside Job, Charles Ferguson made this little gem of a comment at the Academy Awards, "Forgive me, I must start by pointing out that three years after our horrific financial crisis caused by financial fraud, not a single financial executive has gone to jail, and that's wrong,"

And now we return to complete and utter hypocrisy...