Blankie, Warm Milk, Comforter, Soft Music, Dark Room

Got all that?

Good.

The explosion at the Japanese nuclear plant apparently released less radiation than expected, which is a good thing if true, because the graphic representation of the fallout distribution (via Brilliant at Breakfast) was a bit alarming this morning [ETA:  That post has been taken down; apparently the graphic was not sourceable.].  Interestingly, yesterday the story in the NY Times was that strict building codes had saved lives, but today (for tomorrow's paper) the line is that there are still limits to what preparedness can do, although most of the article recounts the ways in which Americans are very much not prepared.  If your child is in school in Oregon, for example?  Chances are the school is not reinforced for earthquakes.

Avedon has links to a lot of articles that everyone should be taking very seriously.  If we want this country back, that is.  (I think that a general strike would be a most effective weapon if Americans would actually stand together, but we don't know how, and we've all got weaselly excuses.  Many weaselly excuses.  That tsk-ing noise you're hearing is the Founding Fathers and Emma Goldman.)  There are still protesters in Wisconsin, and they need a focus.

ETA:  The IWW are still around, and they have information (link via silveradept at Dreamwidth):

In essence, a general strike is the complete and total shutdown of the economy. A general strike can last for a day, a week, or longer depending on the severity of the crisis, the resolve of the strikers, and the extent of public solidarity. During the strike, large numbers of workers in many industries (excluding employees of crucial services, such as emergency/medical) will stop working and no money or labor is exchanged. All decisions regarding the length of the strike, the groups of workers who continue working, and demands of the strikers are decided by a strike committee.

Past victories won by general strikes are:

· Chicago, New York, Cincinnati, and elsewhere, 1886 – First victory in the fight for an eight-hour day

· Toledo, OH, 1934 – First successful unionization of the auto industry.

· San Franc[is]co, CA, 1934 – Unionization of all West Coast ports of the United States.

· Poland, 1980 – Began the process of democratic reforms that led to the end of Soviet control over the country.

· Egypt, 2011 – Brought the 30-year reign of an autocratic despot to an end.

If enough of us act together, we’ll see some serious changes, and quick. That’s the “general” part of a general strike. We’re all divided up by race, religion, gender, and political affiliation. In a general strike, people come together in large numbers across those divisions and unite around our struggles as workers. If enough of us stand together and stop work, Walker’s bill will be defeated – even if it passes! If enough of us are united, WE can decide the outcome.

[Bolding in first paragraph is mine.]

Meanwhile Rep. Peter King, who doesn't believe the Irish Republican Army did terrorism, but all Muslims do, probably wouldn't believe these people are terrorists, either (via Comrade Misfit).  Mr. King is wrong about Muslims, too.  Not a surprise.

Jean-Bertrand Aristide, former (and elected) president of Haiti, is returning.  (Baby Doc Duvalier returned in January and was arrested.)

And via Pandagon, what Republicans really want.  Why yes, I have pointed this out before.  Why, of course, I will point it out again.  And I will buttress this truth with others, who tend to have things like statistics, experience, and a better grasp of history and sociology.  And every so often, I will make fun of it.  It's a survival technique.