In The News: Thanks this morning to ChrisM, my MP3Angel, for supplying the news and commentary audio files. [After the commentary, an 'Easy Wind' blows 'cross the Bayou today... as Owsley smiles down on us all. The Grateful Dead Live at the Family Dog (At the Avalon Ballroom, a psychedelic music venue Travus was intimately involved with) August 29 1969. Courtesy of the respective artists and the live Grateful Dead collection @ Archive.org] » In Japan the nuclear nightmare continues to grow. One of the Earthquake/Tsunami damaged power plant's reactor has cracked it's containment vessel and a pool with spent fuel rods has drained leaving the rods exposed and on fire. These events have increased the radiation level to 100 time normal in the area. If that weren't enough, a volcano on Kyushu has erupted forcing the evacuation of hundreds of people and most likely disturbing the now irradiated upper atmosphere over the main island of Japan. More from Reuters:

Japan braces for potential radiation catastrophe TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan faced potential catastrophe on Tuesday after a quake-crippled nuclear power plant exploded and sent low levels of radiation floating toward Tokyo, prompting some people to flee the capital and others to stock up on essential supplies. [More]

A Full Sitrep From Stratfor Intelligence:

Red Alert: Radiation Rising and Heading South in Japan March 15, 2011 | 0551 The nuclear reactor situation in Japan has deteriorated significantly. Two more explosions occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant on March 15. The first occurred at 6:10 a.m. local time at reactor No. 2, which had seen nuclear fuel rods exposed for several hours after dropping water levels due to mishaps in the emergency cooling efforts. Within three hours the amount of radiation at the plant rose to 163 times the previously recorded level, according to Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. Elsewhere, radiation levels were said to have reached 400 times the “annual legal limit” at reactor No. 3. Authorities differed on whether the reactor pressure vessel at reactor No. 2 was damaged after the explosion, but said the reactor’s pressure-suppression system may have been damaged possibly allowing a radiation leak. After this, a fire erupted at reactor No. 4 and was subsequently extinguished, according to Kyodo. Kyodo also reported the government has ordered a no-fly zone 30 kilometers around the reactor, and Prime Minister Naoto Kan has expanded to 30 kilometers the range within which citizens should remain indoors and warned that further leaks are possible. Reports from Japanese media currently tell of rising radiation levels in the areas south and southwest of the troubled plant due to a change in wind direction toward the southwest. Ibaraki prefecture, immediately south of Fukushima, was reported to have higher than normal levels. Chiba prefecture, to the east of Tokyo and connected to the metropolitan area, saw levels reportedly two to four times above the “normal” level. Utsunomiya, Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo, reported radiation at 33 times the normal level measured there. Kanagawa prefecture, south of Tokyo, reported radiation at up to nine times the normal level. Finally, a higher than normal amount was reported in Tokyo. The government says radiation levels have reached levels hazardous to human health. Wind direction, temperature, and topography all play a crucial factor in the spread of radioactive materials as well as their diffusion, and wind direction is not easily predictable and constantly shifting, with reports saying it could shift west and then back eastward to sea within the next day. It is impossible to know how reliable these preliminary readings are but they suggest a dramatic worsening as well as a wider spread than at any time since the emergency began. The Japanese government has announced a 30-kilometer no-fly zone and is expanding evacuation zones and urging the public within a wider area to remain indoors. The situation at the nuclear facility is uncertain, but clearly deteriorating. Currently, the radiation levels do not appear immediately life-threatening outside the 20-kilometer evacuation zone. But if there is a steady northerly wind, the potential for larger-scale evacuations of more populated areas may become a reality. This would present major challenges to the Japanese government. Further, the potential for panic-induced individual evacuations could trigger even greater problems for the government to manage. Editor’s note: A previous version of this piece incorrectly stated that the fire at the No. 4 reactor took place at a facility in Daini. It also incorrectly reported the range of the government’s no-fly zone as 20 kilometers. The piece has since been corrected. [Source]

» It's not going any better in Libya as at least one city close to rebel held Benghazi comes under siege from al-Gadaffi's air force and artillery. » Ironically, that's what our war on Afghanistan costs.... Congress is back in session and will vote on a $6 Billion dollar continuing resolution to run the US government for three more weeks. » The Space Shuttle Endeavour is being prepped for it's last voyage in April. For the first time in decades a (contract) worker has died on the job after a fall from the gantry. » Saudi Arabia has invaded Bahrain by the request of the King of the country. They had been asked for assistance at the beginning of the disturbances in the country a month or so ago and now they are there... along with troops from the UAE. » Augustus Owsley Stanley III, Dancing Bear of the Dead and the 'main man' of LSD distribution in the 60s has died in a car crash this past Sunday. He was 76 year old. Wikipedia Entry... Obituary at the New York Times... Much more in the commentary. On that note it's worthwhile noting that another luminary of the 60s passed from the scene 22 years ago yesterday... R.I.P Edward Paul Abbey Edward Paul Abbey (January 29, 1927 – March 14, 1989) This Post Is Dedicated To Edward Abbey -30-
Creative Commons Copyright Courtesy of Cabale News Service, KPIG Radio, and KVMR Radio. Listen to KVMR Recorded & transcribed by Razer Raygun @ Razed By Wolves Travus T. Hipp Fan Page @ Facebook (unaffiliated) In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 and The Berne Convention on Literary and Artistic Works, Article 10, the news clippings, audio, and images used in this posting are made available without profit for research and educational purposes.

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