The Smell of Natural Uranium in the Morning
Happy Wednesday, folks. I'm hoping to get some real writing done, and get to work early, so I'm focusing on two topics.
First to Libya, where Saif al Qaddhafi is preparing to meet with Secretary Rice at some point in the near future. In addition, President Bush and Crazy Uncle Muammar talked on the phone with one another earlier this week. I can't wait until we establish embassies with one another, because at some point in the next five or six years, I would love to go see some of Libya's archaeological sites. Even with these new and cordial relations between Libya and the West, the Libyans are still shopping for their weapons in former Soviet countries. Speaking of Saif, between him meeting with Secretary Rice, and the repeated news briefs about him in the Libyan media, I have no illusions about him actually being "retired" from politics. There's very little doubt in my mind that Colonel Qaddhafi is getting Saif ready to succeed him.
It's more than a year later, and more and more evidence is coming out to quantify claims that the building that Israel bombed in Operation Orchard was, indeed, a Syrian nuclear facility. The IAEA report on the site claims that the Syrian site resembled a nuclear reactor - aside from the "significant" traces of Natural Uranium (the same fuel used in the North Korean system, a system and fuel that are useful for quietly and efficiently producing Plutonium), the site also had "adequate pumping capacity of cooling water" for a reactor vessel. The Syrians are claiming that the Uranium is residue from Israeli missiles; if the Syrians actually built any of their own equipment, they might understand that Natural Uranium (Uranium that's refined, but neither enriched nor highly enriched) isn't used in conventional munitions like those used to destroy the Syrian facility. I'm sure that the Syrians would probably respond to that critique by claiming that the Israelis spiked their warheads with Uranium. Despite the fact that Western governments seem to be thawing relations with Syria (perhaps to split them off from Iran?), these revelations seem to be making things very interesting.
Ariadne asked me on Facebook to review the new Bond flick. I don't have the time or the energy to do it at the moment, but I have a couple of Bond-related items to mention. The first is a piece on MSN about Bond gadgets for everyday life. The second is what I considered to be the best part of the new Bond flick, other than Gemma Arterton. What was it? Observe:
That's right, folks: other than Gemma Arterton, the best part of the new Bond flick was that it was preceded by the new trailer for Star Trek XI. J.J. Abrams could very well botch it, but he'd have to really make an effort to botch it as bad as Marc Forster, Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis, and the rest of the powers that be must have worked to waste the second of only a limited number of movies that they'll ever be able to make with Daniel Craig. Daniel Craig is the best James Bond since George Lazenby, and Craig's talent at the role was completely and totally wasted by this stinker. I'll try to have a review written up by tomorrow.
Oh, and by the way, if you've ever wondered if domestic violence can be funny - and Gus, I know that means you given your line of work - have a look at one of the latest South Park episodes, entitled Elementary School Musical. I love most South Park episodes, but this was the funniest one I've seen in quite a while. Go watch!
Alright, that's it for today. Check back tomorrow for more, and have a great Thursday - hey, the week's almost over!
First to Libya, where Saif al Qaddhafi is preparing to meet with Secretary Rice at some point in the near future. In addition, President Bush and Crazy Uncle Muammar talked on the phone with one another earlier this week. I can't wait until we establish embassies with one another, because at some point in the next five or six years, I would love to go see some of Libya's archaeological sites. Even with these new and cordial relations between Libya and the West, the Libyans are still shopping for their weapons in former Soviet countries. Speaking of Saif, between him meeting with Secretary Rice, and the repeated news briefs about him in the Libyan media, I have no illusions about him actually being "retired" from politics. There's very little doubt in my mind that Colonel Qaddhafi is getting Saif ready to succeed him.
It's more than a year later, and more and more evidence is coming out to quantify claims that the building that Israel bombed in Operation Orchard was, indeed, a Syrian nuclear facility. The IAEA report on the site claims that the Syrian site resembled a nuclear reactor - aside from the "significant" traces of Natural Uranium (the same fuel used in the North Korean system, a system and fuel that are useful for quietly and efficiently producing Plutonium), the site also had "adequate pumping capacity of cooling water" for a reactor vessel. The Syrians are claiming that the Uranium is residue from Israeli missiles; if the Syrians actually built any of their own equipment, they might understand that Natural Uranium (Uranium that's refined, but neither enriched nor highly enriched) isn't used in conventional munitions like those used to destroy the Syrian facility. I'm sure that the Syrians would probably respond to that critique by claiming that the Israelis spiked their warheads with Uranium. Despite the fact that Western governments seem to be thawing relations with Syria (perhaps to split them off from Iran?), these revelations seem to be making things very interesting.
Ariadne asked me on Facebook to review the new Bond flick. I don't have the time or the energy to do it at the moment, but I have a couple of Bond-related items to mention. The first is a piece on MSN about Bond gadgets for everyday life. The second is what I considered to be the best part of the new Bond flick, other than Gemma Arterton. What was it? Observe:
That's right, folks: other than Gemma Arterton, the best part of the new Bond flick was that it was preceded by the new trailer for Star Trek XI. J.J. Abrams could very well botch it, but he'd have to really make an effort to botch it as bad as Marc Forster, Paul Haggis, Neal Purvis, and the rest of the powers that be must have worked to waste the second of only a limited number of movies that they'll ever be able to make with Daniel Craig. Daniel Craig is the best James Bond since George Lazenby, and Craig's talent at the role was completely and totally wasted by this stinker. I'll try to have a review written up by tomorrow.
Oh, and by the way, if you've ever wondered if domestic violence can be funny - and Gus, I know that means you given your line of work - have a look at one of the latest South Park episodes, entitled Elementary School Musical. I love most South Park episodes, but this was the funniest one I've seen in quite a while. Go watch!
Alright, that's it for today. Check back tomorrow for more, and have a great Thursday - hey, the week's almost over!
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