THREE MILE ISLAND RADIATION LEAK.. ON SUCH A NICE DAY

The weather outside is beautiful.. But reading this morning's news the troubling story of a small radiation leak at Three Mile Island make me a bit nervous. Of course, I believe officials when they say there is no reason to worry, after all, why would an official from either a company or other pseudo-secretive organization lie to anyone..?

But it's still a bit troubling to know that workers were sent home Saturday but the world didn't learn of the event until Sunday.. According to reports,

"This does not appear to be an occupational threat nor a threat to the public health and safety," says Diane Screnchi, spokeswoman of the NRC. "Exelon is working to understand what happened, why it happened and what they need to do to prevent a recurrence."

More..

You have to give credit to anyone that has to make public statement afters news breaks about a nuclear plant leaking radiation..

But Pennsylvanians have been here before.. There was a partial core meltdown of Unit 2 in 1979 at Three Mile Island. While government officials mitigated the dangers of the event, other accounts show a pattern of cover-up in the aftermath of the incident .. Even SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE poked fun at Jimmy Carter's reaction..

The irony of today's radiation news exists, too. Only days ago, Three Mile Island's license was renewed for 20 years The license was extended for reactor Unit 1. It will expire in 2034. And you guessed it: The latest radiation incident was in reactor Unit 1 ..

I'm not intelligent enough to debate the merits of nuclear power. It sounds like it could really be good.. really warm people's homes in the winter, power jet engines, make the world better.. all that stuff. But when the radiation leak occurs and suddenly a massive meltdown occurs, then.. nuclear power isn't so hot -- no pun intended..

Schmuckraker/Horror Report home base sits in the middle of some very powerful things: Limerick nuclear power plant, Three Mile Island, and Berwick..

The large plumes of steam that are emitted hold no dangers (right?) to the earth. But the danger could come from one slight incident or accident--often no fault of the persons in charge .. Sometimes the fault of the persons in charge.

Nuclear power, it appears, is safe. At least in theory. That is, of course..

Until Homer Simpson gets hired by your neighborhood nuke plant.

It's Sunday morning.. And even with the worries about TMI 65 miles south, my windows are still open.. The sun is shining, and it almost feels like a spring day. Hope that's the weather and now the radiation .. oh my.