IS THERE HOPE FOR THORIUM?

I have come to a personal conclusion that the traditional solar technologies, including biomass, will not be able to satisfy a world with 7 billion people when oil peaks and the Greenhouse Effect hits.  Mind you, we need to develop many of these sustainable resources anyway, but much more is required.

The three most promising mega options that could someday satisfy a globe of 7 billion are thorium fission, heavy ion fusion and the Blue Revolution, and it is possible that all will be required by 2100.  While you can read about what I've previously said regarding fusion (Star Power for Humanity) and the Blue Revolution, today I will only focus on thorium, for I had dinner last night with the undisputed champion of this technology, Kirk Sorensen.  My Huffington Post article entitled, "There is Something About Thorium," summarized the topic, so click on it if you are new to this subject.

His message to you is Einstein's famous equation.  He is here in town to mingle with the military and is looking forward to his next visit for a talk on the University of Hawaii campus.  If you have never heard of Kirk Sorensen, then click on on this Wired article:

Uranium Is So Last Century — Enter Thorium, the New Green Nuke

Or, you can watch this ten minute clip of his TED talk on thorium.  More than 128,000 have.  He has a blog site with all the details:

EnergyFromThorium

I mentioned that I had once worked under Edward Teller at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and he indicated that Teller's final paper was on the thorium cycle.  It was published in 2004 a year after he passed away.  To quote:

In his 90s, Teller worked with his former student, the engineer Ralph Moir, on one last project: designing a “safe” underground nuclear reactor that would run not on uranium but thorium, an element that can produce a nuclear reaction, but which produces much less waste than uranium and is all but unusable for building nuclear weapons.

Yes, Teller was the Father of the Hydrogen Bomb, but he

was dedicated to safer, proliferation-resistant nuclear power out of concern for the climate and the need to wean Earth off fossil fuels.

We both agree that thorium is the pathway for fission, but nothing is happening.  Same, incidentally, for Heavy Ion Fusion and the Blue Revolution.  The various existing establishments want to maximize their investment, so anything "new" is risky, and, therefore, ignorable.  In fact, these three solutions can be serious threats, so industry becomes defensively protective.  National laboratories are equally challenged, so they too become adversaries.

So, what is the solution?  We never got around to talking about this Kirk, so let me share with you my billionaire strategy.  What is it?  Just click on that posting.  There are 1,226 billionaires with a combined worth of $4.6 trillion.

I can go on and on, for we also discussed religion, global climate change, atomic bombs, SETI, OTEC, and a lot more, but let me close with one final fact about thorium, courtesy of Kirk.  Thorium is radioactive, with a half life of 14 billion years (which is just about the age of this Universe).  Thus, it is the dominant source of heat for Planet Earth, for other radioactive elements have largely "expired."  Keep in mind, though, this little appreciated fact:  the longer the half-life, the less lethal the radioactivity.  Read my posting on:

Why Worry About Fukushima When Hiroshima and Nagasaki Are Safe? 

So is there hope for thorium?  Of course!  Should you go ahead and quickly buy shares of thorium company stocks?  I bought Lightbridge.  Do I regret it?  Yes. But there is hope for thorium.

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BUCA, JUMP STREET AND VALOR

If you scroll down to my previous posting, you will view the rainbow that woke me up.  Thus, expecting good fortune, my day out today comes in two parts.  But, no, I did not go surfing nor did I hike the Koolaus.

I decided to do what Pearl and I did on many Sundays.  First, lunch at Buca di Beppo:

This meal above was preceded by a Caesar salad and spicy sausage soup.  You see something rare in this photo?  You can order a bottle of wine, but can have only one alcoholic drink/person at the table in Hawaii.  I don't know know any other place I have ever visited with this restriction.  Anyway, I am having a Super Tuscany and a Merlot, at the same time.

Clearly, I couldn't drive, so I went to two movies.  First, 21Jump Street, which Rotten Tomatoes rated 86% on the Tomatometer, with an Audience score of 92%.  This was a truly enjoyable action comedy, somewhat along the lines of Superbad (an early Jonah Hill film) and The Hangover.  You can read the reviews, but if you know the TV series, that sort of explains the plot:  undercover cops in high school and college.  This film is rated R and is foul, disgusting, funny, buddyish, predictable and not so predictable.  Who could have guessed that Johhny Depp (and Peter John Deluis, who was in the TV version) first appeared in an early scene, and come out near the end.  For sure, there  will be a sequel, but in college instead of high school.  They just did not look young enough, but I guess that was part of the put-on.

Act of Valor was zonked with only a 29% Tomatometer rating, but scored an 84% audience acceptance.  Makes sense because there was a lot lacking in the effort, with technical flaws, but was intense and entertaining, nevertheless.  The film featured real actors and real Navy SEALS.  The movie was made for $12 million, but when you add other costs, which at least doubles the expenditures, the proof is in the profit, for revenues in week one amounted to $24 million.  A typical Navy SEAL makes all of $54,000.  If you pay them ten times that amount for even only one mission/year, I would accept that.  They certainly deserve their current fame.  I can imagine the next act (also known as a sequel) being the killing of Osama bin Laden.

Tomorrow I report on my dinner with Kirk Sorensen, the voice of thorium.

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BIG BAND VOCALISTS

How would you like to wake up to the rainbow above.  I did, so I thought I'd take advantage of this omen to enjoy Honolulu.  So here is a posting I put together a little while ago, and begin by expressing my gratitude to PBS.  In particular, I enjoy recording those nostalgic music programs.  I say recording, because those fund-raising efforts are not exactly my idea fun.  However, I have contributed in the past and will continue to in the future.  This is my enhancement of:

My Music:  Big Band Vocalists

Mind you, this era was before my time, but I'm sure some of you older than me might want to click on the various performances. This version was well moderated by Peter Marshall  (you might remember him from Hollywood Squares) and Nick Clooney (father of George and brother of Rosemary--see below).

The program with my additional comments include:

“I Had the Craziest Dream” — Helen Forrest with Harry James Orchestra.  Forrest began with Artie Shaw in 1938 and recorded "All the Things You Are."  Reportedly, she sang for a song as she was infatuated with Harry James.  But he married Betty Grable.  Forrest recorded 500 songs.

“Why Don’t You Do Right” — Peggy Lee with Benny Goodman Orchestra. The song sold a million copies and made her famous in 1943.  In 1948 came "Manana," and who can forget "Fever," "Lover" and "Mr. Wonderful."

“Night and Day” — Frank Sinatra.  His first #1 hit was "I'll Never Smile Again" with the Pied Pipers and Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.  Sinatra started with Harry James in 1939, who approved of the move to Tommy Dorsey, where fame was gained. If you look closely, the female with the Pied Pipers is Jo Stafford.  They performed  “It Started All Over Again."  Stafford first met Paul Weston in 1938 when they were with Tommy Dorsey.  In 1951 she sang "Jambalaya," and in 1952 wed Weston.  In the late '50's they anonymously released a spoof album of Jonathan and Darlene Edwards, where everything was purposefully off key.  There were many who thought the duo were Harry and Margaret Truman.  I loved this album, and overplayed it in Toyon Hall during my Stanford days.

The Andrews Sister, with one of the Three Stooges (Shep Howard--by the way, the latest version of them will be coming to your home theater very shortly), performed "Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree” with the Harry James Orchestra

Then came “I’ll Dance at Your Wedding” with Buddy Clark and the Ray Noble Orchestra, followed by "Green Eyes" featuring Helen O'Connell (right) and Bob Eberley with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.

Dick Haymes sang "You Send Me Right Out of This World" and Alice Faye, "You'll Never Know, the 1943 Academy Award Song.  She married Phil Harris.

 

Perry Como sang "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" with the Ted Weems Band in 1939.  Yes, he first worked as a barber for four years, until the age of 14.  His final #1 hit was "And I Love You So" in 1973.  He passed away in 2001 at the age of 89.

Doris Day sang "It's Magic."  She made her film debut with this song in 1947 in "Romance on the High Seas."  I loved her "Sentimental Journey" with the Les Brown Band of Renown, selling 5 million copies. She made 650 recordings just with Columbia.  She's 87 and the media occasionally reports on her.

Ella May Morse in 1942 sang "Cow Cow Boogie."  She was hired by Tommy Dorsey at the age of 14, but was fired because he thought she was 19.  Her cow song came after she left Dorsey. Her biggest hit a decade later was "Blacksmith Blues."  Tex Benecke did "Somebody Loves Me."  After Glenn Miller disappeared in 1944 he later led the Glenn Miller "ghost band."  Is this the same Tex Beneke associated with toilet seats?

Dinah Shore sang "Blues in the Night" with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.  She might have been the first solo singer (as opposed to being linked to a more famous band) of her era and had 80 charted hits in the 40's and 50's, with "Buttons and Bows" especially popular in 1948.  Bob Hope sang this song in "Son of Paleface."  She had flirtations with Gene Krupa, James Stewart and General George Patton ,then marrying actor George Montgomery.  She married again, but then dated comedian Dick Martin, singer Eddie Fisher and actor Rod Taylor.  She had a long association with Burt Reynolds, who was 20 years younger, and later had flings with Andy Williams and Dean Martin.  What a life!

Bob Crosby did "Big Noise Blew In from Winetka" and Rosemary Clooney sang "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."  Nat King Cole and Tony Martin did "On the Sunny Side of the Street."

June Christie backed by Stan Kenton sang  "Tampico."  I remember his daughter as my freshman classmate.  Louis Armstrong did "I Can't Give You Anything But Love," and Kate Smith ended it all with Irving Berlin's "God Bless America," with Ronald Reagan making an appearance.

Return next weekend for my tribute to PBS's 60's Pop, Rock and Soul, music closer to my times.

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St. Paddy's Day Dinner 2012

I always look forward to dinner on my St. Patrick's Night.  It was once a group affair in a bar, but recently, I have dined alone.  I generally have corned beef and cabbage (this one from Zippy's, and I had four kinds of mustard--the sodium concentration was close to being toxic), Irish Whiskey and Guinness beer:

I overdid the whiskey part today, for I had three Bushmills (Irish Honey, Original and Single Malt), plus the more traditional Jameson's.  As you might know, I have been a Qualified Irish Whiskey Taster since 03August2003:

The sunset was also beautiful:

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SAINT PATRICK'S DAY 2012

The history of St. Patrick is provided in my 2009 posting on this subject.  Today, a Saturday, something more frivolous.  The top ten party sites for St. Patrick's Day are:

Orbitz Editors' Picks for the Top 10 St. Patrick's Day Destinations

1.   Chicago:  Famous for the green Chicago River.

2.   New York City:  Their 251st parade changes route today, marching up Fifth Avenue past St. Patrick's Cathedral, then along the American Irish Historical Society, ending at 86th Street.  The parade seems to last forever, with 150,000 marchers and 3 million watching.
3.   Savannah:  Where did this city come from?  This can all be traced to their Hibernian Society in 1813.  Hibernia is the classical name of Ireland.  The biggest attraction of the year, the event draws 400,000 celebrants.  Green fountain at Forsyth Park:

4.   Washington, D.C.:  The White House version of a green fountain above.  One of my hangouts close to the U.S. Senate was the Dubliner, where I celebrated a couple of March 17's, and also did President Obama today.  One of Obama's great-great-great grandfathers came from Ireland.  Not only is there a D.C.parade up Constitution Avenue, both also in Alexandria, Gaithersburg and Manassas.
5.   Boston:  Officials actually worry about the drinking, so restraint is urged.

  6.   San Francisco: yes, a parade, food, drinks, crafts.

  7.   Philadelphia

  8.   St. Louis

  9.   Kansas City

10. Dublin, Ohio:  with a population of 41,000, why not?  The Greenest and Grandest St. Patrick's Day parade, at least as advertised.

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HONOHONO AND CATTLEYA ORCHIDS

The 56th annual Kunia Orchid Show began this morning, except it is no longer being held there.  Go to Leilehua High School, which nowhere near the Leilehua Golf Course.  Drive through Wahiawa and go mauka (north?) on California Street.  You will pass the Wahiawa Botanical Garden on the left, then, soon thereafter, make a right turn into Leilehua High School.  There are signs.  The show goes on from 9-5 (4 on Sunday) for the rest of the weekend.

I'm into yellow flowers, so bought a host of them.  What you see are some of those flowers from the show:

Well, that last one was a cactus.  I bought some honohono for my office:

And a white one for my apartment.  The honohono (above) and to the left), Dendrobium anosmum, is my favorite.  Everything is named wrong with this flower because the term refers to the leaves, which fall off before the bloom occurs, and anosmum means scentless.  The magic of the honohono is the smell, and it varies quite a bit depending on the variety.  A few "tricks" with this plant:  lay out 4 inch segments of the stem on potting mix or equivalent (however, any node that had a flower will not give you a plantlet), water and fertilizer heavily in the summer (indirect sunlight) and dry it out in the winter season. A chill is necessary for flowering.  If I sound like an expert, no, this information comes from Scot Mitamura.  I've been buying the honohono for decades and only once did a plant survive to give me all of two flowers.  My roof is too hot, plus, I go on too many trips.

The cattleya, my second favorite, also can have a pleasant smell.  Here is my yellow orchid bowl with a couple of cattleyas at the bottom:

They say that playing music or talking to your orchids can optimize growth, but, of course, this means you must baby it for any success.  These two plants refuse to do well on my roof.

But about the cattleya, place in bright, diffuse light.  Water a couple times/week, but make sure there is some drying in between.  A ten degree temperature differential daily helps.  Humidity is good, so place plant over a humidity plate (tray with water), but not sitting in it.

There are no blue nor black cattleyas.  I go to the Netherlands next month, but also won't see blue nor black (only deep purple to dark red) tulips.  There also is no black rose, but a blue rose is supposedly to be marketed in the U.S. soon.  However, this is it below, and this is clearly lavender, not BLUE:

Here is the color blue:

Except for one problem, This tulip is dyed, as all blue ones are.

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The Dow Jones Industrial dropped 20 to 13,233, with world markets mostly up.  Gold increased $4/toz to $1660, while the WTI oil is at $107/barrel and the Brent crude at $126/barrel.

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