Does It Glow In The Dark?

In the nuclear-obsessed 1940s, when atomic energy symbolized progress and modernity, one cereal company decided to ride the wave—though not in the safest way. In 1947, Kix cereal launched a daring promotion: for just 15 cents and a cereal box top, children could receive the Lone Ranger Atomic Bomb Ring.

The ring wasn’t just a toy. It contained a tiny sample of polonium-210, a radioactive isotope (substance), within a spinthariscope, allowing users to observe flashes of light caused by alpha particles. The ring featured a “magic viewing chamber” with a zinc sulfide screen that glowed when struck by alpha particles emitted by the polonium.  As long as it wasn’t inhaled or ingested, it was considered “safe” but polonium-210 is one of the most toxic substances known to science.

The ring's design also featured a red plastic tail fin that served as a secret message compartment. These rings are now considered collector's items and museum curiosities, representing a unique aspect of the post-WWII fascination with the atomic age. 

While advertised as "perfectly safe" at the time, the inclusion of radioactive material in a children's toy would not be permitted under modern safety standards. Despite the risks, few raised concerns at the time. Atomic fascination had taken hold of the public imagination, often at the expense of safety. Today, the ring is a bizarre museum relic—an eerie reminder of an era when radiation was marketed as a wonder, and no one questioned giving it to kids.
 

Newtonian Physics

 

Newton's First Law of Motion - also known as the Law of Inertia - states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same directions unless acted-upon by an unbalanced force. 

 

Late Summer Blooms

From our walk there is this. 

Prairie Dock - Silphium terebinthinaceum.  Also commonly called rosin weed.  It is a sunflower-like plant it can grow to a height of 9 feet. With a 14 foot tap root it is exceedingly drought-resistant and can flourish for decades. 

The plant gets the name rosin weed because it produces a sweet-smelling resin when injured. While Prairie Rosin weed is the correct name for this specific plant, there are other plants called rosin weed that are different species within the same genus, Silphium. 

It is just now beginning to come on-line and pollinators are attracted to it as it blooms for more than a month. Birds love the seeds.

When we planted our prairie 20 years ago this species was not in the seed mix.  Like several other species it has found its way here and established itself on its own.

Bonus! 

 

Literacy

 

Research shows a “significant and deeply concerning” dip in how much Americans read for pleasure. (Source: Financial Times)

Trash Pandas

First-off there are too many raccoons around these parts.  And while they're more trouble in an urban environment they're murder on ground-nesting birds, they crap in the deer stands and they're carriers of parasites and diseases.

They're so common on the trail cameras most days I give thought to setting a trap and thinning the herd.

Almost a month-apart (to the day) here are digital images of five raccoons together.  What are the odds?

 

Friday Music

Oftentimes known as SRV, Stevie Ray Vaughan was the guitarist and frontman for Double Trouble.  He is singularly considered one of the most influential musicians in the history of blues music and one of the greatest guitarist on the planet.

Like many talented musicians he struggled with substance abuse for most of his short life; nevertheless, he turned things around, began flying straight and level, and commenced touring again with Double Trouble in late 1986.  His fourth and final studio album In Step climbed to number 33 in the US in 1989.  Including his hit single Crossfire; the album was both a critical and commercial success.

His mainstream career spanned only seven years; cut short on August 27, 1990 when he, and four others, were killed in helicopter crash after a performance at Alpine Valley in East Troy, Wisconsin.  An acquaintance of mine was witness to that performance and the tragedy that followed.

Good thing someone had the presence of mind to tape this.  Live at The El Mocambo, Toronto, Canada, 1983......

On This Day In History

Twenty four years ago I was driving to the office listening to WHAD’s Tom Clark interview someone in New York City.  The interview was punctuated by the interviewee in New York noting that first responders had been dispatched following initial reports of a small plane crashing into one of the World Trade Center towers. 

Arriving at the day job I found Mike had live coverage of the smoking tower on the television in his office. Details were sketchy.  As we speculated upon the crazy notion of how someone could possibly fly into a skyscraper a second plane crashed into the other tower - a commercial airliner.  We knew then that it was no small aircraft that struck the first.  That tower collapsed and we watched until the second structure fell. 

Four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks were carried out by al-Qaeda on that day.  So as we reflect-upon the solemnity of this anniversary let us not forget that that 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi Arabia citizens.  Dozens of well-connected Saudis had fled the United States on chartered flights in the days after 9/11.  The House of Saud is a notoriously loathsome collection of individuals.  The gruesome murder and dismemberment of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi is further evidence of its odious persistence. 

As far back as the early 1980s I enjoyed multiple opportunities to tour the towers. This photo was snapped on the observation deck. I have some photos of Connie Chung doing a live broadcast from the CNN studio.  I’ve even dined at the 107th floor Windows on the World restaurant.  

That day almost two and a half decades-ago was a seriously bad day.  Strange how all of the details remain so fresh in the present day.  My Pearl Harbor life event I suppose.

Ask if you would include the Saudi royal family among your friends.....