Nuclear Fusion, providing the energy of the future

THE REAL ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OF TOMORROW

FORGET WINDMILLS AND SOLAR PANELS

Nuclear fusion has been under development for many years, but now it is expected to be able to go into commercial electricity generation by 2030. 

Nuclear fusion is the energy of the sun and stars. It is expected to require much less fuel, which makes it much safer than the present nuclear fission reactors. It will produce much less waste.

The nuclear fusion of hydrogen into the heavier element helium is the main nuclear reaction that keeps the sun and other stars burning for millions of years. 

Proponents of nuclear fusion say it will make many other types of electric generation obsolete by producing large amounts of electricity from small amounts of heavy hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium, which are relatively abundant in ordinary seawater.

110 pounds of tritium and 73 pounds of deuterium could produce a gigawatt of electricity for a year. It is enough energy to power 700,000 American homes.

The UK based Tokamak Energy has announced that it has made breakthroughs in the design of it reactor that are very encouraging. Tokamak is one of several privately funded companies working to create a working fusion reactor. Other companies working on this are General Fusion in British Columbia and TAE Technologies, based in California. This is also being developed by Lockeed Martin in California.

This technology could probably be accelerated by a cooperative effort of these companies and some research encouragement  by the government.

Nuclear fusion appears to be a viable alternative to the unsightly and minimal generation capabilities of solar panels and wind mills. These present alternative technologies are useful for private remote power generation, mostly encouraged by government subsidies, but unlikely to ever be able to power a modern industrial society.

Should Trump trust intelligence leaders?

TRUTH IS,  TRUMP DOES NOT TRUST THE INTELLIGENCE ESTABLISHMENT

TRUST CANNOT BE WILLED, EITHER YOU HAVE IT OR YOU DON'T

Much is being made of President Trump's obvious distrust of the findings of the intelligence community. While often praising the work of the rank and file employees, he has good reason not to be all in on the leaders in the Intelligence community.

Since before this election there have been indications that large segments of the Federal government have been politicized to the point that their judgement has been questioned. 

The reports of Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction have proved to be a failure that has created much of the crisis in the middle east that we now see. There are indications that this was much more than a colossal mistake, but an effort to effect United States foreign policy by those in high office in the intelligence community. For years it was thought this was the manipulations of the Bush administration. Now the question is, was this the manipulation of the intelligence community itself. 

We have seen the bias and out right attempts by Ex Cia Director Brennan, a confirmed Communist, appointed by Barack Obama to undermine and criticize every action of Trump.

We have seen the long list of biased and corrupt members of the FBI, Comey, FBI directer, McCabe assistant Director, Strzok, head of counter intelligence, and a long list of others who are now under investigation.

We have seen corruption in the Department of Justice, the irregularities in the Clinton investigation, all which have destroyed the confidence in these organizations.

We also see many ex-Obama appointees of the intelligence community, now on the payroll of  the major media. They have a very uniform point of view when it comes to the Trump Administration.

The priority now, by the intelligence leaders seems to be to protect themselves in any way possible. This is portrayed as protecting the reputation of these agencies. Covering up their corruption will not restore their reputations, but make matters worse. 

The Democrats and the media are willing to overlook this corruption to further their own political goals, but they are damaging the country in the process.

As for the Russians, I do not see them as the biggest economic or military threat to our country. They are far surpassed by the Chinese. The Russians are perceived as an easy, no risk enemy to cultivate at the moment, The Chinese have more spies in the process of stealing intellectual property and intelligence than the Russians. The Chinese are contributing to the wealth of many, both in the private and public sector. They are not making any money with the Russians.

This election has exposed the high third world levels of corruption in this Country. It will be up to the people to be vigilant in their paying attention or this is not going to end well for our country. 

Northwestern Lehigh School board meeting

JUNE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

DISTRICT HIRES SCHOOL POLICE CHIEF

School Board approves hiring of Brian Tobin as the School District Police Chief at a salary of $61,000.

The district is expected to receive a Safe Schools Grant of $40,000 for the police chief and a $25,000 equipment grant.

$340,000 of change orders for the school modernization project were approved by the board in June.

The final budget of $47,256,640 for the next year was approved by the board. This included a 1.74% rise in the property tax. The new millage is 16.24.

Lunch prices for the coming year are $2.75 for the elementary schools, $2.90 for the middle school and $3.15 for the high school. Breakfast is $1.80.

The Administration salaries for the coming year are as follows.

There will not be a school board meeting in July.

Trump to confront NATO, Brexit, Putin

NATO, TRADE, EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

DISAGREEMENTS DO NOT MEAN DIVORCE

Donald Trump's trip to Europe, Britain and Russia is being viewed by many as a crisis in the making. Trump believes that adjustments need to be made to this alliance that is now 60 years old.

After World War 2, Europe and Japan were in shambles, the continent was devastated militarily, economically and in risk of social collapse. The United States was the only major power that was intact and actually in a stronger position both militarily and economically. Our industrial capacity was able to produce armaments for the western world that was essential for the success of the allies. 

The Soviet Union while damaged severely by the war, losing 30 million citizens and many cities destroyed,  had been able to produce large numbers of tanks and aircraft to defeat the Germans on the eastern front. There was the fear that the brutal dictator Stalin would take advantage of the weakened and disorganized western Europe. Some U.S. generals, like Patton, proposed attacking and overthrowing Stalin while we had the military power and resources on the soviet border. Some actually had plans of a limited nuclear attack to accomplish this goal. This strategy was abandoned but the alternate was to help to stabilize Europe and also Japan with economic assistance and military protection until they would be able to become strong and viable democracies.

NATO , the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed in 1949 to be a counter to the Soviet Union, Originally it consisted of 12 Nations.

We also engaged in very favorable trade agreements to help these countries gain in economic viability in an accelerated time. By 1965, 20 years after WW2 both Europe and Japan had become a stable and economically thriving. The protection and help of the United States made this recovery possible.

In 1952 Greece and Turkey were added to NATO. West Germany in 1955. The Soviet Union and its satellite countries formed the "Warsaw Pact" the same year.

This arrangement continued until the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1989, In the negotiations at that time it was agreed that a unified Germany would be a member of NATO, but that there would not be any further expansion. This lasted until 1999 when NATO began adding former Warsaw pact countries to their membership, this was the beginning of the return to the cold war. Russia now viewed the west as an adversary who wanted to encircle the Russian federation. It perceived this expansion as both a military and economic threat. 

While Europe enjoyed the protection and favorable trade policies with the United States, they seemed to believe these policies should go on forever. Trump believes a reanalysis of this union should be re-negotiated. Starting with the NATO countries providing more military spending for their own defense. He is also proposing that there be a real free trade agreement that eliminates all tariffs and  protections. He believes they should be a real equal partner, they have had economic stability now for many decades.