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It's hot as Hades, but we aren't radioactive and we don't have to water camels
By dwray in The nature of things
August 9, 2011

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Things are still hotter than warm side of Hades down this way, but every time you take another swipe at the sweat on your brow keep in mind things could be worse - we could be living in Fukushima, for example.

After an earthquake devastated Japan in March, we (or maybe it was just me) thought that was as bad as it would get. Wrong. This New York Times story proves we were simply lacking in imagination.

It turns out the Japanese government, so intent on covering up the extent of the nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, they didn't evacuate the people living in Fukushima. Instead, they let them remain in a contaminated area, drinking the water and playing outside while the wind blew radioactive emissions right toward them. You can go read more about it here.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch an AP story reports the drought we've been experiencing will have a lasting impact on wildlife. Namely, it's throwing our wildlife system out of whack. Read more about it New York Times">here.

Way back when David Lean was making "Lawrence of Arabia" the film crew paid $3 a gallon for water. When the camels came on the scene, you know, literally, their water budget skyrocketed. Camels drink 20 gallons per gulp, so it was pricey to water a herd in a place where water is a life-sustaining commodity.

Water is still an issue in that part of the world, evidenced by the fact Israel has just announced they're building a $423 million desalination plant. Due to be completed in 2013, the plant will join four other plants in desalting water from the Mediterranean Sea. Read more about it here.