Thoughts on the road, 11/28/12

1.   Is there any such thing as a melt down?  At a nuke plant, that is.  If so, it would have to get really hot.  They use graphite in the control rods and the fuel pellets.  Graphite is essentially carbon.  Carbon has the highest melting point of any element.  Actually, according to the Wikipedia entry on carbon, it doesn't have a melting point.  It sublimates directly into vapor at about  3900 deg Kelvin.  A little over 3600 degrees Centigrade, or over 7000 degrees Farenheit.  Pretty hot.
   
   Anyway, in a nuke plant, if there's a problem, the control rods go in and the pile loses criticality.  That means the reason for it to get too hot (and melt?) has just ended.  It will still get hotter, but will the thing get hot enough to vaporize graphite?  I'm thinking no.  This must be one of those "scary" things that get told so as to turn people against nuclear power.  It has little basis in fact.
2. On the Limbaugh show today, he says some stuff that made me wonder about why he continues to support Republicans.  I don't know how you support a party which always disappoints you.  I got to thinking about lab rats.  Lab rats?  Yeah, lab rats.  Put a lab rat in a box with a couple of buttons.  One button is a food reward if pressed, the other is an electrical shock.  Which button does the rat learn to press?  I think even a lab rat will stop pressing the darned button that causes pain.  Why can't people stop supporting Republicans who continue to disappoint?  Even a lab rat would have enough sense to stop pushing the pain button.  If those who support Republicans would just ask themselves why they are supporting them and read the riot act to the Republicans, things could change. Otherwise, look for another way.  Another party or do something else.  Even a lab rat could figure out when to start doing something different.
3. Why are people interested in politics?  Let's see.  If you have it all-- fame, fortune,and romance--- why would you be interested in politics?  Two kinds of people would be interested in politics--- politicians and their followers.  I mean, you have to get something out of it in order to have a reason to mess with it.  Those that are in the center of things would get something out of it.  And those who follow would get something out of it---presumably.  But everybody else probably gets screwed.  If you are one of the others, why get interested?  Just seems like a heartbreak ready to happen.