Subject: Dear Ann Landers: STOP CASSINI #169
Date: August 11th, 1999
Time Frame: Cassini is scheduled to do the flyby of Earth next week!
Today's Subjects:
Dear Ann Landers:
Perhaps I should be writing you about Cassini right now, asking you to help make people understand the awesome threat NASA has created. But instead, I want to alert you to an even greater danger: Y2K. You really should familiarize yourself with what the real threats are, before accepting the lame prognostications of the U. S. Senate Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem.
Here is a URL where the truth, in all its painful reality, can be learned:
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/environm/no_nukes/y2k/phase1.htm
Today, you published the official Government version of what people should be doing. You even called their advice "priceless".
I think "worthless" would be a much better description. Let's go through each of the six items, as one citizen to another, one prudent human being to another who hopefully, will see that prudence goes way, way beyond what Mssrs. Bennett and Dodd have offered you. My comments are in [[[brackets]]] after each of Senators Bennett and Dodd's points:
1) BE AN INFORMED CITIZEN Ask your utility companies about their Y2K status. Talk with local officials about what the police, fire and emergency medical services have done to prepare. Post their non-911 direct-dial emergency numbers near your phone. Burglar alarms connected to computer networks at police stations and security companies should be tested.
[[[ What you should be asking them for are EVACUATION PLANS. Also don't just ask your utility company "are you ready for Y2K?" because THEY AREN'T. Their "testing", for example, included contacting the manufacturers of components of their various systems and asking if the component is Y2K compatible. Everyone should be asking the utilities why they are not shutting down their nuclear power plants NOW to buy us more time before a meltdown, if the worst happens and off-site power is lost for an extended time, coupled with the failure of one or both of the diesel generators all nuclear plants have on site precisely for blackouts. As to "testing" the alarm systems, you had better check with your local police or security company first, letting them know that you intend to run those tests. ]]]
2) BE AN EDUCATED CONSUMER. Check with your doctor, pharmacist, broker, grocer and others who provide you with valuable services about their preparations. Contact manufacturers of date-sensitive appliances to verify Y2K compliance.
[[[ Such bother-the-authorities advice is one of the main reasons Y2K is costing billions if not trillions already, and nothing's even gone wrong yet (actually, not "nothing", because there have been serious failures in a wide variety of testing programs). ]]]
3) PRUDENCE IN THE PANTRY. You should have on hand a flashlight and batteries, warm blankets and a couple of extra cans of food. If you take medication, consult your doctor if you are concerned about shipping delays.
[[[ A flashlight and batteries? Is that it? How about some candles -- enough for several months. A wind-up short-wave radio wouldn't hurt either to learn what's going on in the rest of the world, and equipment for cooking food without your stove (extra propane tanks if you have a BBQ, for instance) would be a good idea as well. A couple of extra cans of food? Why not a couple of months' worth? That is not so much to ask. Most people can easily afford that, since they would spend it anyway by March or April of next year on the exact same things -- rice, beans, pasta, peanut butter, canned and dried fruits and vegetables, tomato sauce -- a couple of dozen cans of everything you like would not go bad before you use it! And notice that storing water isn't even mentioned! (Until, derogatorily, item #6, below.) ]]]
4) KEEP TRACK OF YOUR FINANCES. The bank is still the safest place to keep your money, and most banks are well prepared. Save receipts and obtain paper copies of bank and loan statements and other financial transactions, especially deposit slips. Call your local bank to learn about their Y2K plans. Talk to your employer about vulnerabilities in the payroll system. Take Y2K readiness into account when making investments.
[[[ In point of fact, banks have been considering the consequences of "Y2K" for decades and are probably the MOST prepared institutions of all! The advice given here forgets to mention that nevertheless, it would not be a bad idea to have PLENTY of cash on hand, in small bills. However, when mentioning that, one must also be cautioned that burglars will be expecting such piles of loot, come December or even November. So get that burglar alarm properly checked and operational first! ]]]
5) TRAVEL SMART. If you plan to travel, obtain written confirmation of your reservations directly from the airline as well as your travel agent. Factor possible delays into your travel plans. If you are traveling abroad, check the State Department for Y2K travel alerts.
[[[ The fact is, you should do everything in your power to plan NOT to travel AT ALL on or around Y2K. As we have been saying, we urge people to MAKE Y2K A FAMILY DAY. Stay home. Party with your immediate neighbors. Don't gather in large groups. THIS is what the official government policy should be! But instead, they continue to fear alarming the people, so they won't even tell them this! ]]]
6) BEWARE OF SCAMS. Con artists are already actively exploiting people's fears. Be wary of goods and services touted as "Y2K guaranteed." Beware of anyone attempting to sell you unnecessary products such as massive food supplies, water treatment kits or other "Y2K personal preparedness" items. Never give out personal financial information over the phone unless you initiate the call and are sure the person you speak to is legitimate. Report any attempts to solicit this information to the police.
For more information, call (888) USA-4-Y2K ((888) 872-4925), or visit the Senate Y2K committee Web site at http://www.senate.gov/~y2k
[[[ Sure. Everyone who wants to help you prepare but is not from the government is a con artist. As it happens, I have absolutely ZERO financial stake in the country properly preparing for Y2K, and that is the way it will remain. My warnings and suggestions are solely for the purpose of saving the American people from being caught unprepared. I find it utterly shocking that the government is not making more of an effort to help people to properly prepare for Y2K, since about 99% of the precautions one should take to be personally ready, are things you should do anyway, in order to be prepared for ANY natural or manmade disaster, including World War, hurricane, floods, earthquakes, etc. ]]]
To learn more about the REASONABLE precautions YOU should consider for YOUR safety, please visit my own Y2K-ALERT home page. You can also learn about the TRUE EXTENT of the dangers we face (most of which could be eliminated through united public opinion):
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/environm/no_nukes/y2k/index.htm
Today's TCM went fine, Cassini is fine, everything is fine. What, me worry?
From: Ahearnaa@aol.com
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 14:10:21 EDT
Subject: Cassini re.: solar effects & meteor shower
To: comments@www.hq.nasa.gov
Greetings,
I assume you folks have taken the potential effect of the Solar Eclipse, solar storms, and the [Perseid] Meteor Shower on the Cassini Probe's slingshot trajectory? Frankly, there's a bit of nail-biting out in cyberspace on this one.
Regards,
Don Ogden
----------------------------------
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 15:23:59 -0400
To: Ahearnaa@aol.com
From: Douglas Isbell (disbell@hq.nasa.gov)
Subject: Cassini re.: solar effects & meteor shower
Mr. Ogden --
Yes, all of those factors were taken into consideration in the design and development of the Cassini mission and its flight path.
You should be glad to know that the final rocket engine burn needed to put Cassini on its final correct path toward Earth went extremely well just hours ago. Soon it will be onward to Jupiter and then Saturn.
Sincerely,
Doug Isbell
Yes, be reassured, because NASA took everything into account, including that by dispersing the 72.3 pounds of plutonium dioxide at high altitude in the event of a reentry, no one will be able to blame a specific cancer, leukemia, or birth defect unequivocally on NASA. Or on Doug Isbell.
Note: NASA's Cassini Travel Guide web page still gives the coordinates of the closest approach as "137 W longitude and 23.5 S latitude" so we still don't know why the Village Voice gave a different location a few thousand miles away. Not that it matters to anyone concerned mainly about the health of the whole Earth.
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/cassini/msnstatus/cassguide.html
At 06:20 PM 8/11/99 +0100, you wrote:
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 18:20:05 +0100
From: Peter Bottomley (BOTTOMLEYP@parliament.uk)
To: rhoffman@animatedsoftware.com
Subject: The Doomsday Rocket! STOP CASSINI #167: August 9th, 1999
-Reply
delete my address please
Dear Mr. Bottomley:
As you have requested, your name has been removed from the STOP CASSINI newsletter distribution list, less than 12 hours after it had been added as a government official of a cooperating nation with Cassini.
I must make the following comment in light of your request:
No wonder we decided to revolt a couple of centuries ago.
Sincerely,
Russell D. Hoffman
U. S. citizen concerned about Cassini
Carlsbad California
(our country is a former colony of yours)
*************************************************************
Russell D. Hoffman, Carlsbad, California
Peace Activist, Environmentalist, High Tech Guru:
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/whoisrdh.htm
Founder and Editor of the Stop Cassini newsletter:
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/cassini/nltrs/index.htm
Learn the madness of NASA's ongoing nuclear policies! Visit the Stop Cassini web site:
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/cassini/cassini.htm
Y2K worries? We've got em! Meltdowns, EMPs, Terrorism, you-name-it:
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/environm/no_nukes/y2k/index.htm
Facing facts: Learn about The Effects of Nuclear War here:
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/environm/no_nukes/tenw/nuke_war.htm
What is a half-life? (Compares Plutonium 238 to Plutonium 239)
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/cassini/nltrs/nltr0146.htm
What is the Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP)? Is nuclear war winnable?
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/cassini/nltrs/nltr0128.htm
Hug a tree! Read why it should matter to you what happens to the great Redwoods in California:
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/misc/stories/redwoods/redwoods.htm
Why you need encryption: An interview with Phil Zimmerman:
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/hightech/philspgp.htm
(also available in Spanish)
************************************************************
** THE ANIMATED SOFTWARE COMPANY
** Russell D. Hoffman, Owner and Chief Programmer
** Carlsbad CA
** Visit the world's most eclectic web site:
** http://www.animatedsoftware.com
************************************************************
I should note that the other 200 or so British Parliament names we had just been given did not respond at all, which seems much better to me! Perhaps they are now studying the issues! Perhaps THEY will help free America (and themselves) from the nuclear yoke!
Jack Shannon is referring to the guys from the Navy Nuclear program:
From: Jacksha1@aol.com
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 11:43:21 EDT
Subject: Meeting with Bob Alvarez
To: rhoffman@animatedsoftware.com
[...]
During September 1989, Bob Stater, Frank Bordell, Doug Allen, Tom Carpenter and I attended a meeting, in one of the Senatorial Hearing rooms, with Robert Alvarez. Robert [Bob] was, at that time Senator John Glenn's Technical Aid. Other members of Glenn's Senatorial Staff were also present, but I don't remember their names.
During the course of the meeting, which lasted several hours, we discussed all of the major safety issues at KAPL with Alvarez and the others. These issues included, but were not limited to the following: lack of Emergency Core Cooling Systems, lack of Containment Vessels, lack of a Radiation Control Problem, lack of an Asbestos Control Program, lack of an Oversight Control Program, basically all of the issues discussed on my WEB site with the exception of Jim Hills being brutalized at Navy Boot Camp and the S8G waterbrake explosion. During 1989 we had yet to hear of these last two matters. Bob Alvarez was very impressed with our documents and promised that he would do what he could to try to get Senator Glenn to hold hearings on the Naval Reactor Program.
From the Senate Hearing Room we went to lunch at a nearby Chinese Restaurant. At the beginning of the lunch Alvarez told us that it would be difficult to hold hearings regarding the Naval Reactors program because they were the ". . . most protected and most mean spirited people in Washington . . .." I was astounded by the remark because I know that Washington is and always has been loaded with mean spirited people.
Within a few days we [I think Tom Carpenter] received a call from Alvarez telling us that no hearings would be held. As soon as Naval Reactors heard about our meeting with Alvarez a group of Naval Reactors Commissioned Officers went to Glenn's Office, in uniform, and told Glenn that no Congressional hearings would be held regarding the Naval Reactors program.
John P. Shannon, Major USMC (Retired)
For more information on Jack Shannon's current activities and his background, please see Stop Cassini newsletters #166 and #156 as well as visiting Mr. Shannon's own web site at:
http://www.mindspring.com/~kapl/index.html
Date: Wed, 11 Aug 1999 17:09:37 -0700
To: "Cassini Spacecraft Updates" (Cassini@jpl.nasa.gov)
From: cassini@jpl.nasa.gov
Subject: Cassini Mission Status Report - Aug. 11, 1999
Reply-To: cassini@jpl.nasa.gov
MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109
TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov
Cassini Mission Status
August 11, 1999
With another flawless maneuver, the Saturn-bound Cassini spacecraft today successfully executed the final adjustment to its flight path for a flyby of Earth that will occur Tuesday, August 17 at 8:28 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (August 18 at 03:28 Universal Time).
The spacecraft, launched on a mission to Saturn in 1997, is now precisely set to make its closest approach to Earth at an altitude of 1,166 kilometers (725 miles) over the eastern South Pacific at -23.5 degrees latitude and 231.5 degrees longitude. The spacecraft may be visible from small islands in that area, such as Pitcairn Island or Easter Island. Two successful flybys of Venus, next week's flyby of Earth, and a flyby of Jupiter in December 2000 all give Cassini the additional speed it needs to reach Saturn in 2004.
Cassini's onboard rocket fired as scheduled this morning at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time (15:30 Universal Time) for 130 seconds, completing the final adjustments to the spacecraft's flight path before the Earth flyby.
Nine of Cassini's 12 scientific instruments will make observations of the Earth-Moon system during the spacecraft's passage, including studies of Earth's magnetic environment and images of the moon. Cassini's primary mission is to make up-close studies of Saturn, its rings, moons and magnetic environment while orbiting the ringed planet from 2004-2008. Upon arrival at Saturn in 2004, Cassini will release a probe called Huygens, provided by the European Space Agency, to drop via parachute to the surface of Saturn's big moon, Titan, which is thought to resemble a frozen, primordial Earth.
Today, Cassini is about 9 million kilometers (about 5.8 million miles) from Earth, traveling at a speed of about 58,000 kilometers per hour (about 36,000 miles per hour) relative to Earth. It has traveled 1.671 billion kilometers (1.038 billion miles) since launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Oct. 15, 1997.
Cassini is an international mission of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency, and is managed for NASA's Office of Space Science by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Pasadena, Calif.
---
Visit the JPL Cassini home page for more information about the Cassini Project:
The hour is very late for Cassini. THIS IS ALSO the most dangerous time -- until the very last few minutes or perhaps, at most the last hour before the flyby (which occurs at an unknown time, probably August 17th for most of the world). THEREFORE, UP UNTIL THE VERY LAST DAY, Cassini should be redirected! It should be redirected away from the Earth's notorious man-made (about 99% manmade, at least) orbital debris field, which goes out about 50,000 miles from the surface of the Earth in ALL directions! Cassini could become a deadly hulk (as can any rocket) just for passing through this mess! If that happens, it would be left, according to NASA's own documentation (page B-4 of the 1995 EIS for the Cassini Mission), in an orbit that could intersect our own! Tell NASA to redirect Cassini TODAY!
To stop Cassini from doing the flyby and other future mad-scientist launches, please redistribute this newsletter to everyone you know! Chances are they have never heard of Cassini, never visited our STOP CASSINI web site, never heard of or considered the effects of the Electromagnetic Pulse that will undoubtedly start a nuclear war if one occurs at all. And chances are good they would not even be able to tell you who played Dr. Strangelove (and two other roles) in the movie of the same name! There is a crisis in education in America and around the world -- you can take it seriously or you can let it kill you. But if we all join together and oppose this impending global destruction, maybe, just maybe, we can convince the powers that be to put down their genocidal toys.
To learn about the absurd excuses NASA used to launch Cassini and its 72.3 pounds of plutonium in 1997, ask them for the 1995 Environmental Impact Statement for the Cassini mission, and all subsequent documentation. At the same time, be sure to ask them for ANY and ALL documentation available on future uses of plutonium in space, including MILITARY, CIVILIAN, or "OTHER" (just in case they make a new category somehow!). To get this information, contact:
Cassini Public Information
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena CA 91109
(818) 354-5011 or
(818) 354-6478
NASA states that they do not have the resources anymore to answer most emails they receive. Liars! They have $13 billion dollars to play with. They can answer the public's questions!
Here's NASA's "comments" email address: comments@www.hq.nasa.gov
Daniel Goldin is the head of NASA. Here's his email address:
daniel.goldin@hq.nasa.gov
or
dgoldin@mail.hq.nasa.gov
Here's the NASA URL to find additional addresses to submit written questions to:
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/facts/HTML/FS-002-HQ.html
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT NASA IS DOING TO YOUR HEALTH.
Be sure to "cc" the president and VP and your senators and congresspeople, too.
president@whitehouse.gov vice.president@whitehouse.gov
Always include your full name and postal address in all correspondence to any Government official of any country.
Thanks for reading! Welcome new subscribers!
Home page of our STOP CASSINI movement:
http://www.animatedsoftware.com/cassini/cassini.htm
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rhoffman@animatedsoftware.com
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Published by Russell D. Hoffman electronically.
Written in U.S.A.
Please distribute these newsletters EVERYWHERE!
What you do NEXT matters MOST OF ALL!
rhoffman@animatedsoftware.com