It sounds silly, but your granite countertop might be emitting high levels of radiation.

How?  The high demand product, essential in kitchen remodeling and high end home building, may contain uranium, which is not only radioactive but releases radon gas as it decays.  Don’t be suspicious of every countertop you run into because not all are considered dangerous.  Recent findings show that the hazard depends on where in the world the granite was estracted from.

The NYT reports:

… Health physicists and radiation experts agree that most granite countertops emit radiation and radon at extremely low levels. They say these emissions are insignificant compared with so-called background radiation that is constantly raining down from outer space or seeping up from the earth’s crust, not to mention emanating from manmade sources like X-rays, luminous watches and smoke detectors … Nevertheless … “There is no known safe level of radon or radiation.”

Where to Find Tests and Testers

To find a certified technician to determine whether radiation or radon is emanating from a granite countertop, homeowners can contact the American Association of Radon Scientists and Technologists (aarst.org). Testing costs between $100 and $300.

Information on certified technicians and do-it-yourself radon testing kits is available from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site at epa.gov/radon, as well as from state or regional indoor air environment offices, which can be found at epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html. Kits test for radon, not radiation, and cost $20 to $30. They are sold at hardware stores and online.

But where are the friggin sharks?  I kid.  I kid.

Wired.com wrote an interesting article about how Northrop Grumman is promising the Pentagon that it’ll have weapons-grade electric lasers by the end of 2008.

Northrop’s system combines a bunch of smaller lasers into a bigger one — Death Star-style, sorta. In March, the company announced that it had completed the first of these eight “laser chains.” Yesterday, the company said it had joined two of the chains together. What’s more, the beam combo ran at peak power — 30 kW — “for more than five minutes continuously and more than 40 minutes total; and achieved electrical-to-optical efficiency of greater than 19 percent.”

And with any military contract, Boeing is knee deep in competition as well.

The army just handed Boeing a $36 million contract to “continue developing a truck-mounted, high-energy laser weapon system that will destroy rockets, artillery shells and mortar rounds,” according to a company statement.  Low power demonstrations are scheduled for 2010, with battlefield-strength laser tests to follow in 2013.

Timber Ridge Subdivision is a 13 lot subdivision located off Knollwood Drive behind Madison Place Subdivision.  Preconstruction cost of the lots will be reserved at $60k, depending on the lot chosen.  Once the subdivision is completed and ready for City Maintenance, the cost of the lots will increase to $65k to $75k, depending on the lot chosen.  2,100 square foot minimum.

Cross Creek Gates Subdivision has only five lots remaining of 11 total.  Located off of Knollwood Drive.  Minimum square foot of home will be 1,800 sq. ft., with Brick veneer to gable and front facing garages.  There will be an architectural review committee to insure uniformity and esthetics the subdivision wishes to emulate.  Preconstruction cost of the lots will be reserved at $40k, depending on the lot chosen

New Condominium
Sherwood Manor Condominiums, located across from the University of South Alabama on Old Shell, are priced at $159,900.  Currently, the condo is planned to be two bedroom, 2.5 bathrooms town homes with a porch and attic storage.

This newly built house’s motto is, “Location, location, location!”  Just off of Highway 43 and near I-65, this house is ready to sell.  Home’s ameneties include a split floor plan of 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large fenced yard, separate storage area, shed that runs 220v power and sits in a great neighborhood.  MLS #178470

Although building has slowed in Mobile County, it certainly hasn’t stopped.  LongLeaf Gates is the name of a 137-lot subdivision being built on Girby Road — and similar to SaltAire, it’s an exclusive Roberts Brothers community.  Yeah, Johnny Roberts likes to dream big.

Lot prices start at $68,000 and the minimum square footage for homes built starts at 1,850.  Not too shabby, considering the competition down the street from The Perserves subdivision.

Check out the details:

LongLeaf Plat Map

LongLeaf Lot Prices

People can’t get enough of Junior Miss.  And who can blame them?  Last night I attended Community Night, and saw last year’s winner Nora Ali, perform along with the 2008 contestants.  All I have to say is that this year’s show is going to be A-MAZING.

In the past month I’ve flown to my hometown in New York twice.  The first time wasn’t under the best circumstances (my grandmother passed away) the second time was for a good friend’s wedding.  The old saying is true of weddings and funerals keeping people together.

I always ask for a window seat when I fly just so I can see the world below.  This works out well when I travel with my mother because she wants nothing to with looking down at the earth 15,000 feet below.  It’s neat to see different neighborhoods, fields and forests while flying.  Of course I know nothing of what I’m looking other than the obvious (ocean!  football stadium!).

Flying from Alabama to New York reminds me of the summer before college.   I was putting my final hours in at Ruby Tuesday as a hostess.  A new employee (Dan?  Dave?) told me that he just got his pilot’s license the year before.  Why?  Because he felt like it.  I asked if he would take me in his plane and he agreed.  We flew over our little town and over my house.  I could see my dog in the yard and my mom on our back deck. To see my familiar house from an unfamiliar perspective was just awesome.

It’s a nice reminder that homes, neighborhoods and communities are all unique and local.

I love driving across the Mobile Bay Causeway.  I like seeing the weather beaten buildings, seafood restaurants on stilts and casuel fishermen.  It’s one of the few times in my life that I actually want a convertable car – of course once I reach the other side of the bay, the feeling quickly goes away.

A little history … the Causeway was a government project funded after the base closure of Brookley Field in the early 1960s — sort of a mea culpa for Mobile.  At the time Brookley Field was the largest military base closure in the U.S.  In fact, Brookley Field accounted for one-third of Mobile’s gross product before being decommissioned.  By the mid 60s people needed jobs and improving Mobile’s roads was the answer.

Although this isn’t a decisive take-away from Mobile, it sure feels like a slap in face.  Boeing led a propaganda compaign and the news media and American people believed every word.  This isn’t a competition between the US and Europe, as Boeing would like people to believe.  This is a competition for the company that can do the best job for the US Air Force.

Of course this is a double hit for the Air Force as well.  The GAO’s ruling of mismanagement is no compliment for the Air Force.  Although the blame goes back and forth between Boeing and Northrop Grumman, the doubt stems from the decision maker.  Also, It’s well known that the current fleet of fuel tankers are falling apart after 50 years of use.  Because of this decision, it’ll be at least another year or more until the Air Force gets what’s needed: safe and efficient planes.