Title: “China Syndrome” was a film about a nuclear power plant the core of which was in danger of melting down (hence the term “melt-down”). There was a theory – not taken seriously – that if the core of such a plant melted down without interruption it would go all the way to China – the China Syndrome.

“…Geiger counters …” From the Nuclear Regulatory Agency website: “A radiation detection and measuring instrument. It consists of a gas-filled tube containing electrodes, between which there is an electrical voltage, but no current flowing. When ionizing radiation passes through the tube, a short, intense pulse of current passes from the negative electrode to the positive electrode and is measured or counted. The number of pulses per second measures the intensity of the radiation field. It was named for Hans Geiger and W. Mueller, who invented it in the 1920s. It is sometimes called simply a Geiger counter or a G-M counter, and is the most commonly used portable radiation instrument.”

“… their plan to delay sending out …” The Earned Income Tax Credit has been paid in one lump sum. The plan calls for the checks to be sent out in regular “payments” instead.

“… Pat Buchanan could have drafted …” Buchanan made a great deal of news last week defending his position that there was no need for the US to have entered World War II when we did because, according to Buchanan, American interests were not being threatened at the time.