9.0 Earthquake in Japan

[Smooth Groove]

I'm sure there'll be someone willing to take the bird, considering the times and the culture.  At the least, that bird can be used for food if the stores are out.

Are you still heading to America?  LMK if you need any help or info. 

[Cormacaroni]

I'm hoping her family will come through. She doesn't really trust them with it, but if things get hairy enough looking, she'll choose safety of daughter over safety of pet. Tix are for LA.

You'd think I'd feel relieved but only about 0.000001%. Feels like we got an eternity to wait, and anything could happen before then. Meanwhile, my crazy friend Beau continues to kick ass - he has an official permit to travel blocked roads to deliver food and supplies to affected areas. And has bought thousands of dollars of food from Costco to deliver. The guy is just

[chronovore]

Holy wow, Cormacaroni is bailing. For Los Angeles, no less? I will phone ahead and have LA lock up its whisky reserves. Are you going to hit up Ozchin while you're there? IIRC, he is working in Santa Monica.

Our sister-in-law and nephew are coming tomorrow night. The wife's brother will stay because, well, "He has work to do." Seriously, wtf.

[SantaC]

any updates?

[T-Short]

Japanese friend in Tokyo works in a ryokan, he has been busy processing cancellation emails the latest few days, all the tourist spots around there in Asakusa are very empty. He said "I'm not leaving until the emperor is leaving", hehe

[T-Short]

British, Australian, and American Governments: No Serious Radiation Threat to Tokyo

http://www.japanprobe.com/2011/03/16/british-australian-and-american-governments-no-serious-radiation-threat-to-tokyo/

[Mupepe]

Gilbert Gottfried fired as Aflac Duck

Aflac Inc. has fired comedian Gilbert Gottfried, the voice of the Aflac Duck, for insensitive remarks he tweeted about Japan after the major earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

Gottfried tweeted: “Japan is really advanced. They don’t go to the beach. The beach comes to them.” He also posted: “I just split up with my girlfriend, but like the Japanese say, ‘They’ll be another one floating by any minute now.”

“Gilbert’s recent comments about the crisis in Japan were lacking in humor and certainly do not represent the thoughts and feelings of anyone at Aflac,” Aflac Chief Marketing Officer Michael Zuna said in a statement. “Aflac Japan — and, by extension, Japan itself — is part of the Aflac family, and there is no place for anything but compassion and concern during these difficult times.”

http://www.wcqj.com/stern-regular-gilbert-gottfried-fired-as-aflac-duck/

Doesn't help that 75% of Aflac's business comes from Japan.  Stupid mistake on his part.

[Cormacaroni]

edit - never mind, Hyoushi is doing an awesome job of reassuring me on this in chat so no point in alarming people with my ignorance

Hyoushi

[Himu]

haha wow

i know i'm a horrible person but reading those tweets in his voice made me laugh out loud

[Brehvolution]

[youtube=560,345]xylDxj6-9dY#[/youtube]

The big one hits about 1:14, then craziness.

[Mr. Gundam]

Have a safe flight to LA, Cormac.

My offer still stands for all of J-Bore: If your travels bring you to Seattle, you've got a place to stay.

[Himu]

In Canada??

[T-Short]

US nuclear regulator warning in a presser now, saying that water in spent fuel pool at reactor 4 might be all gone

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/16/us-japan-nuclear-nrc-idUSTRE72F7PQ20110316

They are flying a Global Hawk over there tomorrow to take pics.

[Smooth Groove]

New York Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter tweeted on Saturday: "What if God was tired of the way they treated their own people in there own country! Idk guys he makes no mistakes." "u just never knw! They did pearl harbor so u can't expect anything less."

Pondexter posted an apology Monday:

"I wanna apologize to anyone I may hurt or offended during this tragic time," the tweet said. "I didn't realize that my words could be interpreted in the manner which they were."



An apology is required for nothing but misinterpretation? 

[Powerslave]

u just never knw!


Anyone who talks like this and expects to be taken seriously is an automatic cartoon-figure in my view.

[Snuflupagulus]

Meanwhile, my crazy friend Beau continues to kick ass - he has an official permit to travel blocked roads to deliver food and supplies to affected areas. And has bought thousands of dollars of food from Costco to deliver. The guy is just

Your friend is . Lump-in-throat kind of stuff. I'm not much for "disaster porn" but the images I've seen are debilitating. Similar to the images out of Haiti and NZ. I hate myself that these events provide me the clarity to appreciate friends and family when it should be an attitude felt always.

Stay safe guys. Keep your spirits up as best you can. If any of you TK guys need to blow off some steam...

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I've got a fresh gaf account with which you can go crazy. I originally imagined it as a sonytard, but only got a few posts in before getting bored. Noticed too many already. Still a junior, but easy to get it to full member. Haven't posted from it for ~2 weeks.

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[pilonv1]

Australians have been told to leave Japan's capital as the earthquake and tsunami-hit country hinges on the verge of nuclear disaster.

So far attempts to bring temperatures down in four reactors at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant have failed and the US will fly a spy plane to the region to take a closer look at the reactors.

High levels of radiation have been detected at the plant and low levels have been detected wafting over Tokyo, 250 kilometres to the south.

The situation is described by the International Atomic Energy Agency as "very serious" and US officials now say radiation levels at the plant may give emergency workers "lethal doses" in a short period of time, meaning their ability to take corrective measures will be hampered.

This isn't good.

[Boogie]

New York Liberty guard Cappie Pondexter tweeted on Saturday: "What if God was tired of the way they treated their own people in there own country! Idk guys he makes no mistakes." "u just never knw! They did pearl harbor so u can't expect anything less."

Pondexter posted an apology Monday:

"I wanna apologize to anyone I may hurt or offended during this tragic time," the tweet said. "I didn't realize that my words could be interpreted in the manner which they were."



An apology is required for nothing but misinterpretation? 

I think I have found the Great Calling of my life.

And it is to go on a Righteous Quest to find every person who has tweeted or facebook'd some "karma/payback/Pearl Harbour" bullshit about the crisis over the past week, hunt them down, and punch them in the face.

[Brehvolution]

You have my bow.

[Madrun Badrun]

And my axe.

[Great Rumbler]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/compacflt/sets/72157626119790243/detail/

[youtube=560,345]WvxjZXjz648[/youtube]

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[youtube=560,345]IhnUgAaea4M[/youtube]

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[Himu]

Australians have been told to leave Japan's capital as the earthquake and tsunami-hit country hinges on the verge of nuclear disaster.

So far attempts to bring temperatures down in four reactors at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant have failed and the US will fly a spy plane to the region to take a closer look at the reactors.

High levels of radiation have been detected at the plant and low levels have been detected wafting over Tokyo, 250 kilometres to the south.

The situation is described by the International Atomic Energy Agency as "very serious" and US officials now say radiation levels at the plant may give emergency workers "lethal doses" in a short period of time, meaning their ability to take corrective measures will be hampered.

This isn't good.

Holy fuck

[Smooth Groove]

Hope everyone gets out in time.  For those who are still taking a wait and see approach, just consider what was the probability of the 9.0 earthquake and devastating tsunami.   If those could occur, why not a meltdown?

[Dickie Dee]

Australians have been told to leave Japan's capital as the earthquake and tsunami-hit country hinges on the verge of nuclear disaster.

So far attempts to bring temperatures down in four reactors at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant have failed and the US will fly a spy plane to the region to take a closer look at the reactors.

High levels of radiation have been detected at the plant and low levels have been detected wafting over Tokyo, 250 kilometres to the south.

The situation is described by the International Atomic Energy Agency as "very serious" and US officials now say radiation levels at the plant may give emergency workers "lethal doses" in a short period of time, meaning their ability to take corrective measures will be hampered.

This isn't good.

Holy fuck

Rough Translation : My father is heading to Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant tomorrow. He is due to retire in 6 months but volunteered for the assignment. I cried. But father told me : “The fate of the power plant rests on us now. This is our destiny. This is our responsibility.” I can only pray for father to return home safely.

Most of the Fukushima 50 are not employees at the site, are senior engineers and the most experienced employees (some either retired or near retirement age). Most volunteered for this assignment and see it as their destiny and duty because they are the most experienced engineers.

[Smooth Groove]

Some of my posts are ignorant. I do it for shock value. Hate it or love it. I'm cool either way.

[Smooth Groove]

Seriously though, downplaying the danger of a meltdown seems silly in light of what's already happened.  A weak ago, you would have scoffed at me too if I had told you that a huge earthquake would destroy much of Japan. 

[Mr. Gundam]

Yeah. I mean, do you see people bailing on Los Angeles and Seattle because "the big one" could hit any day?

[Smooth Groove]

Uh, all the facts indicate that the chance of a meltdown is pretty high.  If I tell you that dining at a certain restaurant has a 1% chance of killing you, would you still go in?  

Knock on wood but in the case that a meltdown occurs, would there still be time to run?

[Smooth Groove]

I sincerely hope you're right. 

[Smooth Groove]

Dude, I'm not that petty.  This is gonna sound supergay but I'd cry like a big dumb homo if anything bad really happens to J-bore.  I consider many of you to be my friends. 

[Himu]

BE SAFE PLEASE

[pilonv1]

And the Australian Embassy is still advising their citizens to follow the advice of the Japanese government and says no such thing about "abandoning Tokyo".  The misinformation flying around is getting fucking ridiculous.

Sorry Oscar I didn't mean to upset you

I expected more from the ABC

[Corporal]

And large crowds it would be. 

Just woke up. How are the winds holding up? I believe they've been blowing rather consistently out to sea, so I guess that's rather good even if the reactors are still rebelling. Is that normal weather for this time of the year?

[Cormacaroni]

You want to hear something weird? Everyone but everyone is saying 'stay safe'. But some folks who have decided to stay in Tokyo are starting to get a 'tude about it. Like they're being loyal and macho and hey, you can go if you like...(but you're a pussy!). I'm not one of those gaijins fleeing the city lol. That sort of thing. One guy joked that he would stay and 'take his rads like a man'. ok, i get where the bravado comes from, but think about what it MEANS when you say someone to 'stay safe'. The only real thing we can all do to increase the likelihood of being safe is to leave for a while.

[Diunx]

J-bore should bail out to DR so you can inject those sexy Yens into our economy

[Smooth Groove]

Like I said before, I realize that a mass exodus would cause a lot of problems.  It's selfish but I'm only encouraging people I know to leave.  9/11 and similar incidents have shown that running early is usually a good idea.

[T-Short]

Smooth Groove, the worst case scenario is not a total meltdown. If a fire could start in a drained spent fuel pool, that could potentially disperse radioactive material beyond the current evac zone.

[Corporal]

As far as I'm concerned, you've either put some distance between you and the plant already, or you've dug in. Running away with the rest of the populace seems like a tenuous idea considering the population density of the areas involved. I admit that the Japanese are handling this like champs, but I doubt even they can stay calm if a "cloud of doom" inches towards them.


Aw man, that dog video.

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[youtube=560,345][/youtube]

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Just the right amount of sugar and pain I needed right now. D'aaaawh. The day can now start.

[chronovore]

It's okay man, shit is scary.  But even in scary times it's important to maintain calm and behave rationally.  That's why the scaremongering some people are engaging in, even if well-meaning, is dangerous.  It would be a rare situation indeed that is made better by large crowds of people panicking.

Yeah, it's really irresponsible. It's one of the few things really pissing me off right now.

[T-Short]

Seeing some ambiguous translations of the helicopter drops and firetruck spraying saying that they are for "cooling the reactors". These operations are for the spent fuel pools and nothing else. Not for cooling the cores, since they are three thick layers of concrete and steel away and won't be affected by this water. Some are also reporting that the spent fuel could "catch fire" if the pools dry out. The zircaloy coating is the only likely source, since the fuel pellets themselves should be incombustible. But could still release hot particles and carry them airborne.

Have seen very little scare talk about the MOX fuel at reactor #3, but it's worth noting that all sources I found point to the reactor starting using MOX in september 2010, so there should be no MOX fuel in the spent fuel pool at all.

[Cormacaroni]

Just when you thought Hyoushi couldn't get any more awesome, he turns out to be a nuclear physicist in disguise

[Shaka Khan]

Seriously Hyoushi what do you do for a living? if you're not an engineer I'm gonna jump off a cliff.

[Smooth Groove]

Apparently, the US is officially advising its citizens to leave. 

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gjjJVN43zYjY8fuf_7YUeTHB0M3g?docId=c2ebb9994512443f98eeb743d5c4525f

[T-Short]

Seriously Hyoushi what do you do for a living? if you're not an engineer I'm gonna jump off a cliff.

I work IT, mainly Mac-related. My education is in graphic design.

[Shaka Khan]

Seriously Hyoushi what do you do for a living? if you're not an engineer I'm gonna jump off a cliff.

I work IT, mainly Mac-related. My education is in graphic design.

[Smooth Groove]

Yes, why waste your high intellect on helping dumb Mac users?

[T-Short]

Yes, why waste your high intellect on helping dumb Mac users?

I wouldn't regard myself as particularly intelligent.
I just have a side interest for nuclear technology

[maxy]

Yes, why waste your high intellect on helping dumb Mac users?

I wouldn't regard myself as particularly intelligent.
I just have a side interest for nuclear technology

Why?Even at high level physics institutions most people are scared of experimental nuclear stuff.

just curious  

[T-Short]

Uh, not as in "I buy yellowcake and do criticality experiments in my backyard reactor pile"

More as in "I read a lot of info on the subject and watch documentaries"

[BlueTsunami]

Hyoushi's stylish pad is actually powered by a personally built mini-reactor

[T-Short]

TEPCO released video from JSDF helicopter showing damage up close and personal:

[youtube=560,345]lBXqiw6EJUk[/youtube]

Reactor building 4 seems to have taken quite a beating. Good thing it wasn't running

[chronovore]

Seeing some ambiguous translations of the helicopter drops and firetruck spraying saying that they are for "cooling the reactors". These operations are for the spent fuel pools and nothing else. Not for cooling the cores, since they are three thick layers of concrete and steel away and won't be affected by this water. Some are also reporting that the spent fuel could "catch fire" if the pools dry out. The zircaloy coating is the only likely source, since the fuel pellets themselves should be incombustible. But could still release hot particles and carry them airborne.

Have seen very little scare talk about the MOX fuel at reactor #3, but it's worth noting that all sources I found point to the reactor starting using MOX in september 2010, so there should be no MOX fuel in the spent fuel pool at all.

Dropping nuclear power knowledge.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

LIKE A BOSS.

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[Smooth Groove]

I wish the press would stop calling those brave rescuers "suicide fighters".  Trying to cool down a nuclear reactor is completely different from crashing a plane into an enemy ship. 

[T-Short]

Yeah, I also disagree with the "giving their lives so others may live" type rhetoric since it carries with it an implication that a lot of people would be killed if they fail, which nothing is indicating at the moment.

[T-Short]

Local US stations breaking the mold and daring to report the truly important stuff in the wake of the big quake

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/03/15/bay-area-sushi-bars-face-daunting-supply-shortages/

http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/money/japan-quake-affecting-us-sushi-prices-20110316

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meant to be lighthearted, I am not shocked nor appalled

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[Brehvolution]

Who knew all US sushi was imported?

[T-Short]

VERY LARGE (2094x2000) DigitalGlobe image showing Fukushima Daiichi damage as of March 17th:

http://www.digitalglobe.com/downloads/featured_images/japan_earthquaketsu_fukushima_daiichirec_march17_2011_dg.jpg

Outer building for reactor 3 almost completely destroyed. Wow

[Smooth Groove]

Just make sure the X-prince is alright.  He's gonna finish the fight that his daddy couldn't. 

[pilonv1]

You might be after your bathroom mishap the other day

[Smooth Groove]

Can't wait for the father & son tag team when Killzone 18 is released.