Major Earthquake & Tsunami in Japan

[prisonermonkeys]

It was an Australian network. It wasn't really over-acted, it just felt like the reporter was milking it for all it was worth. For the past few days, the senior foreign correspondant has had the headline story in Japan; today, he was dispatched to Fukushima to cover the explosion of the No. 3 reactor. They bumped a new guy into the lead spot to give a recap of events overnight, and he just started exploiting it. It felt less like it was a story about Sendai and more like a vanity piece about the journalist covering it.

 

[niky]

Ah. That explains it.

It's a bit... well... I don't know how to feel about Anderson Cooper and a dozen other foreign journalists strolling through the wreckage of Japan while relief and rescue workers are frantically running about. Especially since we're not getting the same kind of thing on NHK (or maybe I'm not on at the right time). I personally prefer the latter approach. Let the story speak for itself and don't inject yourself into it.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Explain it, yes. Excuse it, no. If it had been anything more than a thirty-second recap, I'd be programming my TiVo for the next episode of Media Watch, because they'd get stuck into him without batting so much as an eyelid.

 

[Blitz187]

Been following this all weekend... I hope they get all the reactors under control before anything really bad happens... Also, this is the craziest clip I've seen up until now of the tsunami. Taken at street level...

 

[Fyshokid]

Fuel rods at No. 2 reactor of Fukushima No. 1 nuke plant now fully exposed.

That can't possibly be good.

 

[Touring Mars]

This picture really brings home just how high the flood waters reached...

In some places, the water is known to have reached over 20 meters, or over 60 ft...

 

[Prince.M5]

The sheer power of mother nature... Unbelievable.

I spent almost the rest of yesterday watching news and just today, I heard the 3rd reactor has a blow too which by their believe to be caused by Hydrogen just like the 1st reactor. Things are getting from bad to worse.

 

[Omnis]

This picture really brings home just how high the flood waters reached...

In some places, the water is known to have reached over 20 meters, or over 60 ft...

That is just impressive. Mind-shakingly so.

If it weren't for the aftershocks, the lesser tsunamis, and the threat of radiation exposure, I would totally want to visit Japan right now. If I were fluent in Japanese with nothing else in my life, I would try to get over there to help somehow. When we have hurricanes here, you always want to get out of the house, explore, and help when it's all over. I have the same feeling eating away at me for Japan.

 

[35mm]

^ I kind of feel the same.

My empathy for Japan and Japanese people is well above average for some reason.

 

[Omnis]

The scale of it makes you want to see it in person to believe it or something.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Sony donates 2.5 million € and collects money from employees, they will also send 30.000 radios and other equipment in to the north east of Japan.

1253: Yariv Hastilow in Ibaraki says: "The commercial TV channels in Japan have recently restarted advert breaks, but instead of the usual adverts for consumer goods, they are showing ones for helping your neighbours, recycling, reading books and being polite. Very refreshing."

DALLAS, March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* today announced it has implemented international calling and texting support efforts for U.S. residential wireless and wireline consumers trying to connect with loved ones in Japan, following last week's tragic earthquake and tsunami.

Effective beginning last week, March 11, and continuing through March 31, AT&T wireless postpaid customers will not be charged for:

International long distance usage from the United States and Puerto Rico to Japan

Text messages to Japan, originated from a U.S. wireless number

In addition, and also effective March 11 through March 31, residential wireline customers can seek credits for up to 60 minutes of direct dial calling to Japan:

Upon receiving their wireline bill, customers may call AT&T to receive adjusted calling for up to 60 minutes. In other words, no charges for up to 60 minutes of call time from the United States to Japan between March 11 and March 31.

For any of the above activity, customers will either see no charges reflected on their monthly statement, or they will see a full credit applied to their statement for activity between March 11 and March 31

 

[Omnis]

For all updates about the nuclear saga:

http://www.nei.org/newsandevents/information-on-the-japanese-earthquake-and-reactors-in-that-region/

An acquaintance gave me the above link, "probably the best source of info on this situation untainted by popular misconceptions and revisions." He's a senior physicist at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Lab at Michigan State.

In other news, they rescued a man that had been sitting on the floating wreckage of his house 9 miles out at sea. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12727282

That is just remarkable.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Nintendo is donating 3.67 million $.

Microsoft at least 100.000.... http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/03/14/microsoft_apologises_about_bing_japan_quake_tweet/

Tecmo Koei
Donating 10 million yen to Japan Red Cross. Also taking donations from employees and the general public. http://www.koeitecmo.co.jp/php/pdf/news_20110314_01.pdf

Sega Sammy
Donating 200 million yen. http://www.segasammy.co.jp/japanese/...n110314_01.pdf

Yon-sama
Korean celebrity Bae Yong Joon, a household name in Japan and also the star of a couple of games (which is why I'm including him here), is donating 73 million yen. (Via Sankei MSN)

Namco Bandai
Donation of 100 million yen through parent Bandai Namco Group. The company will also be suspending operations in arcades where power conservation is needed, and will be holding back on events. http://www.bandainamcogames.co.jp/110314/

5pb.
As previously reported, 5pb. will slash the price of iOS Memories Off 6 T-Wave from ¥2,000 to ¥350 and will donate all sales of the app through March 31.

 

[Tired Tyres]

For all updates about the nuclear saga:

http://www.nei.org/newsandevents/information-on-the-japanese-earthquake-and-reactors-in-that-region/

An acquaintance gave me the above link, "probably the best source of info on this situation untainted by popular misconceptions and revisions." He's a senior physicist at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Lab at Michigan State.

In other news, they rescued a man that had been sitting on the floating wreckage of his house 9 miles out at sea. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12727282

That is just remarkable.

I saw that on BBC news yesterday. Unfortunately his wife was swept away by the wave.

 

[Dotini]

Here is an astonishing 1997 link that posits terrorism linked to earthquakes - like something out of a James Bond movie.

"Others are engaging even in an eco- type of terrorism whereby they can alter the climate, set off earthquakes, volcanoes remotely through the use of electromagnetic waves."

---US Secretary of Defense William S Cohen
http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=674

 

[blaaah]

US aircraft carrier 100km of the Japan coast relocates as it detects radiation.

 

[Omnis]

http://www.japantrends.com/life-continues-in-tokyo/

This is what the rest of japan is doing.

 

[35mm]

http://www.japantrends.com/life-continues-in-tokyo/

This is what the rest of japan is doing.

That's somewhat comforting.

 

[Dotini]

0232: Update on the explosion(s) at Reactor 3: "We believe it was a hydrogen explosion. It is not immediately known if it affected the reactor" - nuclear safety agency spokesman Ryo Miyake.

Here is a vid of the explosion at reactor #3, the one with the MOX fuel. A flash is clearly seen at the 0:00 mark. It appears to be slightly different than the blast at #1, directed more up than to the side.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIZKlaEZMLY

 

[daan]

This picture really brings home just how high the flood waters reached...

In some places, the water is known to have reached over 20 meters, or over 60 ft...

How in the hell...?

 

[PeterJB]

How can it take the weight?

 

[Joey D]

http://www.japantrends.com/life-continues-in-tokyo/

This is what the rest of japan is doing.

How can that be? No one is catching Pokemon or drifting a Tofu delivery car. I feel cheated by the media.

In seriousness though I am glad things are getting along there. I finally did hear from my buddy who lives there (a Canadian teaching English) and he said Tokyo is fine. I knew he travelled to the country occasionally although I wasn't sure where at.

The nuclear plant is sort of concerning, but I have faith the safety measures will do their job. It seems the anti-nuclear movement in the US is heating up over this, noticeably in Southeast Michigan as we have a nuclear plant. I wonder if these people realise that Michigan doesn't get earthquakes, tsunamis, or really any form of major disaster that would cripple the plant?

 

[Leonidae@MFT]

It's a catamaran, obviously, so the weight is somewhat distributed to wider area.

 

[G.T.Ace]

The media is heating it up indeed, but the situation is critical, don't forget that the officials over there are playing it down for sure.

If we want to use nuclear power in the future, we need a world wide warning system, watched by several independent teams (and not the owners of the plants).

 

[MatskiMonk]

Not sure if this info is posted yet, but the impat on Toyota, Honda, Mazda etc...

http://www.worldcarfans.com/111031431064/japanese-earthquake-and-tsunami-shutter-factories

On Friday, a massive earthquake struck off the coast of Japan causing a catastrophic loss of life and serious damage to several automotive facilities.

Toyota is reporting that no one was injured at any of their plants or corporate offices but the Hokkaido, Tohoku, Miyagi, and Iwate factories are offline. The latter two plants build the Toyota Yaris and Scion xB / xD.

Honda has announced serious damage was caused at two of their research and development centers as well as the Tochigi factory and Honda Engineering complex. Tragically, one person was killed and more than 30 people were injured. The company is still accessing the situation and will suspend operations until next week.

Nissan appears to be one of the hardest hit as the company is reporting significant damage at six different facilities. Additionally, over 2,300 vehicles suffered damage while awaiting shipment.

Suzuki says there doesn't appear to be any damage to their facilities and all personal have escaped unharmed. However, the company is having difficulties establishing communications with the affected areas so things could change.

Subaru hasn't released many details about their situation, but the company has reportedly halted operations for the time being.

Mazda says they were relatively unaffected as the company's factories and headquarters didn't suffer any damage. As a sign of respect, the company will cease operations until March 17th.

Over the next few days, the automakers will access their situation and adjust plans accordingly. Sadly, Japan's ports and electrical infrastructure have suffered significant damage so it could be months or years before everything returns to normal.

 

[CodeRedR51]

It's a catamaran, obviously, so the weight is somewhat distributed to wider area.

Yeah and that's definitely a concrete reinforced building.

 

[ZeGermanBastorD]

Oh look, the evil smoke guy, again.

 

[G.T.Ace]

What has been seen...

I'd call this a good sign if true:

UK energy consultant Prof Ian Fells tells the BBC that widespread power blackouts across Japan pose a bigger problem for the population than radioactive leaks from broken nuclear reactors.

 

[Wdave]

US aircraft carrier 100km of the Japan coast relocates as it detects radiation.

I doubt it relocated because of the radiation, It might have moved into deeper waters because the threat of a tsunami is still present.

From what I've read so far there is nothing of a Major radiation leak. But there is a huge possibility when this is all said and done that the core at the #1 plant did have a slight partial meltdown, but even like that nothing is certain.

As much as I hate to say it, Mis-information is being poured out by countless of sources. Fox-News being one , But also the trolls of the internet don't stop for just earthquakes.

Death Toll now stands at 2,800 I Fear that this may break 10,000...

(Oh and my personal opinion on the subject where americans are saying that the earthquake is payback for Pearl Harbor, I really have to say that they are just ignorant.)

 

[G.T.Ace]

No, the carrier moved away because of radiation, 17 crew members were contaminated while they were flying in a helicopter as far as I know. But that doesn't mean it was a dramatically high dose. According to the IAEA everything looks okay so far, which doesn't mean much unfotunately.