Tohoku Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster!!!

[vitellus]

More and more friends are leaving Tokyo (and it's not just the frogs anymore). Makes me wonder whether I'm being level-headed or stoopid by staying.

It's going to weed out the ones who really love living in Tokyo and the rest

[Taka-Okami]

More and more friends are leaving Tokyo (and it's not just the frogs anymore). Makes me wonder whether I'm being level-headed or stoopid by staying.

If it gets worse you wont be the only one with the same idea. Basically in a full blown panic there wont be an escape by cars, bus, train, but only if you walk or ride a push bike. You can do 100km a day if you wanted to.

[L S]

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/geiger-counter-tokyo

The geiger counter shown is home-made from a kit, which he says may or may not be accurate. Looking good so far though.

[sublight]

Just checked at a few drugstores and dispensaries, and as others have said, potassium iodide isn't available OTC.

Making plans to send the wife and kid down south to stay with family or friends for a few days.

[cstaylor]

Too bad Japan doesn't have one of these: http://www.radiationnetwork.com/RadiationNetwork.htm

[Osakadave]

Just checked at a few drugstores and dispensaries, and as others have said, potassium iodide isn't available OTC.

Making plans to send the wife and kid down south to stay with family or friends for a few days.

I'm sure I or someone else here can arrange free accommodations if you want...

[IkemenTommy]

I wish I owned one of those right now. You know where it is possible to buy in Tokyo? Keep us informed of your readings!

I can already see those same people who panicked and bought out the entire supermarket for 6 months worth of toilet paper supplies and tissue paper to jerk off in trying to get their hands on the iodine pills (if they even exist in the first place).

[L S]

Too bad Japan doesn't have one of these: http://www.radiationnetwork.com/RadiationNetwork.htm

The guy who is streaming the geiger counter listed these 3 measurement sites for regional areas. I can only get the Niigata one to connect though.

http://www.houshasen-pref-ibaraki.jp/present/result01.html
http://www.k4.dion.ne.jp/~ngtl-rad/
http://gensiryoku.pref.aomori.lg.jp/atom/

[cstaylor]

I think you mean potassium iodide pills: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_iodide

You can order them online from the U.S., but you really shouldn't take them unless instructed by the authorities. They only help against radioactive iodine (I-131).

More information here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_iodine

[L S]

Kyodo News:

NEWS ADVISORY: Radiation 33 times normal level measured in Utsunomiya, Tochigi
NEWS ADVISORY: Radiation amount in Chiba Pref. twice to 4 times normal level

[cstaylor]

So far no additional news on Reactor 3 (the one using MOX fuel).

[Tsuru]

Interesting graphic w/r/t I-131 from Der Spiegel:

[Osakadave]

NHK World just said radiation has NOT been detected in Tokyo.

[Samurai_Jerk]

My doctor friend in the US just sent me this list of high iodine foods: http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=nutrient&dbid=69

Let the wakame hoarding begin!!

[IkemenTommy]

NHK World just said radiation has NOT been detected in Tokyo.

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw that time elapse shot was Murakami's "artwork".

[Greji]

NHK World just said radiation has NOT been detected in Tokyo.

The US Military has found no evidence in the area of Tokyo, specifically Yokota AB.

[IkemenTommy]

NHK World just said radiation has NOT been detected in Tokyo.

It's pretty bad when the news have to report about something that didn't happen.

[AML]

well, when the US military starts to evacuate, thats when you need to start worrying. Till then, im sure were fine.

I dont trust Jp media coz they like to hide the truth, and i dont trust the western media coz they like to propagate fear mongering.

[ichigo partygirl]

well, when the US military starts to evacuate, thats when you need to start worrying. Till then, im sure were fine.

I dont trust Jp media coz they like to hide the truth, and i dont trust the western media coz they like to propagate fear mongering.

So very true. It must be difficult for those of you in Japan to know what the truth is - its pretty much impossible outside of Japan. Our media are taking extreme liberties with how they are reporting the situation. Of course they are reporting things far more negatively than they have actually been confirmed as.

[Osakadave]

well, when the US military starts to evacuate, thats when you need to start worrying. Till then, im sure were fine.

I dont trust Jp media coz they like to hide the truth, and i dont trust the western media coz they like to propagate fear mongering.

Well said.

[vitellus]

Not to alarm anybody but..."Radiation levels in Tokyo surged to 23 times normal on Tuesday"

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tokyo-radiation-levels-23-times-normal-officials-2011-03-15-04540

[sublight]

I'm sure I or someone else here can arrange free accommodations if you want...

Thanks. They've got plenty of friends and family around Hamamatsu, so I think we're good. Thank you very much for the offer, though.

[Bucky]

[Pearse]

They should have asked earlier.

[Coligny]

NHK World just said radiation has NOT been detected in Tokyo.

And CNN the opposite:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/15/japan.us.navy.radiation/index.html

Radiation detected by docked USN ships.

[cstaylor]

I hope they create a monument to the rescue workers who are risking death to save those reactors

[kagemusha]

If any of you need to find a safe place outside the danger zone let me know by pm and I'll see what I can find in Miyazaki.

[IkemenTommy]

I hope they create a monument to the rescue workers who are risking death to save those reactors

From what I know, they get paid a shit load for the job obviously and they have crazy shifts (like an hour max)so they don't exceed the dangerous radiation levels. It sounds like a dream job but hell I wouldn't want to do it.

[Greji]

From what I know, they get paid a shit load for the job obviously and they have crazy shifts (like an hour max)so they don't exceed the dangerous radiation levels. It sounds like a dream job but hell I wouldn't want to do it.

I just heard a commentator who seemed a bit fed up by other members of the media trying to make this in to a new Chernobyl disaster, or worse, say that since nuclear energy had been begun, there had only been seven total fatalities at work in the reactor business. There had already been 27(?) in the newly founded wind powered energy field. I don't know, maybe they were hit by propellors. Apparently, most of the info was from here......

Well, I ain't glowing in the dark yet, so must still be okay here.

[Taka-Okami]

From what I know, they get paid a shit load for the job obviously and they have crazy shifts (like an hour max)so they don't exceed the dangerous radiation levels. It sounds like a dream job but hell I wouldn't want to do it.

I heard that with one of the steam valves they used 90 people on 8 second shifts to get it open.