Tohoku Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster!!!

[matsuki]

It's likely the dust...who knows what's floating over from China. Wonder how, if ever, that kind of problem will be settled.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

In this cuntry, it's not the yellow dust you have to worry about, but the yellow cake.

[Yokohammer]

As the days become weeks, the weeks become months, and the months become years ...

Stabilizing reactors by year's end may be impossible: Tepco

[Coligny]

As the days become weeks, the weeks become months, and the months become years ...

Stabilizing reactors by year's end may be impossible: Tepco

The biggest question is more "why Tepco still exist ?"

[Yokohammer]

The biggest question is more "why Tepco still exist ?"

Somebody has to clean up the mess. Since it was they who crapped in the garden, it's up to them to pick up the poop, and then take the royal reaming they deserve. Of course that's before they're forced to swim 100 laps naked in what's left of the spent fuel pools.

I'll be more concerned if they still exist after the mess is cleaned up (hmm, maybe that's why they're prolonging the process as much as possible).

[Ganma]

As the days become weeks, the weeks become months, and the months become years ...

Stabilizing reactors by year's end may be impossible: Tepco

!!!
Sure makes your head spin.

[Greji]

Somebody has to clean up the mess. Since it was they who crapped in the garden, it's up to them to pick up the poop, and then take the royal reaming they deserve. Of course that's before they're forced to swim 100 laps naked in what's left of the spent fuel pools.

I'll be more concerned if they still exist after the mess is cleaned up (hmm, maybe that's why they're prolonging the process as much as possible).

You're right of course, but just like the US during Katrina and other disasters like the BP spill, the various political parties are using it as an issue for forthcoming elections, without regard to cleaning up the mess. It is nothing more than a anti-Minshuto issue for opposition parties and they could give a shit about fixing anything.

[Yokohammer]

You're right of course, but just like the US during Katrina and other disasters like the BP spill, the various political parties are using it as an issue for forthcoming elections, without regard to cleaning up the mess. It is nothing more than a anti-Minshuto issue for opposition parties and they could give a shit about fixing anything.

It sure looks that way at times. It's hard to believe all that all that political bickering and shuffling can go on while there's a real crisis in progress. I have to wonder, though, whether it's because the pols really don't give a shit about anything but their own profit and importance, or whether it's more that nobody has a fraggin' clue as to how to handle any actual problem that occurs outside the diet doors. Maybe a combination of the two. It's as though any time a real issue arises to inconveniently wake them from their afternoon naps they all run around in circles trying to look busy while hoping someone else fixes it or it goes away of its own accord. Not much initiative going on there at all. Certainly no strong leadership. No ideas, no balls, and neither at a time when the country needs confident guidance and forward propulsion like never before. All the "Ganbare Nippon" TV spots are fine, but if that's the extent of it, it isn't nearly enough.

Very disappointing, and a real embarrassment for the country, IMHO.

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

...a real embarrassment for the country, IMHO.

Agree with all of the above, but couldn't help but notice what's happened in Germany today.
Sorry to draw parallels to another "incident" where comparisons are often made between German and Japanese responses, but (and I know, it's not directly related, but...) Fukushima Daiichi spews radiation into the atmosphere and ze Germans respond by promising to get rid of all their nuke plants. Here, meanwhile, the cuntry actually causing one of the greatest pollution disasters known to history, there's merely endless, meaningless squabbles and the bloke who's going to be held responsible (because somebody always must be responsible in Japan) is going to be ousted by a party corrupt to the core and with barely a naysayer against maintaining its pro-nuclear power policy. And it's going to sweep to power courtesy of the average voter it's going to screw senseless.
To me, that's an even bigger embarrassment. It sorta reminds me of the dying days of apartheid South Africa where the Boers had trouble maintaining social control over the blacks they had deliberately refused to educate in case they cottoned on to what a raw deal they were getting.

[canman]

I've said it before if Kan resigns, then he will forever be known as the man who deserted his country in its greatest time of need. IF he stays, he will be ridiculed for not getting things back running and the economy retaking the number 2 position in the world. Not a fun position to be in.
I would love to smack Ozawa Ichiro in the head for his latest pronouncement to the WSJ. And Hatoyama, what a joke, he had his kick at the can and fell on his face. Now he is trying to bring Kan down to make himself look better.
And these idiots are all on the same team!

[Yokohammer]

... And these idiots are all on the same team!

Love this comment!!
I'd say that sums it up pretty nicely.

No argument with Hairdo's post either.

[Mulboyne]

[canman]

So in other words, the people have no f&cking idea!

[legion]

So I take it the politicians are fighting like silly boys while the country goes to hell ? Guess things are back to normal.

[cstaylor]

So in other words, the people have no f&cking idea!

Yes, that's always the problem in a democracy.

[2triky]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110531/ap_on_en_mu/as_japan_nuclear_opera

[Coligny]

Yes, that's always the problem in a democracy.

That's why you usually prefer a Republic...

Here we goes agin:

[Tsuru]

That's funny... I like to think a monarchy is to a republic what a family business is to a corporation. Provided the Democracy bit is mutually inclusive, of course.

I know which one I'd rather work for

[Mike Oxlong]

Radiation Dose Chart via xkcd:

http://xkcd.com/radiation/

[Iraira]

Radiation Dose Chart via xkcd:

http://xkcd.com/radiation/

Let's just assume that the chart on the upper right is a little fucked up in claiming that the extra dose in Tokyo is 40 milisieverts, when it should be 40 microseiverts.

[Coligny]

[quote="Tsuru"]That's funny... I like to think a monarchy is to a republic what a family business is to a corporation. Provided the Democracy bit is mutually inclusive, of course.

I know which one I'd rather work for ]
Exactly my thought. Monarchy have a duty of keeping the country afloat at least for the heirs... Politician can joyride the shit out of it for 8 to 10 year and GTFO...

Sidenote...

Don't tell anybody... but I'm sort of a monarchist which is like totally uncool when you're a frog...

[2triky]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13598607

[Kuang_Grade]

Exactly my thought. Monarchy have a duty of keeping the country afloat at least for the heirs... Politician can joyride the shit out of it for 8 to 10 year and GTFO...

I don't know....Hirohito seemed fine enough with Japan being burned and bombed to rubble but only actively interjected himself with the cabinet's surrender negotiations when he was worried that people would rise up and abolish the monarchy/communist takeover. Sure he blamed the atomic bombs, but he was more worried about the Soviets entering the war and possibly triggering a J style October revolution.

[cstaylor]

Monarchy have a duty very often ignored of keeping the country afloat and barring violent revolution, cannot be voted out of office

FTFY. Noblesse oblige as a bedtime story.

[Coligny]

FTFY. Noblesse oblige as a bedtime story.

well... it was indeed... way past bedtime...

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

FTFY. Noblesse oblige as a bedtime story.

With most nobles and bedtime stories I can think of, noblesse oblige is more likely to be -- in keeping with the Francofile turn of the thread -- droit du seigneur, with nobles obliging themselves of pretty little peasant wenches...

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

Should take a lead from Phil the Greek, bless his 90 year old cotton socks.

[Greji]

Should take a lead from Phil the Greek, bless his 90 year old cotton socks.

He is great, isn't he......

[let`s talk]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw2R7y65nFg

[Screwed-down Hairdo]

He is great, isn't he......

If that's how you truly feel, you may be interested in these people.....