Aquiace

Schools are still in session and people are still going to work. Even though people know how bad it is, they do not waiver. Even amidst all this, people are duty-bound to do their jobs and fulfill their responsibilities. Some people have left, but many, many people are staying. We'd call them crazy or foolish, but they know it has to be done. The sense of duty and responsibility really runs deep. That barely even exists in our culture. I don't even have the words for it.

I would really like them to clarify what they mean by "low level radioactive wind". All they're saying right now is to stay indoors and close all windows.

I don't even want to share this. I don't. I just can't handle it.

I didn't even realize I made a pun lol But seriously, I am worried.

Believe it or not, but most of the sources outside of Japan give the information quicker. But they're also more likely to post information with unreliable sources. That's why there's been so much doom-and-gloom speculation. You get information quickly, but it's more likely to be "a guy I saw who said this..." or "someone from around the globe offering his opinion on the same information we just gave him that may or may not be accurate". So it's a mixed bag. Twitter is essentially the game of telephone. The local media in Japan will be accurate, but it will be slower because they need to verify the information first.

Nagano preparing for another big quake.

I took a couple of screen grabs of some of the damage to the building. I decided not to post them unless people asked because the resolution is kinda crappy and it's not as dramatic as some of the pictures that we've been seeing. To most, it probably wouldn't seem so bad but the sheer number of cracks in the walls is staggering. There isn't a single section of the apartment building that isn't cracked and fragile. To me, it's terrifying because the aftershocks are still very frequent and strong and one of the buildings close by just collapsed. That's 3 days after the earthquake. Edit: They're not that noteworthy in comparison, so I just posted them under my profile.

Is it too early to call the engineers jeopardizing their lives trying to prevent further meltdowns heroes?

Dear God, please let this end... 0636: AFP news agency has just run the same story from Jiji - this is definitely Reactor 2 we are talking about. 0631: This is the first time today that we are hearing of problems in Reactor 2. This morning, there was a huge explosion at Reactor 3, and there was a blast at Reactor 1 on Saturday. But both of those reactors are said to be intact. 0629: Urgent news: Cooling functions have stopped and water levels are falling in Reactor 2 at the Fukushima 1 nuclear plant - Jiji news agency, quoted by Reuters. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698

Comforting... except for the people who live there.

Fukushima hit with 6.3 a moment ago. Edit: and another 5.3 aftershock immediately after

Maybe so, but if it's a complete grid shut down then that means cell towers as well?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698 I've also been getting information from my family in Gunma prefecture. There's a lot of big local news that isn't being covered, but I can understand why with the looming crisis in Fukushima. Gas lines have exploded in her local town yesterday and a section of it is on fire right now. There's been fire trucks and helicopters circling all day. But that kinda takes a backseat to a potential nuclear disaster. They're scheduled to shut down power in 1 hour from now that will last for 6 hours. They also sent a notice to everyone that they are cutting off water too (why????)

So much news is coming out, I don't think I could even post it all.

Agree. They've been very forthcoming about what's been happening and every update is quicker than the last. Another key difference is that it took many weeks before any international research team was even allowed near chernobyl. Unlike now in Japan, within 24 hours several countries have experts and engineers on site. There are also swaths of reporters everywhere, so it's not that information isn't reaching us but that the information we receive is updated so regularly that it's hard to tell who knows more about the current situation.

Coming so close to disaster this many times isn't good for the heart.

0243: Japanese government spokesman Yukio Edano has just spoken on TV. Says that water injection at Reactor 3 seems to be continuing, and the containment vessel is still safe. 0242: Reactor 3 withstood the explosion(s), its operator says - Japanese news agency Jiji. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698 0247: Mr Edano said major radiation leaks were unlikely from Reactor 3.

Every single channel is emergency broadcast.

Explosion in reactor 3.

It's sheer panic right now.

0212: Tsunami feared to reach north-eastern coast "in minutes" - Kyodo. 0210: North-eastern coast on the alert for a 3-metre tsunami - Japan's Jiji news agency.

It's safe to say Japan will never be the same. But they will survive as they always have. The cultural, societal and mental resiliency of the Japanese people is very impressive.

Oh, my mistake. But thanks for posting it.