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Yesterday I thought it was Thursday, today I keep on thinking it's Friday. I am losing the tiny fragments of my mind!
By the way, anyone else irritated by this new trend? Apparently as long as you preface an obnoxious rude comment or insult by saying "I'm just not PC" it's apparently acceptable behaviour? Sorry, just had to vent.
Last edited by Zimbochick; 03-17-2011 at 11:42 AM..
Reason: ETA
Yesterday I thought it was Thursday, today I keep on thinking it's Friday. I am losing the tiny fragments of my mind!
By the way, anyone else irritated by this new trend? Apparently as long as you preface an obnoxious rude comment or insult by saying "I'm just not PC" it's apparently acceptable behaviour? Sorry, just had to vent.
Edit to add, the Japanese have also been relying on what they are being told by the operators of the facility, Tepco. And Tepco hasn't been entirely forthcoming with the truth. Outside officials and experts (like the Nuclear Regulatory Commission) would be brought in for consultation in this country. Apparently, that hasn't happened in Japan. There is a "talking head" on CNN, James Walsh, who has been outstanding in explaining what is happening in Japan for those of you who are interested.
I have been watching him.
It is very rough to hear all of this; to know there is so little to do in the way we can help right now.
The Japanese govt will not allow women & children who live in the blocked off area to leave. That boggles my mind. Why would you keep them there?
I only lived a yr in Korea, but the Asian culture is very amazing yet difficult to figure out from a western perspective. What you hear & what is the truth is sometimes hidden. It may not be the case, but the Japanese govt may be telling info the way it is b/c the damage this can do to the world stock market & in their eyes, pride. This is a very proud culture.
I also think it is so overwhelming, all of it, the govt in Japan just cannot get a handle on it. Look at the US govt during Katrina. Now multiple that by what, like 1,000 & add an earthquake to it.
The humanity shown by the people over there is amazing though. No looting, roiting in streets, setting things on fire. It's winter there. The other night it went below freezing.
Yesterday when I logged on to msn.com, it was Japan & then the next screen was the richest Americans under 30. I found it obnoxious. Not that life should stop & not go on; only dwell on bad, but still, I could care less how much Scarlett Johannessen or LeBron James makes in yr. I honestly do not care.
On the flip side, I live in a huge Irish area & what a great day for a parade. The sun is out & in the mid50s. I am happy for the irish dancers.
My 5yo loves the idea of a leprachuan. We got him a puzzle (his new addiction) & turned over some chairs & messed up some pillows..he thought the Leprachuan had gotten in the house. He was jumping around all excited. He got more excited over this today than CMas morning. Brought a huge smile to our face & truly touched my heart.
There is good in life, we have to embrace it, no matter how small.
How far north? The Fermi II plant, in Michigan, has had it's problems.
Fermi I had a partial meltdown in 1966, though no radioactivity was realesed. Fermi II, which operates today, is the same make and model as the Fukushima reactor. No earthquakes by Fermi II but there are tornados up there.
(I have a good friend who is a real, live nuclear physicist. He's been educating me since Three Mile Island.)
We wouldn't be safe from a complete meltdown since some claim that requires a 1200-2000 mile radius. But we'd be safe from less substantial radiation leaks, like 3 mile island, which didn't increase cancer in the region, and even a Chernobyl event since that contaminated a 30km radius. Our property is in northern PA almost exactly in the center of surrounding reactors in Ohio, PA and NY---250 miles away or more from each reactor in all directions. Our main house is only 30 miles away from the two reactors near Pittsburgh though.
Here's an interesting database with "worse case casualties" column (although it hasn't been updated with amount of waste for my area since 1995.)
The ones (Shippenport) closest to my house has a worst case casualities of 200k people. The metro area has a population of 2 million but the area where the reactors are located is sparsely populated. If you glance through that spreadsheet, you can see where the worse case casualities are the worst. For example, one in eastern PA has casualties near 700k because it's located halfway between two highly populated areas, Reading and Philadelphia. Interestingly, the reactors in southern California don't have high "worse case" numbers, which is surprising because the wind doesn't move very well there---that's why LA has smog.
I have no delusions. I'm just saying we have somewhere to live if necessary for most potential scenarios. That's more than most people have since most only own one property.
Last edited by Hopes; 03-17-2011 at 12:30 PM..
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I use that as my reference point...pitiful! 
