Wow... today started as a very strange day... First I got a call saying my class at Kobuchizawa was cancelled. Then I get to work and my Global Biz boss tells me to stop all of my work and wait until 15:30. Then Kyoko comes down to the lunchroom and tells me to stay there. Then the entire company assembles. Then our president tells us that the entire group was bought by our rival CMIC. Wow... It has been a very strange day. The funny thing is that for about a month I have been telling my Global boss that the way the pharma industry is changing these days SMR would be best to be bought out by a rival CRO in order to compete with the global CROs who are restructuring like crazy... I was right! Wow... How cool is that! I get to experience a brand new happening!!
2011/04/22
Friday night...
Friday night.., I just finished 30 minutes on the reclining stationary bike with P1 (to prepare for four days of Shangri-la with Max) and then another 30 minutes of floor work with P2 (looove P2). I had a good long bath and now I'm on the train heading home to do my laundry, cook dinner and have a good night's sleep... Tomorrow is Mayu's dad's memorial service and I will be attending in my black suit and black tie as is appropriate for sch an event... Friday night... The inebriated young sarariman has passed out on the platform chair while awaiting his ride home. His Pocari Sweat has fallen from his flaccid hands and lies useless between his legs. Drool runs from the side of his mouth and slimes his necktie which rests on his unbecoming paunch which has arrived seemingly 20 years too soon... Friday night... A pretty, young woman in sweats and white crocs with a massive girl-wallet stuffed in her back pocket, pulling her sweat pants down and making her short legs look even shorter walks past me while talking to someone on her keitai. She is exclaiming to her partner that the person is now able to read! It makes me think she might be talking to a gaijin. Suddenly my height catches her attention and as I walk by she does a double take, possibly wondering at the possibilities of talking to a gaijin while another passes her by... Friday night... The neck sweat stains have all been applied with sweat stain remover and my work shirts have been placed in the laundry machine with the other non-fuzzies of the week. The second load (fuzzies) will come in 50 minutes after this load has been completed and hung... Friday night... An email from Mayu arrives, discussing tomorrow. I'll call her back in a big; right now the hunger is too intense to have a meaningful convo with anyone important... (pause) The meat is in the frypan and some cheese to take the edge off the hunger has reached my stomach... Friday night... Happy Easter to those of you in Christian countries. I love you.
Cam
Cam
This breaks my heart
A photo of a beautiful shiba-ken walking in the deserted town of Futaba in Fukushima.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/all-gone-2#comments
This town is in the 20km illegal-to-enter zone.
It will eventually find water, but food will likely be a different matter. And dogs are domesticated; they do best with human interaction. This breaks my heart. And this is only the tip of the iceberg.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/all-gone-2#comments
This town is in the 20km illegal-to-enter zone.
It will eventually find water, but food will likely be a different matter. And dogs are domesticated; they do best with human interaction. This breaks my heart. And this is only the tip of the iceberg.
'Divorce ceremony' gives couples chance to make clean break
Make no bones about it divorce is HARD. In fact it is quite likely the hardest thing one might ever undertake and for so many reasons. Here is a very interesting concept for those struggling with the anger and rage that often accompanies divorce...
'Divorce ceremony' gives couples chance to make clean break
TOKYO Some divorce-bound couples in Japan are smashing their wedding rings at ‘‘divorce ceremonies,’’ vowing to make a clean break and a fresh start in front of friends and family.
"Congratulations on your divorce.’’ Guests wish the former bride and groom well on their separate lives at the ceremony, which involves smashing wedding rings using a wooden hammer, held by the soon-to-be ex-spouses, a ritual antithesis to cutting the cake at weddings...
Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/SmashThatWeddingRing
You can read my comments on this as TheBigRiceBowl in the comments section. In a nutshell? Well, aside from being overpriced (most ceremonies in Japan are), I think this is a very good idea; it actually allows the divorced couple PHYSICAL CLOSURE which is often missing from divorce. It allows them a link to actually let go of the anger, rage, and ugliness that builds in 95% of all divorces. Since divorce rates in the US are 50% (1st marriage), 60% (2nd marriage), 75% (3rd marriage), if someone imports this to the USA and adapts it to American culture, it could actually be a good business. I'm serious; it isn't exploitation. It's hard to admit but most divorced people really do have a lot of pent up anger, frustration and rage inside them that is rotting them. Who wants to have a new relationship with a rotten person? If you can physically release this anger, you can renew yourself, move on, stop living in the past, and begin to rebuild your life. I personally know people who could have used some serious closure ...
I love you!
Cam
'Divorce ceremony' gives couples chance to make clean break
TOKYO Some divorce-bound couples in Japan are smashing their wedding rings at ‘‘divorce ceremonies,’’ vowing to make a clean break and a fresh start in front of friends and family.
"Congratulations on your divorce.’’ Guests wish the former bride and groom well on their separate lives at the ceremony, which involves smashing wedding rings using a wooden hammer, held by the soon-to-be ex-spouses, a ritual antithesis to cutting the cake at weddings...
Read the rest here: http://tinyurl.com/SmashThatWeddingRing
You can read my comments on this as TheBigRiceBowl in the comments section. In a nutshell? Well, aside from being overpriced (most ceremonies in Japan are), I think this is a very good idea; it actually allows the divorced couple PHYSICAL CLOSURE which is often missing from divorce. It allows them a link to actually let go of the anger, rage, and ugliness that builds in 95% of all divorces. Since divorce rates in the US are 50% (1st marriage), 60% (2nd marriage), 75% (3rd marriage), if someone imports this to the USA and adapts it to American culture, it could actually be a good business. I'm serious; it isn't exploitation. It's hard to admit but most divorced people really do have a lot of pent up anger, frustration and rage inside them that is rotting them. Who wants to have a new relationship with a rotten person? If you can physically release this anger, you can renew yourself, move on, stop living in the past, and begin to rebuild your life. I personally know people who could have used some serious closure ...
I love you!
Cam
TEPCO Really Deserves a Ginormous Spanking
TEPCO seeks 20% cut in employees' annual salaries
Friday 22nd April, 07:00 AM JST
Tokyo Electric Power Co is considering cutting annual salaries of its employees by around 20% as part of its restructuring effort to make compensation payments over the emergency at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex, company sources said Thursday.
The utility is now under negotiations with its labor union to reach an agreement by the end of this month, they said.
The proposal targets around 33,000 union members and does not include a workforce cut, the sources said, adding that TEPCO is also considering reducing remunerations for company executives.
The utility, meanwhile, is mulling selling off its assets to secure funds to pay compensation for people affected by the nuclear crisis, triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
TEPCO, for example, will try to acquire hundreds of billions of yen by selling securities it holds such as KDDI Corp stocks and real estate it owns, the sources said.
The link is here: http://tinyurl.com/TEPCOisUGLY
My thoughts are in the comments section as TheBigRiceBowl (that's me! - Until I leave Tokyo)
Have a great day.
I love you! (but I don't love TEPCO)
Cam
Friday 22nd April, 07:00 AM JST
Tokyo Electric Power Co is considering cutting annual salaries of its employees by around 20% as part of its restructuring effort to make compensation payments over the emergency at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex, company sources said Thursday.
The utility is now under negotiations with its labor union to reach an agreement by the end of this month, they said.
The proposal targets around 33,000 union members and does not include a workforce cut, the sources said, adding that TEPCO is also considering reducing remunerations for company executives.
The utility, meanwhile, is mulling selling off its assets to secure funds to pay compensation for people affected by the nuclear crisis, triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
TEPCO, for example, will try to acquire hundreds of billions of yen by selling securities it holds such as KDDI Corp stocks and real estate it owns, the sources said.
The link is here: http://tinyurl.com/TEPCOisUGLY
My thoughts are in the comments section as TheBigRiceBowl (that's me! - Until I leave Tokyo)
Have a great day.
I love you! (but I don't love TEPCO)
Cam
2011/04/20
I KNEW that one day my notebook computer would serve a legit purpose!
It makes the perfect music stand! I can angle it as I like and the music books aren't suddenly going to slip off the stand and fall to the ground!
Praise the gods for the invention of the notebook computer!!! Love!Cam
Fukushima heros are treated like dogs by their employer TEPCO
This is a very sad, sad article, showing the seedy underbelly of the largest power company in Japan: TEPCO.
I am embarrassed to even show this to the world, but you need to see, that the big, money-hungry companies in Japan are not so different from their counterparts around the world. Rather than giving the Tepco employees risking their lives to solve the Fukushima Nuclear Radiation problem a hero's welcome, the company treats them like... well, like Japanese dogs.
"Nuclear plant workers at risk of depression, death from overwork: doctor"
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/nuclear-plant-workers-at-ris...
I am embarrassed to even show this to the world, but you need to see, that the big, money-hungry companies in Japan are not so different from their counterparts around the world. Rather than giving the Tepco employees risking their lives to solve the Fukushima Nuclear Radiation problem a hero's welcome, the company treats them like... well, like Japanese dogs.
"Nuclear plant workers at risk of depression, death from overwork: doctor"
http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/nuclear-plant-workers-at-ris...
Ticker-Tape Update on Japan for Wed, Apr 20th, 2011
Here is a quick Ticker-Tape Update on Japan from NHK World News as of Wednesday morning, April 20th, 2011.
* Tokyo Electric Power Company has begun transferring highly radioactive water from the No.2 reactor to a waste processing facility at the damaged Fukushima plant.
* Tokyo Electric Power Company says radioactive debris and high humidity in reactor buildings are hampering the investigation by robots at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
* Delegates have discussed nuclear safety at an international conference to mark the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster on April 26.
* A senior official of Japan's Foreign Ministry says that although the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant is ranked at the highest level of severity, it is less serious than the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
* SDF personnel sent to nuclear zone who flees in panic has been dismissed on disciplinary grounds.
* The IAEA will send a team of experts to investigate the cause of the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.
* French nuclear firm Areva says it has agreed with the Tokyo Electric Power Company to build a facility to decontaminate radioactive water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex.
* Electronics maker Toshiba has developed a TV set with a rechargeable battery to help Japanese viewers cope with expected power outages this summer.
* The world's oldest man, who lives in the prefecture of Kyoto in western Japan, has turned 114.
* The vast majority of deaths (92%) in the March 11th disaster were caused by the tsunami and most of the victims were seniors.
* The northeastern Japanese city of Sendai has started removing wrecked vehicles from tsunami-hit residential areas.
* It's a nice spring day in Tokyo (and the election candidate's loudspeaker announcements are very annoying) **
To see more news and video visit: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/
** This was not a paid news brief from NHK World News (as if you couldn't guess).
* Tokyo Electric Power Company has begun transferring highly radioactive water from the No.2 reactor to a waste processing facility at the damaged Fukushima plant.
* Tokyo Electric Power Company says radioactive debris and high humidity in reactor buildings are hampering the investigation by robots at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
* Delegates have discussed nuclear safety at an international conference to mark the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster on April 26.
* A senior official of Japan's Foreign Ministry says that although the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant is ranked at the highest level of severity, it is less serious than the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
* SDF personnel sent to nuclear zone who flees in panic has been dismissed on disciplinary grounds.
* The IAEA will send a team of experts to investigate the cause of the nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant.
* French nuclear firm Areva says it has agreed with the Tokyo Electric Power Company to build a facility to decontaminate radioactive water at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex.
* Electronics maker Toshiba has developed a TV set with a rechargeable battery to help Japanese viewers cope with expected power outages this summer.
* The world's oldest man, who lives in the prefecture of Kyoto in western Japan, has turned 114.
* The vast majority of deaths (92%) in the March 11th disaster were caused by the tsunami and most of the victims were seniors.
* The northeastern Japanese city of Sendai has started removing wrecked vehicles from tsunami-hit residential areas.
* It's a nice spring day in Tokyo (and the election candidate's loudspeaker announcements are very annoying) **
To see more news and video visit: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/
** This was not a paid news brief from NHK World News (as if you couldn't guess).
2011/04/18
Meeting Strangers
As Tokyo is always too warm for me, on Kobuchizawa Mondays I carry my dress shirt in my pack and commute in the excellent UniQlo Silky Dry Under which looks like a good quality t-shirt. A tight good quality t-shirt. Today at lunch another customer shared my table. He sneezed. That was my opening for talking about the sugi pollen to have a conversation roll in. We had a good chat. He even commented on how good and muscular my upper body looks. I have to admit, the hard work really is paying off as my pecs, back, biceps, triceps and shoulders really are quite pronounced. Especially in this UniQlo under that I wear during my Kobuchizawa Mondays... Sometimes a body's gotta give himself a pat on the back for a job well done. After all if you can't love yourself then you certainly won't be able to love others. I love me!
Cam
Cam
2011/04/17
My Mt. Everest
Today on my calendar from the Universe, it says, "Don't let the dazzling heights you aspire to scare you from getting started. After all, few could climb Mt. Everest tomorrow, though virtually all could begin preparing." I like to think that when I finally die at a ripe old age of 202 I will be abe to say that I have no regrets. Thirty years ago my mom told me that she regretted quitting the piano and she warned me I would regret my choice to stop playing the guitar. At that time, I was 15 and didn't enjoy the music I was playing on my guitar. I had been learning for about eight years but was never able to play by ear and none of the music I might have liked to play seemed available on sheet music. I had no interest in rock music (still don't) and all the traditional classic stuff one learns for the basics was no longer appealing to me. So I quit. And I have regretted it ever since. Ten years ago I bought a DVD to relearn how to play the guitar but my heart wasn't in it and I never took the next step of getting a new guitar. Tonight after spending about 40 minutes practicing on my skates I took a ride to the recycle shop just to see what was there. It is amazing what you can find in Japanese recycle shops. I decided it was time to begin preparing. I left with an old Yamaha acoustic guitar ($50) and carried it home on my bike with a big bag of skates and padding strapped to my back. It's time to prepare for my Mt. Everest. I love you.
Cam
Cam
2011/04/16
Check out the HTC Evo WiMax Android 3.0 smartphone if U see it & tell me what you think.
It looks like an excellent contender to all the other smartphones out there. Beautiful, large screen with very smooth, fluid movement. It is probably the closest to the ipso facto benchmark standard iPhone fluidity. Also the Motorola XOOM looks cool but it competes with the iPad, not the narrower tablets which interest me more. Both of these models are FINALLY being offered by my carrier who for some mysterious reason is extremely late in the smartphone/tablet market. I still think the Galaxy is the best size for a tablet if you have to commute in a crowded train daily; the iPad and contenders are just too big to hold single handed and cart around in very cramped quarters. I'm sure they are grea when you have a bit more space or travel by your own vehicle, though. I love you!
Cam
Cam
2011/04/15
This Tsunami Reporter has True Grit!
Holy Crap! Take a look at this series of four photos http://tinyurl.com/AmazingReporter and be sure to read the caption. This is amazing. The reporter has "true grit". He obviously has passion for his job. Some may call him a fool, but are you a fool if you have complete dedication to your calling? Methinks not. Wow...
Imagining My Daily Breakfast Just Got Easier
I eat this kind of breakfast every day. The meat changes and the style off the eggs vary, but the variety and the volume is aleways like this.
I eat this much at lunch as well as dinner, too. There are twelve different foods on my plate. I love variety! And I love you!Cam
2011/04/14
Follow Up to the Sheltie Photo Shoot in Fukushima: Many Rescued
Paula and several people were asking if we had any news about what had happened to the group of Sheltie dogs that showed up in the Japanese News. Well, here is some GOOD info for you: http://tinyurl.com/SheltiesRescued
Good news, eh?!
I love Japan!
Cam
Good news, eh?!
I love Japan!
Cam
2011/04/13
Unbelievable Japan: Sendai Airport Operational Again!
The reconstruction speed and efficiency of Japan in the tsunami/earthquake zone is amazing! As of today, Sendai Airport, the airport everyone in the world watched get wiped out by the tsunami is operational. Flights are both arriving and departing for regular commercial flights by JAL and ANA. It puts a lump in the throat and brings tears to the eyes to see how hard everyone is working to bring a sense of normalcy back to the area. It makes me very proud to call Japan my home. I love you!
Cam
Cam
2011/04/12
Wow that was a good aftershock!
First time to be standing outside of my apartment waiting for the elevator.
2011/04/11
2011/04/10
Second Time on the Skates was Better than the First
Today I walked about 10 minutes to the park at a large intersection near home. And I practiced skating for about an hour. I even practiced falling. Many times. Forward. And once backward. On the same hip that still hurts three weeks later. Good thing I ordered some hip/bum/tailbone pad inner shorts! It was fun and the sakura trees and the pet rabbit were great, too. Third time lucky, ka na? I love you!
Cam
Cam
2011/04/08
One Minute of Love Energy Output to Tohoku
My one minute break to send as much positive energy through love, gratitude and appreciation to everyone in the Tohoku region will begin in 25 minutes from sending this k-mail. Will you amplify the positive energy by sending some of yours?
A "Strange" Photo in the "Evacuation Zone" for Paula
This is really weird... It must have been a breeder's kennel that opened wide.
I really feel sorry for all these gorgeous dogs because the location is deserted due to it being within the radioactive evacuation zone. What will they eat? What will they drink? What will happen to them?
Who took the picture? Did they just leave them all like that or herd them together and get them out? We want answers! We want actions!! Dogs are people too!!! Oh, sorry. The link: http://tinyurl.com/RadioactiveCollies
Cam
I really feel sorry for all these gorgeous dogs because the location is deserted due to it being within the radioactive evacuation zone. What will they eat? What will they drink? What will happen to them?
Who took the picture? Did they just leave them all like that or herd them together and get them out? We want answers! We want actions!! Dogs are people too!!! Oh, sorry. The link: http://tinyurl.com/RadioactiveCollies
Cam
Worried about a radioactive ocean? A reality check
I recommend everyone around the world take a peek at this article.
http://tinyurl.com/FukushimaRealityCheck
It puts the Fukushima radiation dissemination in a little better perspective.
The bottom line? DON'T WORRY!
You aren't going to suddenly have your member fall off.
Your breasts won't shrivel up.
You won't become incontinent, or infertile.
And you won't even grow an extra finger out of your armpit!
(though that would make an excellent conversation piece, especially if it were prehensile.)
Though, you might find yourself hungry.
If that happens... eat something before you pass out, fall down and hit your head.
The likelihood of that happening is far higher than any radiation poisoning you might get from our sharing of radiation with the world.
Come to think of it, you have a better chance at winning a lottery than getting radiation sickness.
Have a great day.
I love you!
Cam
2011/04/06
NHK's TickerTapeNews for April 6th, 2011
NHK's TickerTapeNews for April 6th, 2011 It's been a while but I needed to extract myself from all the negative energy flowing out of this very negative tragedy. It was wearing my positive spirit down.
. * Tokyo Electric Power Company says highly radioactive water stopped leaking into the sea from a concrete pit at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant on Wednesday morning. (Cam: Nobody here seems to be talking about this topic any longer... but it's still hard to buy staples in the supermarket, so they must be 'thinking' about it... (or the next "big one"))
.
* Tokyo Electric Power Company says it will inject nitrogen into the containment vessel of one of its reactors at the Fukushima power plant as early as Wednesday evening to prevent a possible hydrogen explosion. (Cam: Ho hum....)
.
* Most fishery cooperatives in Ibaraki Prefecture are suspending all activities after small fish caught in local waters were found to contain radioactive cesium above the legal limit. (Cam: There goes another industry... I wonder if Japan will become a country of ... meat eaters? Oh, wait! They already ARE eating tons more meat than they used to do.)
.
* Many members of the International Renewable Energy Agency say Japan's nuclear crisis will lead to increased promotion of alternative energy sources. (Cam: In Japanese we say "fukouchuu no saiwai", or "happiness comes from disaster". This is in harmony with The Universe's teachings. We humans often learn the most through the biggest hardships. This hardship is a doozy, so let' s hope what we learn from it is exponentially highly rewarding as well.)
.
* The official death toll from the March 11th earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan has risen to 12,468, with 15,091 people still listed as missing. (Cam: Let's hope that the "listed as missing", is eventually reported as "zero".)
.
* The environment ministry says the massive March 11th earthquake and tsunami has left 24.9 million tons of debris in its wake in the 3 hardest-hit prefectures. (Cam: Want to start a new garbage collection company?)
.
* The minutes of a US Federal Reserve meeting show policymakers plan to keep a close watch on the effect of Japan's earthquake on the US economy. (Cam: As are all the other countries around the world.... Today there was some news that said a Japanese person was traveling in Europe, and was sitting beside a European. The European asked the Japanese if he was Japanese. When he responded, yes, the European got up and moved away from the Japanese person. Could there be some overly hysterical fear of "spreading nuclear radiation"? Methinks so.)
.
* Anti-government forces in Libya have rejected Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi's proposal to hand over power to one of his sons. (Cam: It's time to close the books on this character. Where's the CIA assassination team when you need them?)
.
* Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo may soon be forced to give up power after opposition forces backed by the UN launched a major attack to close in on his stronghold in Abidjan. (Cam: More war crimes trials at the Hague coming soon, to a theatre near you...)
.
* China's central bank says it will raise its key interest rates by 0.25% starting Wednesday. (Cam: What goes up, must come down. Eventually.)
. Have a great day!
I love you!!
Cam
. * Tokyo Electric Power Company says highly radioactive water stopped leaking into the sea from a concrete pit at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant on Wednesday morning. (Cam: Nobody here seems to be talking about this topic any longer... but it's still hard to buy staples in the supermarket, so they must be 'thinking' about it... (or the next "big one"))
.
* Tokyo Electric Power Company says it will inject nitrogen into the containment vessel of one of its reactors at the Fukushima power plant as early as Wednesday evening to prevent a possible hydrogen explosion. (Cam: Ho hum....)
.
* Most fishery cooperatives in Ibaraki Prefecture are suspending all activities after small fish caught in local waters were found to contain radioactive cesium above the legal limit. (Cam: There goes another industry... I wonder if Japan will become a country of ... meat eaters? Oh, wait! They already ARE eating tons more meat than they used to do.)
.
* Many members of the International Renewable Energy Agency say Japan's nuclear crisis will lead to increased promotion of alternative energy sources. (Cam: In Japanese we say "fukouchuu no saiwai", or "happiness comes from disaster". This is in harmony with The Universe's teachings. We humans often learn the most through the biggest hardships. This hardship is a doozy, so let' s hope what we learn from it is exponentially highly rewarding as well.)
.
* The official death toll from the March 11th earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan has risen to 12,468, with 15,091 people still listed as missing. (Cam: Let's hope that the "listed as missing", is eventually reported as "zero".)
.
* The environment ministry says the massive March 11th earthquake and tsunami has left 24.9 million tons of debris in its wake in the 3 hardest-hit prefectures. (Cam: Want to start a new garbage collection company?)
.
* The minutes of a US Federal Reserve meeting show policymakers plan to keep a close watch on the effect of Japan's earthquake on the US economy. (Cam: As are all the other countries around the world.... Today there was some news that said a Japanese person was traveling in Europe, and was sitting beside a European. The European asked the Japanese if he was Japanese. When he responded, yes, the European got up and moved away from the Japanese person. Could there be some overly hysterical fear of "spreading nuclear radiation"? Methinks so.)
.
* Anti-government forces in Libya have rejected Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi's proposal to hand over power to one of his sons. (Cam: It's time to close the books on this character. Where's the CIA assassination team when you need them?)
.
* Cote d'Ivoire's President Laurent Gbagbo may soon be forced to give up power after opposition forces backed by the UN launched a major attack to close in on his stronghold in Abidjan. (Cam: More war crimes trials at the Hague coming soon, to a theatre near you...)
.
* China's central bank says it will raise its key interest rates by 0.25% starting Wednesday. (Cam: What goes up, must come down. Eventually.)
. Have a great day!
I love you!!
Cam
2011/04/04
Thoughts on the Japanese High Voice Sales Pitch
I zipped into UniQlo at Shinjuku Stn to buy another Silky Dry undershirt. The store manager was a young American fellow who is apparently the only foreign manager in Japan at UniQlo. That was impressive. Then I heard him do the Irrasshaimase thing and his voice went up quite a bit in pitch. I told him how friends have commented on my voice rising when I speak Japanese but that it isn't done on purpose (Stephanie, do you remember?). He said that the company policy states they have to say their sales spiel in a higher tone than they speak because they have found that it gives more favourable results. If UniQlo actively does it then I imagine other retailers train their staff similarly. That was an eye opener because it never occurred to me that the higher voice would actually be dictated in the training manuals! He did say, "You gotta follow what the bosses say, though it does make me feel silly." Time to catch my train. Have a great day! I love you!
Cam
Cam
2011/04/01
Yamato Courier: Full-On Eco
I love how Kuroneko has embraced the Eco Drivewith respect to deliveries in Tokyo.They kill so many birds with one stone!
A couple of years ago the government started ticketing everyone who stopped illegally and that included couriers stopping briefly to deliver packages. They all had to find a new way to deal with the new regulations. It took a while and included some tweaking but now they deliver using battery-assisted bicycles pulling trailers as you can see in this photo taken outside my office. Good work!Asia-bound Teachers Face Grammar/IQ Tests on Arrival
Personally, I think this is a good idea... And the ASEAN authorities make a valid point, I think:
The measures, proposed by education department officials in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), are intended to prevent large numbers of unemployed foreigners from countries including the US, the UK and Australia from flooding the local job market in search of employment as “native English teachers”.
http://eslblogs.englishclub.com/blog/news/asia-bound-teachers-face-grammar-iq...
It may feel like a kick in the gut, but many of the Asian countries have a much tougher scholastic curriculum than those in North America.
I am not particularly in favour of the applicant footing the bill for the battery of tests, and wonder if the sponsor school might consider doing so as a responsibility. That way, the schools would also be more strict in their vetting of applicants for teaching positions in their programs, and eliminate those not up to the requirements from the beginning.
Charles, what do you think?
Any other TEFL language educators out there in the world have any thoughts on this?
Cam
The measures, proposed by education department officials in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), are intended to prevent large numbers of unemployed foreigners from countries including the US, the UK and Australia from flooding the local job market in search of employment as “native English teachers”.
http://eslblogs.englishclub.com/blog/news/asia-bound-teachers-face-grammar-iq...
It may feel like a kick in the gut, but many of the Asian countries have a much tougher scholastic curriculum than those in North America.
I am not particularly in favour of the applicant footing the bill for the battery of tests, and wonder if the sponsor school might consider doing so as a responsibility. That way, the schools would also be more strict in their vetting of applicants for teaching positions in their programs, and eliminate those not up to the requirements from the beginning.
Charles, what do you think?
Any other TEFL language educators out there in the world have any thoughts on this?
Cam
Here's why we have rolling blackouts in Tokyo when only 2.5% of the total energy source is compro
"Respectfully Yours John S." asked me a few weeks ago why on earth TEPCO had to start "rolling blackouts" in Tokyo and the outlying areas after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Reactors went into "disaster mode". This article explains very well why, when nuclear energy in Japan makes up 35% of Japan's total energy production, and four out of 55 nuclear reactors across the country are compromised (that works out to 2.5% of Energy production compromised) TEPCO decided to initiate power outages.
http://tinyurl.com/JapanEnergy
If you aren't interested in reading the article, here's a quick summary:
Japanese electric companies are extremely greedy, do everything possible to prevent competition, and should all get slammed for anti-competition infractions!
I recommend taking a look at the article; it's quite an eye-opener.
Cam
http://tinyurl.com/JapanEnergy
If you aren't interested in reading the article, here's a quick summary:
Japanese electric companies are extremely greedy, do everything possible to prevent competition, and should all get slammed for anti-competition infractions!
I recommend taking a look at the article; it's quite an eye-opener.
Cam
TickerTapeNews from NHK for 2011/04/01 a.m.
Here is a summary of the NHK Online (English) News for today, April 1st, 2011.
Have a great day.
I love you!
Cam
***********************
* The IAEA says radiation levels twice as high as its criterion for evacuation were detected in a village 40 km from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. (Cam: I wonder if Japan will re-evaluate it's criterion after this?)
.
* A Japanese researcher has explained how radioactive substances that leaked from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have spread and reached Tokyo and other parts of the Kanto region.
(Cam: Will that cause more panic, or will people look at it objectively? Or, will they simply ignore it and continue on with life?)
.
* Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, has not provided every worker at the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant with radiation monitors, breaking government rules.
(Cam: More news that shows TEPCO deserves a really severe spanking after this mess is all cleared up.)
.
* The death toll from the March 11th quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan rose to 11,532 as of Thursday night. The National Police Agency says 16,441 others are missing.
(Cam: The death toll will continue to rise, until the missing toll approaches zero.)
.
* The US military is sending Marines specialized in responding to nuclear emergencies to Japan to help deal with the trouble at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
(Cam: Go Marines!)
.
* Japan's Meteorological Agency advises continued caution due to powerful aftershocks 3 weeks after a magnitude 9.0 quake hit Japan.
(Cam: It's been pretty quiet in Tokyo, but this site shows that the world is anything BUT quiet: http://quakes.globalincidentmap.com/ Did you realize that there are tons of earthquakes occurring daily over in the USA as well?)
.
* Video footage of the March 11th tsunami, apparently taken by someone at a thermal power plant in Fukushima prefecture, has been posted on YouTube.
(Cam: Great! More death and destruction for the TV media to latch onto!!)
.
* The Health Ministry says radiation exceeding safety standards has been detected in beef from Fukushima and vegetables from Ibaraki, Tochigi and Chiba prefectures.
(Cam: So, being a vegetarian is not healthy, and being a carnivore is not healthy... What's a poor sap to do?)
.
* Britain has hailed the defection of Libyan Foreign Minister Mousa Kousa as a blow to leader Muammar al-Qadhafi.
(Cam: Why do these guys all have such catchy sing-song names?)
.
* New York Stock Closing on Thursday: Dow Jones 12,319.73, down 30.88 from Wednesday. NASDAQ 2,781.07, up 4.28.
(Cam: Just thought I'd add something other than death and destruction for those of you not "into" it.) .
Read the details here: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/31_19.html .
Have a great day.
I love you!
Cam
***********************
* The IAEA says radiation levels twice as high as its criterion for evacuation were detected in a village 40 km from the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. (Cam: I wonder if Japan will re-evaluate it's criterion after this?)
.
* A Japanese researcher has explained how radioactive substances that leaked from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have spread and reached Tokyo and other parts of the Kanto region.
(Cam: Will that cause more panic, or will people look at it objectively? Or, will they simply ignore it and continue on with life?)
.
* Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, has not provided every worker at the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant with radiation monitors, breaking government rules.
(Cam: More news that shows TEPCO deserves a really severe spanking after this mess is all cleared up.)
.
* The death toll from the March 11th quake and tsunami in northeastern Japan rose to 11,532 as of Thursday night. The National Police Agency says 16,441 others are missing.
(Cam: The death toll will continue to rise, until the missing toll approaches zero.)
.
* The US military is sending Marines specialized in responding to nuclear emergencies to Japan to help deal with the trouble at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.
(Cam: Go Marines!)
.
* Japan's Meteorological Agency advises continued caution due to powerful aftershocks 3 weeks after a magnitude 9.0 quake hit Japan.
(Cam: It's been pretty quiet in Tokyo, but this site shows that the world is anything BUT quiet: http://quakes.globalincidentmap.com/ Did you realize that there are tons of earthquakes occurring daily over in the USA as well?)
.
* Video footage of the March 11th tsunami, apparently taken by someone at a thermal power plant in Fukushima prefecture, has been posted on YouTube.
(Cam: Great! More death and destruction for the TV media to latch onto!!)
.
* The Health Ministry says radiation exceeding safety standards has been detected in beef from Fukushima and vegetables from Ibaraki, Tochigi and Chiba prefectures.
(Cam: So, being a vegetarian is not healthy, and being a carnivore is not healthy... What's a poor sap to do?)
.
* Britain has hailed the defection of Libyan Foreign Minister Mousa Kousa as a blow to leader Muammar al-Qadhafi.
(Cam: Why do these guys all have such catchy sing-song names?)
.
* New York Stock Closing on Thursday: Dow Jones 12,319.73, down 30.88 from Wednesday. NASDAQ 2,781.07, up 4.28.
(Cam: Just thought I'd add something other than death and destruction for those of you not "into" it.) .
Read the details here: http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/31_19.html .
2011/03/31
TickerTapeNews for Japan 2010/03/31
Here are the main news headlines from NHK Online, as of 2011/03/31, 13:00. We've got a ways to go yet, that's for sure. But we'll get there. One. Step. At. A. Time. I love you! Have a good one. Cam
.
.
* Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA detected higher than the standard levels of radiation in soil at Iitate village in Fukushima outside of the evacuation area from the damaged Daiichi nuclear power plant.
.
* Workers are still struggling to resolve the problems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant where the disposal of radioactive water is hindering cooling efforts.
.
* Teams working on the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant are going to use a synthetic resin to try and prevent radioactive dust from becoming airborne or being washed into the sea.
.
* The UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA, has decided to dispatch a marine environmental expert to Fukushima to analyze seawater around the troubled nuclear power plant.
.
* US President Barack Obama has reiterated his support for more nuclear power despite growing public concern in the wake of the crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant.
.
* The number of dead continues to rise in quake and tsunami-hit eastern Japan. Police say the confirmed death toll rose to 11,417 as of Thursday morning while 16,273 people remain missing.
.
* Disaster-hit northeastern Japan still faces acute shortages of gasoline and other fuels due to damaged transportation and distribution systems.
.
* Honda Motor will reduce vehicle production at its 5 plants in North America from Wednesday, due to expected shortages of car parts from Japan.
.
* Libyan foreign minister Mousa Kousa has conveyed to the British government his decision to resign.
.
* A senior North Korean official has indicated the country would agree to have its uranium enrichment program on the agenda at the 6-party talks on the North's nuclear program.
.
* Tokyo stocks at Thursday morning close: Nikkei 225 9,705.91 down 2.88 TOPIX 865.94 down 0.15 from Wednesday.
.
.
* Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA detected higher than the standard levels of radiation in soil at Iitate village in Fukushima outside of the evacuation area from the damaged Daiichi nuclear power plant.
.
* Workers are still struggling to resolve the problems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant where the disposal of radioactive water is hindering cooling efforts.
.
* Teams working on the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant are going to use a synthetic resin to try and prevent radioactive dust from becoming airborne or being washed into the sea.
.
* The UN nuclear watchdog, IAEA, has decided to dispatch a marine environmental expert to Fukushima to analyze seawater around the troubled nuclear power plant.
.
* US President Barack Obama has reiterated his support for more nuclear power despite growing public concern in the wake of the crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant.
.
* The number of dead continues to rise in quake and tsunami-hit eastern Japan. Police say the confirmed death toll rose to 11,417 as of Thursday morning while 16,273 people remain missing.
.
* Disaster-hit northeastern Japan still faces acute shortages of gasoline and other fuels due to damaged transportation and distribution systems.
.
* Honda Motor will reduce vehicle production at its 5 plants in North America from Wednesday, due to expected shortages of car parts from Japan.
.
* Libyan foreign minister Mousa Kousa has conveyed to the British government his decision to resign.
.
* A senior North Korean official has indicated the country would agree to have its uranium enrichment program on the agenda at the 6-party talks on the North's nuclear program.
.
* Tokyo stocks at Thursday morning close: Nikkei 225 9,705.91 down 2.88 TOPIX 865.94 down 0.15 from Wednesday.
2011/03/29
Japan Disaster TickerTape Update 110329 13:55
Here are the TickerTape Updates from the NHK Online Website as of 13:55 on March 29, 2011.
.
One other bit of news that keeps showing up, is that TEPCO seems to be continually apologizing for their errors, discrepancies, poor reporting, etc. in spite of being spanked a few times by Yukiyo Edano (that guy in the blue work uniform who shows up all the time for the news conferences). But... they apparently continue to resist outside, international oversight, and visits to the actual site. .
.
* Tokyo Electric Power Company says plutonium has been found in soil samples from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. But it says the level detected is the same as that found in other parts of Japan and does not pose a threat to human health.
.
* Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says the detection of trace amounts of plutonium in ground at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant means the situation there is extremely serious.
.
(Cam's Note: Do the above two reports not seem slightly ... contradictory?)
.
* The government's nuclear safety agency has ordered Tokyo Electric Power Company to closely monitor radiation and water levels in tunnels outside the turbine buildings for 3 damaged reactors.
.
(Cam's Note: It's time that the work be taken out of TEPCO's incompetent hands, and given to another body, methinks.)
.
* Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says water must be pumped continuously into the No.2 reactor at the troubled Fukushima nuclear plant, despite the leak of highly radioactive water from the unit.
.
* Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa says Self-Defense Forces troops if asked would work to remove highly radioactive water found leaking at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
.
* Prime Minister Naoto Kan has rejected views that his visit to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant a day after the earthquake delayed the crucial initial response to the developing disaster.
.
* Japan's semi-public Geospatial Information Authority says the March 11th tsunami flooded a total 443 square kilometers of land in the 4 prefectures of Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima.
.
* Japan's Land Ministry has found that the tsunami on March 11th ran more than 40 kilometers upstream from river mouths.
.
* A government study has found that dramatic changes in tide levels in the sea off northern Japan continued for about 6 hours after a massive tsunami struck on March 11th.
.
* Over 28,000 people are dead or missing following the huge earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan's northeastern coast on March 11th.
.
* Electric power companies in Japan have put on hold plans to restart nuclear reactors now undergoing checkups, and to build new ones.
.
One other bit of news that keeps showing up, is that TEPCO seems to be continually apologizing for their errors, discrepancies, poor reporting, etc. in spite of being spanked a few times by Yukiyo Edano (that guy in the blue work uniform who shows up all the time for the news conferences). But... they apparently continue to resist outside, international oversight, and visits to the actual site. .
.
* Tokyo Electric Power Company says plutonium has been found in soil samples from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. But it says the level detected is the same as that found in other parts of Japan and does not pose a threat to human health.
.
* Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says the detection of trace amounts of plutonium in ground at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant means the situation there is extremely serious.
.
(Cam's Note: Do the above two reports not seem slightly ... contradictory?)
.
* The government's nuclear safety agency has ordered Tokyo Electric Power Company to closely monitor radiation and water levels in tunnels outside the turbine buildings for 3 damaged reactors.
.
(Cam's Note: It's time that the work be taken out of TEPCO's incompetent hands, and given to another body, methinks.)
.
* Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says water must be pumped continuously into the No.2 reactor at the troubled Fukushima nuclear plant, despite the leak of highly radioactive water from the unit.
.
* Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa says Self-Defense Forces troops if asked would work to remove highly radioactive water found leaking at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
.
* Prime Minister Naoto Kan has rejected views that his visit to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant a day after the earthquake delayed the crucial initial response to the developing disaster.
.
* Japan's semi-public Geospatial Information Authority says the March 11th tsunami flooded a total 443 square kilometers of land in the 4 prefectures of Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima.
.
* Japan's Land Ministry has found that the tsunami on March 11th ran more than 40 kilometers upstream from river mouths.
.
* A government study has found that dramatic changes in tide levels in the sea off northern Japan continued for about 6 hours after a massive tsunami struck on March 11th.
.
* Over 28,000 people are dead or missing following the huge earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan's northeastern coast on March 11th.
.
* Electric power companies in Japan have put on hold plans to restart nuclear reactors now undergoing checkups, and to build new ones.
2011/03/28
Update on Japan for 2011/03/28 (13:00)
Here is a (very) brief update on what is going on in Japan today. Actually there's a lot more than just earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear stuff, but this probably interests you more: * A high density of radioactive materials was found on Sunday in sea water near the quake-damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, for the 3rd straight day.
* At the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant, high radioactive density detected in 3 turbine buildings may further delay work to restore the cooling systems for the overheated fuel rods.
* An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.5 occurred off Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan at 7:24 A.M. on Monday. A tsunami evacuation advisory for the coastal areas was issued, but later lifted.
* Japan's Defense Ministry has released a new aerial video of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which shows the damage to the reactors more clearly than previous footage.
* The death toll in Japan's devastating March 11th earthquake has climbed to 10,872 people, with more than 16,200 missing. More than 190,000 people are still in shelters.
* An increasing number of residents have reportedly returned to their homes in suburban areas surrounding the troubled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
* Toyota has resumed production of hybrid vehicles in Japan, 2 weeks after the auto manufacturer halted all domestic output following the March 11th quake. * Secretary General Katsuya Okada of the governing Democratic Party of Japan has suggested that his party may review the proposed corporate tax cut as part of its effort to raise funds to rebuild quake-ravaged areas.
* The Tokyo University of Foreign Studies is providing on its website information in 16 languages about radiation arising from the nuclear incidents in Japan.
* Tokyo stocks at Monday morning close: Nikkei 225 9,501.64, down 34.49 TOPIX 857.58, up 0.20 from Friday.
* It's sunny today turning to cloudy later in the day with highs of 11C and a low of 5C.
* At the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant, high radioactive density detected in 3 turbine buildings may further delay work to restore the cooling systems for the overheated fuel rods.
* An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.5 occurred off Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan at 7:24 A.M. on Monday. A tsunami evacuation advisory for the coastal areas was issued, but later lifted.
* Japan's Defense Ministry has released a new aerial video of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which shows the damage to the reactors more clearly than previous footage.
* The death toll in Japan's devastating March 11th earthquake has climbed to 10,872 people, with more than 16,200 missing. More than 190,000 people are still in shelters.
* An increasing number of residents have reportedly returned to their homes in suburban areas surrounding the troubled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
* Toyota has resumed production of hybrid vehicles in Japan, 2 weeks after the auto manufacturer halted all domestic output following the March 11th quake. * Secretary General Katsuya Okada of the governing Democratic Party of Japan has suggested that his party may review the proposed corporate tax cut as part of its effort to raise funds to rebuild quake-ravaged areas.
* The Tokyo University of Foreign Studies is providing on its website information in 16 languages about radiation arising from the nuclear incidents in Japan.
* Tokyo stocks at Monday morning close: Nikkei 225 9,501.64, down 34.49 TOPIX 857.58, up 0.20 from Friday.
* It's sunny today turning to cloudy later in the day with highs of 11C and a low of 5C.
2011/03/27
The Smallest/Narrowest Restaurant in The Multiverse
Today I cycled 15km to Jimbocho and bought the K2 Inline-Skates I looked at last weekend (finagled a 5% Discount). I also got palm/wrist, elbow, knee pads. Then I rode over to Ochanomizu Stn to exchange the train ticket for Kobuchizawa on 3/14 (earthquake etc stopped all trains so I couldn't go) but the lines are all still affected by planned power outages and JR could not issue me a ticket.
So I went to look for something to eat instead. That's a reasonable alternative, don't you think? I found the smallest/narrowest restaurant I have ever seen. The stairs were so narrow that I had to take my pack off and my shoulders brushed both walls on the way up. This place has been in operation since 1954 which is cool in itself. It was so narrow that when I leaned slightly back to take this photo I almost touched the guy behind me eating against the opposite wall. Unfortunately the food didn't quite suit me (loaded with pasta and rice), though it was tasty. Now I'm suffering dry mouth from the carbs. I'll likely have insulin-induced nightmares tonight and wake up with two inches of cotton on my teeth and tongu tomorrow morning. But it was worth it! Have yourself a very merry Sunday. Glowingly Yours,Cam P.S. The nuclear situation still sucks.
2011/03/25
In the Blink of Luxury
When I climbed into the hot bath at the gym last night, waves of gratitude and appreciation for even the few rushed minutes I could get at the gym due to their early closure this month, in response to the power outages, rolled over me. I was thinking, "close at 8pm?! I can't get to the gym after work for a workout and a bath and be out of there by 8pm!" But that all melted away when the hot water reminded me quite clearly how the people in the disaster zone don't have ANY water at all, let alone a huge tub to sit and soak in... Than you for the few minutes of luxury. I love you!
Cam
Cam
2011/03/24
Reading of environmental radioactivity level by prefecture
Here is an excellent resource showing all of the current radioactive levels across Japan per prefecture (one point). http://www.mext.go.jp/english/radioactivity_level/detail/1303986.htm This resource is provided by The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and (deep breath) Technology. You can also see the current level of radioactivity in the water source. Warning: This shows only data, with absolutely no hype, nor interpretation. It is an excellent resource for those who do NOT want to get sucked into the mass media's hype, hysteria and paranoia. Enjoy the data. I love you! Cam
A Good Link for Recent News in Japan
Here is a good link to catch up on all of the National J-news that is being translated on "Japan Today". http://www.japantoday.com/archive/national/page/1 If you scroll down, you can click on links to many more news pages. Take a look and see what's going on from the Japanese perspective. I love you! Cam
This Medscape article's title put a smile on my face this morning (but not the content)
OB/GYN & WOMEN'S HEALTH
"Study Examines Factors Leading to CAM Use for Vaginitis"
"Study Examines Factors Leading to CAM Use for Vaginitis"
http://mp.medscape.com/cgi-bin1/DM/t/eDHcL0XLW6e0F6A0DA1Z0GF&uac=143390MN (you need to log in to read it, sorry).
2011/03/23
Tokyo's Tap Water is Poisoned
This is NOT news I wanted to read about... "Radioactive iodine exceeding limit for infants found in Tokyo tap water" Wednesday 23rd March, 02:40 PM JST
TOKYO - The Tokyo metropolitan government warned Wednesday that infants should not drink tap water as radioactive iodine exceeding the limit for them were detected in water at a purification plant.. http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/radioactive-iodine-exceeding...
TOKYO - The Tokyo metropolitan government warned Wednesday that infants should not drink tap water as radioactive iodine exceeding the limit for them were detected in water at a purification plant.. http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/radioactive-iodine-exceeding...
2011/03/22
Apparently I look like Clark Kent with these glasses
I've been called a lot of things during my 20 years in Japan. It has run the whole gamut from Arnold through Princess Diana to recently Hugh Grant. Today four indepent people at the office said that I look like Clark Kent in my suit, with my wavy hair but especially wearing these new black glasses. I won't complain about that comparison! Loved the 6.3 mag quake we had 20 minutes ago, too... Cam
Lucky 5.7 Strikes in Chiba
Well that one sure rocked the office. And it wasn't too far from Tokyo. I thought the plate shifting had moved further down the island. These earthquakes are getting rather tedious.
2011/03/21
A New Challenge
I really don't find riding in the city much to my liking and haven't been able to do nearly as much riding as I would like.
I have also been thinking for some time now that in-line skating, as much as I sucked at ice skating, might be a new exercise to start up. Also, it might mean that once I got stable and safe enough on them to actually do it with some confidence, I could consider takimng them to work and then skate home the 12km once in a while, when the weather is good (which is often in Tokyo). There was really nowhere to skate any distance safely in Fukui and the Edogawa walking/cycling path would be a great way to easily get in a good workout. So yesterday I bought a book for beginners (Amazon) and plan to read it when it arrives. Today I went to Jimbocho/Ochanomizu and looked at some skates. I also asked a ton of questions. There was some big hesitation after while I thought about it over coffee and when I looked up the sleeve, it came down to this: fear of being seen a novice, worry that I won't be able to do it, and the memory of hating and sucking at ice skating (for a Canadian prairie boy that's a big admission). Once I realized what these hesitations were all due to, I could see that they are all foundless and that if I put my mind and body to it, and realize that nobody is going to ridicule me here for looking foolish, I was able to conclude that I will do this. (I also want to relearn how to play the guitar and have a ton of unfounded excuses for not having started that years ago as well). So... I will read the book when it arrives, then go and buy the skates and just do it. My old lunchbag that finally melted away said this on it in big, bold letters: "Do one thing a day that scares you." So I will! I love you!Cam
2011/03/20
Lost in The Big RiceBowl
It was a good ride. 40km round trip and total spinning time of 2 hours. Coming back was a bit windy which cut my speed down by 5-10km/hr. I also ended on the wrong roads, mysteriously, thanks to the idiosyncrocies of Tokyo roads and their numbers suddenly changing on you for no apparent reason. Now I need protein or I'm going to get cold, shaky and cranky. And there's nobody to crank!
The "Great" ... Outdoors?
Well I made it to Shinjuku by bike. It's my first time to really ride any semi-long distance in Tokyo. The route is extremely simple: one highway straight for 20km. It took 45 minutes of riding and a total of 55minutes from door to door. The extra 10 minutes were due to traffic signals. I guess I'll finish my latte from Starbucks and then start the ride back.
It sure is nice to get out of my hammock-apartment into the great "outdoors".* I love you!Cam * Consisting of concrete, steel, automobiles, infinite amounts of people and auto exhaust!
2011/03/18
A nice way to end a horrific week.
One week has passed since all hell broke loose in Japan. It was a quiet day in Tokyo today. I think we only felt about 15 tremors over the entire day. That was a nice break. Supermarkets are still empty, though.
A Rational Perspective of the Whole Shebang
Here is a great article by Reuters Health with some thoughts from "other" nuclear radiation specialists in the UK. It helps to put things back in perspective a little bit.
Again, BE CALM, THINK, ACT APPROPRIATELY in all emergency situations.
I love you!
Cam
P.S. Sorry if this all gets poorly formatted in the posting, as I can't post directly to FB or my blog from work (blocked from access for obvious reasons...)
********
From Reuters Health Information
Japan Radiation Fears Mask Worse Threats to Health
By Kate Kelland
LONDON (Reuters) Mar 16 - Panic over radiation leaks at Japan's earthquake-damaged nuclear plant may be diverting attention from potentially worse threats to public health from a tsunami, like the cold and disrupted supplies of water.
Experts said efforts in Japan should focus on ensuring safe drinking water and the disposal of sewage to prevent outbreaks of diseases such as typhoid and cholera, although the likelihood of any such epidemic was remote so far.
"People are getting so concerned about what are at the moment pretty low levels of radiation as far as the general public is concerned. But the real problems ... are in dealing with the earthquake and the tsunami," said Dr Richard Wakeford of Britain's University of Manchester.
"If this was a developing country, we'd have people going down (by) hundreds and thousands with the likes of typhoid and cholera by now. The questions should be: Where is the sewage going? What is the state of the drinking water? If I were a public health official, that would be my principle concern."
Japan was hit by a massive earthquake on Friday that triggered a tsunami along its northeastern coast, leaving about 850,000 households without electricity and 1.5 million households without running water. More than 440,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, Japanese media said.
But it is the radiation emerging from the Fukushima nuclear plant in northern Japan that has preyed on people's minds, playing on fears of something that cannot be seen, touched and is poorly understood.
Experts say these fears could leave a lasting legacy.
Nick Pidgeon, a professor of public understanding of risk at Britain's Cardiff University, said nuclear radiation has several particular factors that make people uniquely and disproportionately afraid of it:
"It's invisible, it's insidious, its effects are often very difficult to isolate and remain unclear many decades later, and its main risk -- cancer -- is itself a highly-dreaded disease.
"When you get all of those things together, it's almost a perfect storm of fear factors," he told Reuters.
This leads to what is known as the "social amplification of risk", he added. "And if people believe a risk to be real -- then it becomes real in its consequences."
Studies of previous nuclear accidents have found the psychological impact of anxiety about radiation, and the rush to try to get away from it, is very real -- even if the actual health risks from radiation exposure are limited.
Experts on the perception of risk, and others who have spent years studying the aftermath of the 1986 Chernobyl reactor disaster say there is good reason for this.
"A key risk at present is public panic in response to this incident," said Professor Jim Smith, a specialist in earth and environmental sciences at Britain's Portsmouth University. He was speaking from Chernobyl where he has studied the effects of radiation for more than 20 years.
"Experience from past nuclear incidents has shown that the stress and panic caused by these events can be as bad as, or worse than, the direct threat from radiation."
One U.N. study said Chernobyl may eventually cause up to 9,000 deaths, mainly from extra cancers near the plant. Smith and others also point to repeated studies that have found that people exposed to the fallout from Chernobyl had anxiety levels that were twice as high as people unaffected by the accident.
A 2006 United Nations report found that those exposed to radiation were also three to four more likely "to report multiple unexplained physical symptoms and subjective poor health than were unaffected control groups".
Smith puts the additional risk of fatal cancer for those working around Chernobyl during the cleanup at around 1% over a lifetime, and compares it with the added cancer risk posed by passive smoking or bad air pollution in cities.
"And that is Chernobyl," he said. "From what I understand, we're not in that kind of sphere or anywhere near it in Japan at this stage."
Reuters Health Information © 2011
2011/03/17
Water Air Drop has NO Effect
30 tonnes of water were dropped on the reactor over four times from helicopter and the reduction in radiation emission is negligible. On the other hand there were no apparent negative effects. The government has decided that they will most likely not repeat this tactic. This from live Japanese TV right now.
Technology & Disaster
One of the amazing things about this disaster is that our modern technology is being used to locate people and find out information about people in the areas. There are several sites for computers and cellphone users who can use their internetenabled phones and send news, updates, photos and more to a server. People outside the area can access the servers and then search for people and information on them. The phone lines are down and systems are overloaded so calling into the area is impossible however the internet is functioning. That. Is. Amazing!
News from the TV Now 14:20
In Sendai the temperatures have dropped back to winter and it is snowing heavily. People are using the snow on cars to flush their toilets... Tomorrow will be colder... Some supermarkets opened selling limited goods at 30-40% discountrd from regular prices. The survivors are doing their best to carry on with what they have...
Confusing "Timely" Updates
3/17 9:49am At Just after 9am on Thursday March 17th, the police were preparing to use specialized police water trucks (cam: water cannons regularly used to disperse demonstrators??) to spray water into a hole in #3 reactor of the Fukushima Dai Ichi nuclear plant.
3/17 9:48 BUT... at 9:48 the news says that the SDF have started to drop water down the holes in the same reactor.
And then earlier news said that the SDF gave up the helicopter idea because it seemed too technically difficult and that the success rate was low.
So as you can see, news is coming in minute by minute but it is also changing... no sense trying to give a play-by-play show... My boss just arrived and brought batteries from Osaka because apparently you can't buy batteries in Tokyo now as everyone is stockpiling them.
Cam
3/17 9:48 BUT... at 9:48 the news says that the SDF have started to drop water down the holes in the same reactor.
And then earlier news said that the SDF gave up the helicopter idea because it seemed too technically difficult and that the success rate was low.
So as you can see, news is coming in minute by minute but it is also changing... no sense trying to give a play-by-play show... My boss just arrived and brought batteries from Osaka because apparently you can't buy batteries in Tokyo now as everyone is stockpiling them.
Cam
2011/03/16
Status of quake-stricken reactors at Fukushima nuclear power plants
Wednesday 16th March, 03:00 PM JST
TOKYO —
The following is the known status as of Wednesday afternoon of each of the six reactors at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and the four reactors at the Fukushima No. 2 plant, both in Fukushima Prefecture, which were crippled by Friday’s magnitude 9.0 earthquake and the ensuing tsunami.
Fukushima No. 1 plant
—Reactor No. 1 - Cooling failure, partial melting of core, vapor vented, building damaged Saturday by hydrogen explosion, seawater being pumped in.
—Reactor No. 2 - Cooling failure, seawater being pumped in, fuel rods fully exposed temporarily, vapor vented, building damaged Monday by blast at Reactor No. 3, damage to containment vessel on Tuesday, potential meltdown feared.
—Reactor No. 3 - Cooling failure, partial melting of core feared, vapor vented, seawater being pumped in, building damaged Monday by hydrogen explosion, high-level radiation measured nearby on Tuesday, plume of smoke observed Wednesday, damage to containment vessel likely.
—Reactor No. 4 - Under maintenance when quake struck, fire Tuesday possibly caused by hydrogen explosion at pool holding spent fuel rods, pool water level not observed, fire observed Wednesday at building housing reactor, no water poured in to cool pool.
—Reactor No. 5, No. 6 - Under maintenance when quake struck, temperature slightly rising in spent fuel pool.
Fukushima No. 2 plant
—Reactor No. 1, No. 2, No. 4 - Cooling failure, then cold shutdown.
—Reactor No. 3 - Cold shutdown.
© 2011 Kyodo News.
HOT News Flashes from Japan at 14:40
Here are some Hot NewsFlash Headlines in the News as of 16:40 on March 16th, 2011:
* Japan's Foreign Ministry has received inquiries about 500 foreign nationals missing since Friday's earthquake. * The US-based General Electric Company, GE, will send 10 gas turbine generators to Japan to help replace power generating capacity lost when nuclear reactors were damaged in Friday's mega-quake. * The UN General Assembly held a moment of silence for the victims of Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan at the opening of its meeting on Tuesday. * The Bank of Japan on Wednesday is supplying an additional $62 bil. to calm financial markets in the wake of the massive earthquake. * Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says the radiation level at the quake-hit nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, north of Tokyo, rose briefly on Wednesday morning. * Japan's nuclear safety agency says a possible radiation leak from the No.2 reactor may have caused the sharp increase in radiation levels on Wednesday at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, north of Tokyo. * S.Korea says it will provide Japan with boric acid for the quake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. * The number of dead and missing from Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami has exceeded 11,000.
* Japan's Foreign Ministry has received inquiries about 500 foreign nationals missing since Friday's earthquake. * The US-based General Electric Company, GE, will send 10 gas turbine generators to Japan to help replace power generating capacity lost when nuclear reactors were damaged in Friday's mega-quake. * The UN General Assembly held a moment of silence for the victims of Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan at the opening of its meeting on Tuesday. * The Bank of Japan on Wednesday is supplying an additional $62 bil. to calm financial markets in the wake of the massive earthquake. * Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano says the radiation level at the quake-hit nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, north of Tokyo, rose briefly on Wednesday morning. * Japan's nuclear safety agency says a possible radiation leak from the No.2 reactor may have caused the sharp increase in radiation levels on Wednesday at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, north of Tokyo. * S.Korea says it will provide Japan with boric acid for the quake-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. * The number of dead and missing from Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami has exceeded 11,000.
US Military Offers Help
Breaking News: At 15:48 on March 16th the US military decided that it would allow the members of TEPCO to use the military water pump vehicles to spray water on the overheating reactors. Tthe US military will not be performing this act themselves. If this is not successful, the Japanese SDF (Self Defence Force) will then consider the possibility of using military helicopters to drop water from above onto the reactors. Currently there is a snowstorm in the area which prevents helicopters from flying, therefore the US military is not able to make any decisions at the current time regarding the use of helicopters.
Update: At 16:16 the Japanese SDF began preparing their helicopters to send them into the skies above the reactors in order to drop water on the reactors.
Comment: I guess the water pump trucks aren't having the desired effect...
Update: At 16:16 the Japanese SDF began preparing their helicopters to send them into the skies above the reactors in order to drop water on the reactors.
Comment: I guess the water pump trucks aren't having the desired effect...
The Numbers Don't Add Up
Here is the first paragraph of the typical news that is floating around.
How everyone could DARE to continue reporting this makes absolutely NO SENSE to me.
Look:
"Radiation levels around the Fukushima Daiichi plant rose to 8 times the legal limit (Point 1), according to the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) as reported by BBC News. After the third explosion (on Tuesday morning in Japan), the radiation reading rose to 8217 microsieverts an hour (Point 2), having stood at 1941 just an hour earlier. The annual legal limit is 1000 microsieverts (Point 3)."
So... EVERYONE is saying that 8,217MSv PER HOUR is 8X the legal limit of 1,000MSv PER YEAR.
Even an elementary student can see that 8,000/HOUR is not equal to 8X 1,000/YEAR.
How can reporters be so STUPID?!?!?!?!
To read the rest of the article, you need to log in at:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/738998?sssdmh=dm1.672911&src=nldne
"Radiation From Japan's Nuclear Plant Now Poses Health Risk"
Again, this is just another of extremely poor, irresponsible reporting.
I'll try to add the PDF I made, but I don't know if it will be posted (Posterous.com works well, but not that well).
I love you!
Cam
2011/03/15
Radiation detected in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama; Kan blasts TEPCO's handling of crisis
Tuesday 15th March, 03:30 PM JST
TOKYO —
Radiation levels shot up in Tokyo and its vicinity Tuesday following the nuclear accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan that was triggered by last week’s massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami, local governments said.
But those levels did not pose immediate danger to human health, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology said.
In Tokyo, small amounts of radioactive substances, such as iodine and cesium, were detected, the metropolitan government said.
In Ibaraki Prefecture, adjacent to Fukushima Prefecture where the troubled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is located, the amount of radiation at one stage reached 5 microsievert per hour, 100 times higher than usual, the Ibaraki prefectural government said.
In Kanagawa Prefecture, the radiation level shot up 10 times higher than usual.
In Saitama, capital of Saitama Prefecture, the amount of radiation reached 1,222 nanosievert per hour—a figure about 40 times higher than usual.
In Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, the amount of radiation showed a two- to four-fold increase, the Chiba prefectural government said.
The amount of radiation rose to 1.318 micro sievert per hour—a figure 33 times bigger than usual—in Tochigi Prefecture’s capital of Utsunomiya, the Tochigi prefectural government said.
The science ministry said it had asked prefectural governments to observe radiation levels as frequently as possible.
Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the radiation level reached 400 millisievert per hour near the No. 3 reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 plant Tuesday morning. The amount is 400 times higher than the allowable limit for citizens in a year.
On Monday, the radiation level near the No. 3 reactor peaked at 3,130 microsievert or about 3 millisievert per hour.
Steam containing radioactive substances was released from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant as part of efforts to reduce pressures within the reactor container there.
Northerly winds brought radioactive substances from Fukushima Prefecture to Tokyo and its vicinity, nuclear experts said.
The crisis at the quake-hit Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant reached a critical phase Tuesday with radiation feared to have leaked after apparent hydrogen blasts at two more reactors, triggering growing fears of widespread contamination.
In a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Naoto Kan urged people living between 20 and 30 kilometers of the plant to stay indoors, after radiation equivalent to 400 times the level to which people can safely be exposed in one year was detected near the No. 3 reactor in the plant.
Residents within a 20-km radius have already been ordered to vacate the area following Saturday’s hydrogen blast at the plant’s No. 1 reactor.
‘‘The danger of further radiation leaks (from the plant) is increasing.’’ Kan warned the public at a press conference, while asking people to ‘‘act calmly.’‘
Edano said the high radiation level detected at 10:22 a.m. after the explosions at the No. 2 and No. 4 reactors ‘‘would certainly have negative effects on the human body.’‘
Plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) said the problem could develop into a critical ‘‘meltdown’’ situation after part of the No. 2 reactor’s container vessel was damaged following the apparent hydrogen explosion at 6:10 a.m.
TEPCO ordered some workers at the site to temporarily evacuate the area, but the utility has been continuing operations to pour seawater into the troubled No. 2 reactor to prevent overheating and further damage to its container.
The possibility of a meltdown, in which fuel rods melt and are destroyed, ‘‘cannot be ruled out’’ as the fuel rods have been damaged, the utility said.
Also, a fire occurred around 9:40 a.m. at the plant’s No. 4 reactor, where spent nuclear fuels are stored, but it was extinguished later, according to TEPCO. Edano said it was likely caused by another hydrogen explosion.
The nuclear agency said the explosion at the No. 2 reactor may have damaged the ‘‘suppression chamber,’’ a facility connected to the reactor’s container which is designed to cool down radiation steam and lower the pressure in the reactor. It said a sharp decline in the pressure level of the chamber suggests damage.
Given that the building that houses the No. 2 reactor has already been damaged by Monday’s hydrogen blast at the neighboring No. 3 reactor, a spread of radiation outside the plant has become a serious threat, experts say.
The cores of the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 reactors at the plant are believed to have partially melted following Friday’s magnitude 9.0 earthquake that hit northeastern and eastern Japan.
The country’s biggest recorded quake, which is also one of the largest in global history, caused the three reactors, which were all operating at the time, to automatically shut down. The No. 4 reactor and two others at the plant were not then in service.
Earlier in the day, the government and TEPCO set up an integrated headquarters, headed by Kan, to tackle the nuclear crisis.
‘‘A worrisome situation remains but I hope we can overcome this crisis,’’ Kan said of the nuclear power plant. ‘‘I will take all measures so that damage will not expand.’‘
Kan also strongly criticized TEPCO for its handling of the stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
‘‘The TV reported an explosion. But nothing was said to the premier’s office for about an hour,’’ a reporter overheard Kan saying during a meeting with executives of the power company at its head office. ‘‘What is going on?’‘
Kan strongly ordered the company not to withdraw its employees from the power plant, which has been facing a series of problems since Friday’s massive quake, ranging from explosions to radiation leaks.
‘‘In the event of withdrawal from there, I’m 100% certain that the company will collapse,’’ Kan said. ‘‘I want you all to be determined.’‘
The government, as well as the public, has been dissatisfied with the company’s way of releasing information regarding the crippled nuclear plant.
In an attempt to work more closely together, the government and the company launched Tuesday a joint headquarters of the crisis involving the Fukushima No. 1 plant.
The headquarters set up at the company’s head office is headed by Kan, with industry minister Banri Kaieda and TEPCO President Masataka Shimizu serving as its deputy chiefs.
The development follows hydrogen blasts at both of the plant’s No. 1 and No. 3 reactors on Saturday and Monday.
The cooling system for the No. 2 reactor broke down on Monday, causing water levels to rapidly fall and fully exposing its fuel rods for several hours.
As of 6:28 a.m., the water level had recovered to cover about 1.2 meters of the fuel rods, about one-third of their height, TEPCO said.
The No. 4 reactor of TEPCO’s Fukushima No. 2 nuclear plant, which is adjacent to the No. 1 plant, has successfully cooled down, meaning the plant no longer has a reactor in an emergency situation after three of its four reactors were once in that state after the quake, the firm said.
Japan has asked the United States to provide more cooling equipment to help deal with the crisis, Gregory Jaczko, chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said in Washington. The NRC has already sent two technological experts and is fully supporting Japanese efforts, he said.
Meanwhile, the transport ministry banned aircraft on Tuesday from flying within 30 kilometers of the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
The move, imposed under the Civil Aeronautics Law, excludes aircraft engaged in search and rescue operations, and is not expected to have a large impact on scheduled commercial flights in the country, according to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry.
Similar irregular flight bans have been imposed three times before, including one for the Group of Eight summit meeting in Hokkaido in 2008 and another for meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Yokohama last October.
8 Times...
The TV just confirmed that the reactors are emitting 8 times the annual normal quantity of radiation we receive. PER HOUR! Eight times by itself doesn't sound too bad but if we think a bit more... ... if we do the math that would be 8X24X365 times the normal amount. 70,080 times the normal amount of radiation we receive. This is at the source. But... that's not how they are saying it of course. Regarding Tokyo, they are currently saying that we shouldn't dally outdoors, keep our windows closed and wear masks. But other than that there is no need for concern in Tokyo. Anybody want to come and keep me company? I would give you a glowing reception!
Nuclear Update
Locals within 20-30km of the Fukushima #1 reactor have been told not to leave their homes. The count is currently at 400 milliSieverts. At 500 the lymphocyte cells in the blood are compromised. This is 8000 X-rays worth of radiation. There is also a fire in Reactor #4 now.
A Donation
It's quiet(er) in the earth today. The tremors are not as frequent nor as strong. Since 01:11 this morning there have only been 20 earthquakes (#20 at 10:41am) with the strongest being about magnitude 4 at the epicenter. I decided that I really need to do something regarding helping the victims of the earthquake/tsunami. But what? Kyoko showed me the Google Crisis Response Page that has access to a lot of important bits of information such as alarm and warning, disaster message boards, a person finder, shelter info, blackout info, flight and train info and more. You can access this site at http:mmgoo.gl/saigai and select English in the upper right corner if it doesn't automatically go to the language of yor presence. On the page is a Google Checkout spot that allows people to make donations to the Japanese Red Cross. So I did. I hope it makes a little difference. I love you.
Cam
Cam
2011/03/14
And That's Only The Half Of It!
Look at how packed the train that arrived was!
I'll await the next one.
= Affect, Influence
I'm waiting for my usual train home.
But it's anything but usual!
Look at the number of people waiting to get on!
Another Fukushima nuclear plant blast injures 11
This news earlier today, just after 11am... Another Fukushima nuclear plant blast injures 11 What appears to be another hydrogen blast has occurred at a nuclear power plant in Fukushima. No damage to the reactor chamber has been reported, but 11 people have been injured. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says what it believes was a hydrogen blast occurred at 11:01 AM on Monday at the No.3 reactor of Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant. The agency says it has so far observed no abnormal rise in radiation around the compound of the plant. The company says the blast injured 11 people. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has advised anyone remaining within 20 kilometers of the power plant to take shelter inside buildings as soon as possible. About 600 people are thought to be still in the area. A similar hydrogen blast occurred at the No.1 reactor at the same plant on Saturday. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told reporters that he has received a report that the latest blast has left the container of No.3 reactor intact. He said the likelihood of large volumes of radioactive materials being dispersed in the air is low. Video footage shows that the top of the building housing the reactor has been blown off, as in Saturday's blast. Fears of an explosion grew when the water level of the No. 3 reactor dropped, exposing fuel rods, and a reaction with the steam generated a large amount of hydrogen. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says that even if the top of the building has blown off, the reactor chamber will not be affected. Monday, March 14, 2011 12:30 +0900 (JST)
Before & After
Up until now, the news feeds coming in from Japan have been showing you the "trees".
Now it's time to take a look at the "forest". Everything, and I mean EVERY THING has been obliterated. http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/japan-quake-2011/beforeafter.htm Wow....
Now it's time to take a look at the "forest". Everything, and I mean EVERY THING has been obliterated. http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/japan-quake-2011/beforeafter.htm Wow....
Nuclear Reactor Plant #3 Bows its Top
The roof of reactor #3 just blew spewing radioactive steam into the air at 11:40 this morning. They are warning everyone within a 20km radius to stay indoors. As if radioactivity knocks and asks for permission to enter... What a lovely time to be in Japan...
2011/03/13
A Guy's Gotta Look Good When the Black Rain Comes!
Tokyo is much quieter than usual today and the big shops will probably close at six to cut back on energy use so that it can get shunted to the heavily-affected areas.
The hairstylist I am at (Heavens is the name) has cut their lightnibg back by 50% and are not using the AC. Good good... I love you!Cam PS I'm hungry...
2011/03/12
You'd Never Know
You'd never know that disaster struck the world's third largest economy yesterday (I wrote it in that way as that is how a newsfeed described this country full of 137 million people...) Now we see what can e done to help the people up north. And let us pray that any leaky nuclear reactors don't take this disaster to our future generations.
Thanks everyone for keeping an eye on Japan. I love you.Cam PS I'll let you know when the next one hits, but in the meantime I guess I should finish hanging my laundry and then start up breakfast.
2011/03/11
Working Its Way Down The Island
We just had anothe 5.4 but this time it was a bit closer to Tokyo. The epicentre seems to be moving along the fault line and heading this way... This latest quake was a horizontal AND vertical quake.
More aftershocks!
I walked 12km home and made it exercise by walking fast. I didnt go to work with a jacket and coming home was windy and quite cold. But since I got home my building has been clicking and shaking with two more aftershocks. Biggest quake ever in Japan at 8.8 on the richter scale and a 10m (30ft) tsunami wiping out Sendai City up north (population 1 million). Matt is OK but his apartment is trashed.
Mayu and her apartment are OK.
My apt is OK. Wow...
Mayu and her apartment are OK.
My apt is OK. Wow...
We All Walk
All the train lines are shut down so all of thjer Tokyo mass transit users are walking home. The sidewalks are a snarl of pedestrian gridlock...
We Made It Outside...
The ground started shaking again... vertical quakes are really dangerous... the road is really shaking... the office building windows are vibrating...
But we are out in the center of the street... Let's hope the buildings don't tilt and collapse.It Started Again!
There is a big crack in our wall from top down... It's shaking again... I'm hungry (no lunch yet)... Another Huge one!!!!!!
Big Earthquake!!
Holy Shit this is a BIG motherfucker earthquake! Everyone is on the floor by their desks. Computers fell... it's still going... wow. This is the biggewst one I have experienced to date. It occurred in Miyagi and was Shindo 7. It was probably about a 5 here. I wonder what Shindo 7 in magnitude is? Three days in a row ... And its still going... whew. the office is full of sweat...
Studies find Facebook impacts self-esteem
Hmm... I was a little surprised by the results of this "study" (conducted waaay back in 2009 - but you won't find that in this article, unless you follow the link) as so many other "studies" on SNS (Social Networking Systems) seem to point to opposite results.
http://tinyurl.com/FaceBookSelfEsteem
I'll let you come to your own conclusions regarding this "article", but it is interesting to know that very few people are wealthy enough to conduct a "study" just because they want to. Almost all "studies" are funded by companies who are looking for results (natural human nature). The original news article doesn't say who has connections to this study (i.e. no disclosure), so we really shouldn't take this too seriously, methinks.
I will say that SNS, which has had a lot of positive impact, CAN be as addictive as gaming (Nintendo DS, PSP, online games, etc). How many people have experienced that feeling of frustration when Multiply, FB or Twitter is not working properly and you can't access your comments, or your friends messages? How many people, when starting blogging have said, "I have to leave, I love you all, but this is taking up too much time of my real life...." (and then come back to it, unable to stick to the committment)? How many of us check our various accounts through our smartphone devices that we carry with us all the time? Yes, SNS has definitely had a HUGE impact on the way we interact with the world in many positive and negative ways.
I love you!
Have a good day.
Cam
2011/03/09
Clone Your Self
If you will recall, I recently made three great suits at a factory in India.
They also make women's clothes, for those women interested in the challenge.
Recently I wrote them and asked if they can make cotton dress pants.
They sent me a reply saying they can but I would need to order through their sister site
(it looks the same) which is www.makeyourownjeans.com. Aside from nearly shooting my wad when I innocently followed the "brazilian jeans" link,
I found another link that allows you to clone your own Jeans: http://tinyurl.com/CloneYourJeans.
I shortened it up for you. Actually, they allow you to clone pretty much anything, simply by sending one of your items to them,
and ordering two pairs.
Now we can input all of the measurements, or just send them something we want cloned.
I like that! You can read more at this link: http://tinyurl.com/CloneYourJeans I am writing this, thinking of Scooter over in Kansas who told me that one day he might consider giving
them a try because I seemed to be quite impressed with their work, and the way they looked. So, Scooter, if you're out there, why not send them something and see what they can do for you?
It might be nice to have something that actually CUSTOM fits that gorgeous body of yours, eh? I love you!
Cam
They also make women's clothes, for those women interested in the challenge.
Recently I wrote them and asked if they can make cotton dress pants.
They sent me a reply saying they can but I would need to order through their sister site
(it looks the same) which is www.makeyourownjeans.com. Aside from nearly shooting my wad when I innocently followed the "brazilian jeans" link,
I found another link that allows you to clone your own Jeans: http://tinyurl.com/CloneYourJeans.
I shortened it up for you. Actually, they allow you to clone pretty much anything, simply by sending one of your items to them,
and ordering two pairs.
Now we can input all of the measurements, or just send them something we want cloned.
I like that! You can read more at this link: http://tinyurl.com/CloneYourJeans I am writing this, thinking of Scooter over in Kansas who told me that one day he might consider giving
them a try because I seemed to be quite impressed with their work, and the way they looked. So, Scooter, if you're out there, why not send them something and see what they can do for you?
It might be nice to have something that actually CUSTOM fits that gorgeous body of yours, eh? I love you!
Cam
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)