_valerian

Hey. What’s new?

I’m staying where I am.

These past few days I have been learning more about nuclear power and radiation than I thought I’d ever need to know. A (dangerously?) simple explanation of the Fukushima situation using pooping and farting can be found HERE.
In this case I will play the optimist and lean towards the words of John Beddington, Britain’s chief Science advisor in the UK, and the thoughts of Ryu Murakami.
More than this reactor trouble, I am upset how it is overshadowed the freezing, sick, tired, and starving brave people in the Tohoku region. I wouldn’t wish their current suffering on anyone.
My respect for the crew at Fukushima, the self defense force members, and all of the international support helping those people there is more than I can successfully put into words.

So, how about some pictures of recent daily life:

This was the worst damage that I had seen near where I live. This old building is between a major highway with 24/7 heavy trucking AND a train line. I didn’t like walking past it on a good day.

My local 7-11 and nearby large grocery store is getting food in. The trouble is that people make Panic Purchases (probably not a term used in The Economist) and buy more than they usually would.

All at the same time:

And then this crazy cold windstorm came in. . .

Last night the Emperor came on TV to give a speech. I liked it. I liked more how NHK was sure to say that the emperor himself insisted that they interrupt his speech in the event of breaking important news. I’ve been reading a ton of stuff on WWII Japanese experiences- hearing that was amazing. I think he is a good guy.

Now 7-11 has signs up respectfully asking customers to not over purchase essential items to ease the supply chain.

They did have Choco Banana parfaits still in stock though. No one is hoarding these babies. But with the threat of power outages, these are the things the managers of this store want to sell most.

* * * *

I just finished reading Vonnegut’s book Timequake the other day. Just when I was sure I had read the greatest sentence ever written, I’d read the next one and figure that no sentence could be better than that. And so it went.
There’s a bit in this book (can’t find it at the moment to quote it perfectly) where he mentions an old emperor or whatever who gathered his wise men and instructed them to create a sentence that could be applied in all situations for all time, regardless of the circumstances. They came up with “And this too, shall pass”.

Personally I don’t think I could have come across this book at a better time. Not that such condolences would warm or feed those survivors tonight.

Still aftershocks from time to time but here in Chiba we still have it far better off than up North.

This bag does not leave my side. Food, water, change of clothes, hand powered flashlight/cell phone charger, passport, cash, cameras, film, gloves, matches, etc.

Finally,