patrick.net

Nomograph says

You seem to be obsessed with this, despite the fact that there is no danger to the US. To each his own.
Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery — Jane Austen

Why are you obsessed with disparaging this topic? If you don't like it, don't read these threads and take some of your own advice: leave each to his own.

Again...

Did your shrink recommend that you handle information that threatens you this way?

And does the unpredictable, unknowable nature of the real world frighten you so much that you have to try so hard to disparage the topic of this thread?

“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds” - Emerson

And Jane Austen sucks. All she wrote was fluff about stuffy dullards and prissy asswipes.

Nomograph says

Because you’re trying to spread bullshit and incite panic. Why not do something useful instead, like collect relief money?

Ouch. Looks like I touched a nerve. Either your shrink DID give you advice on this matter, or you really love Jane Austen. And who could really take Jane Austen seriously?

And what part of "don't panic" and "no cause for immediate alarm" don't you understand?

Yeah, some people would rather burry their heads in the sand and don't want to know about real disaster. I'm quite worried about the people in Northern Japan. I have friends living in Japan. This nuclear disaster scares the piss out of me. The reports of people who can't flee who have resigned themselves to the fact that they are going to die makes tears start clouding my eyes. I want to know the truth because I'm human like they are and I want to know how, if, I can help. Also we are being fed lines of BS by our government and the Japanese government. We really don't know how bad this will get. And there could be global effects. There are four reactors out of control instead of just one like at Chernobyl. This is unprecedented. There are no books that cover this level of disaster. We just don't know. And they aren't honoring us with the truth.

I was in whole foods yesterday asking a question about supplements (unrelated to this) and while I was there, the guy took a phone call from someone asking about iodine and also a lady right after me was looking for iodine related supplements. There is panic out there (in southern california).

Your perspective makes too much sense, simchaland... why is it so hard for some people to understand that critical thinking is important?

marcus says

There is panic out there (in southern california).

There might be less acute panic if people stayed informed instead of ignoring current events.

Well, they just reported that radioactive iodine has shown up in Tokyo tap water. Also they are finding radioactive caesium, iodine, and another radioactive isotope in the rain water falling on the Bay Area now as I write this. They say that the levels are extremely low. This does mean that fission material has made it the 5000 miles from Fukushima. While the levels are low, it points to evidence that something more serious is happening in Fukushima than officials are admitting. Most likely this isn't just going to be a level 5 event. It has all the potential of being a level 7 event. All of this concerns me because we aren't done with this crisis yet. They haven't reached containment and aren't expected to reach it any time soon even with the most favorable circumstances.

simchaland says

Also they are finding radioactive caesium, iodine, and another radioactive isotope in the rain water falling on the Bay Area now as I write this. They say that the levels are extremely low.

Can you post the source on this info? Thanks.

I'm watching NBC Bay Area. They are observing and measuring this at UC Berkeley. You could probably find the story on their website if you google it. Also they just reported that the levels of radiation in the spinach and milk are five times the levels that are considered safe. These samples are from farms as far away as 90 miles from the plant. This is evidence that the 50 mile evacuation zone that the US government advocates is woefully inadequate, let alone the mere twelve miles that the Japanese government is advocating.

On msnbc:

Radiation In Food And Water In Japan

From UC Berkeley Monitoring Report:

Results Of Analysis Of Rain Water From UC Berkeley Depaertment Of Nuclear Engineering

simchaland says

From UC Berkeley Monitoring Report:
Results Of Analysis Of Rain Water

Thanks simchaland, I'll add this to the list above. It is good to see that local scientists are actively monitoring radioisotope levels.

I am really sad that the info on particulate contamination in Japan is only coming out now. Particularly since the ones most affected by contaminated milk will be children. From your cited article:

The tainted milk was found 20 miles from the plant, a local official said. The spinach was collected from six farms between 60 miles and 75 miles to the south of the reactors.

Iodine levels in the spinach exceeded safety limits by three to seven times, a food safety official said. Tests on the milk done Wednesday detected small amounts of iodine-131 and cesium-137, the latter being a longer-lasting element that can cause more types of cancer. But only iodine was detected Thursday and Friday, a Health Ministry official said.

I was watching KTVU 10 pm news tonight. There was a segment about the UC Berkeley Nuclear Engineering Dept collecting and analyzing rainwater. One of the department members said that drinking rainwater for a week would subject an individual to 20 % of the radiation in a chest x-ray.

I don't want a chest x-ray's worth of radiation very 5 weeks!

simchaland says

Also we are being fed lines of BS by our government and the Japanese government. We really don’t know how bad this will get.

Just curious, why do you believe the governments know how bad it will get and are lying about it? They are just as in the dark as anyone else. No one has a clue how this will play out, but it will be very bad for Japan no matter what.

Thanks for the maps Terri

You're welcome Chris.

Golly Nomo, how could I be so far off the mark. Your comments don't look self-rightous, or like smartass, insincere attempts to exploit the suffering of others to try and make your point.

Nomograph says

Imagine if all the money wasted on buying iodide salts in the US (spurred on by terrideaner-style paranoia) was instead given to disaster relief.

Nomograph says

Take your iodide money and donate it to those who actually need it:

After all, it's not like your attention-starved attempts to derail this thread make you look 'histrionic'. AND you don't look like an obsessive, childish bully by continuing with your dismissive, personal attacks towards me. Of course, it WOULD be paranoid to consider that you're tripping over yourself to single me out. Don't worry, it's not becoming obvious that you project your worst attributes onto others you disagree with.

Nomograph says

I think Troy used to live in Japan so perhaps he has more of a vested interest.

Terrideaner is just spreading histrionic paranoia.

Nomograph says

simchaland says

Yeah, some people would rather burry their heads in the sand and don’t want to know about real disaster. I’m quite worried about the people in Northern Japan. [remainder of quote restored] I have friends living in Japan. This nuclear disaster scares the piss out of me. The reports of people who can’t flee who have resigned themselves to the fact that they are going to die makes tears start clouding my eyes. I want to know the truth because I’m human like they are and I want to know how, if, I can help. Also we are being fed lines of BS by our government and the Japanese government. We really don’t know how bad this will get. And there could be global effects. There are four reactors out of control instead of just one like at Chernobyl. This is unprecedented. There are no books that cover this level of disaster. We just don’t know. And they aren’t honoring us with the truth.

Exactly.

The people of Japan have faced and continue to face extreme disaster. Attention should be focused on Japan, yet people seem to want to make this all about themselves.

Imagine if all the money wasted on buying iodide salts in the US (spurred on by terrideaner-style paranoia) was instead given to disaster relief.

And Nomo, if you'd bother to actually read the post and check out the links, you'd note that there are maps for tracking the fallout IN Japan as well as elsewhere around the world.

I marked this one as a good read! Argitoo...(Thanks).
I wonder if the rating system includes only one that has useful info. or posts that have a good "comic value" as well.

I just wish Nomograph had a little more self-esteem and a lot more self confidence. Sigh...