Jeremiah Cornelius's Journal: Minor Accident - Only Level 6

Noting that a level 4 incident involves ''only local radiological consequences,'' it said the ongoing crisis is ''now closer to a level 6, and it may unfortunately reach a level 7'' -- a worst case scenario with extensive health and environmental consequences.

Japan battles to contain nuclear crisis

Japan Nuclear Situation "Out of Control" (Updated)

Breaking news: Fourth Japan nuke reactor now on fire

Fukushima: Mark 1 Nuclear Reactor Design Caused GE Scientist To Quit In Protest

Fukushima nuke plant situation 'worsened considerably': think tank

URGENT: Fuel rods damage at Fukushima's 2 reactors estimated at 70%, 33%

Level 6 Event â" Radiation Levels Soar As Radioactive Winds Sweep Toward Tokyo

Bad

[tqft]

http://live.reuters.com/Event/Japan_earthquake2 [reuters.com]

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/78524.html [kyodonews.jp]

A Primer on Spent Fuel Pools
http://mitnse.com/2011/03/16/a-primer-on-spent-fuel-pools/ [mitnse.com]
http://mitnse.com/ [mitnse.com]

Rock'em Sock'em Robots

[countertrolling]

They run they jump they dance they do everything but repair damaged buildings. They're good at destroying them. In this case, the next best thing might be to bury them. Would a remote controlled bulldozer and back hoe be any more difficult to build than a predator drone? I mean, I would hope that this would be treated as seriously as any other attack. Money should be pouring in for the necessary retooling of the factories.. Unfortunately it's all tied up in petrol futures and other acts of plunder.. So of

Re:

[Jeremiah Cornelius]

Mecha Godzilla

Easy to be pessimistic

[Magada]

I'm betting that when all this is over we'll be looking back on Chernobyl as a decently-managed nuclear crisis. The leadership in Japan appears much more rigid, formal and clueless than the CC of the CP of the USSR ever was.

It took the russkies a little over 24 hours to acknowledge that the shit had really and truly hit the fan (the evacuation of Pripyat was ordered by a team on the ground, not politicos in Moscow). The mobilization of thousands of volunteers, plus equipment, plus army personnel, took all o

Re:

[Johann Lau]

"so that someone can die heroically clearing a way for the cavalry." let terminally ill people volunteer, offer them a million bucks they can leave to whomever they wish. I'm not kidding either, just think about the scale, think about tokyo... just DO STUFF! =/

Re:

[Magada]

There is no shortage of volunteers, Japanese or otherwise, so no need to throw money at people. Equipment, too, can be had just for the begging (the US offered emergency generators at one point, which were turned down). Leadership, however, is sorely lacking and it's too late to get new leaders in there.

I fear Japan is well and truly fucked this time. I feel for them, I really do, but at the same time - oh boy, do I hate myself for writing this - I sure hope it rains a lot in Japan in the next week or so.

Fu