Any MeFites in Japan? March 11, 2011 6:41 AM Subscribe
Any MeFites in affected areas of Japan / Pacific? Anything anyone can do?
Ack, didn't see it. We can close this up, I suppose.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 6:58 AM on March 11, 2011
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 6:58 AM on March 11, 2011
I don't think that's necessary; you can discuss ways to help here that may be derails on the blue. I was just pointing it out for reference.
posted by amro at 7:06 AM on March 11, 2011
posted by amro at 7:06 AM on March 11, 2011
Still waiting for flapjax to check in. Gettin a lil nervous.
posted by cashman at 7:16 AM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by cashman at 7:16 AM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
The main thread on MeFi is here, for those who are wondering and don't want to go searching.
posted by koeselitz at 7:21 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by koeselitz at 7:21 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ghidorah, his spouse, and cat have all reported in, and are OK.
posted by schmod at 7:37 AM on March 11, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by schmod at 7:37 AM on March 11, 2011 [4 favorites]
And can we please keep this thread strictly focused on the status of Metafiltreans in Japan? We can discuss everything else in the main thread.
posted by schmod at 7:38 AM on March 11, 2011
posted by schmod at 7:38 AM on March 11, 2011
Huh?
posted by schmod at 8:10 AM on March 11, 2011 [10 favorites]
posted by schmod at 8:10 AM on March 11, 2011 [10 favorites]
Well flapjax has a comment on flickr 28 hours ago... i hope that's positive and as everyone says, its night and there's no internet connection adn there's other stuff.
posted by infini at 8:13 AM on March 11, 2011
posted by infini at 8:13 AM on March 11, 2011
If they arent on metafilter, they might be doing something more important than easing the minds of internet friends who live thousands of safe miles away.
Yes we are mefites, but our natural and preferred state may not be as text on metafilter.com.
Note: Everyone needs a hug.
posted by infini at 8:14 AM on March 11, 2011 [9 favorites]
Yes we are mefites, but our natural and preferred state may not be as text on metafilter.com.
Note: Everyone needs a hug.
posted by infini at 8:14 AM on March 11, 2011 [9 favorites]
Don't we have our profiles linked geographically? Couldn't someone make a list of known mefites in Japan?
posted by Think_Long at 8:16 AM on March 11, 2011
posted by Think_Long at 8:16 AM on March 11, 2011
Couldn't someone make a list of known mefites in Japan?
The MetaFilter Google Earth file is up to date.
posted by pb (staff) at 8:34 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
The MetaFilter Google Earth file is up to date.
posted by pb (staff) at 8:34 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
When gomichild was moving to Cairns about 10 minutes after the cyclone hit, I remember thinking "Lucky she's getting there *afterwards*, but oy, what a time to move!" And last night I was relieved to think of her in Oz instead of Japan.
Yeah, hoping flapjax et al. are okay and will be able to check in soon.
posted by rtha at 8:36 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeah, hoping flapjax et al. are okay and will be able to check in soon.
posted by rtha at 8:36 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
These are the 24 MetaFilter users within 100 miles of flapjax at midnight:
SageLeVoid (0 miles) robpongi (2 miles) armage (2 miles) gen (2 miles) kram175 (3 miles) mexican (3 miles) lundman (3 miles) nightchrome (3 miles) misozaki (4 miles) V'Ger (5 miles) Logomach (5 miles) jet_manifesto (7 miles) Tenacious.Me.Tokyo (9 miles) segatakai (9 miles) Bugbread (9 miles) phaedrus441 (10 miles) donkeymon (14 miles) davidr (17 miles) Ghidorah (19 miles) you zombitch (22 miles) woodblock100 (27 miles) stuartcw (32 miles) Bixby23 (37 miles) davidhogg (97 miles)
This could be a good place to start. I know we've heard from Ghidorah, armage, and gen.
posted by rollbiz at 8:45 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
SageLeVoid (0 miles) robpongi (2 miles) armage (2 miles) gen (2 miles) kram175 (3 miles) mexican (3 miles) lundman (3 miles) nightchrome (3 miles) misozaki (4 miles) V'Ger (5 miles) Logomach (5 miles) jet_manifesto (7 miles) Tenacious.Me.Tokyo (9 miles) segatakai (9 miles) Bugbread (9 miles) phaedrus441 (10 miles) donkeymon (14 miles) davidr (17 miles) Ghidorah (19 miles) you zombitch (22 miles) woodblock100 (27 miles) stuartcw (32 miles) Bixby23 (37 miles) davidhogg (97 miles)
This could be a good place to start. I know we've heard from Ghidorah, armage, and gen.
posted by rollbiz at 8:45 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Taken from American Red Cross Restoring Family Links Bulletin that I receive:
"If you have the mobile phone number of your family member in the affected areas, you may utilize the following services to check whether he/she has registered his/her message(s) on this service. Services are available in English and Japanese.
· DoCoMo
· SoftBanK
· Willcom
Please note that when you enter the mobile phone number for search on the webpage, you should remove the country code 0081 and add 0 at the beginning. For example, if you dial the number internationally as follows, 0081-90-8877-6655, enter it into the website as: 090-8877-6655."
Also, if the person you're trying to find is a US Citizen:
"Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens living or traveling in Japan should be referred to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 or 202 647-5225."
posted by FJT at 8:50 AM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
"If you have the mobile phone number of your family member in the affected areas, you may utilize the following services to check whether he/she has registered his/her message(s) on this service. Services are available in English and Japanese.
· DoCoMo
· SoftBanK
· Willcom
Please note that when you enter the mobile phone number for search on the webpage, you should remove the country code 0081 and add 0 at the beginning. For example, if you dial the number internationally as follows, 0081-90-8877-6655, enter it into the website as: 090-8877-6655."
Also, if the person you're trying to find is a US Citizen:
"Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens living or traveling in Japan should be referred to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 or 202 647-5225."
posted by FJT at 8:50 AM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
I downloaded the MeFi Google Earth file, but I don't know how to open it. I'm on a Mac and don't have MS Office, just iWork09. I tried Pages and Numbers and neither of those worked. How do I look at this file?
posted by marsha56 at 8:52 AM on March 11, 2011
posted by marsha56 at 8:52 AM on March 11, 2011
marsha56, you need to install Google Earth to view it.
posted by pb (staff) at 8:53 AM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by pb (staff) at 8:53 AM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
Awww thanks rtha - sometimes there is method in my madness...
Misozaki has been favouriting comments here and stuartcw I have heard from on Facebook - it's sleepy time in Japan now so will be a delay in others chiming in - and everyone sounds exhausted.
posted by gomichild at 8:53 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Misozaki has been favouriting comments here and stuartcw I have heard from on Facebook - it's sleepy time in Japan now so will be a delay in others chiming in - and everyone sounds exhausted.
posted by gomichild at 8:53 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
These are the 24 MetaFilter users within 100 miles of flapjax at midnight:
nothing against Flapjax who's one of my favorite mefites ... but let's not neglect those other 24 either.
For what it's worth, the news out of Tokyo thus far is comparatively good, so here's hoping.
posted by philip-random at 9:09 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
nothing against Flapjax who's one of my favorite mefites ... but let's not neglect those other 24 either.
For what it's worth, the news out of Tokyo thus far is comparatively good, so here's hoping.
posted by philip-random at 9:09 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
I dont understand that concept. If people are on metafilter constantly, they obviously are ok.
I don't understand your concept that if someone in this day and age is using a website, "they obviously are OK." There are iPhones in Japan, you know. The fact that someone is using a website doesn't really tell you anything about them except that they're alive.
posted by John Cohen at 9:14 AM on March 11, 2011
I don't understand your concept that if someone in this day and age is using a website, "they obviously are OK." There are iPhones in Japan, you know. The fact that someone is using a website doesn't really tell you anything about them except that they're alive.
posted by John Cohen at 9:14 AM on March 11, 2011
stuartcw is okay. His website's live feed shows him updating to twitter and reddit.
posted by zarq at 9:16 AM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by zarq at 9:16 AM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
Also I should mention that flapjax doesn't own a mobile phone at all so unless he is at home and computer and Internet is ok and power is working he won't be able to check in.
posted by gomichild at 9:18 AM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by gomichild at 9:18 AM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
He hasn't posted on mefi in a while but JVA is in Nagasaki and is ok.
posted by ghharr at 9:34 AM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by ghharr at 9:34 AM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
I don't understand your concept that if someone in this day and age is using a website, "they obviously are OK." There are iPhones in Japan, you know. The fact that someone is using a website doesn't really tell you anything about them except that they're alive.
Why the nasty, patronizing tone? In the context of one of the most powerful earthquakes in modern history, alive is OK.
posted by dersins at 9:40 AM on March 11, 2011 [17 favorites]
Why the nasty, patronizing tone? In the context of one of the most powerful earthquakes in modern history, alive is OK.
posted by dersins at 9:40 AM on March 11, 2011 [17 favorites]
Also woodblock100 doesn't have a mobile phone either and his Internet/power could be out right now. Or earlier before he probably went to bed.
posted by gomichild at 9:48 AM on March 11, 2011
posted by gomichild at 9:48 AM on March 11, 2011
schmod: “And can we please keep this thread strictly focused on the status of Metafiltreans in Japan? We can discuss everything else in the main thread.”
hal_c_on: “I dont understand that concept. If people are on metafilter constantly, they obviously are ok. If they arent on metafilter, they might be doing something more important than easing the minds of internet friends who live thousands of safe miles away. Yes we are mefites, but our natural and preferred state may not be as text on metafilter.com.”
John Cohen: “I don't understand your concept that if someone in this day and age is using a website, "they obviously are OK." There are iPhones in Japan, you know. The fact that someone is using a website doesn't really tell you anything about them except that they're alive.”
dersins: “Why the nasty, patronizing tone? In the context of one of the most powerful earthquakes in modern history, alive is OK.”
We're all worried about people. That can make us anxious or snippy. I generally don't hold anybody accountable for stuff they say because they're worried. Regardless of whether we're good at communicating it at a given moment, the important thing is to make sure the people we care about are alive and all right. That's all any of us are worried about.
posted by koeselitz at 10:04 AM on March 11, 2011 [8 favorites]
hal_c_on: “I dont understand that concept. If people are on metafilter constantly, they obviously are ok. If they arent on metafilter, they might be doing something more important than easing the minds of internet friends who live thousands of safe miles away. Yes we are mefites, but our natural and preferred state may not be as text on metafilter.com.”
John Cohen: “I don't understand your concept that if someone in this day and age is using a website, "they obviously are OK." There are iPhones in Japan, you know. The fact that someone is using a website doesn't really tell you anything about them except that they're alive.”
dersins: “Why the nasty, patronizing tone? In the context of one of the most powerful earthquakes in modern history, alive is OK.”
We're all worried about people. That can make us anxious or snippy. I generally don't hold anybody accountable for stuff they say because they're worried. Regardless of whether we're good at communicating it at a given moment, the important thing is to make sure the people we care about are alive and all right. That's all any of us are worried about.
posted by koeselitz at 10:04 AM on March 11, 2011 [8 favorites]
I just realized I had a phone number for woodblock100's daughters. I spoke with one of them and she said that he's fine. He was away from home at the time of the quake, and was stranded since the trains aren't running, but he's at the home of one of his print collectors, and is in touch with family in Canada.
Phew.
(crossposted from the main thread)
posted by ocherdraco at 10:13 AM on March 11, 2011 [16 favorites]
Phew.
(crossposted from the main thread)
posted by ocherdraco at 10:13 AM on March 11, 2011 [16 favorites]
Fantastic news - ocherdraco reports that woodblock100 is okay.
posted by koeselitz at 10:15 AM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by koeselitz at 10:15 AM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
Ha, ought to have previewed. :)
posted by koeselitz at 10:15 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by koeselitz at 10:15 AM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
nothing against Flapjax who's one of my favorite mefites ... but let's not neglect those other 24 either.
We could also expand our scope to non-mefites. When I saw the tsunami engulf that farm, I know my first response wasn't "I hope nobody from MetaFilter was in there!" I just hope nobody was in there, period.
posted by DU at 10:49 AM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
We could also expand our scope to non-mefites. When I saw the tsunami engulf that farm, I know my first response wasn't "I hope nobody from MetaFilter was in there!" I just hope nobody was in there, period.
posted by DU at 10:49 AM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
It's a family thing, Du. I get your point but in a crisis, family members are initially going to check on each other first. Nothing wrong with that.
posted by cashman at 10:54 AM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by cashman at 10:54 AM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
I just realized I had a phone number for woodblock100's daughters. I spoke with one of them and she said that he's fine. He was away from home at the time of the quake, and was stranded since the trains aren't running, but he's at the home of one of his print collectors, and is in touch with family in Canada.
Thank God. I need him for the holidays -- seriously folks, his holiday-special prints make great gifts.
posted by Think_Long at 11:09 AM on March 11, 2011
Thank God. I need him for the holidays -- seriously folks, his holiday-special prints make great gifts.
posted by Think_Long at 11:09 AM on March 11, 2011
We can't really worry about it till approx 4 or 5 hours from now (morning,) and then as gomichild said above, it depends on whether there is internet and electricity.
posted by infini at 11:21 AM on March 11, 2011
posted by infini at 11:21 AM on March 11, 2011
Thanks, pb, for activating live comment updating in MetaTalk today.
posted by ocherdraco at 11:37 AM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by ocherdraco at 11:37 AM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
Yes, yes. Thank you. I was going to ask for it, but didn't.
posted by cashman at 11:46 AM on March 11, 2011
posted by cashman at 11:46 AM on March 11, 2011
Google has a people finder up:
http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en
posted by DreamerFi at 12:00 PM on March 11, 2011
http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en
posted by DreamerFi at 12:00 PM on March 11, 2011
crp. let me linkify that for you
http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en
posted by DreamerFi at 12:00 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en
posted by DreamerFi at 12:00 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
It occurs to me that maybe this is sideblog-worthy... if only to catch people who don't go this far down on the front page or check MetaTalk. Mods: what do you think?
posted by koeselitz at 12:01 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by koeselitz at 12:01 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
The people finder is linked above already (not that it is bad to have it linked in multiple places for those trying to find folks).
posted by cashman at 12:02 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by cashman at 12:02 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Sideblog would be great. It would also be cool if some info was added to the main line on the FPP, such as the word earthquake or Japan. I saw the news and immediately searched the front page for "Japan" or "Earthqauke" and there was nothing. After some scanning, I saw "Preliminary magnitude 7.9 off Honshu at 05:46 UTC The Pacific Ring of Fire has been living up to its name lately. BBC flash reporting a Tsunami Alert has been issued." and it took me some time before I realized that was the story.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 12:06 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 12:06 PM on March 11, 2011
Since flapjax is from Alabama, and I'm in Alabama right now (home for a wedding) I thought I'd do a little phoning to see if I could find someone with news of how he and his family are doing. A friend of his kindly passed along his sister's phone number, and I've left her a message letting her know that friends of his from the internet are wondering how he's doing, and to please call if she hears anything because we'd all greatly appreciate it.
If I hear anything, I'll let you know.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:12 PM on March 11, 2011 [6 favorites]
If I hear anything, I'll let you know.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:12 PM on March 11, 2011 [6 favorites]
I sideblogged it.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:20 PM on March 11, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:20 PM on March 11, 2011 [5 favorites]
Hooray!
flapjax's sister just called. He's just fine, as are his wife and daughter. He was actually away from Tokyo for a gig, and hasn't yet been able to get home. His sister wanted to thank everyone for their concern, and she was glad I called.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:23 PM on March 11, 2011 [109 favorites]
flapjax's sister just called. He's just fine, as are his wife and daughter. He was actually away from Tokyo for a gig, and hasn't yet been able to get home. His sister wanted to thank everyone for their concern, and she was glad I called.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:23 PM on March 11, 2011 [109 favorites]
Phew, thanks. We're all traveling today [except pb] so it other site stuff is important, toss it to the contact form to make sure whoever is around can take a look at it the quickest.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:26 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:26 PM on March 11, 2011
Someone made a record at the above mentioned Google people finder for flapjax (search under his real name). His status is still 'Unspecified'. ocherdraco, since you spoke to his sister, maybe you could update it?
posted by mahershalal at 12:43 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by mahershalal at 12:43 PM on March 11, 2011
Thank god about flapjax. My stomach was in a painful roil waiting for news about him. So glad he and his family are okay. Thanks for posting the news. It made me cry with relief.
Now just plain heartbroken about the other millions and millions of people in Japan suffering from this nightmare of a disaster.
posted by nickyskye at 1:00 PM on March 11, 2011
Now just plain heartbroken about the other millions and millions of people in Japan suffering from this nightmare of a disaster.
posted by nickyskye at 1:00 PM on March 11, 2011
flapjax's sister just called. He's just fine, as are his wife and daughter.
boy... sometimes good news is good news. Take care !
posted by nicolin at 1:04 PM on March 11, 2011
boy... sometimes good news is good news. Take care !
posted by nicolin at 1:04 PM on March 11, 2011
To ease y'all's worries a bit: the earthquake was big here in Tokyo, but not huge. There have been some fatalities in the Tokyo metro area (Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, Kanagawa, for y'all geographically inclined), but very very few compared to the population of the metro area.
The reason I'm telling you this is: if you know someone who lives in or very near Tokyo, relax. The odds that they are fine are extraordinarily high. I'd be worried about folks up north, but for Tokyo, unless they're *spectacularly* unlucky, the worst they're dealing with is broken glassware, power outages, lack of Internet, and train stoppage.
Which brings me to note that even though everything else at my place was fine, the Internet was out until bedtime last night, and came back sometime in the middle of the night. The neighbors use a different fiber provider, but their Internet went out too. So the people you may be trying to contact may be absolutely, totally fine, but unable to communicate that.
posted by Bugbread at 1:04 PM on March 11, 2011 [13 favorites]
The reason I'm telling you this is: if you know someone who lives in or very near Tokyo, relax. The odds that they are fine are extraordinarily high. I'd be worried about folks up north, but for Tokyo, unless they're *spectacularly* unlucky, the worst they're dealing with is broken glassware, power outages, lack of Internet, and train stoppage.
Which brings me to note that even though everything else at my place was fine, the Internet was out until bedtime last night, and came back sometime in the middle of the night. The neighbors use a different fiber provider, but their Internet went out too. So the people you may be trying to contact may be absolutely, totally fine, but unable to communicate that.
posted by Bugbread at 1:04 PM on March 11, 2011 [13 favorites]
I'm so relieved to hear that flapjax et al are OK. Now, who else do we know there? Can we get some kind of roll call?
posted by pjern at 1:17 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by pjern at 1:17 PM on March 11, 2011
jet_manifesto commented that he was OK in the thread, and is looking to live somewhere without earthquakes (to which I reply here's the wiki list of earthquakes around the world, and a small world map of earthquakes - note that there are tiny red dots all over the map).
Checking through the list of MeFites near flapjax, the rest seem to be occasional posters at best (some have never posted anywhere, or only a few answers on Ask.Metafilter). I don't know who else to query to find MeFites closer to the epicenter.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:20 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Checking through the list of MeFites near flapjax, the rest seem to be occasional posters at best (some have never posted anywhere, or only a few answers on Ask.Metafilter). I don't know who else to query to find MeFites closer to the epicenter.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:20 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
gc is in Iwate province, but inland, so I'm sure no worries from the tsunami in his case. I haven't heard from him yet and am slightly concerned as they just recently got another 6.1 quake centered at Morioka. I'm sure I probably don't need to be worried, but that doesn't change the fact that I am. I'm hoping once morning breaks over there I'll get word.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 1:49 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 1:49 PM on March 11, 2011
It's nice to hear everyone is OK so far. Also, threads like this are the reason MetaFilter is so great.
*hugs*
posted by JeffK at 1:55 PM on March 11, 2011
*hugs*
posted by JeffK at 1:55 PM on March 11, 2011
If you want to fine mefites whose profiles show they're near a specific location, you can briefly set your own location there and see who it says is near you.
posted by FishBike at 2:00 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by FishBike at 2:00 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you want to fine mefites whose profiles show they're near a specific location, you can briefly set your own location there and see who it says is near you.
Which works great unless a hundred people are doing the same thing at the same time, as (possibly) now.
posted by dersins at 2:09 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Which works great unless a hundred people are doing the same thing at the same time, as (possibly) now.
posted by dersins at 2:09 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Wow, everybody lives in Japan! The next meetup is gonna be huge!!!"
posted by Bugbread at 2:24 PM on March 11, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by Bugbread at 2:24 PM on March 11, 2011 [8 favorites]
For those who want to contribute and make their money go as far as possible, I just got this very helpful web page from a Charity Navigator email.
posted by bearwife at 2:27 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by bearwife at 2:27 PM on March 11, 2011
FWIW I haven't been commenting because I didn't want to clutter up the quake thread in the Blue (and I just noticed this MetaTalk thread), so I've been favoriting comments here and there to let people know I'm around. (Hey, gomichild, something must have told you to get the hell outta here, huh?) But like Bugbread said above, Tokyo is basically fine except for the masses of people being stranded wherever they happened to be at the time of the quake and the random ceilings falling here and there. Yes, there have been unfortunate casualties here, too, but it's not like people are totally panicking in the streets. So if you have family/friends/acquaintances in Tokyo, chances are they are fine. Inconvenienced, maybe, but fine. Thanks for everybody's concern for Japan, it's heartbreaking what's going on up north right now.
posted by misozaki at 2:29 PM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by misozaki at 2:29 PM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
I updated the People Finder page for flapjax.
posted by ocherdraco at 2:44 PM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by ocherdraco at 2:44 PM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
Though I'm glad to see that the Kanto-based folks are okay, I'm more concerned about anyone located in Sendai or other parts of Tohoku. It's a huge mess right now.
posted by armage at 2:55 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by armage at 2:55 PM on March 11, 2011
voice of reason
That would be Bugbread, who is always the voice of reason.
I can understand everyone's interest and concern about the subject, but I sort of wish people would stop posting every little scrap of information they read or hear about the nuclear power plant in Fukushima in the thread in the Blue. The evacuation is a precautionary measure, at least for the time being. It almost reads like people want the meltdown to happen. Geez.
Things that have already happened are bad enough as it is. Why add speculation about what might happen to the mix?
posted by misozaki at 3:04 PM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
That would be Bugbread, who is always the voice of reason.
I can understand everyone's interest and concern about the subject, but I sort of wish people would stop posting every little scrap of information they read or hear about the nuclear power plant in Fukushima in the thread in the Blue. The evacuation is a precautionary measure, at least for the time being. It almost reads like people want the meltdown to happen. Geez.
Things that have already happened are bad enough as it is. Why add speculation about what might happen to the mix?
posted by misozaki at 3:04 PM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
Does anybody read grumpy teacher on blogspot? He's kind of goofy but I hope he's OK.
posted by notned at 3:12 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by notned at 3:12 PM on March 11, 2011
I sort of wish people would stop posting every little scrap of information they read or hear about the nuclear power plant in Fukushima in the thread in the Blue.
I'll second this. Everyone's been evacuated anyway, and there's much more serious stuff going on in other parts of the region.
posted by armage at 3:12 PM on March 11, 2011
I'll second this. Everyone's been evacuated anyway, and there's much more serious stuff going on in other parts of the region.
posted by armage at 3:12 PM on March 11, 2011
Yes, agreeing that everyone should calm down a bit and count to ten before posting. Some poor guy is asking about vacation plans on the green, and people are tearing him a new one.
posted by Melismata at 3:14 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Melismata at 3:14 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm just very thankful that most of our mefi friends seem to be alright and that the people there seem to have such a high level of preparedness. So many lives saved by that.
posted by snsranch at 3:46 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by snsranch at 3:46 PM on March 11, 2011
I'm just very thankful that most of our mefi friends seem to be alright and that the people there seem to have such a high level of preparedness. So many lives saved by that.
There is no better prepared country than Japan when it comes to earthquakes, fortunately.
posted by armage at 3:53 PM on March 11, 2011
There is no better prepared country than Japan when it comes to earthquakes, fortunately.
posted by armage at 3:53 PM on March 11, 2011
hal_c_on: "Thanks for being the voice of reason, Zarq. During times of stress and uncertainty, THIS is what people need to hear. Thanks from me, and all the other people who have calmed their ass down because of what you wrote."
Heh. Yes, that was Bugbread, not me. But thanks anyway. ;)
posted by zarq at 4:15 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Heh. Yes, that was Bugbread, not me. But thanks anyway. ;)
posted by zarq at 4:15 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
flapjax's sister just called. He's just fine, as are his wife and daughter
I have been waiting all day to favorite this comment. Good news, and thank you Metafilter.
posted by preparat at 5:15 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
I have been waiting all day to favorite this comment. Good news, and thank you Metafilter.
posted by preparat at 5:15 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
My thoughts are with those who are in Japan or have family there. So glad to see the Mefites here or in the other thread who have checked in.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:32 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 5:32 PM on March 11, 2011
Great news about flap, my thoughts are with everyone affected by this disaster.
posted by jonmc at 5:43 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by jonmc at 5:43 PM on March 11, 2011
As mentioned up-thread, flapjax and his family are doing fine. He just got home from being stuck "way the fuck out in north Nowhere" where he spent the night sleeping on the floor of a restaurant.
posted by gman at 5:56 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by gman at 5:56 PM on March 11, 2011
(sorry, that should've had a huge ":)" after it, but I am le Tired...!
posted by rollbiz at 6:21 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by rollbiz at 6:21 PM on March 11, 2011
Hey, y'all. Thanks so much for your concern. As rollbiz pointed out just now, I am indeed safe and sound and back home. I'll copy and paste my FB update here...
Hi friends. My family and I are all fine and unscathed, I'm so thankful to report. I was waaay out in Saitama (north of Tokyo) teaching English to little kiddies at a classroom in a huge new shopping mall. I was on a 20 minute beak between classes, about to step into a food store, when the huge structure started to shake...
I made a beeline for the nearest exit. The quake was LONG. Standing out in the parking lot was like standing on a raft. The parking lot was doing a slow ripple, I ain't lying... All the cars in the lot were rocking back and forth on their wheels. A huge electrical tower nearby was swaying. The facade of the mall (enormous, and made of concrete and glass) was rippling and swaying. The whole scene was, well, damn, really something. And terrifying, of course.
And the reason I didn't post anything til now is that I just now got home. I was an hour and a half north of Tokyo (and that's on EXPRESS trains) and of course there was no train service last night. Had to stay at a 24-hour "family restaurant" called Gusto. Americans can just imagine Denny's, for atmosphere. Food's better, though, being Japan.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:25 PM on March 11, 2011 [69 favorites]
Hi friends. My family and I are all fine and unscathed, I'm so thankful to report. I was waaay out in Saitama (north of Tokyo) teaching English to little kiddies at a classroom in a huge new shopping mall. I was on a 20 minute beak between classes, about to step into a food store, when the huge structure started to shake...
I made a beeline for the nearest exit. The quake was LONG. Standing out in the parking lot was like standing on a raft. The parking lot was doing a slow ripple, I ain't lying... All the cars in the lot were rocking back and forth on their wheels. A huge electrical tower nearby was swaying. The facade of the mall (enormous, and made of concrete and glass) was rippling and swaying. The whole scene was, well, damn, really something. And terrifying, of course.
And the reason I didn't post anything til now is that I just now got home. I was an hour and a half north of Tokyo (and that's on EXPRESS trains) and of course there was no train service last night. Had to stay at a 24-hour "family restaurant" called Gusto. Americans can just imagine Denny's, for atmosphere. Food's better, though, being Japan.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:25 PM on March 11, 2011 [69 favorites]
Flapjax beat me home by a few minutes!
Thanks very much to everybody for being concerned about us ... leaves a nice fuzzy feeling to know that we are 'missed' :-)
Nothing special to report - the quake was as surreal as Flapjax describes, with the strangest part coming after the main shaking had settled down. For the next few minutes it was just like being on the deck of a large ship, and you had to adjust the weight to your legs in turn as the 'deck' seemed to tilt side to side very slowly. It's liquid under there!
40km turned out to be just a tad too far to make it all the way home, but after spreading woodblock prints around the country for 20+ years, I guess I have built up quite a 'network' without really planning to, and when I got to a place near where I knew one of the collectors lives I knocked on the door and cadged a bite to eat and a place to crash for the night. The trains started running around eight this morning, so I headed home. (Trains moving at a very slow pace, 'for safety'.)
Shocked at the scenes from up north though. So many people washed away before they had a chance to get to safety ...
posted by woodblock100 at 6:38 PM on March 11, 2011 [54 favorites]
Thanks very much to everybody for being concerned about us ... leaves a nice fuzzy feeling to know that we are 'missed' :-)
Nothing special to report - the quake was as surreal as Flapjax describes, with the strangest part coming after the main shaking had settled down. For the next few minutes it was just like being on the deck of a large ship, and you had to adjust the weight to your legs in turn as the 'deck' seemed to tilt side to side very slowly. It's liquid under there!
40km turned out to be just a tad too far to make it all the way home, but after spreading woodblock prints around the country for 20+ years, I guess I have built up quite a 'network' without really planning to, and when I got to a place near where I knew one of the collectors lives I knocked on the door and cadged a bite to eat and a place to crash for the night. The trains started running around eight this morning, so I headed home. (Trains moving at a very slow pace, 'for safety'.)
Shocked at the scenes from up north though. So many people washed away before they had a chance to get to safety ...
posted by woodblock100 at 6:38 PM on March 11, 2011 [54 favorites]
Yay, flapjax! Yay, woodblock100! So glad to hear you're safe and sound!
posted by rtha at 6:47 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by rtha at 6:47 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
Yeeha!
posted by ocherdraco at 6:49 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by ocherdraco at 6:49 PM on March 11, 2011
Thanks for checking in flapjax and woodblock100! I too am SOOOO glad you and your folks are safe and sound!
posted by snsranch at 6:51 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by snsranch at 6:51 PM on March 11, 2011
I'm glad you two are okay. Glad doesn't really cover it, but it'll do for now. So happy you're safe.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:56 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by Ghidorah at 6:56 PM on March 11, 2011
So glad that flapjax and woodblock and everyone are alright. I haven't been commenting much lately with my day-job keeping me busy, but I drained my phone of batteries today during breaks reading through the main thread waiting to hear from the various Japan Mefite's I love. I'm glad pretty much everyone on Mefi seems to have escaped unscathed, and my heart goes out to everyone in Tokyo.
posted by Caduceus at 6:56 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by Caduceus at 6:56 PM on March 11, 2011
Glad you're fine, flapjax and woodblock.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:15 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 7:15 PM on March 11, 2011
We're ok as well. I was in the main thread, so I missed this one.
posted by gen at 7:44 PM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by gen at 7:44 PM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
On the last leg of my journey home today, coming via a different route than I'd usually take home, I passed a temple and stepped into the graveyard. Snapped this picture of a wall of ojizousama, and this one of fallen ojizousama, brought down by yesterday's quake.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:46 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:46 PM on March 11, 2011
And, just wanna say it really is great to hear that you Mefite friends are all OK.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:51 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:51 PM on March 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
I wanna do that scene from Predator where me and flapjax slap together a handshake like "Dylan, you son of a bitch".
Glad to see you dude!
posted by cashman at 8:09 PM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
Glad to see you dude!
posted by cashman at 8:09 PM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
Can we actually set up a proper Hanami/Earthquake stress relief meetup? I'm going to be home from Thursday, the 17th, until March 28th, but after that, I'd definitely be interested in beveages under a pretty tree.
posted by Ghidorah at 8:11 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by Ghidorah at 8:11 PM on March 11, 2011
hey, sounds good to me, Ghidorah. Why don't you start a thread (maybe in a coupla days?) over at IRL, and we'll see if we can all agree on a date.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:33 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:33 PM on March 11, 2011
cashman, I guess now I'm gonna have to see Predator.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:34 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:34 PM on March 11, 2011
The internet is a strange thing.
My best wishes and hope for all MeFites and their families in Japan right now.
And flapjax, I was halfway through a MeMail to you this morning, because you're the only person I "know" in Japan, (even though I've never met you; but I feel a connection to you through MeFi Music and when all this shit started going down you were the first person who popped into my head and I felt a weird urge to make sure you were okay) but then I deleted it because I figured MeMail is the last thing I'd be checking in that situation.
So glad everyone's okay.
posted by chococat at 8:37 PM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
My best wishes and hope for all MeFites and their families in Japan right now.
And flapjax, I was halfway through a MeMail to you this morning, because you're the only person I "know" in Japan, (even though I've never met you; but I feel a connection to you through MeFi Music and when all this shit started going down you were the first person who popped into my head and I felt a weird urge to make sure you were okay) but then I deleted it because I figured MeMail is the last thing I'd be checking in that situation.
So glad everyone's okay.
posted by chococat at 8:37 PM on March 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
Thanks for your kind words, chococat. Brother musician!
I figured MeMail is the last thing I'd be checking in that situation.
Well, I look at it pretty much the same as email and FB mail... it's just another way to get and receive messages, so in fact I checked it straightaway, once I was back on the computer, along with all other channels of correspondence.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:48 PM on March 11, 2011
I figured MeMail is the last thing I'd be checking in that situation.
Well, I look at it pretty much the same as email and FB mail... it's just another way to get and receive messages, so in fact I checked it straightaway, once I was back on the computer, along with all other channels of correspondence.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:48 PM on March 11, 2011
flapjax, I'm very relieved that you and your family there are OK. Man, I've been through a few quakes, in Naples and here in So Cal. Some pretty big ones, but absolutely nothing like what just happened there. I'm so thankful that the casualties are as low as they seem to be so far.
posted by snsranch at 8:49 PM on March 11, 2011
posted by snsranch at 8:49 PM on March 11, 2011
To note, gc is without heat or power, but alright. And now I can go to sleep.
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 9:41 PM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 9:41 PM on March 11, 2011 [2 favorites]
To note, gc is without heat or power, but alright. And now I can go to sleep.
Weird anecdote: I checked on gc's profile, saw the flickr thumbnails and thought "Hey, Earthquake pics!" because I saw jumbles of things and stuff, and was hoping it was signs of current activity.
No, it was just pictures of what Japan's chaotic alleyways and their rats-nests of cables look like before a quake. *slaps forehead*
posted by loquacious at 10:21 PM on March 11, 2011
Weird anecdote: I checked on gc's profile, saw the flickr thumbnails and thought "Hey, Earthquake pics!" because I saw jumbles of things and stuff, and was hoping it was signs of current activity.
No, it was just pictures of what Japan's chaotic alleyways and their rats-nests of cables look like before a quake. *slaps forehead*
posted by loquacious at 10:21 PM on March 11, 2011
I got another message from gc, he says:
…Still no power. Phones are dodgy at best. eMail and 'Net worse.posted by thebestsophist at 11:16 PM on March 11, 2011
[I'm] in Iwate, Morioka city. Saw about 400 people taking shelter near the station. Still noticeable aftershocks.
I met a bunch of Tokyo mefites a couple of years ago and they were all wonderful, friendly, generous, downright awesome people. I'm glad to see so many of you check in and hope everyone out there is OK.
I haven't been through this directly but have some small idea of what it's like, having my parents live in Christchurch and go through their recent earthquake, including only finding out a couple of days go that a direct family member is actually OK. My heart goes out to everyone in Japan dealing with this crap, just as it does for those in my country and in Haiti and Samoa. Thanks for checking in with us here, so we can at least worry a bit less about mefi's own.
posted by shelleycat at 11:36 PM on March 11, 2011
I haven't been through this directly but have some small idea of what it's like, having my parents live in Christchurch and go through their recent earthquake, including only finding out a couple of days go that a direct family member is actually OK. My heart goes out to everyone in Japan dealing with this crap, just as it does for those in my country and in Haiti and Samoa. Thanks for checking in with us here, so we can at least worry a bit less about mefi's own.
posted by shelleycat at 11:36 PM on March 11, 2011
Fukushima exploded a half hour ago. Is possibly in meltdown. Seems real bad?
posted by polyhedron at 12:30 AM on March 12, 2011
posted by polyhedron at 12:30 AM on March 12, 2011
Well, Fukushima Reactor 1, not the entire city of Fukushima.
posted by Bugbread at 12:36 AM on March 12, 2011
posted by Bugbread at 12:36 AM on March 12, 2011
Yes, sorry. I'm just getting some text messages and am pretty tired atm.
posted by polyhedron at 12:38 AM on March 12, 2011
posted by polyhedron at 12:38 AM on March 12, 2011
According to NHK radioactive cesium and iodine have been detected near Fukushima 1, according to my brother (nuke engineering student) those are two common fission products from the fuel melting.
posted by polyhedron at 12:42 AM on March 12, 2011
posted by polyhedron at 12:42 AM on March 12, 2011
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/12_45.html
posted by polyhedron at 12:43 AM on March 12, 2011
posted by polyhedron at 12:43 AM on March 12, 2011
Good point to remind everyone that when you're visiting a foreign country, register with your embassy so if something bad happens they know you're there at least.
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 12:49 AM on March 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Dillonlikescookies at 12:49 AM on March 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
Heh, yeah, the news here in NZ mentioned that New Zealanders, in particular, are pretty bad at doing that. I suspect embassies will get a lot more traffic in future.
posted by tracicle at 12:55 AM on March 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by tracicle at 12:55 AM on March 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Hey, flapjax and woodblock100, glad to hear you're both all right.
There definitely needs to be an all-Japan meetup within the next couple months.
posted by armage at 1:48 AM on March 12, 2011
There definitely needs to be an all-Japan meetup within the next couple months.
posted by armage at 1:48 AM on March 12, 2011
Although I don't "know" anyone on MeFi, I am very happy and heartened to see this outpouring of warmth and support for everyone. And I hope none of the folks that have lived through this devastation take this the wrong way, but the descriptions of what it felt like as the quake was happening, are fascinating to me. Having never experienced a quake, I have no idea what it is like. Watching video is fascinating as well, but the real life descriptions are, well, so interesting to me.
While I completely understand if folks do not want to re-live it, I do thank you for telling us what it was really like.
I'm just really glad that everyone that has reported in is okay.
posted by sundrop at 8:39 AM on March 12, 2011
While I completely understand if folks do not want to re-live it, I do thank you for telling us what it was really like.
I'm just really glad that everyone that has reported in is okay.
posted by sundrop at 8:39 AM on March 12, 2011
Yeah, I don't personally know any Japanese MeFites either, but I was fantastically relieved when they finally left a comment.
posted by Dumsnill at 8:54 AM on March 12, 2011
posted by Dumsnill at 8:54 AM on March 12, 2011
This is no different to some loon claiming that Japan is suffering because they worship idols instead of Jesus, and has no place here.
Metafilter appears to do a shitty job of keeping the anime and Godzilla references out of the thread, which is bad enough, but this craps is really unbelievable.
posted by rodgerd at 10:54 AM on March 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Metafilter appears to do a shitty job of keeping the anime and Godzilla references out of the thread, which is bad enough, but this craps is really unbelievable.
posted by rodgerd at 10:54 AM on March 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is no different to some loon claiming that Japan is suffering because they worship idols instead of Jesus, and has no place here.
Seems to me that those in the thread are doing a pretty good job of shutting that line of discussion down, kokuryu in particular.
I'm personally for not deleting the comment as it does speak to the "official record" of what people are thinking, feeling, imagining in the NOW of this thing -- however absurd and/or self-centered.
posted by philip-random at 11:02 AM on March 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seems to me that those in the thread are doing a pretty good job of shutting that line of discussion down, kokuryu in particular.
I'm personally for not deleting the comment as it does speak to the "official record" of what people are thinking, feeling, imagining in the NOW of this thing -- however absurd and/or self-centered.
posted by philip-random at 11:02 AM on March 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't think you can erect a sign over a discussion saying "this thread only for those who get that it's plate tectonics." I mean, I lump the "bad energy" people in with the "Pearl Harbor" people but folks in that thread are perfectly capable of pointing out that those opinions are not adding value to the discussion.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:17 AM on March 12, 2011
posted by DarlingBri at 11:17 AM on March 12, 2011
Vaguely topical derail: I've created two new pages on the unofficial MetaFilter wiki: Live News Threads, for the long threads like the 9/11 thread, one from Katrina, the New York Senate marriage equality legislation post, and the Japanese Earthquake/Tsunami thread, for which I created a small page, for others to update.
posted by filthy light thief at 11:24 AM on March 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 11:24 AM on March 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
I don't think you can erect a sign over a discussion saying "this thread only for those who get that it's plate tectonics."
No, but you can erect a sign saying, "This thread not for you to push your religious views". We wouldn't even be having this debate if one of MeFi's conservative Christian types used it for that purpose.
posted by rodgerd at 11:58 AM on March 12, 2011
Rogerd, people in that thread have done a fine job of errecting those signposts in-thread and things seem to be back on track. What other outcome are you looking for at this juncture?
posted by DarlingBri at 12:00 PM on March 12, 2011
posted by DarlingBri at 12:00 PM on March 12, 2011
Phew! I was beginning to worry that people had stopped getting high before posting comments.
Thanks, cdalight!
posted by Sys Rq at 2:13 PM on March 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Thanks, cdalight!
posted by Sys Rq at 2:13 PM on March 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't know if I'm more offended that cdalight was using karma as an explanation for the disaster, or that they censored the word "shit".
posted by Think_Long at 2:55 PM on March 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Think_Long at 2:55 PM on March 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
Metafilter appears to do a shitty job of keeping the anime and Godzilla references out of the thread, which is bad enough, but this craps is really unbelievable.
Yes, tasteless jokes in the middle of the night sometimes don't get removed just for being shitty and in poor taste. By the time we saw the woo-woo comment other people had already ably responded and we felt it didn't need us stepping in and doing anything.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:25 PM on March 12, 2011
Yes, tasteless jokes in the middle of the night sometimes don't get removed just for being shitty and in poor taste. By the time we saw the woo-woo comment other people had already ably responded and we felt it didn't need us stepping in and doing anything.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 3:25 PM on March 12, 2011
Can anyone tell me how it's going in Fuchu-shi, Tokyo (especially Nikko Danchi near Bubaigawara Station on the Keio Line)? I don't currently know anyone there, but I'm feeling a wave of nostalgia for the place. Gambatte, everyone.
posted by Soliloquy at 4:03 PM on March 12, 2011
posted by Soliloquy at 4:03 PM on March 12, 2011
Soliloquy, it's probably like any other Sunday in Fuchu-shi, except for the slight aftershocks that we're still experiencing here in Tokyo and maybe that the stores are running low on products. Don't worry.
posted by misozaki at 4:20 PM on March 12, 2011
posted by misozaki at 4:20 PM on March 12, 2011
Most likely fine, Soliloquy -- probably subject to the same aftershocks as the rest of us, but otherwise (I assume) no damage. Western Kanto in general got off quite light -- Chiba and Ibaraki have had a worse time.
posted by armage at 4:20 PM on March 12, 2011
posted by armage at 4:20 PM on March 12, 2011
I wanna do that scene from Predator where me and flapjax slap together a handshake like "Dylan, you son of a bitch".
cashman, I guess now I'm gonna have to see Predator.
Behold.
posted by homunculus at 4:21 PM on March 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
cashman, I guess now I'm gonna have to see Predator.
Behold.
posted by homunculus at 4:21 PM on March 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm glad the cdalight issue has come up in this thread, and I'm sorry if I'm adding further to a derail, but I wanted to say how very impressed I was at the calm, restrained, and kind way that posters like KokuRyu dealt with it.
It showed strongly the difference between the community and culture here and other boards/communities. I'm so proud to know you all.
And of course that goes for all the posters who presumably bit their tongues and moved on.
posted by Catch at 5:20 PM on March 12, 2011 [4 favorites]
It showed strongly the difference between the community and culture here and other boards/communities. I'm so proud to know you all.
And of course that goes for all the posters who presumably bit their tongues and moved on.
posted by Catch at 5:20 PM on March 12, 2011 [4 favorites]
I've been fairly active in the other thread, but I just want to reiterate that I and azuresunday are both alright. Power's on, Internet's up, water's running. Aftershocks are getting further and further apart *knock on wood*. I'm glad to see everyone is alright.
posted by gc at 1:18 AM on March 13, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by gc at 1:18 AM on March 13, 2011 [2 favorites]
Hi. Wanted to extend apologies to any folks I may have inadvertantly offended via my comments in the main thread on the blue. It was certainly not my intent to minimize anyone's predicament. I'm caught up in the emotional reaction like everyone else. I feel bad about it, though it was probably a blip on the vast majority of your screens. Anyway, I'm sorry.
Glad to see folks check in but I echo nickyskye's comments & ache for all those in Northern Japan especially.
posted by yoga at 1:22 PM on March 13, 2011
Glad to see folks check in but I echo nickyskye's comments & ache for all those in Northern Japan especially.
posted by yoga at 1:22 PM on March 13, 2011
Glad to know that you folk are ok. Continue to post and let us know if you have any personal insight as to what donations/charities/etc. would be helpful. Not all of us can donate much, but we definitely have people we know who can and it never hurts to pass info along.
Personally sending out good thoughts/hopes/prayers/[add whatever helpful here] as I know other MeFites reading this are. Most of us watching/reading and wishing very hard that we could do something to help.
posted by batgrlHG at 7:03 PM on March 13, 2011
Personally sending out good thoughts/hopes/prayers/[add whatever helpful here] as I know other MeFites reading this are. Most of us watching/reading and wishing very hard that we could do something to help.
posted by batgrlHG at 7:03 PM on March 13, 2011
I posted in the first blue thread, but will again here, I am willing to collect up whatever people want to send over as non-traditional relief (I think donuts were first suggested) here in Seattle, and send to whomever in Japan, and will cover the shipping. I've had a couple people express interest so far. Memail if you want to send or receive.
posted by nomisxid at 10:45 PM on March 13, 2011
posted by nomisxid at 10:45 PM on March 13, 2011
Long-time lurker reporting in from Nagoya (central Japan) which is far enough away to remain largely unaffected and thus eerily calm. Hard to believe everything is happening just a few hundred miles away. My heart and thoughts go out to those in the affected areas.
posted by asconfusedasnigel at 2:19 AM on March 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by asconfusedasnigel at 2:19 AM on March 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
People have offered to send care packages, but I have no idea how well intercity mail is working, much less international mail. If you want to help, please consider the Japanese Red Cross.
As for me, I'm out of the country in fifteen days, so care packages would likely arrive after I left. But we appreciate the thought.
posted by gc at 4:36 AM on March 14, 2011
As for me, I'm out of the country in fifteen days, so care packages would likely arrive after I left. But we appreciate the thought.
posted by gc at 4:36 AM on March 14, 2011
Re: packages. Currently, no personal packages addressed to the Tohoku/parts of Northern Kanto areas are being accepted by any of the takkyubin companies or Japan Post. Hokkaido is iffy, too.
posted by misozaki at 3:00 PM on March 14, 2011
posted by misozaki at 3:00 PM on March 14, 2011
Also, could I comment that it's Day 4 here and after seeing so many disorganized announcements being made by the Tokyo Denryoku people who appear to have no idea what they're talking about, I'm fervently hoping that a based-on-a-true-story tear-jerking buddy movie starring Matsu-Ken of Norwegian Wood and co-starring Matsu-Jun of Arashi will be made in the very near future about how the emergency in Fukushima was averted by the sheer courage of the brilliant engineers working on site despite all the red tape and brainless bureaucracy that try to interfere with their jobs, a la Odoru Daisosasen. Fingers crossed.
posted by misozaki at 3:29 PM on March 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by misozaki at 3:29 PM on March 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
I'm staying in Fukuoka with a friend right now. Everything here is fine. As someone else said, its hard to believe that what's on the news is happening so close to us right now. Life is completely normal where I am. Since I'm not really doing anything in particular here for the next two weeks, I would love to go help out in some capacity, but have no idea how to do that or if I would even be of any value =/
posted by meows at 8:50 PM on March 14, 2011
posted by meows at 8:50 PM on March 14, 2011
@misozaki Right now I only see the same TEPCO that sent in untrained clowns with a bachelor-pad hot plate and steel buckets from the home center to mix uranium in 1999; I don't see the Bruce Willis take-charge hero appearing to save the day yet. Hopefully he is there in the power plant executing his plan which will succeed at the 11th hour. Failing that, I am hoping that the secondary containment structure will work as planned and catch the molten core, preventing the release.
I do have the romantic subplot, however. My friend the pretty ingenue newlywed is pining away on Twitter and Facebook for her soft-spoken, selfless husband who has traveled from Kansai into the danger zone to handle satellite uplink duties. Not funny, really, yet I laugh.
Wondering if I'm really going to have to grab my family and flee, or even if it will be possible in a few days.
posted by planetkyoto at 12:01 AM on March 15, 2011
I do have the romantic subplot, however. My friend the pretty ingenue newlywed is pining away on Twitter and Facebook for her soft-spoken, selfless husband who has traveled from Kansai into the danger zone to handle satellite uplink duties. Not funny, really, yet I laugh.
Wondering if I'm really going to have to grab my family and flee, or even if it will be possible in a few days.
posted by planetkyoto at 12:01 AM on March 15, 2011
planetkyoto, the soft-spoken, selfless husband will be, of course, played by Masato Sakai in my movie. Mmm. Your friend will by played by Yu Aoi.
I wonder about fleeing, too. I called my parents who live in Chiba this morning, and sort of suggested to my dad that maybe now would be a good time to visit his brother in Kobe and stay there until the worst blows over (no pun intended). But my dad thinks that the media is blowing the situation out of proportion as usual and that they're going to sit it out, at least for now, which means that I can't just up and leave, either. I'm guessing there are many people up north who are facing similar dilemmas, with more serious consequences.
posted by misozaki at 4:36 AM on March 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I wonder about fleeing, too. I called my parents who live in Chiba this morning, and sort of suggested to my dad that maybe now would be a good time to visit his brother in Kobe and stay there until the worst blows over (no pun intended). But my dad thinks that the media is blowing the situation out of proportion as usual and that they're going to sit it out, at least for now, which means that I can't just up and leave, either. I'm guessing there are many people up north who are facing similar dilemmas, with more serious consequences.
posted by misozaki at 4:36 AM on March 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
misozaki: Here's my problem. TEPCO has a history of coverups. I just don't trust what they say. Yes, the Japanese government has taken over, and there are international experts in country, but clearly the people who know how bad this really is are the TEPCO staff themselves.
I don't trust TEPCO to tell the truth so I decided to move my family to out of Tokyo
posted by gen at 5:12 AM on March 16, 2011
I don't trust TEPCO to tell the truth so I decided to move my family to out of Tokyo
posted by gen at 5:12 AM on March 16, 2011
gen, I'm doing the same. Probably heading for Kobe tomorrow.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:14 AM on March 16, 2011
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:14 AM on March 16, 2011
I was pretty determined to stay in Tokyo despite reports of expats leaving (and my job has required me to be here), but after hearing from colleagues who have left recently, I'm starting to reconsider. But I'm in a similar situation as misozaki -- I have friends and a girlfriend who can't just up and leave, either, and I'm not about to abandon them.
posted by armage at 4:45 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by armage at 4:45 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
I didn't know this thread was still active. Like flapjax said in the other thread, people should weigh their options and do what they feel is the best thing for them to do. In a crisis like this, there is no right or wrong course of action, unless you're willfully trying to harm others.
As for us, when we leave Tokyo is when everyone leaves Tokyo. I can't believe what I just typed isn't fictional. What a nightmare this past week has been for everyone here. And what a long recovery this is going to be.
posted by misozaki at 6:11 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
As for us, when we leave Tokyo is when everyone leaves Tokyo. I can't believe what I just typed isn't fictional. What a nightmare this past week has been for everyone here. And what a long recovery this is going to be.
posted by misozaki at 6:11 PM on March 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Bottled water, rice, batteries, flashlights, concentrated food supplements and toilet paper have begun to disappear from shelves. The Tokyo panic hoarding is *starting* to spread to Kyoto, fully 500 km from Fukushima. I ran into my very kind neighbor last night and she told me which stores still had what staples. I was so grateful that as we parted I muttered, "I'll eat you last." Gallows humor works for me as this tragic cataclysm spirals deeper and still deeper. I'm an even keel kind of person, but I've felt myself getting seriously stressed out when I watch four or five uninterrupted hours of coverage; stressed out I used to think of as just a phrase that meant tired. Now I know what knots in the stomach feel like.
So right now I'm amusing myself by picturing Misozaki in a marauding horde of looting Tokyo-ites coming over the northern mountain range like Oda Nobunaga's army. I'll try not to shoot you, Misozaki. Good luck.
BTW, TV has started showing some family entertainment shows, for which I am grateful, because I'm worried about my 7-year-old son steeping too much in the milieu of calamity. However, in between segments of the shows, very very few companies are running commercials, maybe two per hour. The rest of the breaks are filled with Ad Council PSAs, so we see the same commercial over and over again, which reminds you that all is most definitely NOT right.
OK, I'm getting into GYOBFW territory, here. Ha!, I spent 15 minutes on this and now there are 4 mesages waiting for me – an introvert! – on facebook. My world is truly upside-down.
posted by planetkyoto at 7:23 AM on March 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
So right now I'm amusing myself by picturing Misozaki in a marauding horde of looting Tokyo-ites coming over the northern mountain range like Oda Nobunaga's army. I'll try not to shoot you, Misozaki. Good luck.
BTW, TV has started showing some family entertainment shows, for which I am grateful, because I'm worried about my 7-year-old son steeping too much in the milieu of calamity. However, in between segments of the shows, very very few companies are running commercials, maybe two per hour. The rest of the breaks are filled with Ad Council PSAs, so we see the same commercial over and over again, which reminds you that all is most definitely NOT right.
OK, I'm getting into GYOBFW territory, here. Ha!, I spent 15 minutes on this and now there are 4 mesages waiting for me – an introvert! – on facebook. My world is truly upside-down.
posted by planetkyoto at 7:23 AM on March 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'll try not to shoot you, Misozaki.
Bullets won't work on me because I'll have superpowers by then!
Re: AC Japan. Have you seen this? It seems we're not the only ones annoyed by those commercials.
posted by misozaki at 5:11 PM on March 17, 2011
Bullets won't work on me because I'll have superpowers by then!
Re: AC Japan. Have you seen this? It seems we're not the only ones annoyed by those commercials.
posted by misozaki at 5:11 PM on March 17, 2011
Misozaki: That page won't load for me. What's it say?
posted by Bugbread at 6:04 PM on March 17, 2011
posted by Bugbread at 6:04 PM on March 17, 2011
Hey, Mr. translator man, hope you guys are well. Here is the entire text. It's just a blank white page with the below text, apologizing for the abundance of PSA fillers. I think in the U.S. as well, Ad Council filler ads end with the name "AC" in an annoying sing-song voice. They say they are removing those, and are working on new PSAs about the current emergency.
How'd I do, mushi-pan?
posted by planetkyoto at 6:32 PM on March 17, 2011
How'd I do, mushi-pan?
posted by planetkyoto at 6:32 PM on March 17, 2011
Planetkyoto, I appreciate it, but I can't see any "text below", so I can't grade you.
posted by Bugbread at 7:29 PM on March 17, 2011
posted by Bugbread at 7:29 PM on March 17, 2011
Oops, I meant to paste it:
「東北地方太平洋沖地震」にあたって
ACジャパンのCM放送についてのお詫びとお知らせ
（社）ACジャパン
この度、東北地方太平洋沖地震で被災された皆様、ご関係者の皆様には謹んでお見舞い申し上げます。
現在、民放テレビ･ラジオ各局において、震災の報道の合間にACジャパンのCMが多数放送されております。
これらのCMは、ACジャパンの会員社である放送各局でＡＣジャパンが制作した公共広告を放送していただくためにご提供し、放送局のご判断で必要と思われた場合にお使いいただく広告素材です。
未曾有の大惨事となったこの度のことを受けて、多くの企業がCMの放送を自粛され、ACジャパンのCMが放送されることになりました。これらのＣＭはかならずしも非常時に対応できるようには作られておりません。そのため、視聴者の皆様に大変ご不快な思いをおかけしましたことを、心より深くお詫び申し上げます。
CMの最後に ♪エーシー という音声（サウンド・ロゴ）が流れておりますが、すでに音声削除作業を始めており、多少なりとも耳障りさは軽減されるかと存じます。
また、ACジャパンでは、「東北地方太平洋沖地震」で被災された方々を応援する臨時キャンペーンCMを企画・制作中でございます。
被災地の方々におかれましては、一日も早い復旧がなされますことをお祈りいたしますとともに、ACジャパンでは広告活動を通じて支援活動を続けていく所存でございます。
皆様には、何卒ご理解をいただきたくお願い申し上げます。
以上
posted by planetkyoto at 7:48 PM on March 17, 2011
「東北地方太平洋沖地震」にあたって
ACジャパンのCM放送についてのお詫びとお知らせ
（社）ACジャパン
この度、東北地方太平洋沖地震で被災された皆様、ご関係者の皆様には謹んでお見舞い申し上げます。
現在、民放テレビ･ラジオ各局において、震災の報道の合間にACジャパンのCMが多数放送されております。
これらのCMは、ACジャパンの会員社である放送各局でＡＣジャパンが制作した公共広告を放送していただくためにご提供し、放送局のご判断で必要と思われた場合にお使いいただく広告素材です。
未曾有の大惨事となったこの度のことを受けて、多くの企業がCMの放送を自粛され、ACジャパンのCMが放送されることになりました。これらのＣＭはかならずしも非常時に対応できるようには作られておりません。そのため、視聴者の皆様に大変ご不快な思いをおかけしましたことを、心より深くお詫び申し上げます。
CMの最後に ♪エーシー という音声（サウンド・ロゴ）が流れておりますが、すでに音声削除作業を始めており、多少なりとも耳障りさは軽減されるかと存じます。
また、ACジャパンでは、「東北地方太平洋沖地震」で被災された方々を応援する臨時キャンペーンCMを企画・制作中でございます。
被災地の方々におかれましては、一日も早い復旧がなされますことをお祈りいたしますとともに、ACジャパンでは広告活動を通じて支援活動を続けていく所存でございます。
皆様には、何卒ご理解をいただきたくお願い申し上げます。
以上
posted by planetkyoto at 7:48 PM on March 17, 2011
Whaddya think: Flapjax Tohoku disaster Relief MeFi benefit concert! I'll shoot, edit and upload it.
posted by planetkyoto at 7:52 PM on March 17, 2011
posted by planetkyoto at 7:52 PM on March 17, 2011
Oh, Misozaki. You're thinking one step ahead of me. I'm doomed.
posted by planetkyoto at 7:53 PM on March 17, 2011
posted by planetkyoto at 7:53 PM on March 17, 2011
Whaddya think: Flapjax Tohoku disaster Relief MeFi benefit concert! I'll shoot, edit and upload it.
planetkyoto, I'm game. Wanna try to organize something in Kyoto? Really last minute booking, it would be... But I'm now in Kansai, and there is some possibility, I reckon, that I could do something in Kyoto. Anyway, if it could happen somehow, that'd be great. But I'm sure it'd be difficult to arrange, so last minute and all...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:01 PM on March 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
planetkyoto, I'm game. Wanna try to organize something in Kyoto? Really last minute booking, it would be... But I'm now in Kansai, and there is some possibility, I reckon, that I could do something in Kyoto. Anyway, if it could happen somehow, that'd be great. But I'm sure it'd be difficult to arrange, so last minute and all...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:01 PM on March 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ah, thanks planetkyoto, mighty helpful.
I feel bad for the folks at AC. I know they're getting flooded with complaints, but I also know that they had nothing to do with the idea of broadcasting their commercials back-to-back.
posted by Bugbread at 8:13 PM on March 17, 2011
I feel bad for the folks at AC. I know they're getting flooded with complaints, but I also know that they had nothing to do with the idea of broadcasting their commercials back-to-back.
posted by Bugbread at 8:13 PM on March 17, 2011
Flapjax, if you're looking for a good meetup spot in Kyoto I'd suggest the A-ok bar/izakaya near pontocho. Great atmosphere, nice place. There's also an izakaya in the north east side of town (mentioned in lonely planet) run by a hunter who supplies a lot of the menu himself. Lots of pictures please.
posted by Ghidorah at 9:51 PM on March 17, 2011
posted by Ghidorah at 9:51 PM on March 17, 2011
Benefits are routinely held at URban Guild where your occasional collaborators Elements usually play. I'm not going to put any pressure on you, because you are uprooted and all. I saw Max yesterday and I'm facebook pals with Ryotaro, so I'll just put out some feelers and see what I hear back. glad you safely made it down, and whether or not something comes together I'd like to at least meet you and buy you a drink before the apocalypse.
posted by planetkyoto at 4:41 AM on March 18, 2011
posted by planetkyoto at 4:41 AM on March 18, 2011
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Many of them are checking in in the MeFi thread.
posted by amro at 6:51 AM on March 11, 2011