In fact, they find our rice (US Cal Rose) inferior. Snobbery, perhaps, but I've tasted rice from Japan and it is very nice.

There might even be some sort of ban on importing rice....... I have no proof of this. Just recall hearing something along those lines.

Often? They don't import rice at all.

Try Tamaki Gold. :)

I donated $100 through redcross.ca/helpnow
I hope the money does end up in Japan....

Tamaki Gold is very good. Possibly the best. My brother in law won't buy anything else. Even though it is produced in Cali, the company is owned by the Japanese and they have won many awards for their rice.

I go to Fujiya often and I cannot bring myself to pay the prices for the good stuff. There's one Japanese brand - cannot remember the name, but it is the only one at Fujiya that is genuine Japanese rice. So fricken expensive.

I'm just a peasant.

Actually what's amazing to me is that "only" hundreds are dead or missing... Think about how densely populated the cities are in Japan, especially considering Tokyo was affected by the quake if not the tsunami. Compare that to the tsunami in 2004 which killed over 200,000 people.. This could have been a lot worse

if it was any where else then Japan I think there would be a whole lot more people that would of died. At least in Japan earth quakes are a normal occurrence in a way and I'm sure everyone was prepared. I would put money on it if the same type a earth quake happened here a whole lot more people would die.

That being said I really hope the nuclear reactor over heating gets solved soon cause it sure doesn't look good right now.

I heard 80, 000 were missing. Then again, all these numbers are just being thrown around by the media. I hope by the end it is a low number.

Apparently, there was no warning system in place for the tsunami in 2004. People were running out onto the beaches looking at the dead fish washing up, etc.

You'd think that after the two atomic bombs to end WWII would have made the Japanese a little reluctant to have that many nuclear plants, but I guess the need for electricity was too much.

So the built in failsafe at the power plant, failed to kick in? Guess nothing is failproof. Hopefully it will be contained and they analyze the problem and take measures to avoid it in the future.



EDIT: Just relaized that there is so much "fail" in my post - literally. I think corny may give some relief to an otherwise touchy subject.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Jap...937/story.html

Not sounding good for that reactor :(

I was actually thinking the same thing. I guess the only good thing about it is that Japan knows how to deal with nuclear fallout. I so so so so so hope it doesn't come close to that tho :(

If a melt down occurs, GUESS WHAT?

Fuck, can it get any worse?

This is so tragic. Long lasting devastation, if it goes wrong.

ontop of that look at the money the effected countries had. Japan is a pretty intelligent nation with $$$ to spend on proper infrastructure. Watch how their houses are built its insane, some buildings have built in dampeners that literally suspend the building on a cushion of rubber, so when the ground shakes the building barely sways.

I love how people say vancouver is earthquake safe, it's houses are not.

I'm a big fan of the TV Show life after people. This episode it shows what would basically happen to Japan if they don't get it cooled. Scary as fuck I know. I'm not sure how accurate it is but it makes you think either way.

A guy I am subscribed to on youtube, he just posts informative videos about Japan. He posted this last year and it shows the extreme measures to protect themselves.

If something like this was not in place then maybe this would be a lot worse (not that we even know truly how bad it is yet).

I'm having major packet loss issues between here and USA, looks like mostly the cogentco.com routers... What's that site that monitors these? I wonder if it's due to the earthquake? I remember there was one a few years ago in Taiwan that knocked out internet for a few days

You do realize the nuclear plant is at low elevation, not in the upper atmosphere right? Though you could expect some irradiated materials to travel downwind a few miles, you can't expect it to cross the Pacific Ocean.

All the concern in this thread for "nuclear melt down" is unreasonable, I suggest you read about how a nuclear reactor works and what typically occurs when a nuclear plant has any sort of component or process failure.

There is major safety factors built into these facilities, they operate at less than atmospheric pressure (constant vacuum) to prevent any release of irratdiated particulate matter and are typically constructed as a massive vacuum canister which in the event of a potential radiocative release entraps all physical matter inside the reactor core.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Containment_building

Though history would suggest that the plants current situation is an ideal case for reactor failure, any sort of radioactive contamination outside of the reactor is unlikely. Provided all safety devices are in good working order and all isolation procedures are executed as required.

Three Mile Island reactor failure was due to a valve (PORV), which according to the control centre/human interpretation was in the "closed position" when in fact it was open, which allowed the heavy water from the reactor to escape the closed loop. Provided the remotely operated pilot valve was functioning/being operated properly this would have prevented the reactor failure from producing any sort of release of irradiated matter, and as it relates to the current situation in Japan, they would be fully prepared to isolate the reactor if required and prior too any sort of release of irradiated matter regardless of the cause of reactor failure.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ematic.svg.png

The Physical damage to the rest of the country caused by the quake and tsunami are of much greater concern.. the nuclear plants just make for good headlines.

EDIT** Just read the VancouverSun article, it pretty much relfects what I just said, the main issue now is trying to prevent reactor failure strictly to prevent facility damage, lost power production capacity, and lost revenues. The odds of any for of irradiated release outside of the containment building are very very low

also its great how news keeps going on about how it's the reactors that will "melt down" if they cant get cooling, reactors are shut off instantly in these cases

what needs power to continue the cooling is the depleted uranium rods

The "fuel" control rods, are essentially the reactor core.

The rod submersion is what dictates the core temperature, the rods are manipulated to maintain a steady temperature in the closed "irradiated loop" which cycles through a heat exchanger and the second loop which acts as the cooling medium for the heavy water drives a steam turbine to generate electricity. There is also a secondary exchanger for heat to exchange between the second loop and a third raw water feed loop strictly for the sake of maintaining operating service temperature.

my knowledge of reactor cores and meltdowns are based on The Simpsons...so bear with me..

So from my understanding, the reactor is shut down but the temp is still at critical levels, are they venting radioactive gas to release some pressure as well? What's reality of a meltdown?

Ok so I have been surfing on facebook and come across some really stupid comments from one of my friends. Anyone want to troll on him be my guest.

Facebook Name: sbiggz
www.facebook.com/sbiggz (couldnt link)


quotes include:

Not only are his comments pretty stupid but his friends.


That guy in Cali is definitely going to be up for a Darwin Award. Apparently tried to film as the Tsunami waves came in.

no point trying to troll an idiot on facebook
Japan has paid it's dues from Pearl Habour.