"They have volunteered, or been assigned, to pump seawater on dangerously exposed nuclear fuel, already thought to be partly melting and spewing radioactive material, to prevent full meltdowns that could throw thousands of tons of radioactive dust high into the air and imperil millions of their compatriots."
Volunteered... or assigned...
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Did anyone ever make a biopic about the Chernobyl firefighters who perished?
I keep hearing that with the technological advancements since the tragedy, Japan is in no danger of a Chernobyl. They're going to write that until they bury the first cancer victims.
Interesting, very Japanese, webpage of Tepco power plant workers circulating on the Twitters.
http://streaming.tepco.co.jp/tepco_people/index-j.html
You can sort of read it with Google translate.
I think the real story is that there are 50 staff at the site who are rotated in and out with others. Until every thing settles down there is no point in having more working on the plant site. At Chernobyl there were a few who basically ran into the fires to fight them, but here the operators are working hard in a hazardous environment but not in imminent danger.
It amazes me that the big news networks seem to have no one who can competently translate Japanese into english. Relying on Japlish is hazardous. I worked with some Japanese engineers years ago who regularly stated "I think that is meaningless" when they meant it was in error.
greater love. many thanks.
For realistic, accurate reporting see the MIT Nuclear Science Engineering site: www.mitnse.com
For a comment on how the English-language press is misrepresenting the situation in japan see: http://genkienglish.net/teaching/japan-earthquake-and-the-irresponsible-foreign-media
Remember, it's the truth that will set you free...
May God keep them safe. Fifty everyday people- reminds me of the Chilean miners in a way.
The media is so invested in the prescribed narrative that they can't/won't report the truth. You rotate people thru to minimize radiation exposure. Plus you need fresh people working this as sleep depravation seriously impacts cognative thinking. And lets remember the operators are stressed out wondering whats up with their homes, families, etc.
But instead the story focus is on the suicidal or heroic stand of a few workers.
They are soldiering on. I know they are fully equipped with dosimeters, but they know what is at stake and the risks.
Thanks Guys...
The Japanese both do a better job of honoring those that sacrifice and expecting those that screwed up to pay the price.
from what I have seen the exposures have been very very low on a total dose basis, though I guess we don't know it all yet.
The DrillSgt wrote:
The Japanese both do a better job of honoring those that sacrifice and expecting those that screwed up to pay the price.
Mayhaps...but in not-so-olden-times, the Japanese expected those who screwed up to commit suicide.
Let's hope they're over that.
Anyone else shocked at the sight of Emperor Akihito addressing the nation? I was. He never ever comments on current events.
Very brave people!
There's also massive media hysteria in America against nuclear facilities. So, the news we do get comes out as if our hysteria is present in the Japanese people! And, it is not!
There are 55 nuclear plants in Japan. We're talking about 3 or 4 failures, that withstood the 9.1 earthquake, but not the tsunami that followed.
I believe this is also the oldest plant in Japan. The first 3 reactors were built by GE. But the 4th one was built by Toshiba. Japan's first attempt to build her own.
Off to the side, and not mentioned, is CHINA. They've changed their designs to produce less energy, in plants that don't use uranium grade plutonium at all.
In China they don't use "rods." They use "egg crates." Where little pebbles shake. Creating less energy. But when they're depleted, they drop to the bottom like sand. NO THREATS.
Back in March 1979, when we had 3-Mile-Island, I can remember getting a call from my momm. She started by asking "if I had heard?" Well, of course! The world heard.
Then my mom said she called Charles Schwab and found people were dropping the utility (GPU, General Public Utilities) because of the 3-Mile-Island accident. Pennies on the dollar. So she bought some.
Oh, and before Mel Brooks made BLAZING SADDLES, my mom asked, "exactly how will people get energy to use? Will they form circles and fart into them?"
We're living in an overpopulated world. Where's food going to come from if you can't move cargo around?
Yes, America has oil reserves. And, "big eyed military countries" would aim at taking this away.
Anyway, when I see "news" here ... even from Drudge ... who is a hysteric against nuclear plants ... I take it with a grain of salt.
Time Distance and Shielding. Minimize time, increase distance, use your shielding.
We won't know what has happened there until it has calmed down enough for Oak Ridge folks to dissect it. Reac/ts on the personnel, Nuclear engineers on the site.
A meltdown doesn't quantify anything. Radiation Dose does.
At the end of the day, air samples, dosimeters, biometric measurements (white blood counts, bioassays) will tell the true story.
By then, it won't matter. The only thing that will matter is what Anderson Cooper said.
Taking Sarge's comments into account, I have a feeling it's still all-volunteer.
I can't imagine assigning somebody, but, as vb notes, they have (or had) a different view of duty over there.
vbspurs said...
I keep hearing that with the technological advancements since the tragedy, Japan is in no danger of a Chernobyl. They're going to write that until they bury the first cancer victims.
According to the UN report (yeah, I know...), relatively few cancer cases reported and 98% of those recovered.
FWIW.
Anyone else shocked at the sight of Emperor Akihito addressing the nation? I was. He never ever comments on current events.
I think Hirohito's "bear the unbearable" speech was an exception. I don't think the Emperor is supposed to comment except in that (or this) sort of circumstance.
typical of the NY Times to embargo the use of the word men or man in this story though.
@david Smith
That MIT link is great. One bit that causes me to modify my earlier statement about dosages:
UPDATE (11:48 AM EST): A report by the Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan indicates that radiation levels as a result of the Unit 4 fire were higher than those reported previously. Radiation levels early this morning at the outside of Unit 3 measured at 400 millisieverts/hr. At the present time however, radiation levels at the boundary of the facility are 1530 microsieverts/hour. We will continue to update as further reliable information is available.
Take 400mSv/hr for a couple of hours and you get a total dose that can cause you some health impacts. whereas the boundary level of 1.5mSv (careful when you read all those data, 1 milliSV is 1,000 microSv) is next to nothing.
like Fprawl says, Time,Distance,shielding, those are your friends, and everybody at the site understands the parameters and mission
I am sure they volunteered. But in Japan the shame of not volunteering makes it sort of moot.
We are not talking Chernobyl like risks (where the crew who fought in the reactor died from massive exposure). We are talking about exceeding recommended yearly limits and raising their risks for long term harm. Heroic to be sure, but not an automatic death sentance either.
Edutcher wrote:
I think Hirohito's "bear the unbearable" speech was an exception. I don't think the Emperor is supposed to comment except in that (or this) sort of circumstance.
No, I understand that, but I don't recall hearing that the Emperor addressed his subjects after Kobe. My Europeanness is showing, as of course, in the West the 10 European sovereigns still around go on television to address the nation, at the drop of a hat.
Alas, Edu, guys, I'm off. Enjoy your day. :)
Out of control?
Let's not freak people:
Reason.
I'd say that when you take on a job with responsibilities like theirs, in a free society, the "assigned or volunteered" die has already been cast. Maybe analagous to volunteering in the U.S. Army as a fuel/supply/whatever clerk and then doing your clerking in a war-zone. If things go south you don't get to bail-out. It's your job, and you volunteered long ago.
Brave New Climate's 3/16 update
World Nuclear News.
Video on
Fast reactor technology that requires significantly less amount of uranium and significantly less lifetime waste.
Also Wiki
When the balloon goes up, is when you find out if you are made of sterner stuff. Nuclear power operators train for this day, to keep the terrible genie in the bottle, and perhaps die trying. Like many professions that serve the public, they know and accept the risk that their bravery may one day be called upon. They have fierce pride in their profession. Failure is not an option. The electrons must flow, and if a few must die to keep the nation safe, then so be it.
You should read it this way. To not volunteer is to be forever shamed. The operators are then assigned to teams that dash in, wrestle with the genie, and then are tag-teamed by their fellows.
Our contempt should be reserved for "leaders" who dither by filling out brackets, while the world burns. You voted for him, own it.
Regardless of how they were determined to stay, they have and I say "THANK YOU", for their courage and efforts.
Then I pray that they and all of those who were affected by this natural disaster will survive, be able to overcome their situation and the world will be a better place, for all of our learnings.
Is it really that hard for people to believe that there are selfless souls making the choice to stay behind, to make a sacrifice for the greater good? The firefighters in Chernobyl made the decision, the members of the military do it. I applaud these men (and women?) who are making the decision. In a free society, one always has the option to run... the hard decision is to stay behind
a bit of radio-trivia:
Living within 80 km of a power station: 0.0001 mSv/year (nuclear station), 0.0003 mSv/year (coal station)
Bob said....
Bob said...
The media is so invested in the prescribed narrative that they can't/won't report the truth. You rotate people thru to minimize radiation exposure. Plus you need fresh people working this as sleep depravation seriously impacts cognative thinking. And lets remember the operators are stressed out wondering whats up with their homes, families, etc.
But instead the story focus is on the suicidal or heroic stand of a few workers.
Bob -that makes a lot more sense.
Rush Limbaugh laughed about Japanese refugees recycling after the earthquake that struck the country on his Tuesday show.
A caller asked Limbaugh, "If these are the people that invented the Prius, have mastered public transportation, recycling, why did Mother Earth, Gaia if you will, hit them with this disaster?"
Limbaugh called this an "interesting question," and played a clip of ABC's Diane Sawyer reporting from a shelter in Japan. In the clip, Sawyer is surprised that the refugees in the shelter have maintained a recycling program. Limbaugh first mocked Sawyer, doing an impression of her and saying that "she sounds like she saw her husband for the first time in six months." He then turned to his caller's question.
"He's right," Limbaugh said. "They've given us the Prius. Even now, refugees are recycling their garbage." Here, he began to laugh, continuing, "and yet, Gaia levels them! Just wipes them out!"
One a related note, during my Masters of Public Health program, taking Environmental Health my work group did a report on Irradiating Food. Its an incredible way to greatly prolong the shelf live of fruits and vegetables. Very safe BUT not marketable because of the fear of radiation. Needless to say, irradiated food IS NOT radioactive.
So we lose billions in wasted produce based on unfounded fears. I think of that every time the strawberries I bought get moldy before I finish them
agree. After WWII, SLA Marshall wrote a great book called "Men under Fire", about why men fight. bottom line, it isn't about Queen and Country (a tip of the hat to Victoria :).
They fight to gain or keep the respect of thier squadies. In other words shame.
Our society is losing its concept of shame in many areas, to our long term loss.
The Nipponese understand shame and those nuke guys are soldiering on.
Does anyone know the answer to this question-does iodide protect just your thyroid or more than that?
In Lucifer's Hammer, a power plant operator said (very loosely paraphrased from memory): "Everybody expects police to go out and track down the bad guys. Everybody expects firefighters to go pull people out of burning buildings. They see those guys as heroes. But no one notices when my guys go up on a power pole in the middle of a thunderstorm to hook a line back up. Nobody notices when one of my guys wades through waste deep water to turn off a main so he can get to work. Nobody notices, but we do it. We'll get the job done."
Some words a lot of Army troops hear:
"I need three volunteers, you, you and you."
Very good article and knowing the Japanese fairly well, I do believe that the workers understand the risks and continue to work voluntarily.
God bless them.
@dmoelling: Yeah, it's amazing. I was watching CNN last night at the laundromat while Anderson Cooper was trying to fill air time talking to that Indian-American doctor guy and the MIT nuclear power plant guy.
And they would show clips from NHK with people at news conferences, and it was embarassingly apparent:
NOBODY working at CNN at that time could understand Japanese.
Mondo fail. Mondo stupid. Maybe it was projection, but it seemed to me that Anderson Cooper was embarassed that CNN was incapable of reporting what was happening.
(Cue James Earl Jones voiceover)
"CNN. The world's most impotent news network."
--
As for the 50 Japanese workers whose fate we know little about, it brough to mind the famous Helen Keller quote:
"Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose."
These men are heroes. And they are blessed. Isn't it a blessing to find a purpose that is worth dying for?
What would you die for?
Russians used graphite as moderator at Chernobyl. the carbon burned, with no cobtainment building. Japanese used water, not as dangerous even when hydogen is disassociated and blows up inside containment building. Brave men, both Soviets and Japanese.
madawaskan said...
Does anyone know the answer to this question-does iodide protect just your thyroid or more than that?
just that.
The thyroid is the place that iodine concentrates in the boduy as i understand it.
tablets flood the thyroid with normal iodine, leaving the thyriod to reject the radio-isotope version when it arrives and the body passes it out in waste.
The Sendai Division was the best the Japanese Army had in WWII, and were called The Emperor's Own.To the Sendai Division death for the Emperor "...was lighter than a feather."
Thanks Drill.
A quick thanks to Sarge who is giving us insight into the Japan situation the way Ann and Meade did in WI.
The Drill SGT said...
agree. After WWII, SLA Marshall wrote a great book called "Men under Fire", about why men fight. bottom line, it isn't about Queen and Country (a tip of the hat to Victoria :).
They fight to gain or keep the respect of thier squadies. In other words shame.
Our society is losing its concept of shame in many areas, to our long term loss.
The Nipponese understand shame and those nuke guys are soldiering on.
You may know better than I, but I thought some of that spirit ended during MacArthur's reformation of the country after WWII.
I remember a book, "A Torch to the Enemy", which was about the first B-29 raids over Tokyo and the author, who had a Japanese writer as a consultant, wrote how fire companies had a standard bearer who was expected to hold his position no matter what the danger to him. Running, even if horribly injured, was unacceptable and marked a man for life.
Is it still that extreme?
Does anyone know the answer to this question-does iodide protect just your thyroid or more than that?
I wrote and tweeted a bit about that here.
madawaskan, as drill said plus we add iodine to salt to prevent goiter. Throid glad needs iodine and the pill is potassium iodine. It is potassium 40 isotope that is radioactive and deadly.
@David Smith.
Thanks for the links.
Well, if they work too hard at it, they may end up truly faceless.
One of the things I wanted to do on the show was, as people are filling out their brackets -- this is obviously a national pastime; we all have a great time, it’s a great diversion. But I know a lot of people are thinking how can they help the Japanese people during this time of need. If you go to usaid.gov -- usaid.gov -- that will list all the nonprofits, the charities that are helping out there. It would be wonderful for people to maybe offer a little help to the Japanese people at this time -- as they’re filling out their brackets. It’s not going to take a lot of time. That's usaid.gov. It could be really helpful.
--President Barack Obama
Thanks Chickenlittle je va cherche.
Sorry if this these are stupid questions: Does the seawater pumped to cool down reactors become contaminated? Is water released back? Is it decontaminated before it is released back?
Sorry, it is radioactive iodine that harms thyroid. Banana Equivalent Dose is often used to dsecribe doses of radiation.
The average radioactivity is 130 Bq/kg (3 520 pCi/kg), or roughly 19.2 Bq (520 pCi) per 150 g banana.[3] The equivalent dose for 365 bananas is 36 μSv (3.6 mrems).
Hackwork.
If it's covered in seawater, it ain't melting anymore.
And the Japanese aren't Soviet Russians - those people will be in positive-ventilation moon-suits, and rotating in in shifts, with dosimeters.
vbspurs: All roughly zero of them? The math and epidemiology don't support any such idea.
We forget how CHINA got such a leg up on building nuclear plants!
Before cell phones, China was in the dark ages. It doesn't have the copper cable networks that connected First World countries to telephones. China was a rural backwater.
Cell phones made all the difference. Because suddenly the entire country had connectivity ... without having to lay land lines.
Also, nuclear technology has moved forward post 3-Mile-Island. And, Chernobyl.
That's why the major shift in nuclear designs. From rods. To pebbles. Fell into their laps.
Once the hysteria and the crisis both peter out, Japan will have a new group of heros. New Horatios who stood at the nuclear bridge and told that terrible atomic genie it shall not pass.
edutcher said...You may know better than I, but I thought some of that spirit ended during MacArthur's reformation of the country after WWII.
perhaps, if it has in Japan, it makes their Army less able to fight and sustain losses. My comment was not really about the Nipponese Nuke guys so much as a general comment about why men risk their lives. The short answer is shame.
Loss of respect from their peers.
I bet Victoria knows about the White Feather in WWI.
English women would walk up to young men in civilian clothes on the street and hand them a white feather. The sign of cowardice. It was very effective....since young men are thinking 24/7 about how to impress young women. that need to breed, etc....
"Rush Limbaugh laughed about Japanese refugees recycling after the earthquake that struck the country on his Tuesday show."
You are wrong. Rush laughed at the American media covering recycling, following an American liberal agenda instead of focusing on the disaster.
lemondog, there are no stupid questions if guy that answered the question first got a nobel.
The water is to cool the containment so core is not exposed.
The water moderates the neutrons but does not support a chain reaction. Sometime dilution may be solution.
David
omg....
That was President Obama? I think I'm going to be sick.
David to you have a special connection to Japan-I was raised there-hard to explain-but I'm trying to filter my personal feelings out when reacting to Obama on this.
His "cool" to me is....I'm not getting it.
There is a reporter/blogger whatever at Media Matters equating this to Bush saying something like how is this different from when Bush played golf during two wars.
First calling them wars is off but Obama still has those two operations going, plus Egypt, Libya ,Bahrain. and now one of our best allies Japan suffering -
How the hell is it "equivalent"?
The 'cool" I think is becoming a problem.
Jeremy: Sounds like Limbaugh is mocking the sort of people who say "it's Earth/Mother Nature/Gaia's revenge!" whenever some natural disaster happens to people they disapprove of "environmentally".
Doesn't sound like he's mocking the Japanese, at least to me.
It would be wonderful for people to maybe offer a little help to the Japanese people at this time -- as they’re filling out their brackets.
Wait, Japanese people are filling out their brackets, too?
lemondog said...
Sorry if this these are stupid questions: Does the seawater pumped to cool down reactors become contaminated? Is water released back? Is it decontaminated before it is released back?
It's going in, but not pumped out.
it's boiling out, hence the release of radio-active steam...
but you need to understand that the normal fuel is Uranium Oxide, cast into semi ceramic pellets, further bundled into metal rods.
The melt down spoken of is mostly the heat misshaping and rupture of these rods, releasing some short half life radioactives (iodine among them at 59days/hf)
The steam is being vented to control pressure and with it you are getting out hydrogen (the explosions) and the iodine, etal)
The Uranium is trapped in the ceramic and isn't much of an issue unless things get much hotter.
BTW: the sea water ruined the reactors for further ues, but they were 2 weeks from retirement. The oldest in Japan I understand....
There's a history here, this time for good ends.
Still eery though.
1945 Japanese Kamikaze Farewell Ceremony
Jeremy afflicted with Rush Derangment Syndrome.
The MIT guys explain Hydrogen explosion better than I can:
http://mitnse.com/2011/03/15/explanation-of-hydrogen-explosions-at-units-1-and-3/
also the radios in the steam;
Iodine
Cesium
Xenon (inert)
Krypton (inert)
(The Crypto Jew)
Jeremy…”SQUIRREL!” It has nothing to do with the topic at hand and is untrue, as well…. Must S#ck to be you…Go get your mother her cigarettes and lottery tickets, would you?
Iodine-131 is metabolized just as stable iodine isotopes.
Cesium-137 is metabolized as potassium.
Strontium-90 is metabolized as calcium.
Please don't think the Nuclear 50 is an instance of bushido or kamikaze or some such curious Japanese cultural oddity. Would you say that of the NYFD men that climbed the towers? Treasure nobility and heroism where you find it. Some human traits are Universals.
http://www.jerrypournelle.com/view/2011/Q1/view666.html#worstcase
Some good information.
Would you say that of the NYFD men that climbed the towers?
It was, BTW, three hundred men and only men that went up the stairs into the towers on that last climb.
Not firefighters, Firemen...
and Trooper would say, just sayin...
Because, after all, Japanese are mindless robots who do only what they're told.
It was, BTW, three hundred men and only men that went up the stairs into the towers on that last climb.
FWIW: 3% of the Chernobyl "liquidators" were women: link.
Ann,
They are this [Japanese] generation's 47 Ronin. They will be national heros if they succeed.
they do not require a 'White Feather' to motivate them to do the 'honorable thing'.
Unfortuntely,our POTUS seems to require a 'White Feather'. This man simply is A.W.O.L. from his responsibilities. He is about to take a trip to Brazil while Japan is in deep crisis. We have a budget debacle, a deficit crisis, a falling dollar, a bloody aborted revolution in Libya, a reverse coup d'etat in Baharain, rising inflation, growing unemployment and Charlie Sheen is unemployed!
And the POTUS is taking a vacation. Ann, it is time topoint out to the American people tha tthis guy is a no show. He is a suit. he brings nothing to the party. He can't execute. Regarding his leadership skills there aren't any.....
He should resign. We would do better with paid actors like Tom Hanks or Harrison Ford filling the role until 2012. he isn't interested in solving our problems. He just wants to hang out and be famous.
it is time for him to go.
faceless?
No wonder they were the ones chosen. Though it does show a bit of bias Japanese culture has against the face deprived.
This man simply is A.W.O.L. from his responsibilities. He is about to take a trip to Brazil while Japan is in deep crisis. We have a budget debacle, a deficit crisis, a falling dollar, a bloody aborted revolution in Libya, a reverse coup d'etat in Baharain, rising inflation, growing unemployment and Charlie Sheen is unemployed!
Things are going according to plan for potus.
The Queen - "You are wrong. Rush laughed at the American media covering recycling, following an American liberal agenda instead of focusing on the disaster."
I posted exactly what was said by him and his caller.
Sawyer's report related to that fact that the Japanese people continued to be interested in preserving the planet, even as they experienced such a tragedy.
The real question is this: Why is a law professor (who tries to represent herself as an Independt) so enamored with someone like Rush Limbaugh?
I think it's because your as full of shit as Rush...and use your lovefest with him to boost your sycophant right wing following.
The important thing is that you not tune away, not that you get information.
"Volunteered or assigned." That's one line I wouldn't want to jump, so offer a full measure of glory to those who did. The ones who accepted their assignment and soldiered on are also truly admirable. I don't think I would have quit to spend more time with the family, but it would have been a temptation. Win, lose, or draw all those workers have a harrowing future in store for them. Every mole, ever lump, every persistent cough will be a cause of dread....From everything I've seen the Japanese have behaved with admirable stoicism and patience in the face of such a catastrophe. They deserve a lot of credit and far more luck than the fates have been handing to them.
The workers who fill up their badges get sent home and new ones get brought in. Filling up your badge is not a disaster--that's the point of the badge.
Knowing what we know now the Chernobyl comparisons are totally overblown. The tsuanmi broke a dam which caused far more damage and death than will ever be laid at the feet of any nuclear accident in history. Yet the international press is not hyperventilating about the safety of dams.
Clearly, the thought of radiation does something to people's minds.
Jeremy,
Prof. Althouse is right; you're wrong--shock. I heard the segment. Rush was laughing at Diane Sawyer, who damn near swallowed her tongue when she reported that the refugees were recycling. It was hilarious.
What the hell do you suppose was the purpose of Sawyer's report? It was a dopey editorial call. Sawyer got laughed at for being stupid.
@William:Win, lose, or draw all those workers have a harrowing future in store for them. Every mole, ever lump, every persistent cough will be a cause of dread....
Probably not, because every radiation worker is educated on radiation and its effects, including what safe levels of exposure are.
Every few months I spend a week working three feet from a beam of powerful x-rays. I don't worry about lumps or moles from that; any cancer I'm getting is coming from the sun most likely, or my frequent flying, or my living in house with cement foundation.
The real question is this: Why is a law professor (who tries to represent herself as an Independt) so enamored with someone like Rush Limbaugh?
Because they're connascent "twins"?
(The Crypto Jew)
I posted exactly what was said by him and his caller.
A “Lawyer” lie, yes it’s true no doubt that is what Rush said and the caller, but NO it is NOT what Rush said in re: Sawyer and recycling. Your primary point is wrong…now be a good being and go get mommy her beer and cigarettes, and pick up a lottery ticket for you with the change…..
And this is the last "SQUIRREL" Posting I am responding to, on this thread...as it has NOTHING to do with the situation at hand. Please join "J" in the corner, now for people that have nothing RELEVANT to say.
I dont know if you already know about this but in Southamerica and Spain is the main source for news programs about Japan:
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/16_45.html
Old Dad - I also listened to tnetire segment...but is it your premise that it really isn't good for the Japanese to continue doing what they do on a regular basis, and that Sawyer, being rather stunned to experience it firsthand, especially considering the situation, was something we should all get a good laugh about?
How do you think you would have reacted...and why are you defending what we all know is nothing more than a regular Rush Limbaugh "moment"...where he makes fun of anyone with whom he disagrees?
Oh, wait...I know: teabaggers have to stick together.
He's nothing but a bigoted asshole and you know it.
Joe, sorry I didn't catch you before leaving for the crack house.
And we both know exactly what the rationale for Limbaugh's comments were...because much of what he said had nothing to do with Diane Sawyer...
As in: "He's right," Limbaugh said. "They've given us the Prius. Even now, refugees are recycling their garbage." Here, he began to laugh, continuing, "and yet, Gaia levels them! Just wipes them out!"
And The Queen knows it, too.
The Drill SGT said...
I bet Victoria knows about the White Feather in WWI.
English women would walk up to young men in civilian clothes on the street and hand them a white feather. The sign of cowardice. It was very effective....since young men are thinking 24/7 about how to impress young women. that need to breed, etc....
The white feather goes back farther than that - remember the Kipling story. Given that everybody was going anyway, I don't think anybody who didn't have a valid excuse was going to be left behind.
Actually, those women may have been undercutting the war effort. The US Army did a lot of studies before WWII about how many people would be needed for adequate war production and it was part of the basis for the 90 Division Gamble as opposed to the Victory Program.
PS Jeremy's just mad because Megyn Kelly didn't want him on Fox News.
FWIW, nukes of that generation were designed to be operated by maybe 80 people. The thousand or so that work in them now are the result of regs etc. Bottom line, 50 for this is reasonable.
Jeremy: In the old days many adults had a vicious sense of humor that manifested itself moments after major tragedies. It was/is a way, in the west, that people use to deal with horror. It is a kind of humor that is offensive to many, if not most, but it is not ill intended. In the old days moments after a shuttle disaster or a plane crash the telephone lines would hum with the jokes. Literally moments. We have become a serious and somber nation today and too p.c. to have a laugh at an incongruity. Lighten up. It helps.
Jeremy,
Like most libs, you lack the humor gene.
"Nuke refugees raffle Birkenstocks to save the whales--news at 11."
The real question is this: Why is a law professor (who tries to represent herself as an Independent) so enamored with someone like Rush Limbaugh?
I think it's because your as full of shit as Rush...and use your lovefest with him to boost your sycophant right wing following.
~~~~~
Actually AA's sycophant right wing following may be at its acme ...
And the imagined pic of AA and limbaugh's heads up each other's butt is quite disturbing lol
but, but, but it's a close race to see who can do more water-carrying for their beloved conservatives.
Indeed, a lot of water under the bridge!
The real question is this: Why is a law professor (who tries to represent herself as an Independt) so enamored with someone like Rush Limbaugh?
Because "Independt" doesn't mean "is always consistently liberal?"
Charlie - "Because "Independt" doesn't mean "is always consistently liberal?"
No, but it does mean you're also not always following the teabagger lead.
The Queen is as far from being "independent" in any way, shape or form as Newt or Princess Sarah.
Sucking up to Rush on a regular basis should tell you that...
Old Dad said..."Jeremy, Like most libs, you lack the humor gene."
I have a hard time finding anything about what's going on in Jappan to be funny.
As for Sawyer's report; her's was a spontaneous reaction; considering the circumstances.
The fact of the matter here is this:
For whatever reason, The Queen thinks Rush Limbaugh is some kind of intellectual guru and spends too much time lapping up anything he says, then posting it here, as if it's something we should all be aware of.
I find that rather creepy...considering her position as a law professor.
To libruls, being a non-conformist law professor at a librul institution is Althouse's original and unforgiveable sin.
Michael said..."Jeremy: In the old days many adults had a vicious sense of humor that manifested itself moments after major tragedies."
I think the fat man's brand of humor fits perfectly with your description of being "vicious."
He's an asshole for saying what he did, and anybody who defends him or tries to make what he said somehow just a part of normal life after such a tragedy has their head up their ass.
But of course, you already know that.
Did you hear anything even close to what he said after 9/11...because this could become something much bigger than that by the time it's all over...at least to the people he denigrates with the "Gaia levels them! Just wipes them out"...bullshit.
From anybody with an ounce of sense?
AJ Lynch said..."To libruls, being a non-conformist law professor at a librul institution is Althouse's original and unforgiveable sin."
There are all kinds of law professors who are left, right and center...but most of them have the guts to admit what they are.
The Queen has decided the best way to keep you and the other teabaggers here hanging on her every word is to join the crowd instead of creating the stimulus for actual debate and discussion.
99% of what one reads here is nothing more than a regurgitation or total agreement with what they've already read someone else post.
And you know it.
I am sure they volunteered. But in Japan the shame of not volunteering makes it sort of moot.
They are Japan's permanent "300".
If I may be so bold ...
Althouse is like one of your favorite neighbors. The people you like and talk to and have all sorts of interesting discussions with. Even when they come to nag you to fix your gate because your dog keeps getting out and they're tired of chasing it back home. You actually like them, and you think they like you. They like you well enough to nag you, and that's something.
And then one day they let it slip out they vote different than you. Now whattya do? How could they possibly, when we have so much in common? It's so weird, you're practically friends, and yet they make stoopid choices. How can they be so blind?
Some of us turn on our neighbor, and start slagging 'em to our other neighbors. Others of us try to keep being neighborly. You gotta choose. It's a tell.
andinista - "Althouse is like one of your favorite neighbors. The people you like and talk to and have all sorts of interesting discussions with."
Could you possibly suck any harder on The Queen?
There are no "discussions" here. She posts her opinion and the teabagger pack jumps on board.
Keep an eye out, she may send you a cookie.
so to recap: on a thread about Japanese operators making the ultimate sacrifice, Shiloh and Jeremy bounce in to whine again about "teabaggers"
Class act.
Shiloh and Jeremy bounce in to whine again about "teabaggers"
Shiloh and Jeremy sittin' in tree,
T-B-A-G-I-N-G!
@fen
"so to recap: on a thread about Japanese operators making the ultimate sacrifice, Shiloh and Jeremy bounce in to whine again about "teabaggers"
Class act."
Yes, it seems its teabagger this, moron that - anyone can cut and paste that shit.
BTW did you see Zero's NCAA picks today? It was really cool, I did PIP on my big screen with Zero's picks and the coverage of the bodies being recovered in Japan at the same time. How awesome is that?
wv - buction
Bernanke's quest
Jeremy: You don't and won't get on the good joke list, that is for sure. No vicious jokes for you, just the constant use of the homophobic term "teabagger" which appears to be the most important word in your limited vocabulary. It is certainly not a funny word and in your case is highly over used.
Have you written a post on this or any blog without the term "teabagger" since you first heard the term? Can't personally remember one, but I ignore your generalized insults.
Oh, and Jeremy, Gaia is going to get you for a lack of humor.
Hello? All of the 50 are "Volunteers" because they can QUIT anytime they want. Its NOT like the Army. They are *NOT* going to be court-martialed or even shot if they don't go. Thats what they do in the Army. Ask Eddie Slovak.
The "Jap Bashing" always astounds me. I wonder if this happened in Israel whether everyone would be using "black Humor" or dissing the brave men fighting the contain the meltdown.
I was thinking all day about these 50 people. God help 'em.
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