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DrEntropy

DrEntropy

Great Pumpkin
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I'm a self-sufficient guy. I can frame, wire, plumb and finish a building project. I'm a world-wide published photojournalist, I've rebuilt euro-trash cars for decades as a means of earning bean money. The gig now is as a computer consultant for businesses in my area...

...but I feel abjectly helpless in the face of the Japanese catastrophy. How can anything I can do make a difference for the victims of this most vile set of circumstances that have befallen the nation of Japan?!?

....we weep...

And scream at the sky.
 
This is going to sound terrible but mostly I try not to think about it. Honestly, it's more than I can handle. I'm empathitic by nature, but living through Katrina has made me even more sensitive to others in situations like this.

I take comfort in the fact it could have been far worse. They did have a fair amount of time for the most part to seek shelter before the wave came in. As hard as it is to imagine, it could have been worse. Liek we said before, if there is any culture that can come back from this it these guys.

Yeah, I know, it doesn't make it suck any less.
 
With Katrina, it wasn't the hurricane that was so devastating, it was the resultant flooding when the levees failed. With Japan, as the events are unfolding, the emerging pattern is scarily similar - the earthquake was bad, the resulting tsunami was worse. However the situation with the nuclear power facility is beyond comprehension. As I type this, the reports are saying they have ordered the evacuation of the workers who were trying to stop the fires and manage the temperatures.

Basil, I do not mean this to be political or scare mongering - if you find you must remove this, I completely understand.
 
Beyond the death, the destruction, and the devastation, it is the survivor's resultant mental trauma that I find most unsettling. --elrey
 
Amazing coincidence that when the earthquake struck, I had just started reading this.

It gives not only a great account of what happened during and after Katrina made landfall, but also a very good history of South Louisiana, with regard to how and why people settled where they did. Applies not only to New Orleans, but virtually anywhere people live despite any threats nature (or humanity) may pose.

Some finger-pointing; that's unavoidable. But very little, and they seem to be equal-opportunity pointers.

HIGHLY recommended reading!
 
The news footage is most painful to watch. I also feel very bad and wish I could do something to help.

It may be strange, but I take solace in knowing the the Japanese are extremely resiliant and self-reliant by nature. Their self-discipline is legendary. They are tough, and resourceful.

In my heart I know they will emerge triumphant, and better than before.

It's not much, but it makes me feel better knowing these facts. :yesnod:
 
Some ways to help financially:

American Red Cross Emergency Operation Centers are opened in the affected areas and staffed by the chapters. This disaster is on a scale larger than the Japanese Red Cross can typically manage. Donations to the American Red Cross can be allocated for the International Disaster Relief Fund, which then deploys to the region to help.

Global Giving Established a fund to disburse donations to organizations providing relief and emergency services to victims of the earthquake and tsunami.

Save The Children Mobilizing to provide immediate humanitarian relief in the shape of emergency health care and provision of non-food items and shelter.

The Salvation Army The Salvation Army has been in Japan since 1895 and is currently providing emergency assistance to those in need.

AmeriCares Emergency team is on full alert, mobilizing resources and dispatching an emergency response manager to the region.

Convoy of Hope Disaster Response team established connection with in-country partners who have been impacted by the damage and are identifying the needs and areas where Convoy of Hope may be of the greatest assistance.

International Medical Corps Putting together relief teams, as well as supplies, and are in contact with partners in Japan and other affected countries to assess needs and coordinate our activities.

ShelterBox The first team is mobilizing to head to Japan and begin the response effort.

Doctors Without Borders Staff plan to start a small clinic in another town near Minamisanriku using drugs donated on Monday.
 
I (we) can take some small comfort that our Navy folks are over there, helping, and representing us. I am much happier with the use of our military in this way, rescueing, aiding, and supply of food , shelter and medical aid than I am the more "traditional" uses. I think this sort of mission shows the best of what America is. I too feel powerless to help, but I know our military folks are there doing everything they can, and for now that will have to be enough.
 
DrEntropy;
I feel with you....
our healey club is sending money to the Japan healey club for them to use as needed... It's not much, but we feel it will help.
 
vagt6 said:
The news footage is most painful to watch.
Click to expand...

Yeah, just got a full dose.

vagt6 said:
Their self-discipline is legendary. They are tough, and resourceful.
Click to expand...

Those 50 guys going in has gotta just choke you up. You don't find Honor like that anymore. I'd never thought I'd ever live to say I'm glad to see the Kamakazi spirit alive and well but.....man, you just gotta give these guys the Respect and Honor they deserve.


Man, what a culture!

Even their animals have Honor:


https://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookout...d-in-the-rubble
 
I have a facebook friend who belongs to the Austin Healey Club of Japan. Our local club is making a substantial contribution to the club for them to decide where the funds can best be used. I am in process of setting up a PayPal account and asking that the other Healey clubs in both National clubs consider doing the same. I am waiting for their e-mail lists and will soon complete the PayPal account. I have been working with the Japanese club president. Time difference is qn impediment. The task is not going as quickly as I would like but...

Everything happens for a reason so I will simply have to learn patience.
 
This may be just the beginning. Factoring in plate tectonics and geology this may be far worse very soon. The piles of "hot" nuclear floatsam about to descend into the earth over a major fault line is a really troubling issue for moi. Like grease on a wedge.

Is anyone else thinking: trigger for the Yellowstone caldera here? It ~is~ one planet after all. And Pangaea is a fairly well accepted precursor to what we're living on now. And recently we had a core shift so dramatic as to relocate magnetic north...

OMG!!! We're the next DINOSAURS!!!

...and THAT means we're about to become the fuel source for whatever sentient beings rise from the coming extinction event... give or take a few thousand millenia. :smirk:

Brooom-Brooooom!!! :jester:
 
DrEntropy said:
OMG!!! We're the next DINOSAURS!!!
Click to expand...

What do you mean next? you've been a dinosaur as long as I've been hangin' round this place. :whistle: course nice to know the car hobby will consume you in more ways than one.
 
DrEntropy said:
This may be just the beginning. Factoring in plate tectonics and geology this may be far worse very soon. The piles of "hot" nuclear floatsam about to descend into the earth over a major fault line is a really troubling issue for moi. Like grease on a wedge.

Is anyone else thinking: trigger for the Yellowstone caldera here? It ~is~ one planet after all. And Pangaea is a fairly well accepted precursor to what we're living on now. And recently we had a core shift so dramatic as to relocate magnetic north...

OMG!!! We're the next DINOSAURS!!!

...and THAT means we're about to become the fuel source for whatever sentient beings rise from the coming extinction event... give or take a few thousand millenia. :smirk:

Brooom-Brooooom!!! :jester:
Click to expand...

A little like Krypton.... :eeek:
 

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...I'm goin' back to finish Her "Girl Cave" now...

:smirk:
 
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