{{Gud}}

Aftershock ups Japanese crisis to Chernobyl level?

There was a strong aftershock early today, and workers briefly evacuated. They lost offsite power for about an hour, but there was no apparent additional damage. They have recently moved additional diesel generators to the site.

Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency announced today that it is increasing the INES rating to Level 7, but that is largely due to new calculations that the radioactivity released early in the accident reached the level specified for a Level 7. It's not due to worsening conditions; the radiation level has continued to decline. That amount of radioactivity was about 10 percent of the radioactivity released at Chernobyl, and far less in terms of exposure to people.

The question that will be raised is whether these are "new" calculations, or whether TEPCO knew the levels earlier. There was so much confusion at the beginning that it's really hard to know.

Is Arthur seeking peace, or wanting it? The article is about motivation, and I'm just not remembering him having much.

He's a fairly passive protagonist, but that works when you can throw Zaphod and Adams' universe at him. He doesn't have to do anything in particular since the apocalypse comes to him. But it's also why its a comedy of manners. He's the sort of character that would be distraught about a neighbor parked in his spot, so having his entire planet eradicated ups the ante considerably. And lots of other characters in the story play as classic comic types including Zaphod and Marvin and even the whale/pot of petunias. The typical reaction to some cosmic disaster is a muted "Oh, no. Not again."

Thanks for that info, Ginger. I'm going to pass it onto my sister, who gave me that link. I told her we had calm heads prevailing here, and to ask me before believing anything, and I'd check with the people that knew--you.

Sass, are you home yet?

Sadly, very sadly, no.

I spoke to Sparky at about 7:30. They had been out all day, but have no new clues. They have to go back to work tomorrow and Sparky is exhausted both physically and emotionally.

The tracker is here and doing what he does...they have put up about 800 flyers. But no news.

I am so crushingly sad for them. BUT, it took two weeks for my landlord's dog to be found, so I'm holding out hope.

I'm sure any continuing prayers/wishes/good thoughts/repostings of repostings would be appreciated. By me, if nothing else.

Oh, man, I am chronically sleep-deprived, because my natural inclination is to sleep from 4am to noon. And the trazodone is definitely helping with that, but only if I go to bed when I should. Not going to bed early is a hugely ingrained habit, man.

but that's because he stays up too late watching Power Girl cosplay fanvids (true story)

Just how DID you two kids get together?

I'm so sorry, Gud.

Oh, man, I am chronically sleep-deprived, because my natural inclination is to sleep from 4am to noon. And the trazodone is definitely helping with that, but only if I go to bed when I should. Not going to bed early is a hugely ingrained habit, man.

Oh, me too. I have never got used to an early bedtime, and now I need to get up around 6:00 to get to work on time. Even if I've spent the day feeling like the walking dead, I get a second wind around 9:00 pm. The year I spent out of work, Ryan's first year, I'd do the late night shift with him until about 4:00.

I usually get about 6 hours of sleep a night, but I am not a short sleeper. I'm just high strung and chronically sleep deprived.

Oh, plus now I want to reread Hitchhiker's Guide.

Not going to bed early is a hugely ingrained habit, man.

Whooo, tell me about it. I am lamenting about getting up at 8:30 in the morning so I can go into the office tomorrow. Working at home does not help me adjust to being a daywalker, that's for sure.