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11 Mar 2011 20:47

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World: Japan Quake: Some early death toll estimates, with an asterisk*

  • 402+ number of confirmed deaths in the Japanese quake this week
  • 1,000+ could have died, according to estimates by Kyodo News agency
  • 3,000+ homes were destroyed on the coast of Honshu Island alone source
  • * – Why we’re wary of the death toll numbers: The dramatic scale of this disaster does not encourage firm estimates, so we’d like to offer these numbers, which some of our readers have asked for, with a warning: They’re subject to change. This incident is far too huge to offer hard statistics right now. For example: Police in Sendai said that there were 200-300 bodies on the shore at least. Considering the scope of the disaster in Sendai alone, it’s entirely possible that many more will be found. Maybe in a few days we’ll have a better idea.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Mar 2011 20:07

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U.S.: Obama completely sidesteps Bradley Manning treatment question

  • With respect to Private Manning, I have actually asked the Pentagon whether or not the procedures that have been taken in terms of his confinement are appropriate and are meeting our basic standards. They assure me that they are.
  • President Barack Obama • Saying something so bewildering about the treatment of Bradley Manning that he forced us to post something unrelated to Japan. “I can’t go into details about some of their concerns,” he added, “but some of this has to do with Private Manning’s safety as well.” Wow. He really said this? On the plus side, at least it’s far enough on his radar that he’s actually saying something about it. But it would’ve been nicer had he said something like this: “I don’t like our treatment of Bradley and have asked the Pentagon to adjust.” That’s what our president should’ve said about that naked guy our government is holding in Quantico brig. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Mar 2011 19:35

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U.S.: Japan’s been offered a lot of international help; they need it

  • 70+ government rescue teams have offered Japan help source
  • » We couldn’t have said it better: “Japan is possibly the most prepared country in the world,” says the International Rescue Committee’s Michael Kocher. “But obviously the scale of this is tremendous and that will sorely test even Japan’s capacity.”
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Mar 2011 15:53

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World: Video shows Japanese skyscrapers wobbling during quake

  • Three cheers for structural integrity: Although it’s pretty harrowing to see high-rises sway back and forth, it does look like the buildings managed to survive – at least for as long as the camera was running. The title of the video could provide a clue; any of our Japanese-speaking readers care to translate? [hat tip: FrumForum] source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Mar 2011 15:35

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U.S.: Japanese tsunami claims first American victims

  • four Californians in Crescent City have been swept out to sea by the tsunami
  • twoof them have been rescued and taken to safety
  • one is confirmed dead; the fourth is, as of now, unaccounted for source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Mar 2011 14:19

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World: Proof in the pudding: Why Japan’s disaster-preparedness works

  • Undoubtedly this is the largest natural disaster to have hit Japan in decades. We will still need to follow the news to see what the final toll is, as well as to learn whether there were parts of the preparedness system that did not work properly. The most important lesson to take away is that concerted and rationally formulated mitigation methods do work in limiting the damage, even from a disaster on this scale.
  • FrumForum writer Noah Kristula-Green • Offering some perspective on the Japan quake and tsunami from a disaster-preparedness angle. Kristula-Green, who lived in Japan during his elementary and high school years, recalls the constant earthquake and tsunami drills he had to do, just in case something happened. What’s interesting is the way he twists the whole issue on the U.S. — noting some recent arguments against such things. “There is a strain of libertarian and conservative thought which believes that public services and regulations are not just wasteful but are inherently incapable of ever being beneficial,” he writes. “The Japanese experience should lead to a reevaluation of that claim.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

11 Mar 2011 10:31

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U.S.: Tsunami may hit Californian shores in a couple of minutes

  • yes A tsunami warning has been issued to Northern California; Crescent City’s shores could be hit any minute now, with San Francisco and Santa Barbara following within the hour.
  • however…It’s probably not a big deal; the estimated wave heights in California are only around 4ft, and none of San Francisco has been evacuated. Still, steer clear of any beaches. source
  • » Two of us at ShortFormBlog live in California, and despite the fact that four feet waves don’t sound too intimidating, we’re going to resist the temptation (however minimal) to go to any of our beaches today. To our fellow Californians, please play it safe, because with Mother Nature, you never know. Officials say the north end of Monterey Bay is expected to be hit the hardest, and these things can continue for up to twelve hours after the initial hit.
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
 
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