8.9 Quake in Japan

[Taters190]

Apparently some areas in California are feeling the effects from the 8.9 earthquake in Japan. If anyone has news on this sad event please post.

[igor@af]

The main quake has been upgraded to 9.0 magnitude.
As of Sunday, 13th, there was a 70% chance of a 7.0 or higher magnitude quake hitting Japan again within three days.
Earlier today there was a 6.0 magnitude quake.

Nuclear reactors are releasing radiation into the atmosphere, but it seems the chances of anything resembling Chernobyl are rather low. In Chernobyl, the fire went on for days, which was the main and really the only way for the heavy nuclear particles to spread. Even in a meltdown these particles would just go straight down into the ground.

Here are a few ways you can help, even from halfway across the world:

Visit http://www.Redcross.org/ or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 from your phone.

International Medical Core is providing emergency medical response, visit http://www.Internationalmedicalcorps.org/. Text MED to 80888 from any mobile phone to give $10.

I've done both.

[Taters190]

Yeah that whole situation really sucks. I just hope the people in Japan get through this ok.

[igor@af]

In reference to the workers being pulled out from cooling the reactor when the radioactivity soared:

"They need to stop pulling out people -- and step up with getting them back in the reactor to cool it. There is a recognition this is a suicide mission," the unnamed U.S. official was quoted by ABC as saying.

This is devastating.

[blazee]

Check out Living Social (an Amazon.com partner). They normally work out deals for gift cards at half price, but they are doing something different right now. If you donate $5 to the Red Cross for the Earthquake and Tsunami fund, they will match it. They have pledged to match up to 1 million dollars. Let's make sure that they use it all.

http://livingsocial.com/redcross