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Amid the ominous reports coming from Japan (reactor 2 explodes, joining 1 and 3 in an orgy of meltdown frenzy); problems with reactor 4 (shut down for repairs, but still needing cooling: supposedly 2 8mm holes in the reactor casing itself, releasing radioactivity into the air) we find some sanity at the WSJ...

Japan Makes Progress at Troubled Nuclear Plant

Officials Regain Some Control, But Too Early to Say Problems Over; Reactors 5, 6 Heat Up

See how the ADULTS in the media headline what they know? Look at a lefty site, say, Huff'n'blow, you've nothing but sensationalism. That's what the LeftLibProggs thrive on; pure, unthinking melodrama. That's why they voted for a little prezzidint-man who stutters and MUST NEEDS! a teleprompter, or he's a fish out of water. (See an executive summary of Mr. Obama's business qualifications here; this should be a separate post, but I'm hurried today)...

an analysis of BHO as Company USA’s CEO…

In classic management theory, Barack Obama would have to be described as an abdicative manager.

The abdicative manager evidences a tendency to flee [FLEEBAGGER] from responsibility and is frequently encountered in situations where he or she never wanted the job in the first place (for instance, a son or daughter who inherits a company or the individual who discovers that they are incapable of adequate performance). Abdication can be exhibited in a variety of ways, ranging from physically removing oneself through travel (the confusion of movement with action), to obsessing about personal interests or a limited range of controllable subjects.

Obama’s frequent vacations and absences, especially in times of crisis, coupled with his unwillingness to personally invest himself in key initiatives, are demonstrative of this style. An excellent example occurred after passage of the healthcare initiative. Having ceded authority in what would later be described as his key achievement to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, he watched as they forced the bill through under a manufactured emergency that precluded lawmakers from having time to read it. He then went on a four-day vacation before signing it.

There’s more; it’s worth the clicky admission.

Back to the reactor, the multiple meltdowns. From the ADULT WSJ...

TOKYO—Japanese officials appeared to have regained some control of northeast Japan's troubled nuclear power plant Tuesday afternoon, at least for now, after spikes in radiation levels that followed a new explosion at one reactor and a fire at another earlier in the day put the nation on high alert.

Officials stressed it was too early to say the worst has been averted at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, which has suffered serious problems in four of its six reactors since Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami. Determining the cause of the earlier radiation leaks and checking what's happening inside the overheating reactors was difficult.

Authorities also signaled a new area of potential worry: temperature at the remaining two reactors, both not operating at the time of the earthquake and so far not the subject of concern, has risen slightly, prompting the need for close monitoring. Officials were also probing a report that boiling water had been spotted near where the fire broke out Tuesday morning, another potential worrying sign.

But the conditions at the plant appeared to have stabilized in some aspects Tuesday afternoon. While radiation levels at the plant remain elevated, they have dropped significantly from earlier in the day, ruling out the continuation of unstoppable large-scale leaks.

There you go.

Here's a 'Tokyo Geiger Counter', measuring the radioactivity in the air, updated every 10 minutes. A spike to about 90 CPM (not very much) at about 11:52 3/15/11, then a return to 'normal'.

And, a webcam from TEPCO, that if daylight, shows a what's in the air at Fukushima. Right now, it's pitch-black.

Now, to prove my lack of PANIC! ONOES! RADIATION'S GONNA KILL US ALL!!!11!!!, I present this photo scan of the magazine cover "The Daily", featuring what my buddy and Bag-man describes as "Up-skirt shot and doofy word play. Not nearly as bad, though, as corny NY Post-style headlines paired with tragic Japan photos."


Huh. Looks to me like a University of North Carolina cheerleader giving up aerial; captured by a camera with an open aperture and a quick shutter setting (I'd say a fast f4.5 and 1/200 or so, wouldn't you?). Nice shot, really.

Now rush out to your local health-food store and buy some iodine tablets, y'hear?

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