CNN An 8.8-magnitude earthquake has struck Japan

[J. J.]

8.9 makes it the 5th largest earthquake since 1900. sh**t.

Second wave just hit.

Most of the Western Pacific has a tsunami watch or warning.

[J. J.]

Tsunami warning up for Hawaii.

[J. J.]

Tsunami warning up for Hawaii.

They also added the rest of the Pacific, does that include the West Coast as well?

Hawaii is currently the only state with a warning.

Yes, well damn it, be careful anyhow. 

[J. J.]

Tsunami warning up for Hawaii.

They also added the rest of the Pacific, does that include the West Coast as well?

Western Pacific as well.  Indonesia, Taiwan, and possibly Australia are under warnings.

[J. J.]

West coast under a "watch."  NOT a warning.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/us-west-coast-hawaii-on-tsunami-watch/story-e6frf7jx-1226019930875

[J. J.]

Horrible. Some of the pictures are terrifying:

With all due respect, the most terrifying part was watching cars trying to drive away from it, and not make it. 

First waves should be hitting the North American coast within the hour.

[J. J.]

First wave just made landfall in OR.

Update: 12 to 20 inches.

[J. J.]

It is tossing boats around in Santa Cruz.

[J. J.]

Fox:  Pressure building in nuclear plant near Tokyo.  (Breaking)

[J. J.]

Link on the nuclear story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/world/asia/12nuclear.html

[J. J.]

With all due respect, the most terrifying part was watching cars trying to drive away from it, and not make it. 

First waves should be hitting the North American coast within the hour.

Tsunamis can travel at 600 miles/hour, because the more shallow the water, the faster the wave travels. A car has no chance, it only makes sense if you are using it to reach behind a sea wall or a tall building.

The cars, and the wave were rushing across farmland.  Some did make it.

[J. J.]

It is tossing boats around in Santa Cruz.

Apparently it's been reported that the Harbor has been completely destroyed.

There was damage, but it is far from completely destroyed.

[J. J.]

It is tossing boats around in Santa Cruz.

Apparently it's been reported that the Harbor has been completely destroyed.

There was damage, but it is far from completely destroyed.

I'm going off AP Reports.

Apparently Radiation levels have surged at that power plant.

I just watched videos; 100 boats damaged with 20 sunk, but still more are afloat.

The reactor is at 150% of normal pressure.  Backup coolant pumps have failed as well.

[J. J.]

Fox:  Fukushima radiation now at 1,000 times normal.

[J. J.]

This can't be good... Thoughts and prayers are with the Japanese and anyone else affected.

It isn't good, though Fukushima i is on battery power.

[J. J.]

A second plant is also have pressure problems.

[J. J.]

Fuck. Fingers crossed against a Chernobyl repeat, but it's looking pretty scarily realistic by now.

Indeed.

5 plants are actually in states of emergency with the Fukushima plant resulting in evacuations.  Radiation levels are 1000 times normal in the core room and were reported earlier to be 8 times the normal level at a gate leading to the plant campus.

Officials are still saying that a Chernobyl-like event is almost 100% unlikely at this point... but just a few hours ago they were assuring everyone that there was nothing to worry about... and now they're evacuating up to 10 km out.

I should add:  Unlike Chernobyl, which resulted in the evacuation of thousands... but was a relatively isolated area... a similar event in Japan would have much more devastating consequences.

40,000-50,000 people live in the evacuation area (10 KM).  It's pre-TMI right now, but it could turn into another Chernobyl.

[J. J.]

Basically worse than TMI, but not yet a Chernobyl.

[J. J.]

is this melts down through the containment building foundation, it will be magnitudes worse than Chernobyl

Thus the word "yet."

[J. J.]

is this melts down through the containment building foundation, it will be magnitudes worse than Chernobyl

How bad does it have to get before Godzilla is created?

Godzilla might be preferable.

[J. J.]

International Atomic Energy Agency update on Facebook

They are distributing iodine; it is very bad.

[J. J.]

International Atomic Energy Agency update on Facebook

They are distributing iodine; it is very bad.

Does iodine really do anything? I know what it's supposed to do but this seems more like an anti-panic measure than anything.

It does help block radiation in the thyroid.  However, they are now reporting several hundred cases of "sickness" on Fox.

[J. J.]

But does it do more for radiation than that? 

No.

[J. J.]

"Red alert" issued for second reactor at Fukushima I.

I'm not an engineer, but it sure sounds like they are screwed, big time.

[J. J.]

Three people diagnosed with radiation contamination.