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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sigismund on March 17, 2011, at 1:30:42
In today's Herald there is a photo of a young boy in Sendai. He has a coat and hood, but is hunched over in the cold while the snow falls around him. He wears a facemask, his eyes are downcast and you can see his eyelashes. In his hands he holds tightly a polystyrene cup of dried noodles. He, and the men behind him, are waiting for a cauldron of water to boil on a fire, so they can add it to their noodles. One man smokes a cigarette and extends a hand toward him as if to ward off misfortune.
Perhaps he is alone in the world, perhaps not.This was so piteous I burst into tears.
Posted by gardenergirl on March 18, 2011, at 12:49:44
In reply to Japan, posted by sigismund on March 17, 2011, at 1:30:42
You paint that picture so vividly, I'm heartbroken, too. The whole situation is terrible. And it will be for awhile. I guess we can take a little hope in the humanity of it. The brief glimpses of caring, kindness, grace, etc. Perhaps we see those more when contrasted so starkly with devastation.
Still...
gg
Posted by obsidian on March 18, 2011, at 13:30:21
In reply to Japan, posted by sigismund on March 17, 2011, at 1:30:42
Oh sig, it's terrible. What can I say, but at least they are together??
(((sig)))
Posted by sigismund on March 18, 2011, at 16:50:27
In reply to Re: Japan » sigismund, posted by obsidian on March 18, 2011, at 13:30:21
I feel so sorry for the Japanese people. They are so dignified and intelligent.
Two things I remember from Japan. Smoking is discouraged in the street but permitted in restaurants. I take this to be because they value the public space. And people never use mobile phones on trains. Going out of Kyoto I saw a woman use one and a man came over and spoke quietly to her and she immediately put it away. There is so much we can learn from a more collectivist culture like this.
And my son was there for it.
In our societies there seems to be an endless cycle of individualistic behaviour and endless crackdowns.
The latest ones from here is the proposal to ban a range of plants from angels trumpets to wattles because they contain psychoactive substances, and the proposed attempt to analyse human waste to form a picture of illicit drug use suburb by suburb. Meanwhile every new toilet block is put to the torch. The gap between the discourse of the governed and the governing widens and hypocrisy is a requirement of office.
It's fun, isn't it.
Posted by obsidian on March 18, 2011, at 17:19:42
In reply to Re: Japan, posted by sigismund on March 18, 2011, at 16:50:27
I'd like somewhere in between individualistic and collective.
I hope your son is well.
As far as the other stuff you described, it's amazing what passes for sane.
The japanese just keep getting pounded, when you think it can't get worse, well..... It just keeps getting worse.
Posted by sigismund on March 18, 2011, at 17:33:37
In reply to Re: Japan » sigismund, posted by obsidian on March 18, 2011, at 17:19:42
That was just in this morning's paper.
My wife and I read it out to each other saying 'Can you believe this?'
My son is OK. He got out two days after it.
Posted by Maggie Frank on March 20, 2011, at 8:57:10
In reply to Japan, posted by sigismund on March 17, 2011, at 1:30:42
Posted by Maggie Frank on March 21, 2011, at 10:14:29
In reply to Re: Japan (nm), posted by Maggie Frank on March 20, 2011, at 8:57:10
Oops, I'm a newbie, and thus left the message blank due to incompetence on my part.
All good thoughts going to Japan's people everywhere as they live and cope with this horrible tragedy.
Posted by Phillipa on March 21, 2011, at 19:25:56
In reply to Re: Japan, posted by Maggie Frank on March 21, 2011, at 10:14:29
Just googled one of ebay buyers from Japan as hadn't heard from him and looks like the storm got him how sad. Phillipa
Posted by tea on March 22, 2011, at 17:34:54
In reply to Re: Japan » Maggie Frank, posted by Phillipa on March 21, 2011, at 19:25:56
> Just googled one of ebay buyers from Japan as hadn't heard from him and looks like the storm got him how sad. Phillipa
Its very sad what happened in Japan.It does "hit"more when you lose contact with someone. It's more likely though, or I like to think, its just the communications went down and they now have far more important considerations. I had the similar during that was in the old Yugoslavia area, I was regularly playing BG with a girl who was in the middle of the fighting, with refugees, bombing tec. She wrote up a history of the Balkans area over the past 1000 years or so for me to try to understand but it was really complicated. That website she wrot disappeared and so did she.. no idea what happened. I like to think it was just that they had to evacuate and communication/power lines etc. were cut etc.
I wrote this on Japan at the time of the earthquake.
saddened by the Japan Earthquake loss of life, http://jantea.blog.co.uk/2011/03/11/earthquake-tsunami-increase-with-global-warming-10810626/
Posted by Phillipa on March 22, 2011, at 21:22:09
In reply to Re: Japan » Phillipa, posted by tea on March 22, 2011, at 17:34:54
Tea lucky for this gentleman he did write back today said was safe and family also. Just no power until now. So one good thing. Phillipa
Posted by tea on March 23, 2011, at 6:13:12
In reply to Re: Japan » tea, posted by Phillipa on March 22, 2011, at 21:22:09
> Tea lucky for this gentleman he did write back today said was safe and family also. Just no power until now. So one good thing. Phillipa
That's wonderful news Phillipa. I'm so pleased for hin and for you:)
It wasa considerate of him too.
Posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2011, at 21:06:22
In reply to Re: Japan » Phillipa, posted by tea on March 23, 2011, at 6:13:12
Yes it was so soon. He had asked us to get him some men's Coach briefcases, laptop cases etc and we have them. Told him we would wait to hear from him when things hopefully settle down. I got a newsletter from Vitamin Shoppe that they are sold out of idodine as so many fear radiation. I fee the threat is not strong in US. Thought you might be interested in that. Any rush over there for same? Phillipa
Posted by tea on March 24, 2011, at 0:13:22
In reply to Re: Japan » tea, posted by Phillipa on March 23, 2011, at 21:06:22
> Yes it was so soon. He had asked us to get him some men's Coach briefcases, laptop cases etc and we have them. Told him we would wait to hear from him when things hopefully settle down. I got a newsletter from Vitamin Shoppe that they are sold out of idodine as so many fear radiation. I fee the threat is not strong in US. Thought you might be interested in that. Any rush over there for same? Phillipa
Nope- the air currents stay in the northern hemispers supposedly, so we are "safe"if anyone in the Northern hemisphere gets radiation
The wind was blowing towards Canada and US (western states only), but that was only if it blewnup or melted down, ie more radiation leaked than there was. Also unless you get it compounded , its pretty difficult to get tablets in Oz, best way is to order from the US(I was told the police kep a supply, butb it would be impossible to get any in any emergency as far as I can see)...then again, I already had a öld supply which I havent used
But no worries in Oz re Japan, US or Chernobyl
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