Doug-at-Large http://douglerner.com Most recent posts at Doug-at-Large posterous.com Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:01:43 -0800 Mon mixed up about her eggs http://douglerner.com/mon-mixed-up-about-her-eggs http://douglerner.com/mon-mixed-up-about-her-eggs As you all know, Mon has been laying 6 or 7 eggs a month. All duds.

This time I decided to leave the eggs in her nest to see if it stopped her from laying more. About a week ago she starting tossing some, until a few days later she was down to just 4 eggs in her nest. I decided to just leave it be at that and see what happens.

Yesterday and today she laid two more eggs, so now there are 6 again: 4 old, 2 new - and I'm sure all unfertilized because Hao and Mon don't mate. Though Mon is more than willing I'm sure.

doug

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Mon, 20 Feb 2012 07:52:45 -0800 Why you should stop calling today Presidents' Day - CSMonitor.com http://douglerner.com/why-you-should-stop-calling-today-presidents http://douglerner.com/why-you-should-stop-calling-today-presidents http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/DC-Decoder/2012/0220/Why-you-should-sto...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Sat, 18 Feb 2012 22:06:06 -0800 That felt like a fairly large jolt http://douglerner.com/that-felt-like-a-fairly-large-jolt http://douglerner.com/that-felt-like-a-fairly-large-jolt The earthquake that occurred just now felt pretty large. No damage here though.

Near Ibaraki it was a 5- on the Japanese scale of 7 by the epicenter. The earthquake info page is running slowly. Actual magnitude was just 5.1, but it was very shallow: < 10 km.

doug

Earthquake

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:53:40 -0800 A Tornado On The Sun (npr.org) http://douglerner.com/a-tornado-on-the-sun-nprorg http://douglerner.com/a-tornado-on-the-sun-nprorg Worth seeing!

VIDEO: A Tornado On The Sun : NPR
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/02/17/147071253/video-a-tornado-on-the-sun?sc=tw&ft=1&f=1001


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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:02:47 -0800 もう餌無しで家を出られない I can't leave my house without cat food http://douglerner.com/i-cant-leave-my-house-without-cat-food http://douglerner.com/i-cant-leave-my-house-without-cat-food
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Wed, 15 Feb 2012 06:19:50 -0800 5 more earthquakes today bring the total past 1,800 http://douglerner.com/5-more-earthquakes-today-bring-the-total-past http://douglerner.com/5-more-earthquakes-today-bring-the-total-past Since last year's 3/11 earthquake there have now been more than 1,800 aftershocks greater than magnitude 4, including 5 today.

doug

1802

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:53:11 -0800 Sometimes Hao will sit on the eggs http://douglerner.com/sometimes-hao-will-sit-on-the-eggs http://douglerner.com/sometimes-hao-will-sit-on-the-eggs
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Mon, 13 Feb 2012 22:34:21 -0800 That was a 6.2. What is it with these quakes today? http://douglerner.com/that-was-a-62-what-is-it-with-these-quakes-to http://douglerner.com/that-was-a-62-what-is-it-with-these-quakes-to Just had another long, rolling one. No damage or anything like that. Just rocking doors and light fixtures in my house in Shinkoiwa. But it was larger than the one a few hours ago: magnitude 6.2. Again off of Ibaraki, but closer to Tokyo.
doug

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:55:53 -0800 Magnitude 5.5 earthquake http://douglerner.com/magnitude-55-earthquake http://douglerner.com/magnitude-55-earthquake That earthquake about 20 minutes ago was a magnitude 5.5. No damage. Nothing falling from shelves. But the rolling motion seemed to go on for a while. The center was off of Ibaraki.

M55
doug

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:03:44 -0800 High level of radioactive cesium found in Okinawa noodles http://douglerner.com/high-level-of-radioactive-cesium-found-in-oki http://douglerner.com/high-level-of-radioactive-cesium-found-in-oki High level of radioactive cesium found in Okinawa noodles
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20120213p2a00m0na010000c.html


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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:23:19 -0800 Whitney Houston's death http://douglerner.com/whitney-houstons-death http://douglerner.com/whitney-houstons-death I didn't really follow Whitney Houston's career that much, but I've been to less than a handful of live concerts in my life and Whitney Houston was one of them. It was here in Japan at, I believe, the Budokan.

I went with a close friend here in Japan, and he passed away about 6 years ago. So hearing of Whitney Houston's death brings up some nostalgic feelings.

doug

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:26:02 -0800 Why is Hao-chan throwing new year cards off my desk? http://douglerner.com/why-is-hao-chan-throwing-new-year-cards-off-m http://douglerner.com/why-is-hao-chan-throwing-new-year-cards-off-m

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:39:49 -0800 The earthquake just now was just magnitude 4.7, but it really shook my house! http://douglerner.com/the-earthquake-just-now-was-just-magnitude-47 http://douglerner.com/the-earthquake-just-now-was-just-magnitude-47 Here's the strength level map. On the Japanese scale it was a 3 out of a maximum scale in Tokyo. It looks like the epicenter was in southern Ibaraki, but as you can see very close to Tokyo.

doug

Earthquake

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:01:42 -0800 Don't どんと http://douglerner.com/dont http://douglerner.com/dont Don't どんと。

足が冷たくて、KINCHOというメーカーの「どんと」カイロを試してみました。全く効かない。全然暖かくならないです。

大阪のお客様相談センターに電話して、「じゃ、足の別の所を試して下さい。背中とか。」と言われました。

しかし、背中が冷たく無いです。とにかく、別の所で試したけど、全然効かない。

安い物だから、もうその会社と相談するのは時間の無駄だけど、取りあえず皆に「Don't どんと」と注意させたいです。お金の無駄です。全然効かない。

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:40:47 -0800 Japan's recovery from the earthquake and tsunami - amazing photos http://douglerner.com/japans-recovery-from-the-earthquake-and-tsuna http://douglerner.com/japans-recovery-from-the-earthquake-and-tsuna Take a look at this article. It is filled with amazing before and after photos, from March of last year after the earthquake and tsunami, and how those same places look today. The change is amazing.

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/02/09/see-how-japan-has-rebuilt-in-the-11-m...

doug

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:18:55 -0800 さよなら、野良猫ちゃん Goodbye Chako and Purple http://douglerner.com/goodbye-chako-and-purple http://douglerner.com/goodbye-chako-and-purple As you know, my neighbor and I were secretly taking care of two stray cats under my staircase, Chako and Purple.

From the beginning she said we have to keep it secret from her husband who hates animals.

But today her husband found out and got mad, and then other neighbors scolded her, so to prevent a huge blowup in our tiny enclave in our neighborhood, we had to stop today.

I had told her that if her husband asked why we where sneaking about to tell him we were having an affair. But I guess that didn't work.

So the cat house is gone now, and I suppose Chako and Purple have moved on to greener pastures.

doug

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:38:28 -0800 Air radiation drops after snowfall / But decontamination necessary, levels will rise once snow melts, experts say http://douglerner.com/air-radiation-drops-after-snowfall-but-decont http://douglerner.com/air-radiation-drops-after-snowfall-but-decont

Note: By comparison, the mentioned 19.7 microsieverts per hour "reduced reading from snow" is 58 times the background radiation of Boston. After the snow melts they expect it to go back to 30 microsieverts per hour, which is 88 times the background radiation of Boston. Boston's normal background radiation level is 0.34 microsieverts per hour.


The Yomiuri Shimbun

The Fukushima prefectural government has received many inquiries because air radiation levels across the prefecture following the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant declined considerably late January and have since remained constant, perhaps due to fallen snow blocking radiation above the ground.

According to monitoring by the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry and others, the rate of decline was particularly large in the Akougi district in Namie and the Nagadoro district in Iitate, located in the expanded evacuation zone around the nuclear plant.

Radiation measuring found that the Akougi district had a reading of 19.7 microsieverts per hour in the morning of Jan. 25, down from 30 microsieverts per hour recorded in the morning of Jan. 18.

Air radiation levels also decreased to 5.9 microsieverts per hour from 10 microsieverts per hour over the same period in the Nagadoro district.

It is believed there were no major changes in air radiation levels before Jan. 18 and after Jan. 25.

According to the ministry's Nuclear Emergency Response Headquarters, the decline can be attributed only to snowfall since decontamination operations were not conducted in the areas at the time.

The Fukushima Meteorological Observatory said snow accumulation is not monitored in Namie and Iitate, but temperatures and other factors suggest the town and the village had snow from Jan. 20 to 22.

The prefectural emergency response headquarters said radiation levels also declined in the city of Fukushima. While such levels measured 0.84 microsievert per hour at 6 p.m. on Jan. 21 when snow began to fall, at 9 p.m. on Jan. 22, after snowfall, radiation levels in the air measured 0.62 microsievert per hour.

Farmer Masuo Kaneko, 63, who evacuated to the city from Nagadoro district, said after reading the newspapers he thought the radiation levels were dropping rapidly. But he was disappointed to hear the decline was due to snowfall.

"I expected radiation levels to halve in about two years time," he said.

Tokyo Institute of Technology Associate Professor Keiji Saneyoshi said air radiation levels may halve if about 20 centimeters of snow falls in certain areas. "Yet decontamination work needs to continue since the levels will rise again once the snow melts," Saneyoshi said.

ref: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120207005622.htm

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:23:12 -0800 Fukushima update - As temperature in pressure vessel rises, boric acid added to coolant to prevent chain reaction http://douglerner.com/fukushima-update-as-temperature-in-pressure-v http://douglerner.com/fukushima-update-as-temperature-in-pressure-v Water rate increased for reactor 2


As temperature in pressure vessel rises, boric acid added to coolant to prevent chain reaction

Workers at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant increased the amount of water injected into reactor 2 on Tuesday to the highest level since the plant achieved cold shutdown in December as concerns grew over rising temperatures at the bottom of the pressure vessel.

Following the move, the temperature in the vessel eased to 68.5 degrees by 5 p.m. from 73.3 degrees logged at 7 a.m. Monday, Junichi Matsumoto, a spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power Co., told a news conference.

"The temperature has apparently hit its peak and believed to be on the decline. We will continue to monitor the situation," he said.

Tepco said it increased the amount of injected water, some of which contained boric acid, at 4:24 a.m. Tuesday. Reactor 2 is now being cooled with 13.5 tons of water per hour, up from 10.5 tons. The boric acid is being used to prevent a sustained nuclear chain reaction, or recriticality.

Nuclear disaster minister Goshi Hosono told reporters that Tepco is making every effort to lower the temperature.

Touching on last month's change in the amount of coolant water for reactor 2 after pipes were replaced, a move that apparently affected the temperature, Hosono said, "This was a process to enhance stability, but it has become clear that there is a possibility (the replacement work created) an unstable situation temporarily. We have to consider matters in an even more careful way."

Tepco changed pipes and the amount of coolant water in reactor 2 last month, and suspects the water did not sufficiently cover some parts of the pressure vessel, as only a small amount was injected through a pipe designed to take in large amounts.

Tepco's Matsumoto said he believes reactor 2 remains in cold shutdown because the temperature is not rising continuously. Readings on two other thermometers at the bottom of the pressure vessel were around 40 degrees as of 10 a.m.

Tepco said it also believes recriticality probably did not occur because it did not detect radioactive xenon, which is generated as a result of nuclear fission.

The utility said it injected water containing boric acid, which works to suppress criticality, and will increase the amount of coolant water further.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Fri, 03 Feb 2012 04:47:50 -0800 Hao fell asleep on my hand http://douglerner.com/hao-fell-asleep-on-my-hand http://douglerner.com/hao-fell-asleep-on-my-hand
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:52:41 -0800 Spam curry? Found at the local supermarket. http://douglerner.com/spam-curry-found-at-the-local-supermarket http://douglerner.com/spam-curry-found-at-the-local-supermarket
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/984539/doug20110105.jpg http://posterous.com/users/YSdiSMDVFq9 Doug Lerner douglerner Doug Lerner