Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

At the end of last year I published an essay written by “A Concerned Citizen” concerning cyberbullying and internet smear campaigns. The essay did not withstand the test of critique, but I did not fully delete it because I believed it might not have been 100% false and circumstantial evidence may have existed. I made [...]

Another qualified source commenting exclusively to Debito.org:

“Below is our assessment of the situation (this is speculative because TEPCO has not released further information, which may lead us to draw more severe or less severe conclusions). I hope the situation is less severe and they have been able to provide at least minimally cooling.

“We believe the cooling situation has become dire. We think at this point, barring a miracle, they clearly are not going to be able to establish any reasonable means of core cooling for the affected units before suffering severe core damage, which means the potential for large fission product release. The wind direction will be up to Mother Nature. The spent fuel pool fire is interesting and very troublesome. There are no barriers against fission product release if the spent fuel rods are involved in the fire. We don’t know the cause of the spent pool fire and nobody’s talking either, which may lead one to draw much more interesting conclusions which are too highly speculative for me to mention.

“Below is a technical explanation upon which we base these conclusions.

“The earthquake and tsunami caused a “perfect storm” event. That is total loss of onsite power, backup generation, utility station service power, and eventually a loss of DC power due to the fact that the AC power system was not available to charge the station batteries. This is an event that has not occurred before…”

Just to let you know, I’ll be cycling Hokkaido for the next couple of days. I doubt I’ll be near an internet cafe for awhile, so please be patient if your comments take some time to be approved. Thanks for reading and writing to Debito.org.

Just to let you know, with it being summertime I’m getting outside as much and as long as possible. Meaning the blog will be updated less often (as in, not necessarily daily) and comments may take longer to approve.

Hi Blog.  Just to let you know:  Due to server maintenance, access to Debito.org may be spotty for a day or two.  Please don’t comment for 24 hours starting 6PM JST today, Sat Aug 8, or until I let you know that maintenance is done.  Otherwise, your comments might get lost in the shuffle. Thanks [...]

Hi Blog. Just a quick word this evening before midnight. It was a lovely time again in Tokyo this trip. Fri and Sat were lovely days, no rain despite forecasts. Went out on a catamaran with friend Chris, had a lovely afternoon playing petanque, a French boules game (which, after six hours or so, gives [...]

My computer is in the shop for an upgrade this week. That means that I don’t have a computer at home, and I won’t be able to access email, skype, or Debito.org online during the evenings until probably the end of this weekend.

That said, I will be online every day of course during regular business hours JST, as I have computer access from work. So blog updates will happen later than usual, and commenters will have to wait a little longer before I can read and approve their posts. My apologies for that. I’ll still be blogging daily, as usual, however. Thanks to everyone as always for reading and contributing to Debito.org!

Hi Blog. I’m feeling pretty poorly today (headache, dizziness, even nausea; not sure what it is, maybe the current flu bug), so I’m going to devote today to some sincere bedrest and hopefully get over whatever’s ailing me ASAP. Lemme take a day off blogging. Thanks, Debito

Hi Blog.  I’m in Iwate giving four speeches this weekend.  I’m not sure how much time or internet access I will have, so there may be some delay in site updates and approving comments.  Please bear with me.  Thanks to everyone as always for reading and contributing to Debito.org.  Arudou Debito in transit.

Hi Blog. Off to the California Bay Area for a month from tomorrow on business. Not sure what my Internet access will be like, and it’s summertime anyway, so let’s all take it easy. My next JUST BE CAUSE column comes on in the Japan Times on Tues, August 5, anyway. Topic: Making the case that “Gaijin” is a racist word.

Blog Biz: Blog was down for a few days for unknown reasons, hopefully now fixed properly…

My Miyazaki to Kurashiki Cycletrek GW 2008 is finished, 621 kms in six days. Off the road safe and sunburnt, ready for my next JUST BE CAUSE column next Tuesday May 6.

Brief word from Matsuyama–Golden Week Cycletrek 2008 going well…

Been quiet the past couple of weeks as the HANDBOOK FOR NEWCOMERS Book Tour reaches its home stretch. Just a quick word to tell everyone it’s been a life-changing experience, with boxes of books selling out, warm receptions, and good attendances everywhere. Quite simply, I’m not used to a book selling so quickly and reviews so universally positive.

Just a quick word to say that I’ll be on the road from now on, updating my blog (and approving comments) less often. Apologies. HANDBOOK Tour dates again, FYI:

毎日：東京入国管理局成田空港支局は１３日、タレントの宮本和知さん（４３）を「一日入国管理局長」に招き、指紋などの個人識別情報を活用した新しい入国審査手続きを公開した。宮本さんは入国審査場で指紋採取などの手続きを体験。「外国人犯罪が減り、日本が安全になればベストだと思う」と話した。

Debito.org “goes electric” by inserting a small advertising bar, due to financial exigency. My apologies.

Overseas for a week, may be some delay in daily blog updates.

This is a little ditty about my recent 768 cycle around Kyushu during Golden Week 2007. Complete with maps and photos, have a gander if you want to see marathon cycling in all weather.

Back from 768 kms cycling around Kyushu, brief update for now.

Quick post from Nagasaki on kilometer 548 of my Kyushu cycletrek, to let everyone know all is well.