# Nuclear meltdown! Holy Godzilla NOOOO!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 12, 2011, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389 "2011-03-12T08:19:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 71
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1401 "2011-04-05T02:37:54Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > The thing about them windmills, is when the wind does blow, you get a shitload of power from them. Like, a lot. Ohhhhh! Is that one of them new-fangled metric measurements of power? I’m amazed and impressed by your abilities with showing us accuracy in science stuff. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1402 "2011-04-05T02:42:03Z")
It’s all sciency. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1403 "2011-04-05T04:15:27Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Yucca mountain was approved in 1978. It has had 10 billion dollars spent on it. The cost over runs have been enormous. It has not been finished .I suppose the anti nukers used their enormous political pull to end it. Where the hell was that power for the last 3 decades? It has been a very good repository of tax money. Thirty years and 10 billion dollars indicates the anti nukers power stopped it?. XT ,think about it. How dumb was that claim? A 10 billion dollar mine shaft. And it really is safe for low level nuclear waste. A lot safer than a swim off Fukushima is. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1404 "2011-04-05T05:05:28Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > A 10 billion dollar mine shaft. And it really is safe for low level nuclear waste. A lot safer than a swim off Fukushima is. It was supposed to be 80 mill and they were going to charge the nuclear plants for storing the waste. But Bechtel built it, and built it and built it. it was great profits for a fine patriotic corporation. They built the Boston tunnel. I believe there were a few overruns on cost there too. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1405 "2011-04-05T17:04:53Z")
Levels are now immeasurable. [http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/05\_38.html](http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/05_38.html) But still not more harmful than 100 billion hours spent on the ISS. As long as the industry does not invent a meter that can measure a dangerous level of radiation, we are all safe. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1406 "2011-04-05T17:36:30Z")
> [@](#): > > A radiation monitor at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant says workers there are exposed to immeasurable levels of radiation. > > The monitor told NHK that no one can enter the plant’s No. 1 through 3 reactor buildings because radiation levels are so high that monitoring devices have been rendered useless. He said even levels outside the buildings exceed 100 millisieverts in some places. [http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/05\_38.html](http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/05_38.html) I just know some idiot is going to think that because they can’t measure the radiation, it must be safe. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1407 "2011-04-05T17:58:48Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > [http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/05\_38.html](http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/05_38.html) > > I just know some idiot is going to think that because they can’t measure the radiation, it must be safe. When you kick at nothing but straw men you eventually think you’re a pretty good fighter. But you’re wrong. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1408 "2011-04-05T18:07:50Z")
[QUOTE=FXMastermind] I just know some idiot is going to think that because they can’t measure the radiation, it must be safe. [/QUOTE] Did you happen to see [this](http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/05_h32.html) on the same web site you seem to favor? Wonder how they took that picture if no workers can enter reactors 1-3 (isn’t the leak in reactor 2?)?? -XT ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1409 "2011-04-05T18:10:23Z")
Oh man, I really hope you is just trollin, cause nobody can be that stupid. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1410 "2011-04-05T18:24:13Z")
Naw, I leave trolling AND being stupid up to you, since you are much better at both than I could ever hope to be. -XT ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1411 "2011-04-05T18:29:36Z")
Good lard, you are serious. It’s worse than anyone thought. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1412 "2011-04-05T18:32:20Z")
The sad part is that you are serious…and you think whatever points you THINK you are making are serious points, instead of the meaningless drivel they actually are. The other sad thing is that you probably think we all believe that you are in high level consultations and discussions on this topic with nuclear ‘experts’ on other boards, or that anyone but gonzo, Le Jac and TSS think you have a clue what you are talking about. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1413 "2011-04-05T18:48:03Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > [http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/05\_38.html](http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/05_38.html) > > I just know some idiot is going to think that because they can’t measure the radiation, it must be safe. This guy sounds pretty intelligent: > [@](#): > > The monitor said he takes measurements as soon as he finds water, because he can’t determine whether it’s contaminated just by looking at it. He said he’s very worried about the safety of workers there. No shit. He can’t tell that something is radioactive by simply looking at it. He’s a freaking genius! Whenever I see stupid shit like this printed, I question everything in the whole article. ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1414 "2011-04-05T18:51:40Z")
You have to factor in the translation problem. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1415 "2011-04-05T23:37:18Z")
> [@FXMastermind](#): > > You have to factor in the translation problem. Also the problem (that you yourself have demonstrated so aptly:) Math is hard! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1416 "2011-04-06T03:18:53Z")
The New York Times is now makin’ shit up about Fukushima! Lyin about my man Shaft! Mother… shut your mouths! [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/world/asia/06nuclear.html?\_r=1&hp](http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/06/world/asia/06nuclear.html?_r=1&hp) > [@](#): > > United States government engineers sent to help with the crisis in Japan are warning that the troubled nuclear plant there is facing a wide array of fresh threats that could persist indefinitely, and that in some cases are expected to increase as a result of the very measures being taken to keep the plant stable, according to a confidential assessment prepared by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. > > Among the new threats that were cited in the assessment, dated March 26, are the mounting stresses placed on the containment structures as they fill with radioactive cooling water, making them more vulnerable to rupture in one of the aftershocks rattling the site after the earthquake and tsunami of March 11. The document also cites the possibility of explosions inside the containment structures Dudes! Protect us from the lies of the newspaper of record! Weave a web of lies to so thick to protect us that it would make a fall on the set of _Spiderman, Turn Out The Lights_ a bouncy safe moon house of fun! (Special call out to New York because of the New York Times connection, despite the fact that no doper gives a shit about New Yawk.) ---
**Author:** ![FXMastermind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fxmastermind/32/7289_2.png) [@FXMastermind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FXMastermind)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1417 "2011-04-06T03:29:48Z")
Fear mongering by Government! They should just read internet, all will be well. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1418 "2011-04-06T14:03:31Z")
[Japan faces another dilemma: Irradiated bodies](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42441638/ns/world_news-disaster_in_japan/) Near Fukushima plant, hundreds of corpses uncollected because of contamination fears > [@](#): > > As if the Japanese government did not have enough on its hands, now it has this dilemma: What to do with as many as 1,000 bodies near the leaking Fukushima nuclear plant that may be contaminated with radiation. I wonder how the IAEA will sugar-coat this? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1419 "2011-04-06T14:13:11Z")
Well, let’s see: > [@](#): > > The International Atomic Energy Agency, which is working closely with the Japanese government to monitor radiation in the water and food, does not know how Japanese authorities plan to deal with the Fukushima victims. > > “This is an area of concern that the IAEA and other UN organizations have been seeking clarification and information about from Japan,” said Dana Sacchetti, a spokeswoman for IAEA. The main issue doesn’t seem to be that they can’t decontaminate the bodies, but that trying to decontaminate corpses that have been decomposing for 3 weeks now: > [@](#): > > Safe handling of the bodies may not allow for cremation according to Japanese tradition — yet another blow to people who have endured losses from the quake, the tsunami and evacuation due to the ongoing crisis at the plant. > [@](#): > > After more than three weeks outside, bodies of quake-tsunami victims would be “not skeletonized, but not intact, either,” according to a California forensic scientist, who spoke on condition that he not be identified. See, here is the part about one of the workers IN THE PLANT that they managed to decontaminate and cremate with no problem (because he hadn’t been sitting out in the elements rotting for 3 weeks): > [@](#): > > One Japanese press report said that a worker killed at the nuclear power plant had been decontaminated and cremated. So…if your implication was that they can’t collect the bodies or that they will be radioactive artifacts forever, that’s not true. The ‘dilemma’ is that they may not be able to collect the bodies and dispose of them as is traditional to the Japanese…which will be very painful to those who lost loved ones, no doubt, but isn’t exactly a disaster that needs to be ‘sugar-coat’(ed). -XT ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389/1420 "2011-04-06T14:21:03Z")
I don’t know what everyone is so worried about. The universe is a Very large place after all. When calculated per cubic parsec, Fukushima radiation levels are literally vanishingly small. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389.md?page=70) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-meltdown-holy-godzilla-noooo/574389.md?page=72)