Japan

[rm]

I know that lots of you have friends and family in Japan. If there's anything we can do to support you while you wait for news, please let us know.

Will link to various aid stuff when we're at a point where that is organized beyond the Red Cross (Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10).

CNN coverage is really offensive. I'm watching BBC and Al-Jezeera online. I would strongly, strongly advise against CNN right now.

Called Patty to give her the news. She was glad to have an explanation for the random text from her cell phone company that said "the Indian Ocean is safe from tsunami."

Comments

[count-to-seven.livejournal.com]

What is it about the coverage that is offensive? I have not checked since getting into work, but what I read this morning seemed to match up with what NPR and the BBC told me.

[rm.livejournal.com]

We've reached the "disappointed that the tsunami in the US isn't like to do a lot of damage" stage. There was also a monster movie joke. The initial coverage was good, but they've hit the repeating themselves and not knowing what to say stage and are handling it badly.

[jethrien.livejournal.com]

I watched for about 30 seconds at the moment the wave was hitting Kauai (before anyone knew anything about how much damage would be done), and they managed to work in a half-stern, half-jokey note that Hanalei Bay is good for surfing, but you wouldn't want to surf there today.

I understand the difficulty in filling dead air when you have no new information, but Al-Jazeera really does seem to be handling this with the appropriate grace and dignity, as well as acting as if they actually care what happens to citizens of countries not their own. CNN, not so much.

[count-to-seven.livejournal.com]

I can't watch or listen while at work. Any text suggestions?

This is really disappointing to hear and probably the last straw for me. My loyalty to CNN only goes so far.

[trinker.livejournal.com]

(NHK is analogous to BBC for Japan) www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/

images: http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/03/earthquake-in-japan/100022/

[hodsthorn.livejournal.com]

The NHK live feed is available online:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nhk-gtv

This may be of limited use to those who don't speak Japanese, but the images speak for themselves.

[adelheid-p.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, the people I know who are in Japan and Hawaii are safe. We've heard from most of them. One person arrived in Nagoya two days ago and we haven't heard from her but, from what I understand, Nagoya is not as affected as other areas and she should be okay.

My heart goes out to everyone else. A few people on twitter are collecting info for ways to help/places to donate. Per a \Twitter from GeorgeTakei: Kyoto news reports 88,000 people missing and you can Text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10.

[shoiryu.livejournal.com]

My friend in Nagoya says they haven't had any serious effects, just some swaying, so you're probably right about your friend.

[adelheid-p.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info! Other friends have finally heard from her and she is okay.

[shoiryu.livejournal.com]

I'm glad! :)

[setissma.livejournal.com]

For people who are concerned about aftershocks, USGS has good information here and on its main earthquake page (which is linked from there). It's mostly scientific information without news coverage, but the main coverage contains info about affected areas, etc.

[tod-hollykim.livejournal.com]

yeah, I was on CNN for all of about a minute and switched it off. But this was all I saw when I logged on this morning.

I sort of have family there. My father's cousin married a Japanese woman and they had a child (now an adult). Cousin passed and his wife and daughter live in Hawaii, where I met them. But I suppose they still have family back there. Hoping everyone is as good as they can be and safe.

[imaginarycircus.livejournal.com]

They started up help_japan

[thatwordgrrl.livejournal.com]

greendalek said something about CNN reporters making Charlie Sheen jokes?

DOUBLE PLUS FAIL

[misch.livejournal.com]

You can also donate directly to the American Red Cross for their Japan disaster relief fund. I don't know which one gives them more money directly.