Earthquakes
Three earthquakes just hit an area of Japan a bit away from Tokyo. We still felt all three of them. Where they hit, they were 6.8, 5.9 and 6.3. each within about 15 minutes of each other. Not here. Here we got the shocks of about 3 to 5. One of the Shinkansen(Bullet Train) cars of a train heading somewhere derailed while in the station. No injuries though. Fun ride. Another thing to see the people scramble around about. I can understand that if you are in a building, it might be worrisome, but if you are out in the open, with nothing around, it shouldn't be that big a deal. I was at my apartment when they hit, and I thought they were a fun ride. I still get looked at like I am crazy every time one hits and I just ignore it or comment on that is a "fun ride". I know they are worried about them. That one day they think the "Big One" will hit and level everything, but that just seems stupid to me. The very idea of people willingly living in an area, and building underground railways, in an area that is seismically active just seems like they are asking for trouble. If they are worried about the earth opening up and swallowing them whole, then leave. Why do they stay? This is one of those things that is unpredictable. Well, maybe they can predict it, but like tornadoes, they have very very little warning. Is this just a risk of living here? One that they are willing to take apparently. This may sound hypocritical, but I knew there were earthquakes here before I came. And my thoughts on the matter is that if the big one hits, just let it be while I am not here and all my stuff is gone. That is all anyone ultimately cares about. Themselves and their stuff. If what they consider their stuff includes some "loved ones" then, well, that is them. As for myself, if one hits, and all is alright, I will make sure my stuff is alright before asking anyone else if they are still alive. Does this put me on the path to ass-hole-dom? I don't know.
Edit: Update: English news says that the city where one of them hit is without power right now, water mains broke, and some buildings are down. I guess the above seems kind of petty in this new light. Oh, well. That is me. If the same thing that is happening to those people happened to me, I would be wanting some help. I wonder if that is the same area that has been seriously hit twice now by recent typhoons. If so, it seems that someone there has pissed of some kind of higher power and are now being targeted.
Funny thing though, the chanel I am watching the English news on is different from my usual station. I checked the usual station and it is mostly snow. I wonder if the quakes have knocked out an antenna or something. They are expecting another one later. Lovely thing to tell a frightened populous. As if the frightened cattle mentality of the crowd needed any encouragement.
Edit: Update: English news says that the city where one of them hit is without power right now, water mains broke, and some buildings are down. I guess the above seems kind of petty in this new light. Oh, well. That is me. If the same thing that is happening to those people happened to me, I would be wanting some help. I wonder if that is the same area that has been seriously hit twice now by recent typhoons. If so, it seems that someone there has pissed of some kind of higher power and are now being targeted.
Funny thing though, the chanel I am watching the English news on is different from my usual station. I checked the usual station and it is mostly snow. I wonder if the quakes have knocked out an antenna or something. They are expecting another one later. Lovely thing to tell a frightened populous. As if the frightened cattle mentality of the crowd needed any encouragement.