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TEPCO Confirms CEO Shimizu "Ill And Hospitalized", Chairman Katsumata Now In Charge

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/29/2011 23:39 -0400

While it is no secret that TEPCO CEO Masataka Shimizu had been MIA in the aftermath of the Fukushima explosion, it appears things are progressing for the worse. From Reuters' Natsuko Waki: "TEPCO CEO "ill and hospitalised", TEPCO says company president Shimizu suffering from extreme dizziness, chairman Katsumata now at helm, and that the president was not taken to hospital by an ambulance." TEPCO has scheduled a press conference for 6am GMT to go over these and other matters. Alas, this may be game over for TEPCO. What next: will the national guard take over, or a joint French-US endomement task force?

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Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:42 | 1115710 mynhair

No Xanax in Nippon?

Bitchez!

I wasn't planning on moving there anyway.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 04:50 | 1116154 Popo

Xanax is not what the Japanese do.

He needs to fall on his sword. He may have quite literally, destroyed his country. (Or at least a good chunk of it).

Hopefully his honorable act of seppuku will become a trend among the senior management of our own country.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 04:59 | 1116158 Harlequin001

Yes but he should at least clean up the mess first.

'the president was not taken to hospital by an ambulance.'

No, he just floated there on a cloud of invisible radioactive wonder beams that arose like magic from under his tiny feet...

and hopefully toasted his nuts in the process.

My heart bleeds purple piss, as the saying goes...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:02 | 1116162 Harlequin001

'TEPCO says company president Shimizu suffering from extreme dizziness, chairman Katsumata now at helm,'

is dizziness a symptom of radiation poisoning?

and if not, why not...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 07:39 | 1116286 spanish inquisition

Can anyone clarify dizziness and delirium in Japanese. Maybe he was going to tell the truth and now he is in hospital for his "safety".

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 10:52 | 1116887 Jay Gould Esq.

Seppuku with too dull an instrument, no doubt. Does not a samurai supposed to stand ready, katana drawn, if in the case the "shamed" loses his nerve ?

Thu, 03/31/2011 - 02:40 | 1120512 OldPhart

The concept of "Honor" does not exist in the senior management of our own country.

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:44 | 1115719 SparkyvonBellagio

Hopefully he was down there bailing water and getting the cooling system up to snuff.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:42 | 1115908 Mr Lennon Hendrix

I heard he became ill after sushi with Ann Coulter.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:33 | 1116003 Michael

The SOB should just do a Hari Kari and just get it over with, the big baby coward makes me sick.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 10:21 | 1116742 Ident 7777 economy

+1 Cold, heartless ...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:49 | 1116020 Howard_Beale

Word has it Ann Coulter thought his replacement's name was KamaSutra and she chased him down to get some radioactive Illustration 69.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:50 | 1116024 MsCreant

Are you saying he thought it was fish and it wasn't?

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 02:13 | 1116056 Bay of Pigs

Why can't he eat some gold or silver?

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 02:18 | 1116064 Mr Lennon Hendrix

Sometimes it is not just fish.....

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:26 | 1116195 Hedge Jobs

maybe it was Fugu?

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:43 | 1115720 YouBetYourLife

Could be he's hired an American law firm.

This is what happens when the heat gets turned up on mobsters, etc., in the U.S. Suddenly they become too ill to stand trial. It's an old strategy that often works.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:22 | 1115864 Sabibaby

He's pulling a Ken Lay :) Fuk-U-Shima Bitchez!

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:30 | 1115882 YouBetYourLife

Hai!! Domo. Exactly.

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:45 | 1115723 Judge Holden

Weird. It's almost like business leaders in those countries feel guilt over the destruction they unleash on their country.

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:49 | 1115748 buzzsaw99

An usa ceo would have looted the company pension and been off on his yacht by now.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:10 | 1115817 Azwethinkweiz

And the British CEOs would feel sorry for "the small people"

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:25 | 1115877 Milton Waddams

"Okay, it is unfortunate what has happened. Tragic even. Equally as tragic and unfortunate is the hit to my golf game this detour will certainly cause."

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:39 | 1115903 MsCreant

"The human toll here looks to be much worse than the economic toll and we can be grateful for that," Kudlow responded. "And the human toll is a tragedy, we know that."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/13/larry-kudlow-human-toll-japan_n...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:04 | 1116174 Harlequin001

We could always set up a Commission for Truth and Reconciliation and just forget about the whole fucking thing...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:59 | 1116226 mogul rider

A Canadian CEO would have wondered what the British and American would have done.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:16 | 1115975 williambanzai7

Remember what I have been saying about the cultural "group think"

It is a fallacy to think this guy actually ran this company. The "company" is the family literally.

In Japanese the two words are mirrors: kaisha, shakai

But even though it is a collective act that causes the damage. It is the symbolic leader who must fall on his sword.

Some take it and grit their teeth. Others get sick or jump from the building.

This guy blamed the whole thing on "sotei gai"...events beyond comprehension, then disappears on sick leave.

That is not an apology in my book.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 09:38 | 1116224 Zero Govt

yes but why should CEO Shimizu get it in the neck? He was just the patsy sitting on top of a line of systemic errors he played no part in. The errors (made 40 years ago by others) were:

i. going Nuclear

ii. sighting the plant on the East coast

iii. back-up generator failed due to earthquake

iv. nuclear plant failed due to no adequate tsunami (wall) protection

v. not even the remotest safety equipment

Far as i can see the CEO had zippo to do with this decision-making process, the biggest mistake being the Jap Govt going nuclear in the first place.

The Bent Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) put out a program this week with their resident Scottish scientist (corrupt crone) who'd done a hatchet job on sceptics on climate change. His Japan coverage included saying the back-up generator that failed was set to withstand a 7.8 magnitude eathquake not an 8 (oh just 0.2 short).

And a satellite shot of the plant he led us to believe showed a tsunami wall around the plant was just 1 meter short of stopping the tsunami (oh just 4ft out) . Only the wall looked like a straight up security wall around the plant, nothing whatsoever like a tsunami wall construction which would have had a dyke/damn-like shape.

The Bent Broadcasting Corporation are living up to their non-stop biased propagandising name and EU/American political funding already by shovelling this shit

So why should Shimizu fall on his sword? It was the nuclear project Govt politicians who should be sharpening their blades and the nuclear plant designers who made all the systemic mistakes that resulted in an avoidable man-made disaster

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 09:51 | 1116625 Ident 7777 economy

All planned out in the 1960's (pre-PC, pre-computer modelling, pre-ARPA net etc etc etc); that's so fifty-years ago ...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 06:01 | 1116229 mogul rider

He shouldn't allowed ot commit Hari Kari. They should throw his family into the reactor as a warning to other maggots that you don't screw with people's lives like this

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:46 | 1115730 SparkyvonBellagio

GE designed these reactors and paid no US Tax in 2010 yet they profited around 14 Billion.

Sounds like they're a classy Org.

These were probably laid out and built when that raisin was at the helm.

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:56 | 1115771 Caviar Emptor

They bet against their own reactors using AIG structured products. Payday ahead.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 04:47 | 1116152 kreso

Link, please.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:10 | 1115969 williambanzai7

That raisin ;-)

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 21:43 | 1119866 Ted K

If he was a California raisin then he was probably one of those "dirty liberals". That means we can destroy the nation with packaged (bundled) mortgage garbage. Have 3 tranches: Garbage Cayne crap, Garbage Fuld shit, garbage Blankfein fart. Then give it a cute acronym like PMG, light the fuse, watch it explode and say "It was California raisin healthcare that created this mess."

I could write Newt Gingrich's next political playbook for him.

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:49 | 1115737 Spalding_Smailes

Embassies ready iodide tablets

By MASAMI ITO Staff writer

Various embassies in Japan are passing out potassium iodide tablets as a "precautionary measure" to protect their citizens from radiation exposure in case the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant goes haywire.

Unlike other countries, Japan does not sell iodide tablets over the counter. The government and radiation experts have issued notices stressing the tablets should only be taken in the presence of a doctor.

From the early stages of the scare, the French Embassy began handing out tablets to its citizens. Other embassies have followed suit, including the U.K., U.S., Swiss and Swedish missions. While most embassies have specified that iodide tablets do not need to be taken at present and that citizens will be told when it is necessary, the Swedish Embassy is recommending on its website that citizens within 250 km of the Fukushima plant take them once every three days.

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110329a8.html

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:37 | 1115898 knukles

"in case the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant goes haywire."

LOL
Oh, how a slim a chance might that be, now?

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 06:25 | 1116245 malikai

Lol! A little bit fucking late for that. They should have been handing that stuff out two weeks ago. Right now they should be handing out prussian blue.

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:47 | 1115739 Caviar Emptor

Chairman Katsumata: "With this plutonium lava I'm gonna rule the world"

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:41 | 1116012 zaknick

Whoever junked you is a f@king asswipe.

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:50 | 1115741 jkruffin

Katsumata -

the guy from Last Samurai, he was on a death mission too... lol

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:50 | 1115745 jonjon831983

Dizzy from seeing his intestines fall out from voluntarily committing Seppuku?

Or maybe he's dizzy because he knows he will have to do it afterwards.

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:54 | 1115770 Mr. Denny Kneel

That day may be coming sooner than you think. Just wait till the retail data of golden week come out!

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:58 | 1115778 buzzsaw99

That thought occurred to me as well. If he had any balls he would be down there helping out.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:05 | 1115802 jonjon831983

Holy cRAP! Maybe he got dizzy because the radiation mutated his belly into one of those talking head things from your DP. Ah Total Recall, who knew the mutants were caused by Fukushima :(

But then that would require him being close to the site helping out.

Baaaa-zing.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:16 | 1115842 buzzsaw99

You are what you do. [bitchez]

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:20 | 1115863 I Am The Unknow...

Which of the nuclear radioisotopes cause dizziness? Oh wait, ...all of them

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:50 | 1115753 Yen Cross

I heard his (Bunk Mates are from Egypt, Syria, IvoryCoast, and the guys on Qaddafi's) hemp noose team!

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:19 | 1115773 Yen Cross

Out of country

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:53 | 1115755 Plumplechook

Just on NHK: talking now about throwing a 'shroud' over each reactor building to try and limit radioactive releases into the atmosphere - and then bringing in some tanker ships to try and drain all that radioactive water lying around in basements and tunnels.

Sounds like a plan. A plan thought up by Beavis and Butthead. Jezzus - this really is getting farcical now. I'd laugh if it wasn't so scary.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:06 | 1115803 redpill

Uhm, then wouldn't we have highly radioactive tankers that we would have to figure out what to do with? How is that a solution?!

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:11 | 1116177 Harlequin001

it would reduce the excess inventory of ships...

and Singapore still has a sea literally full of them...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 10:31 | 1116783 pods

That one is easy, just anchor them off the coast of Somalia!

pods

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:08 | 1115807 Pez

An origami shroud "might" work... if you can fold lead sheets.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:07 | 1115814 john2011neb

The old piece of paper to stop plutonium trick huh? ...hmmm, well I wish them luck with that endeavor. It wouldn't be to hide the condition of the reactors from public view would it? No, I'm sure that wouldn't be why they would do that. I'm sure it will be an airtight plutonium protection device because of all their concern for the public, even though they claim it's pretty safe anyway.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:12 | 1116180 Harlequin001

tastes like chicken, or so I'm told...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:30 | 1115891 snowball777

Two words: junk shot.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:46 | 1115915 MsCreant

It does smell fishy, like the gulf.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:01 | 1115956 palmereldritch

Godzilla is dead - Nietzsche
(I'm paraphrasing)

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 07:13 | 1116265 Snidley Whipsnae

And the shrouds are to made of what? A shroud would only protect people/land from radiation from the exposed portion of the reactors that are damaged.

What about underneath the reactors, where there still remains the possibility of high temperature, radio active material reaching ground water and contiminating it or causing a steam explosion.

I believe the shroud idea is for the cameras and will not do a lot to protect the people or land/sea from radiation.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 09:13 | 1116501 Ruffcut

Freaking pussy CEO. Low paid workers are getting fried, like bacon, and he is dizzy.

He found out that he knows nothing of the energy business, and is a poor crisis leader.

This bullshit of humble humiliation. Pull up the boot straps and get back to work, even if to serve coffee to those who do know something.

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:53 | 1115757 YouBetYourLife

By the way, nominations are now open for the official Fukushima Theme Song.

One nomination has been received for Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water."

Another has been made for this catchy little tune:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdRo7okHCAc&feature=related

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:56 | 1115768 jkruffin

How about the Doobie Brothers "Oh Black Water"

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:11 | 1115826 serotonindumptruck

I was kinda thinkin' Barry McGuire.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOpErJWSIg0&feature=related

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:23 | 1115859 YouBetYourLife

A definite contender if one considers all events worldwide.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:31 | 1115893 Glass Steagall

Gotta go with Everclear - Santa Monica (Watch the World Die) on this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW6E_TNgCsY

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:11 | 1115827 Pez

Nope, "Turnin' Japanesa" by the Vapours circa 1980

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWAwrMFtSvM&feature=player_embedded

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:02 | 1115958 Pez

WFT?! Who flagged? It's an awesome one hit wonder.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:20 | 1115853 Jim in MN

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0liNBOnSqD8

Frank Zappa, "The Meek Shall Inherit Nothing" (SNL live 1978--he was banned from the show after this appearance and the song itself was not released on vinyl for quite a few years)

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:47 | 1115919 knukles

I still remember Barbara Wah-was asking him; "Mr. Zappa, have you eber used dwugs?"
The look he gave her.

Priceless.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:14 | 1116183 Harlequin001

didn't he call his son Moon Unit or something...

What's he doing these days, high court judge or somethin'

How about 'Senator Zappa'... coool...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:45 | 1116212 Isotope

He's decomposing.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 06:01 | 1116227 Harlequin001

oops...

thought he hadn't been in the headlines recently...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 07:06 | 1116264 MSimon

Daughter.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 09:00 | 1116468 Stormdancer

Moon Unit is the daughter. Son's name is Dweezle. :)

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 10:17 | 1116732 Fascist Dictator

Moon Unit One if memory serves......

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 12:35 | 1117502 Harlequin001

I'm not going to say another word...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 03:18 | 1116105 AUD

It's a sad state of affairs when you get junked for mentioning Frank Zappa on ZeroHedge. Dumb all over.

Well guess what?

You suckers ain't gettin' nothin'

'cause what they do...in Washington

They just take care...of number one

And number one ain't you...!!

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:15 | 1116185 Harlequin001

That was an old ABBA hit...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 07:40 | 1116284 Snidley Whipsnae

Zappa said a lot that applies to the catastrophe in Japan... Here is one...

"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe."

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 08:03 | 1116325 TaxSlave

Can I get a paira heavy duty, zircon-encrusted tweezers with that?

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 09:25 | 1116533 sdmjake

'Government is the Entertainment division of the military-industrial complex.'

- Frank Zappa

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:07 | 1115963 palmereldritch

It's already featured in a video game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9D6GNzpmkM

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:36 | 1116005 Dirt Rat

Big in Japan by Alphaville, but then again I'm an early 80s boy.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 07:40 | 1116285 Trillax

+10

Bolded = appropriate and topical lyric changes by Trillax ;)

"Winter's cityside,
Crystal bits of radiation all around my head and in the wind...
I had no illusions
That i'd ever find a glimpse of Fukushima's gammawaves in your eyes.
You did what you did to me,
Now it's history I see
Here's my comeback on the road again.
Things will happen while they can,
I will wait here for my irradiated man tonight--
It's easy when you're big in Japan!"

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 02:33 | 1116072 OldPhart

Has to be Cee Lo Green. He pretty much lays out TEPCO's attitude.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 02:37 | 1116075 TheSettler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=di3CLFj6_Ag

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 07:24 | 1116268 Judge Judy Scheinlok

Listen, the proper etiquette is to include an introduction to the content in your link.

Don't just post a fucking link without telling me what it's about!

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 11:30 | 1117085 Cui Bono

Right on Judge.... BTW what is your avatar? Is that some Pilgrim Drag Queen? CB

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 03:29 | 1116113 duckduckMOOSE

How about the Col. Bogey March? Right aura of purposeful lunacy and irony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CB8F8g1-4Uw&feature=related

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 04:11 | 1116138 Reckoner

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVB8beafBGA

Black Swan:

What will grow crooked, you can't make straight
It's the price that you gotta pay
Do yourself a favour and pack your bags
Buy a ticket and get on the train
Buy a ticket and get on the train

Cause this is fucked up, fucked up
Cause this is fucked up, fucked up

People get crushed like biscuit crumbs
And lay down in the bitumen
You have tried your best to please everyone
But it just isn't happenin
No, it just isn't happenin

And that is fucked up, fucked up
And this is fucked up, fucked up
This your blind spot, blind spot
It should be obvious, but it's not.
But it isn't, but it isn't

You cannot kickstart a dead horse
You just crush yourself and walk away
I don't care what the future holds
'Cause I'm right in your arms today
With your fingers you can touch me

I am your black swan, black swan
But I made it to the top, but I made it to the top
And this is fucked up, fucked up

You are fucked up, fucked up
This is fucked up, fucked up

Be your black swan, black swan
I'm for spare parts, broken up

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 08:59 | 1116472 Darf

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFCgAwopdOY

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 10:21 | 1116750 Fascist Dictator

Zappa's "It Can't Happen Here".

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 15:32 | 1118453 Matte_Black

"The Future's so Bright (I gotta wear shades)"

Timbuk 3 - Live Version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lputIMecalw

Tue, 03/29/2011 - 23:54 | 1115760 Seasmoke

i must still have somewhat of a good heart, as i hate authority, but i feel bad for these TEPCO people as their problems just seem to get worse and worse by the day

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:12 | 1115809 YouBetYourLife

No one here wishes them any ill, I'm sure.

After all, they'll have to live with the guilt of knowing they contributed to this disaster for the rest of their natural lives.

Which have probably been shortened considerably by recent events.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 06:09 | 1116233 mogul rider

No one wishes them ill?

Really? huh I guess I'm lonely then cause their families should be thrown into the core as far as I'm concerned as a reminder to those corporate dickheads who put cash over responsibility but instead they pick up their precious, head to Korea and party like there is no tomorrow while their country dies.

Does that seem right? I don;t think so. You share in the spoils you share the pain.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 08:08 | 1116337 TaxSlave

Really, very few people alive, and probably none of the people actually involved in trying to contain the situation had any choice whatsoever in how things went down.

The people who are getting hurt are not the guilty ones. As always.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:09 | 1115816 luk427

Halliburton would have bought put options before the news release, and by now they would have purchased the world's largest nuclear clean up Co.They would be counting their newly acquired cash , not suffering nervous breakdowns.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:05 | 1116173 goldfish1

No doubt you have outlined their strategy. Small chink in the armor - is there a nuclear clean up co? No matter. Still counting cash.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:18 | 1116189 Harlequin001

Yes, TEPCO, with the very latest technology in ...firehose pointing...

and water absorbent footwear.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:12 | 1115830 Saxxon

I feel bad for the guys who got radiated; the execs who got the hell out of there and are wringing their hands safely away, can eat shit.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:03 | 1115786 john2011neb

http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/81866.html

Look out for the MOX fuel providers from France on their way to Japan to hide any evidence against them and their product from getting out to the public. Soon we will not only be getting our nuclear safety information from one corporation, TEPCO, I fear we will also be hearing how safe it is from another corporation, Areva.

There will no cold shutdown - it appears at this point the only thing TEPCO and Areva will be trying to stop from escaping from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is the truth.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:01 | 1115787 Pez

Damn Plutonium stains!

You try soaking. You try scrubbing.

"We need more Boron!"

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:03 | 1115795 Jim in MN

Boroons.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:23 | 1115990 Stormdancer

Borans? *grin*

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:22 | 1116190 Harlequin001

got some caesium, that should bring it out just nicely...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:03 | 1115799 YouBetYourLife

Yep. 20 Mule Team Borax, to be precise.

(I realize there are many people who won't know what I'm talking about)

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:12 | 1115832 davepowers

a GE product too

with Ronnie Reagan as lead spokesman no less

I keep hoping that somewhere back in time GE made a mint on a govt contract to develope a 20 Mule Team borax weapon for putting out reactors mishaps.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:36 | 1115897 Pez

It was the old "Calgon" commercial. Which was really an "ancient chinese" not Japanese secret.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:13 | 1115834 Saxxon

_LOL.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:31 | 1116200 Coldfire

Funny!

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:03 | 1115788 docmac324

Just do what we do, send in the Tomahawks. That'll fix it.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:01 | 1115789 serotonindumptruck

Who could have predicted this scenario five years ago?

What a mess.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:19 | 1115846 Reptil

Something like this scenario was in a popular anime "Ghost in the Shell 2nd GIG". It also involves multiple nukes, and robots (AIs) sacrificing themselves to save millions of people in another later episode. The whole series is good, movies too, but anyone's taste might differ of course.

Here's the synopsis

"DI: Latent Heat Source – EXCAVATION"
"Senzai Netsugen EXCAVATION" (???? EXCAVATION) March 6, 2004 The prime suspect behind an attempt to blackmail the Ministry of Energy has turned up dead in Nihima City, ostensibly the victim of a tragic accident; however a more thorough examination of the body turns up evidence of homicide. Togusa follows up on the death of the suspect, and obtains "photographic evidence" which the man had intended to use against the Ministry of Energy; however the film piece has been exposed to light, and subsequently turned completely black. With most members of Section 9 still assigned to guarding the Prime Minister, Togusa is assigned a Tachikoma and sent to the Shinjuku Refugee District of New Tokyo to investigate the photo lead. After an accidental encounter with the dead man's fiancée the two of them decide to investigate the death together. They learn that the man, named Kontan Kanji, had accepted a mysterious job in exchange for the promise of a new cyber body, and had been put to work descaling the walls of a subterranean structure in the Uchikon 7 district, which was submerged in the last war. Although the Ground Self Defense Army (GSDA) is now guarding the primary entrance to the site Togusa and Kanji's fiancée managed to find an alternate route into the facility. After descending into the heart of the building, Togusa discovers that the building is in reality an old nuclear power plant and the "photographic evidence" was not a photo but a radiation badge. Someone has authorized the excavation of this pre-war relic but their identity remains unknown. They flee the scene and manage to contact Section 9, where a formal investigation into the facility is started. However, when he tries to contact her, Togusa discovers that Kanji's fiancée has disappeared.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:17 | 1115847 Mr. Denny Kneel

Um, ever heard of Reinhardt?

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 05:32 | 1116197 Harlequin001

Yes, Dr Hans Reinhardt, 'The Black Hole' 1979's science fiction B movie,

Captain of the USS Cygnus,

I learned about space flight from that...

and nuclear reactors... He too was a crazy madman not unreminiscent of senior TEPCO management...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 07:04 | 1116262 Rusty Shorts

Yeah, he's saying www3 is here.

http://www.enterprisecorruption.com/

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:19 | 1115851 That Peak Oil Guy

Nuclear power is inherently unsafe, and once you start that chain reaction you have to live with the consequences for thousands of years. We try to make it safe, but it is just a matter of time before you are fucked, one way or another.

It's a game where you're playing the odds and if you play long enough you will come up a loser eventually.

TPOG

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:58 | 1115945 medicalstudent

agreed.

free market would have never insured it. govt subsidy is the ony way this came to be.

central planning ourselves into oblivion.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:27 | 1115994 avonaltendorf

Serious props, MedStud. Thank you. A+

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 02:14 | 1116058 trav7777

"free market"?

LOL...imagine suggesting a fuel like gasoline these days.

No utility could build much of anything without gov't protection. Coal plants belch black lung and heavy metals. You think that would get insured?

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 09:59 | 1116655 Ident 7777 economy

TPOG: Nuclear power is inherently unsafe,

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Finally taken a 'position' have you?

Great!

What are the pros/cons of coal pwr plnts vs nuke pwr plnts again?

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 10:09 | 1116687 Ident 7777 economy

It's a game where you're playing the odds and if you play long enough you will come up a loser eventually.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Accident rates, NHTSA stats vehicle fatalities

2009: 30,979 lives

http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Main/index.aspx

We lose about as many ppl a YEAR to vehicle accidents as Japan lost to the earthquake and Tsunami ... we lost over 50,000 lives in the Vietnam war alone ...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:28 | 1115881 tbd108

Perhaps the engineer who took the bribe to not say anything about the defective containment vessel (and the people who paid him the bribe)?

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 10:02 | 1116664 Ident 7777 economy

'defective containment' or not, so-called "blackout events" on a reactor of this design is fatal to the reactor ... THIS is known universally in the industry ... not news.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:50 | 1115925 knukles

Oh well, fuck that's right. I forgot, there were no conspiracy theorists five years ago.
How silly of me.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:02 | 1115790 Jim in MN

http://www.mhi.co.jp/en/finance/library/business/pdf/nuclear2010.pdf

Anyone care to comment on this, especially slide 16?

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:24 | 1115871 serotonindumptruck

I would suspect that these agreements have been rescinded, yes?

We all seem to be irrelevant subjects to the whims of Mother Nature.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:50 | 1115926 Pez

Don't think they'll make that 2014 "target". on page 31

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:23 | 1115792 TruthInSunshine

By the way, I'm glad TEPCO clarified that the CEO was NOT taken to the hospital by ambulance.

TEPCO says company president Shimizu suffering from extreme dizziness, chairman Katsumata now at helm, and that the president was not taken to hospital by an ambulance."

That was the glowing multi-trillion dollar question that everyone was anxiously waiting for comment on, given how incredibly significant it is in the grand scheme of the NuclearClosterFock @ Fukushima Daiichi.

In fact, when I heard that the cores were melting down, the only thing that could divert my attention from the potential calamity unfolding was my inexplicably strong desire to know whether TEPCO's CEO drove, was driven, hoofed it, or was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Thanks for finally delivering the goods, TEPCO, you nuclear scientists, you.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:30 | 1115889 Selah

However, if they had to say that he was not taken by ambulance, then he was. I've read enough of this book to follow the plotline...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:48 | 1115920 TruthInSunshine

You just threw some class A level mind warp in there.

I didn't even think of that.

The old TEPCO two-step.

Fri, 04/01/2011 - 16:22 | 1126428 Natasha Fatale

Totally bizarre clarification. Must have something to do with saving face and maintaining honor, i.e. if you have to be taken to the hospital via ambulance, you are dishonorably sick.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:02 | 1115793 SqueekyFromm

Here is a video of the transfer of power:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLEV2cXagNg

Squeeky Fromm, Girl Reporter

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:05 | 1115798 Bubbles...bubbl...

They just don't make harakiri as good as they used to.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:10 | 1115820 Jim in MN

Check out the graph on page 94. That MOX is hot, hot, hot, babay....

http://www.princeton.edu/sgs/publications/sgs/pdf/10_2kang.PDF

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:04 | 1115962 MsCreant

I'm laughing at storage fabrication, as in, it is a fabrication you can store it.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:10 | 1115822 Milton Waddams

1.) Extreme dizziness
2.) Not taken to the hospital by ambulance
3.) ???
4.) [Given the circumstances, I cannot bring myself to type it]

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:14 | 1115837 digalert

Ya, I'll bet the guy is dizzy and sick and shitting his pants.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:15 | 1115845 Saxxon

He should get a short sword and kaishaku and rip his guts while he still has the strength to do it.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:31 | 1115886 CD

Has ZH opened a Tokyo office, or does a Tyler get dispatched to whatever global hotspot is going critical at the moment? In either case, kudos for the coverage.

Nikkei futures jumped 200 points in the last 2 hours, SOMEBODY was making preemptive moves to counteract all the news...

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:45 | 1115913 serotonindumptruck

Could it be that the news reported on ZH has an effect on global markets?

That might be a good thing.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:30 | 1115888 mynhair

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzVM6Q4YwAA&feature=related

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:43 | 1115912 CD

ROTFLMAO. Had no idea such a thing existed... or COULD exist. Great find.

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 00:56 | 1115941 Pez

Now THAT'S a disaster!

Wed, 03/30/2011 - 01:39 | 1116009 bankonzhongguo