Weekened Wise Words

Happy Weekend! To repeat my blessing from two days ago on St. Patty's day for those around the world who are suffering and need comfort and respite:

They all every one, have my most powerful and earnest, excessively positive thoughts.

May they all be soon dancing and happy once again and their troubles be put far behind them and never to find their address in the dark of night or light of day!

 Old Irish Blessing:

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Love your neighbor as much as yourself.

May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two.
May the sun always shine warm on your windowpane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

May your troubles be less
And your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.

There are good ships, and there are wood ships,
The ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships are friendships,
And may they always be.

Bless you and yours
As well as the cottage you live in.
May the roof overhead be well thatched
And those inside be well matched.

Nicaragua

What in the Hell, happened in Nicaragua?

Do you remember that? I remember when I was in college, a lot of yelling about the Sandinistas. But I thought back then everyone was on their side. Now it appears they were the enemies and the henchmen of the government we supported? I realize now that people weren't for the revolutionary government back then but they were against what our government was doing in paying the Contras who were a bit out of control with human rights violations, killing civilians, and such. Because, perhaps, our blindness in disliking what our government was doing in supporting people who were trying to overthrow an established government so close to home, they lost sight of what the current regime was doing and why, there was a grassroots group trying to unseat them, and now we know, rightfully so. Perhaps, Reagan was doing the right thing.

I'm so confused.

Here is what triggered this. I was watching Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations food show where he travels around the world. In this episode he goes to Nicaragua and is horrified by how badly the people are being treated by their leaders. Again, communism is all about how to control people and be richer than those you have charge over to protect and see happy, healthy and productive.

Bourdain is profiled in the upcoming issue of Time. Tony this year so far, has visited Haiti; Cambodia, including a discussion about the Khmer Rouge's ethnic killings, and Nicaragua  where he visits a garbage dump, where churequeros, both adults and children scavenge for food and recyclables.

 Nicaragua churequeros

From Tony: "It's not exactly appropriate to move over to Frontline all of a sudden, but, you know, seeing this it's feeling so good about doing another scene where I shove food in my face." Tony was obviously pissed off in considering what these people were going through, and the fact that there were second and even third generation people there to whom this is a way of life. Why, if their leader is so wonderful are there people living like this. Rummaging through garbage for food and sell-able items just so they can eat?

From Tony's blog on his site:

"I admire people who live by their principles–even when I don’t agree with them.  I don’t much like communism, particularly the soul crushing evil done in its name through much of history, but I have a romantic’s soft spot for an old Bolshie who took to the hills as a young man, believed in their heart that they were liberating their people from oppression (particularly if whoever they were  fighting against was a uniquely bad bastard).  Perhaps this will explain my visceral loathing for Daniel Ortega–seemingly the President For Life of Nicaragua, a guy who, clearly, has two sets of principles. One for the Nicaraguan people–and one for himself.   My detestation of Nicaragua’s Maximum Leader is exceeded only by my admiration for its people who deserve so much better.

"The Nicaragua show is the last (for a while) of a trio of sad, angry episodes. For the next few weeks anyway, you can be assured of some somewhat more upbeat hours of television. But I was angry this time around. ”Socialist” and “Greedhead” are two words that really don’t go together, but too often do in my travels.  And for an old lefty like me, that goes down hard. Of course, it wasn’t all downbeat. Nicaragua is, after all, a spectacularly beautiful country. The food is great. The rum even better. The people are proud, generous, funny and sophisticated at every level of society.

"I hope the show makes people want to visit this poor but beautiful nation with so much to offer–to see not only what Nicaragua is, but what it can be. I try–I really try–to stay away from politics on my show. I’m not that smart. I’m a guy with a travel and food show. But what people eat–or aren’t eating–is the elephant in the room. And from time to time, that’s worth mentioning.

"A miserable, hypocritical prick–whatever the system of government–is still a prick.  I tend to look at the world, still, from the point of view of a restaurant guy–a small business owner.  Right? Left? I don’t care. I look at “leaders” as if they were managers of my restaurant. I go away for four years and come back. If my business has gotten inexplicably worse, I have fewer customers, the neighbors are pissed, my employees unhappy and there’s money inexplicably missing from the till, I call that a bad leader.  I don’t know if that’s politics or simple good sense."

Anthony Bourdain

Thanks Tony. Keep up the good work. We do need to see these things.

St. Patrick's Day

Let me say first, that today, I will be in Seattle, celebrating St. Patty's day along with my son, with whom I celebrated it on this day last year, that being his first time. We had a great deal of fun and we're going to try to duplicate the effort this year. I'm not much of one for parades, but there's no end to them during this week.

Flag of Ireland

There are some good links on this blog today for things Irish and St. Patty's Day oriented. I'm not saying anything about the bars I'm mentioning, I only go to those two (and a shout out to the Owl and Thistle) as I take a ferry over from Bainbridge Island and you walk along a path straight to Owl & Thistle or Fado, and then it's a straight shot to the left on 1st Avenue to Pike Place Market and Kell's. That way no car is involved. I can actually take a bus if I wish to and from the ferry and home. Then you can even hit the bar at the ferry terminal, Commuter Comforts, run by some of my favorite people.

Regarding those who are suffering around the world, they have my most powerful and earnest excessively positive thoughts to them all. May they all be soon dancing and happy once again and their troubles be put far behind them and never to find their address in the dark of night or light of day!

But on one day a year, no matter how bad things are, it's good to take the time to celebrate and forget about your woes and the world's troubles. A tradition that was once in Ireland, far more important perhaps, than it is now; albeit now is not so great either. Where we had the "Great Troubles" before, we now, in Ireland, have the "Financial Troubles" which is troubling, but after all, no one is kneecapping you over your credit rating, or blowing your friends up at the local pub.

March 17th, is St. Patrick's Day. It is a high holy day of drunks, Irish and party goers the world over. They say on St. Patty's day, everyone (who wants to be) is Irish. It's a grand day of sharing community and inebriation. Always have your toast "Sláinte!" ready at hand as its commonly used as a drinking toast in Ireland (and Scotland and the Isle of Man), literally translating as "health". And here health to ya!

Saint Patrick (c. 387–461)

It's also a special day for Catholics. But they have their blog, I have mine. I have celebrated St. Patty's day all my life. As far back as I can remember. My mother, when I was younger than five, had a cut out streamer hanging from one side of our ceiling in our living room, to the other, saying: "Erin Go Bragh!" Meaning, allegiance to Ireland or typically, "Ireland Forever". It is probable that the English version was taken from what was a "dative" context, such as Go bhfanad in Éirinn go brách ("May I stay in Ireland for ever") or Go bhfillead go hÉirinn go brách ("May go back to Ireland for ever").

This was funny because, she is Czech, but I think she was just a "party girl" and liked celebrating a day that was all about, well, celebrating. Her husband at that time, wasn't my dad, who was Irish, but her current husband, who was always proud of saying he was English. We never got along. Of course now, for some reason, he claims Irishness. I've no idea why. He claims he never made a big deal out of being English, nor did he ever decry Irishness. But he did.

Odd to say, my mother has done that too. In telling her once I stepped over my brother's prostrate form, on the living room rug, watching TV, she made me step back over him because, "if you step over someone, it means they may die." She denies ever saying that now. Strange enough, a few years after that, he died.

Back to St. Patty's day.

And now, our Wikipedia moment:

"Saint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig) is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It is named after Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland. It originated as a Catholic holiday and became an official feast day in the early 17th century. It has gradually become more of a secular celebration of Irish culture.

"It is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador and in Montserrat. It is also widely celebrated by the Irish diaspora, especially in places such as Great Britain, Canada, the United States, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, and Montserrat, among others."

According to legend, Saint Patrick used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish people.

Wearing of the green

Originally, the color associated with Saint Patrick was blue. Over the years the colour green and its association with Saint Patrick's day grew. Green ribbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration of St Patrick's Day as early as the 17th century. He is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish, and the wearing and display of shamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs have become a ubiquitous feature of the day. In the 1798 rebellion, in hopes of making a political statement, Irish soldiers wore full green uniforms on 17 March in hopes of catching public attention. The phrase "the wearing of the green", meaning to wear a shamrock on one's clothing, derives from a song of the same name.

Now that that's all out of the way....

We will probably go to Seattle's Kell's Irish Pub at Pike Place Market. Have some lunch, get a T shirt ($20 entry fee).

 Kell's Seattle

I do so dislike that they use plastic cups but worse, that they use cups that are not a full Pint. So you have to pay extra and get two "pints" on St. Patty's day if you want one. The up side of that is that you end up with more than a pint, but it's God awfully expensive that way.

Fado Seattle

There is a lot to enjoy however. People are there early, at the Fado this year, they are starting by opening their doors at 7:30AM. It's always fun once in a while to have a pint first thing in the morning (but please, be sensible, eat breakfast, drink a glass of water between each pint).

Now most pubs are celebrating all week long, staring the previous weekend, and ending the following one. But I just celebrate it on the Day.

I love Irish music, especially if it's live, and its always fun to have some good clean laughter, good times with interesting people, friends and loved ones, or at least strangers who treat you nicely. And St. Patty's day is all about being nice to strangers and having a pint with them.

Sláinte!

On a side note, it always helps to have a few Irish blessings under your belt for St. Patty's day. If you can belt out a few of these you will be the life of the party Here are a few I have hanging on my walls:

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

May those who love us love us.
And those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we'll know them by their limping.

Now a few quick ones good for a toast in a raucous room of rowdies:

May you live as long as you want,
And never want as long as you live.

May the saddest day of your future be no worse
Than the happiest day of your past.

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light.
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.

May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven
half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.

Always remember to forget
The friends that proved untrue.
But never forget to remember
Those that have stuck by you.

May the enemies of Ireland never meet a friend.

May the roof above us never fall in.
And may the friends gathered below it never fall out.

Here's a toast to your enemies' enemies!

For those religious types:
May the Lord keep you in His hand
And never close His fist too tight.

May your neighbors respect you,
Trouble neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And heaven accept you.

When we drink, we get drunk.
When we get drunk, we fall asleep.
When we fall asleep, we commit no sin.
When we commit no sin, we go to heaven.
So, let's all get drunk, and go to heaven!

May your troubles be less
And your blessings be more.
And nothing but happiness
Come through your door.

May the luck of the Irish
Lead to happiest heights
And the highway you travel
Be lined with green lights.

May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
Slow to make enemies,
And quick to make friends.
But rich or poor,
Quick or slow,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May you have food and raiment,
A soft pillow for your head,
May you be forty years in heaven
Before the devil knows you're dead.

May the face of every good news
And the back of every bad news
Be forever toward us

May I see you gray and combing your grandchildren's hair

And finally....

There are only two kinds of people in the world,
The Irish, and those who wish they were.

Okay, that was just a jest for fun, maybe yet one more....

Wherever you go and whatever you do,
May the luck of the Irish be there with you.

What do we really need in America?

President FDR is reported to have said that no American, after taxes should have more than $25,000 (figure in today's terms, around $300,000). I would raise that somewhat considering how money is evaluated differently now (as you saw above) and have a buffer for problems, national crisis, etc., and say maybe $10 Million dollars.

But, can you imagine if that happened, as FDR thought, that the government should be using that extra money they would have to take care of the American citizens (including all the country's concerns, within and without its borders), its infrastructure, college for all kids, healthcare for everyone? When did we get so greedy? Why do we need $100 million? Or a $1 billion? Or even $10 million?

"In 1942, only a few months after Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proposed a 100 percent top marginal tax rate. At a time of “grave national danger,” the president advised that April, “no American citizen ought to have a net income, after he has paid his taxes, of more than $25,000 a year. Roosevelt was proposing, in effect, what amounted to a maximum wage—at an income level that would equal, in our contemporary dollars, about $300,000.

"Imagine, for a moment, what would happen today if John Kerry—suddenly inspired by FDR’s bold example—were to propose a 100 percent tax on income over $300,000 to help wage the war against terrorism. Kerry would be hooted off the political stage, maybe even tagged a terrorist himself for trying to disrupt and destroy the American economy.

"The opposition to FDR’s income cap proposal would go about its business behind the scenes. The mandarins on the House Ways and Means Committee would quietly refuse to give the president’s cap any serious consideration. But Roosevelt would not be deterred. Shortly after Labor Day, he repeated his call for a $25,000 income limit, “the only practical way of preventing the incomes and profits of individuals and corporations from getting too high.” Congress would eventually relent and tilt in the president’s direction. The Revenue Act of 1942 would leave America’s most fortunate paying taxes on income over $200,000 at a tax rate well over 90 percent. The war years would go on to become, notes historian John Witte, “the most progressive tax years in U.S. history.”

"Today, by contrast, we are waging a war amid what have become the least progressive tax years in modern U.S. history. Pulitzer Prize-winning tax analyst David Cay Johnston estimates that our nation’s wealthiest households are now paying federal income taxes at a mere 17.5 percent rate, after exploiting all available loopholes. America’s richest households in 1943, after exploiting all available loopholes, paid nearly 78 percent of their total incomes in federal tax."

From The Rational Radical

It just came to my attention, that one in 20 people in the US are agnostic or atheist and there are NO stated atheists in congress.

Really!

First of all, I don't think so.

Second, we need the first one, to stand up, say it, get into congress, and not be fearful to be so. As someone said, don't be afraid to say you don't believe in a talking snake. Or floating paranormal entities born immaculately of woman.

I also find it's annoying that religionists say they have "Faith" as if no one else, no atheist, has "Faith". Or they will say yes, you too can, but you have "faith" where we have "Faith".

Really!

How condescending. No?

Someone also said, why are the stated atheists saying they have have such a rabid fear of religionists, isn't part of being an atheist not giving a damn what they are doing? But someone does need to stand up against ignorance, stupidity, foolishness, important decisions that can get people killed based upon fantasy, satiating emotions and beliefs not based on hard facts.

 Not to mention, some atheists are simply afraid of "True Believers". And that on any and all sides.

Why do we now have empty houses with people crowding homeless shelters? Why are we kicking out some of those people who are losing their homes, rather than fix it so they can keep them, if its shown they didn't do something stupid to end up in that situation? Why do we allow people to lose their homes, so then the banks can sell them extremely cheaply to someone else?

Why not sell them extremely cheaply to those who have, perhaps, illegally, immorally, but to no fault of their own, lost their homes?

What are we doing? What are we allowing to be done? There are a lot of things going on we should put a stop to. But how? This reminds me of Thomas Jefferson. He thought every generation requires a revolution and its long overdue. Not a blood and gore one, but one that actually changes things to make them better.

We have too long gone along with the corporate mindset. Perhaps we should have made a corporation and entity, a person, when we did decades ago. But perhaps now is the time to end that. Times change, things change, we have to institute change. Corporations have too long run our lives and our government. No doubt about that. They need to be reigned in. And now is late in the game, we need to do it yesterday.

There is a lot of change going on in the world today. We have some momentum and we need to keep it going. The heavy weight is moving, keep pushing so it gains more speed in the right direction, which is people. There is a lot of talk about socialism. People, are social. If socialism is about making the world better for PEOPLE, then what is wrong with that? Perhaps what we need is to redefine some words.

Communism, isn't for me, I'm too solitary for that. Socialism, if it means, not allow people to be abused, might be for me. I don't think it means dole out to everyone, out of the community coffers, even the losers, the low lifes, but we should all have certain benefits of being a part of a country. And if this is the most wonderful powerful country in History, why are we working so damn hard just to maintain our lifestyle? Granted, some of our lifestyle is unsustainable and we need to be educated and make some changes there.

But, we should be getting more time off, not less. We should be making more money, not less. Some things we pay for, should even be free. Why, are people held in such low esteem in this country? Yes, it's far worse elsewhere, but does that make it okay? No, I don't think so.

Should we unionize? Force corporations to pay us more, give us more? That misses the point. It's how we think, how we spend our profits. A CEO gets $500 million as a bonus? Something is wrong when you have that kind of disparity between the highest and lowest paid wage earner in a company.

So, in the end, what do we need? We need a paradigm shift. The trouble is, usually there is only one way that happens. By way of damage: Natural disaster, revolution, economic crash. But why? Are we that damn stupid that we have to be forced to evoke change? Or, can we simply start a grass root change? Just, as Nike says, Do It.

It has to start somewhere. It has to start with you. No, really. You. Because if you can change, others can change and if others can change, then we can have a consensus. And if we have a consensus, we can have a movement; and a movement can lead to an alteration in how a country is run. And that is what we need. A country that is run differently. Better. More intelligently, with more thought to what is right and less to making a buck for mere greed. There is more than the stock holders. There are, the people.

Be one of the people so that the county can once again be, of the people, by the people, for the people; so that it shall not perish from the earth and will propagate the world over. We were once a great nation. We can be again.

Music Rebels - The Runaways - Jim Carroll

There's been many rebel types in the music industry. Different rebel types in different music categories. Jim Morrison, Iggy Pop, Keith Moon, Johnny Cash, Patti Smith, Rolling Stones, Sex Pistols, The Ramones, even the high brow Kronos Quartet, all in their own ways. There's even web sites dedicated to reporting on music rebels like Heartless Music.

Two I always found interesting are Joan Jett and the late Jim Carroll. Joan's first band being, The Runaways. Joan's band of many years now is Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Both of these people have movies out about their beginnings. Joan's, was The Runaways.

Joan Jett

I watched The Runaways today about the band Joan Jett started out in. It was odd hearing them talking about Susie Quatro as a role model. I remember her when she wasn't anybody and just didn't see her the same way at the time. I always felt you just have to respect anyone who stands up and... does.

When I was there age, I never ACTUALLY considered running off and being in a band, I only dreamed of it. Funny thing, I had what appeared to be the same guitar and case with internal amp in it that Joan does int he film. I got it from my older brother, he got it from Sears.

It was actually better than I expected, I actually found it sad and motivating. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 68% rating, higher than the fans did at 56%.

For an actual documentary on The Runaways, check out 2004s, "Edgeplay: A Film About the Runaways". Available via streaming download on Netflix: "Jail bait" rockers The Runaways tell their own tale -- their hopes, dreams and eventual implosion due to incessant media hectoring, infighting among the band members and chronic drug use. Directed by Victory Tischler-Blue, the film shows what it was like for six teenage girls to gain notoriety in an era hostile to female musicians. Includes live performances, a special appearance by Suzi Quatro and new songs by Quatro and Lita Ford."

I've always liked artists who went against the grain, showed spirit, fought against the machined rage and excelled beyond what their life gave them. Joan Jett is one of those.

As was Jim Carroll with all that he has been through. Jim had a pretty amazing story, just check out the 1995 film, Basketball Diaries, based on his autobiography and staring a young Leonard DiCaprio as Jim.

While still in high school, Carroll published his first collection of poems, Organic Trains. Already attracting the attention of the local literati, his work began appearing in the Poetry Project's magazine The World in 1967.  In 1978, after he moved to California to get a fresh start since kicking his heroin addiction, Carroll reformed a San Francisco Bay area band called Amsterdam, as The Jim Carroll Band, now a New Wave/punk rock group. Carroll got the band started with encouragement from ex New York City apartment mate Patti Smith, whom he lived with along with now infamous artist Robert Mapplethorpe.

The Album, Catholic Boy

The band released a great single "People Who Died", from their 1980 debut album, Catholic Boy, about the people he had known and how they died. The song's title was based on a poem by a New York poet peer of Jim's, Ted Berrigan.

  James Dennis Carroll

Heroin really took its toll on Jim. I had a coworker at Tower Video, Mercer store in Seattle, years ago. She once told me back int he mid 80s, that she heard Jim had kicked "H" and she went to see him. She had her own problems with it and they got worse in succeeding years when she was "dancing" at a peepshow called Champ Arcade on the corner across from Pike Place Market. She went to see Jim do a reading of his poetry one night when he was in town. She walked up to him afterward and said, "I thought you kicked it but I can see you didn't. Takes one to know one." He didn't have much to say about it, he was high.

 

Jim Carroll, then and ....

 ...and later

As with many rebel bands and artists, drugs had a lot to do with being a rebel and being able to keep the distance from people and society to be ABLE to rebel, and that's too bad really. Some make it through and Joan Jett is one of those. Jim died on September 11, 2009 only making it to age 60 due to a heart attack while still working at his desk. Not surprising that he would die younger than need be. 

These two rebels, rocked. One of them right until the end.

Scientists drill to Hell in Russia - Proof?

Amazing?

It all took place in 1960 in Siberia where they allegedly bore a 14.4km hole and the recording was unveiled in 1989 at an American radio station.The sounds may be disturbing.

From ScienceRay

Sounds of Hell?

Well, the only word I can think of for this is "Poppycock"! First of all, they drilled over fourteen miles into the earth's crust? In 1960? According to wikipedia:

"The Kola Superdeep Borehole (Russian: Кольская сверхглубокая скважина) is the result of a scientific drilling project of the former USSR. The project attempted to drill as deep as possible into the Earth's crust. Drilling began on 24 May 1970 on the Kola Peninsula, using the Uralmash-4E, and later the Uralmash- 15000 series drilling rig. A number of boreholes were drilled by branching from a central hole. The deepest, SG-3, reached 12,262 metres (40,230 ft) in 1989, and is the deepest hole ever drilled, and the deepest artificial point on the earth. For two decades it was also the world's longest borehole, in terms of measured depth along the well bore, until surpassed in 2008 by 12,289 m (40,318 ft) long Al Shaheen oil well in Qatar, and in 2011 by 12,345 metres (40,502 ft) long Sakhalin-I Odoptu OP-11 Well (offshore the Russian island Sakhalin."

Kola Superdeep Borehole, 2007

So, Poppycock, I say, poppycock. By way of denunciation, I found this article from Truth or Fiction web site, which is pretty interesting and pretty entertain and pretty damning of the above contentions.

The article that tears this apart and explains it all, from Truth or Fiction.

What this really points out is how religions can allow nonsense to seep in. It's Human nature really. But people WANT to believe. In reading this article, I WANTED to believe, just because it's nice to think there is something outside of our humdrum daily lives that is more than, bigger than, extra cooler than, reality, daily life, our usual rut.

Just beware of nonsense and remember the old adage, that if it sounds too good to be true, its not.

Tsunami in Japan - Special Ed.

The Tsunami in Japan has wrecked quite a bit of devastation. Since the initial quake there have been 140 aftershocks. Initial reports were amazing at low death tolls, much praise given to all of Japan's many regulations for building codes. Truth be told, if they had not prepared all these years, there would have been very many more deaths. The latest death toll estimate for Japan is now above 10,000 and it could go a lot higher, because that number applies to one region alone -- the Miyagi prefecture. (From 9:47AM Business Insider)

Source: NOAA

Japan's Prime Minister has said that this is the worst crises in Japan since WWII. As of 7AM Pacific time today, Sunday 3/13/2011, the official death number is 1200. One regional official alone, said that in his region the numbers will undoubtedly be in the tens of thousands.

200,000 people in Fukushima near the nuclear power plant have been evacuated. Those who may have been exposed to radiation are being handed out iodine to treat it just to be cautious. There was an explosion at one reactor on Saturday. They fear another explosion in a different reactor at the same plant.

Many people are trying to understand the power and repercussions of this quake and tsunami. Fareed Zakaria put it this way: "If you take the quake that hit New Zealand recently and multiply it by 1,000 you would get the one that hit Japan. Or if you remember the one that devastated Haiti last year, this one is several hundred times more powerful. That's why despite all the precautions and preparedness, the devastation has been so great." A stream along the bottom of the page on Fareed's show said: "Quake moved Japan's coast either feet; shifted Earth's axis."

The BBC has stated its the 7th most powerful earthquake in recorded history.

The world is sending aide. The U.S.S Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier has arrived today and has made dozens of trips sending aide. Three of ten US ships have arrived to give aide in Japan. Has anyone noticed how it took three days for help to arrive during Katrina, but Japan much further away is receiving aide so quickly?

According to the ABC web site: "The tsunami raced across the Pacific at 500 mph, the first sirens began sounding across Hawaii late Thursday night. Early Friday, the tsunami waves reached Hawaii, tossing boats in Honolulu. The water covered beachfront roads and rushed into hotels on the Big Island. The waves carried a house out to sea. Seven-foot waves flooded low-lying areas in Maui. As the sun rose, people breathed a sigh of relief."

 Brookings, Oregon (OregonLive.com)

They also said that: "Outside Brookings, Ore., just north of the California border, four people went to a beach to watch the waves and were swept into the sea. Two got out on their own, and the others were rescued, authorities said. Brookings harbor saw the worst reported damage in the state with half the facility destroyed and 10 boats sunk, Curry County Sheriff John Bishop said."

 Crescent City marina (OregonLive.com)

"In Crescent City, California, an 8-foot wave rushed into the harbor, destroying about 35 boats and ripping chunks off the wooden docks, as marina workers and fishermen scrambled between surges to secure property. Officials estimated millions of dollars in damage.

"Scientists warned that the first tsunami waves are not always the strongest. The threat can last for several hours and people should watch out for strong currents. U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Ken Hudnut said residents along the coast should heed any calls for evacuation."


The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center site has posted this bulletin:

A WIDESPREAD DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI HAS OCCURRED, AND TSUNAMI WAVES HAVE NOW CROSSED THE ENTIRE PACIFIC. FOR ALL AREAS - WHEN NO MAJOR WAVES ARE OBSERVED FOR TWO HOURS AFTER THE ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL OR DAMAGING WAVES HAVE NOT OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS THEN LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN ASSUME THE THREAT IS PASSED.

DANGER TO BOATS AND COASTAL STRUCTURES CAN CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS DUE TO RAPID CURRENTS. AS LOCAL CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE A WIDE VARIATION IN TSUNAMI WAVE ACTION THE ALL CLEAR DETERMINATION MUST BE MADE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES. DUE TO LOCAL EFFECTS SOME AREAS MAY CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE SMALL SEA LEVEL CHANGES FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD LASTING HOURS OR EVEN DAYS.

FOR ALL AREAS COVERED BY THIS CENTER...THE TSUNAMI WARNING IS CANCELED.

THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BULLETIN ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

THE JAPAN METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY MAY ALSO ISSUE TSUNAMI MESSAGES FOR THIS EVENT TO COUNTRIES IN THE NORTHWEST PACIFIC AND SOUTH CHINA SEA REGION. IN CASE OF CONFLICTING INFORMATION... THE MORE CONSERVATIVE INFORMATION SHOULD BE USED FOR SAFETY.

THE WEST COAST/ALASKA TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER WILL ISSUE PRODUCTS FOR ALASKA... BRITISH COLUMBIA... WASHINGTON... OREGON... CALIFORNIA.