A geography lesson - Japan and Minnesota

We keep getting questions about how our son is doing in Japan after the earthquake near Sendai and the nuclear reactor problems in Fukushima.  To me, it's like others asking how we are doing if a tornado hit the Twin Cities or how we're doing with the Red River flooding in Fargo ND.

Sendai is about 225 miles from Tokyo and the Fukushima plant is about 150.  Fargo is about 242 from Duluth and Minneapolis is about 150.

Oh, yes, there are two nuclear plants near us.  Monticello is about 150 miles away and Prairie Island is about 224.  Prairie Island has far too much spent fuel stored on the premises.  If any of those casks are breached and we lived downstream in LaCrosse WI, then maybe you should worry about us.

The letter writing Magrees

Our son in Tokyo had a letter published in the Japan Times.  He argued for more conservation rather than rolling blackouts.  Blackouts disrupt business, but many of the signs are still lighting up the sky.

Also watch the Duluth News Tribune for a letter by my wife Jan on multiple trash haulers covering the same routes.  The editorial staff called yesterday to confirm that she sent it.

Three cheers for government being in the way

One of the current mantras is to get government out of the way of business.  There are many reasons that a government of the people should be in the way of business, but I'll save that for another day.

One of the ways that government should be in the way of business is with building codes.  If every builder of houses or of skyscrapers did it their own way, would you feel secure walking into any building?  Although most build sturdy, safe buildings, there are some who will cut corners to save a few bucks.  It is government that works to check up on these corner cutters.

What would have happened in Tokyo if many of the large buildings were not built to government standards?  What would the toll in lives have been if contractors had cut corners?  What would the toll have been if government inspectors hadn't checked on standards being met?

You don't need to live in earthquake zones to be concerned with building safety.  What if you put lots of money into the structural integrity of your building but your neighbor didn't.  Comes the hurricane or the tornado and his building tumbles into yours.

Many think zoning codes are anti-business, but they can be pro-business.  What if you put up a nice hotel and a junk yard is put in next door.  How much business would the junk yard deter?

Many who want zoning codes changed from residential to commercial wouldn't appreciate the same changes in their own neighborhood.  Maybe any developer who wants to change a residential neighborhood should be willing to have a similar change made in his own neighborhood.

Getting government out of the way of business is one of those notions that you should be careful what you ask for.

Family News from Japan

Our son Darryl put this on his Facebook page:

So the earthquake was pretty bad in Tokyo, but at least the building stayed up. Most people stayed frozen at their desks; I went to the stairwell, stood in the doorframe and watched these cracks form. 


We assembled on the sidewalk and watched the building sway in the aftershocks. Since the trains were all stopped I walked home (90 min). There are still streams of people heading home even now.

We also spoke with him via Skype.  His almost 4-year-old daughter Kayo is still frightened.  They went out for a few groceries and it was a struggle to return home.  So many people who would have been on the subway were walking towards them that he had "to fight his way" through.