sketchley

'cuz otherwise there would be no episode. Within the story, one could guess that it's bravado on the part of the Lucian Alliance (we sneaked past the defences, landed a ship on their command centre, walked away, then blew it up real good). Or maybe they just don't have missiles/bombs and can't risk using the rings to transport it, as their target could just as easily ring it back to them. I'm going to give this episode a "good" rating. It didn't really advance the overall story in the end. And that's despite resolving one of the story arcs over the preceding 12 episodes; and I'm a bit underwhelmed by that resolution - too little, too late? Anyhow, I'm wondering how many more episodes Lou Diamond Philips will appear in before his character disappears again until the season (series?) final. ... and if they'll ever properly address the time travel hi-jinks (like, dude, your a dude who's from the future that travelled back in the past. You're like 18 hours ahead of everyone else!)

Crap! Missed it on Renato's linky: http://www.nucleartourist.com/world/japan.htm

I [sarcasm]like[/sarcasm] how they have Sendai (which isn't even a reactor!) at the bottom of Kyushu, when it's supposed to be near "Onagawa" on the map. :roll: Funny, and extremely scary at the same time. Those news clips of explanations were... uhm, wow. Journalistic low points? Compare to a Japanese news explanation: Wish I could find the ones that I saw on ANN, JNN and so on. Ah well, at least this one's got an English translation. It's not indicated in the voice over, but their expert is a Tokyo University professor.

Oh... my... god...

Macross the Ride episode 01 Completed and posted translations of the following sections: Author's message About Author Character Macross Glossary

True, the VF-14 was introduced from about the time of the introduction of the VF-11. BUT, that's no guarantee that the VF-14 was every used on Eden. The main customers of the VF-14 were "one portion of the emigrant planets and emigrant fleets" - usually those that are more remote. (Of course, this doesn't preclude their use on Eden for testing purposes). The other thing to keep in mind is that we don't have clearly indicated points in the timeline when VFs were retired from active duty. So, it's just as likely that they are VF-4 retained for aggressor duties as they are VF-14 used for testing purposes (insert whatever reason one wants for having either craft on the airbase.) Later production models of the VF-4 have a beam machine gun at that location　(I believe it's the VF-4G).

Not making any changes to the master list from the latest addition to this discussion (good point anime52k8). Just would like to tender the idea that posters should attempt to use the official terminology. Ie "The Official Setting". (no, this is not me being thick headed. This is what the material says in Japanese. And to be clear, "Extended Universe", "Other", are not official terminology.)

I think it's the difference between using Youtube's embed feature (I believe your linky has that) and just a copy/paste of the address (my linky). Anyhow, news: Foreign media take flak for fanning fears: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110321f1.html Iodine from plant detected in Tokyo (useful as it has a chart showing the radiation levels measured in the Tohoku region for the 24 hour period from 03.19 17:00 to 03.20 17:00): http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110321a2.html Death toll to exceed 15,000 in Miyagi alone: police chief (includes total deaths and unaccounted for persons): http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110321a3.html For locals: Latest threat: radiation-contaminated food: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110321a4.html Rain may force Tepco to cut power: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110321a6.html World Nuclear News: Insight to Fukushima engineering challenges (includes INES ratings): http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Insight_to_Fukushima_engineering_challenges_1803112.html Stabilisation at Fukushima Daiichi: http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Stabilisation_at_Fukushima_Daiichi_2003111.html and a quote from the last link. Attn on the tsunami height the plants were designed for and the estimated height of the one that hit.

Ahh. Those infamous craft from the OAV (not added to the movie, but present in the movie). The last I heard was that Kawamori-san has not, repeat NOT identified what those craft are. IMHO, they look closer to the VF-4. I'm not disagreeing with the logic. Though, Kawamori-san did go back and provide us with a more "realistic" VF based on real-world developments up to the time of production, in the VF-0; which predates the VF-1 (within the story).

Good find. Because of that, I found this one: (It's an animation based off of all the earthquakes alerts during a 1 week period leading up to and and after the big one. All the dots are locations that felt movement, and the degree of movement on the Japanese Scale is indicated at the bottom.) Note the two separate, concurrent series of Earthquakes... Going back to David Hingtgen's linky - yes, the ripple went through the entire island (and the rest of the world), but the farther one was from the epicentre, the less likely one was to have felt it. Where I was (at the time at work on the 3rd floor of a building in Moriguchi City (that's Eastern Osaka Prefecture, near the Panasonic HQ), it didn't feel AT ALL like a normal earthquake. It felt more akin to vertigo, with the head dropping side to side. A lot of people (students, parents and so on) also reported similar feelings. In our area, if the people I asked hadn't look at suspended things, such as clothes hangers, they didn't even realize it was an earthquake. Still, scary stuff when one realizes the scale of the thing. Even scarier stuff when one sees the subsequent tsunami on TV. Even worse if one saw it first hand. (A day or so ago I received word from a friend in Kujukuri Town (on the side of Chiba Prefecture facing the epicentre), and he said that the tsunami stopped ACROSS THE STREET from his parents-in-law house that he was staying at, at the time. :!: ) Well, as the experts have been saying (in regards to the reactor situation): the tsunami is the bigger disaster. If you're thinking about donating, now is the best time; as supply chains have been set up to the survivors, and emergency shelter construction has begun. In the Kansai area, I've heard reports that baby food has run out (or is in extremely short supply), and that there are limits on things like toilet paper and diapers (possibly other things as well). Apparently people are hoarding... EDIT: interesting. This site auto-embeds Youtube links. Interesting.

Mine defaults to forum posts...

The VF-17 exists in M7 simply because the F-117 was recently publicly revealed at the time of M7's development. There were bombers created to compliment the multi-purposefulness of the VF-1 (it drops bombs, too). Some of the more well-known Variable Bombers that predate the introduction of the VF-17 are: VB-3000 VA-3 VB-6 It should also be noted that the VF-17 is not a bomber, but a space-optimized fighter. It *may* be able to carry out bombing missions, but it is designed as a special-forces space fighter.

not quite... YF-24 created. ISC (Inertia Store Converter) technology developed. YF-24 Evolution created (incorporates ISC within the airframe) YF-24 Evolution plans disseminated with a capability-reduced ISC system Galaxy Fleet: take YF-24 Evolution plans, incorporate technology from the YF-21/VF-22 (the BDI) and cyborg pilots, and create the VF-27 (publicly announced as the still-in-testing YF-27 to limit knowledge on the craft) Frontier Fleet: develop EX-Gear to compensate for reduced anti-G ISC performance develop YF-25 develop VF-25 develop Tornado Pack as an anti-Vajra weapon develop YF-29 as an anti-Vajra weapon with enhanced anti-G functions and fold-wave generation capabilities. From information available, it doesn't look like the YF-29 has incorporated any technology from the VF-27. It is possible for the Macross Galaxy to release an upgraded VF-27. Though, as the VF-27 hasn't been publicly announced, it'd be easier for them to simply modify the existing VF-27 design plans...

YF-29 specifications & some scanlations from Great Mechanics.DX #16 http://www.macrossroleplay.org/forums/index.php?topic=2694.msg41751#msg41751

Great Mechanics.DX 16 is out. Macross content: MPM: VF equipment (gun pods, missiles, beam guns, DE/MDE, blades/shields, sound warfare), equipment/devices (well-balanced/high balanced, engines, cockpits/interfaces, anti-G devices, stealth functions). Evolution of the VFs YF-29 article (multiple angle shots: fighter, GERWALK, battroid + super packs), statistics, and evolution chart (w/ VF-25 Tornado Packs) Before anyone asks about translations (that's next, next, next, next on the "to do" list) or scans (read the frikken signature).

ROFLMAO I needed a good laugh. Thanks!

Yes. It is new (well, at the time). You must keep in mind that this is from the local authorities who have all the facts that are available, and not the opinion of authorities overseas who may or may not have all the available facts and may or may not have accurate translations and may or may not be able to read maps correctly (I say this last one because there are governments urging their citizens to leave Nagoya and Osaka; places that are unaffected.) The following article has a map of the Tohoku area with radiation readings for 12 hours on Friday. Steps to avoid exposure to fallout: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110319f1.html Other articles on the disaster (as BBC has started to drop coverage...) Workers battle against time: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110319a1.html Repairs to infrastructure start but relocation urged: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110319a2.html Prefectures open shelters for tsunami survivors: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110319a3.html and an optimistic story: Japan earthquake: Tsunami survivor found eight days on: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12793925 (at the time of writing, the article hasn't clearly indicated that the man was found in one of the debris piles near the edge of the sea in a city that was flattened by a multi-metre tsunami.)

Hmmm... I've been trying to look up posts about the VF-5 made a couple of years ago, and I kept getting the same result; save I thought it was due to their age. Perhaps the search function is broken? Or there needs to be documentation so us end users know what information we need to include?

It looks like the tide *may* have turned, and the worst is behind us. Japan nuclear plant progress slow: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12781784 slow progress is still progress. The news about an hour ago had some pretty gut wrenching stuff. A 9 year old boy, who had lost both parents, and only managed to find his grandfather, is out, searching for his parents, with only a signboard with their names. Yesterday there was a news story with a hysterically upset woman and a young boy (as I caught only the tail end of it, I don't know the exact circumstance), that had 2 of the 3 news anchors in that program weeping after watching it. This morning a reporter was in the 20 to 30 km evacuate or stay indoors zone around Fukushima Daiichi. In the words of the reporter, "it's a ghost town". Aside from no heat, electricity or gas, earthquake damage is minimal to unnoticeable. However, convenience stores and so on are shut with "no food, closed" signs on the door. The reporter caught up with a trio of elderly people in face masks and sunglasses, trotting down the road pushing a shopping car full of bottles. They barely slowed down to answer one or two of the reporter's questions. What were they up to? Bringing river-water back home. The good news is that supplies are starting to arrive from other parts of the country, and lifelines are starting to be restored. The bad news is that the number of dead or missing may be 10 times larger than the official number; reason being the official number is based on the information that the police have. =Breaking news:= Japan raises nuclear alert level: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12783832 Related: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Nuclear_Event_Scale#Level_5:_Accident_with_wider_consequences

Quake manual now in 31 languages: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110317b6.html Train services reduced, workers sent home after gov't warns of unexpected blackout: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110317x5.html Thousands swamp immigration: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110317a3.html Embassies list 400 foreigners as missing: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110317a7.html Kansai officials brace for sudden deluge of refugees: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110317b4.html Problems for units 3 and 4 : http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS_Second_fire_reported_at_unit_4_1603111.html The news at 23:00 was showing video footage taken from the SDF helicopter as it flew over the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Seeing the devastation in HD on the big screen had the pit in the bottom of my stomach getting deeper and deeper. The police water cannon/riot control vehicle used either earlier today or yesterday was abandoned because it couldn't spray far/high enough (I had read reports earlier that it was abandoned because the vehicle isn't shielded). SDF water cannon trucks (looks like the type used at airports) has been brought in, and are being used to attempt to spray water into the storage ponds.

Note: this will most likely be delayed. NOT because the publisher has consistently rolled back publication dates on the preceding 3 books in the series, but because of the affects of the earthquake and the backlog of publications (there's one weekly that I follow which wasn't on the shelves earlier this week).

I believe they've found at least one of the trains, if not all of them. Alas, the photo that I saw implied that all passengers and crew were lost. Surprise "critical" warning raises nuclear fears: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12762608 In other news: it's snowing. Here. In Osaka. I can't even begin to image how cold and miserably the situation is for the people up North. :cry: White smoke was seen leaving ONE of the reactors for part of the day, yesterday. About 24 hours ago. Sorry, can't remember which one. Take care of your news sources (said in general to all interested parties). Some are inadvertently inciting panic. Recommended sources are: BBC World News World Nuclear News

The problem is not the dearth of resources, but the damage to the transportation infrastructure in the vicinity of the power plant. Add to that a no-fly zone greater than 20 km around the site to prevent the spread of radioactive particles, compounded by fuel shortages in the area...

This is a very good point, as fire engines are being used to pump sea water at the plant. Of the initial 8, half were disabled by one of the explosions. Of course, the question remains: will there be enough fuel to operate the pumps (fire engines, water trucks, etc.) until either the heating problem is resolved, or until the main or backup systems are restored.

Latest news stories: Exposed rods spark meltdown fear: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12737508 Japan earthquake: UK rescue team 'foiled by red tape': http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12756366 Japan radiation fears prompt firms to move employees: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12756054 - I find this one the most troubling. I understand moving personnel out of the affected areas, but Nagoya and Osaka are not affected AT ALL. It sounds like senior management at some companies are overreacting or are not getting the news from sources that do not sensationalize the news (like the BBC). Exposure, risk tied to variables: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110316a4.html - I find this article intriguing, but am also concerned because some of the numbers are inconsistent with what other news sources, such as the BBC have reported (specifically the amount received from X-rays and CAT scans.) The only conclusion that I can draw is that even the experts don't agree.