Tadahiko Mizuno earthquake recovery fundraiser

Cold fusion researcher Tadahiko Mizuno is in Sapporo, which was hit by a large earthquake last week. He reports that the building his lab is in was severely damaged by last week's earthquake. The whole building appears to be leaning somewhat, about 5 cm by the 7th floor. The emergency exit staircase is severely damaged.

His equipment was damaged as well. Two PCs are broken, and the electron microscope is probably beyond repair.

He estimates this will take $20,000 to $30,000 to repair and replace equipment, and probably to move to another location. I do not think he has that kind of money. He says he cannot see how he will continue. This might be "checkmate" is how he put it (using the English word).

Some people are trying to arrange a way to contribute to Mizuno, with Paypal or Gofundme. I don't know anything about either of those, but anyway, if the arrangements are made I will report them here.

I will also contribute $1,000.

Quote from Wyttenbach

(There should be enough space, as Japans population is shrinking rapidly!!)

There is tons of space in Japan, and there always has been. I know people who rent houses with acres of land for $100 a month. I sometimes go hiking on roads where you don't see a person or a car all morning, and if you wander off into the woods, you might get eaten by a wild boar. In August, a two-year old child wandered off into the woods near where I hike. It took 380 people three days to find him. He wasn't far, but those are thick woods. Some elderly people have gone into them and were never seen again.

The child was found by a very resourceful 78-year-old guy named Haruo Obata, who is now a national hero, justifiably so. The guy is a live wire.

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia…shiki-fujimoto-lost-woods

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201808160020.html

The population is not shrinking rapidly. It is shrinking at 0.23% per year. But if present trends continue it will shrink more rapidly in the future.

http://www.worldometers.info/w…ulation/japan-population/

Dennis Cravens told me that Gofundme charges 5% overhead, so Paypal is a better deal. We will ask Mizuno to open a Paypal account. I asked him to provide some photos of the damage, so I can upload an appropriate sob story.

(I guess you need a sob story for Gofundme? No idea, really.)

Anyway, I will report back when things jell.

Gofundme does not serve Japan, but we are doing a work-around. Probably I will collect the money and wire-transfer it. This is taking some time because things are still chaotic in Sapporo and there is 13-hour time difference. I am waiting for photos from Mizuno.

People who know about these things tell me Gofundme is better than individual contributions via Paypal because other people will see how much is given.

I will post a message here when this is set up.

Pix improved. Text still needs work.

Pix of me, I regret to say. It shows the scale, anyway.

Quote from Shane D.

Going through the process, I saw "tip", thinking that would be for Mizuno.

Yeah, that threw me. The computer wanted me to make it a $150 tip! I thought that was impudent. I had some difficulty setting it to zero.

(Actually, I thought "that's impudent" in Samurai-style Japanese, which is the best way to express that thought: "Zuzushii yatsu da! Usero!" ("Impudent hound! Vanish from my sight! [Lit.: make yourself scarce.]" It is worth learning Japanese just for the insults, which are nonpareil.)

Quote from barty

What about cryptocurrencies?

Cold fusion is cryptic enough already.

Also in the original sense of being hidden, as in a crypt.

Quote from Alan Smith

if you Twitter etc why not post a link there or on FB?

Yes! Please do. People who know about these things tell me that social media is the key to GoFundMe fundraising.