Japan Earthquake...

A magnitude 8.9 earthquake hit Japan last night, and aftershocks are continuing as I write this.  Current map here.  News reports are indicating at least 40 people were killed outright, and many more are missing.  Japan's eastern coast was struck very quickly by a huge tsunami, which is the cause of most of the devastation.

If there was ever a country prepared for earthquakes, it is Japan.  Knowing this provides some comfort as I think of the impact on people there...

Initial reports are also indicating that Japan's quake-conscious building codes paid off – there was little of the sort of house-of-cards collapsing seen after quakes in places like Iran or Turkey.

There's a tsunami watch out for basically the entire Pacific Basin.  Estimates for the tsunami's arrival at Hawai'i are shortly after 3 am local time (5 am PST).  Fingers crossed and thumbs pressed.  The estimates even list San Diego arrival (around 8:40 am PST), but with much smaller (and most likely insignificant) magnitude.

Just when you think mankind's problems are big and significant, along comes Mother Nature with a little hiccup to remind us all that we are but insignficant nothings, granted our meager existence at her whim...