Friday, March 11, 2011

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...

Awesome Chart of Science Fiction Evolution...

Click to enlarge (it's worth it!):