August 23. 2011

You know, I hate when something like the earthquake in Virginia happens and everyone is like, "You see, you see? The world is ending. Watch the signs, it's the end."

How often is that said? Seriously, people.

Earthquakes are natural to the planet. If we didn't have them, then we'd have cause to worry. It would be a sign that our world was dying, that all the radiation in the core was ending, stopping all seismic activity. The core would solidify and eventually we'd lose our atmosphere. But he, that'd be a-okay because it'd be the end of times. We'd get to see our maker.

That's what everyone wants, right?

No. I like life and plan to keep what little of it I have left. When an earthquake goes off, it's like you're going to the doctor to have your blood pressure checked. The pressure indicates a lot of things, like your heart. The quakes are like Earth's blood pressure checks, letting us know everything is just right down at the center of her heart. Lots of blood-like molten rock bubbling and flowing as usual, pushing the plates around, letting us know our planet is awake, alive, and functioning.

This wasn't the first quake, and it's not the last.

And while it sucks to have your house fall down, you can't exactly say you expected it to stand forever. Nothing stand forever. Fault lines are all over our planet, and yes, even up the eastern coast. Wasn't it in like the 1920s or something that South Carolina—Charleston, I think—had a really bad quake? It doesn't happen often, but it does happen.

So no OMGs here. I'm just surprised it doesn't happen more.

Be glad we don't have a volcano. But, oh yeah, one could just pop up really at any moment, which in theory, is possible. I could imagine the reaction of the religious fanatics to a spontaneous volcanic eruption in the eastern area. "End of Times" book sales would skyrocket.

If they're really worried like that, they need to be getting into the habit of donating more money to NASA—because we can't live on this planet forever. Colonizing space is really our best hope of surviving ourselves. We populate like a bunch of rabbits, myself no exception. I've got five kids and plan on more.

[hand drawing of painted Easter eggs.]
I mean, they usually come by the dozen, right?