Another earthquake very close to home

There’s nothing like living near a fault line. If you don’t remember an earthquake, just wait, because they’ll be one soon. Even on the northern California coast, seismic activity seems frequent – or the effects of seismic activity. When Japan had the big quake back in March 2011, the port of Crescent City was really hit with a tsunami, and the damage isn’t fully repaired yet.

The latest quake was Sunday night, March 9th, and it was an event that could not be missed by anyone in the coastal area of northern California or southern Oregon.  After this latest shaking, including a quake and aftershocks, I’m thinking it’s about time I wrote a quake into one of my novels.

A Solar Eclipse - in the right place?

Normally I confine my blog posts to topics that are relevant to my writing, but every now and then, there are local events that absolutely require some attention in my blog.  The tsunami that hit Crescent City, California and other places on the US and Canadian west coast, back in March 2011, is one such event, and the Solar Eclipse this Sunday evening is another.  This HuffPost piece describes many details.  

The Annular Eclipse will last about four minutes, at about 6:30 pm, in northern California.  The ring of fire, a feature of these types of eclipse, should be well worth taking the time to see (carefully).  

A person who witnessed this type of eclipse over in Maine, a few years ago, described being able to see rings of fire all over the forest floor.  I wonder how much of that will repeat this evening.

In any event, for those not in the path, this site, of the Slooh Space Camera, is broadcasting the event live, and is a great way to monitor and view the eclipse from anywhere in the world.  In fact the coastal weather forecast for this evening in northern California is cloudy, so the web may be the best place to watch.  For all those interested, I hope you take a look. 

Tsunami waves hit West Coast - close to home

Tsunami hits the West Coast – close to home

Tsunami waves have hit the West Coast. While I was not directly affected, there are nearby bays and harbors where there has been major damage. Close to home, there are docks destroyed at Crescent City.  The NY Times also ran a story on the damage to Crescent City.

A triple tragic event like this, the Japan earthquake, the threat of radiation from the nuclear power plant, and the tsunami, tends to change one’s focus as it reminds us how perilous and tenuous life can be.  My thoughts are about all those whose lives have changed or been lost in the last  few days.

Wil