Not Just In California

An earthquake in the Midwest shook many people awake early this morning. Centered in southern Illinois, the 5.2 temblor was felt from Alabama to Michigan, and shook skyscrapers in Chicago and Indianapolis. Much of the nation remains in a state of shock, as millions of stunned Americans struggle to come to terms with the realization that Indianapolis has skyscrapers.

No one appears to have been injured, and damage was relatively minor. In other words, this earthquake was a loser, and will no doubt be picked on by other, much bigger earthquakes. After all, if no buildings are reduced to smoldering piles of rubble, what was the point?

While some people seem surprised that an earthquake would strike in the center of the country, they shouldn't be. The New Madrid earthquakes of 1810 and 1811 rank among the nation's strongest. Centered near St. Louis, they were felt as far away as Boston. Few people aside from John McCain are old enough to remember them, however, and the area was sparsely populated at the time. It has been projected that a similar earthquake today, in an area where building codes aren't designed to deal with the threat, would leave tens of thousands of Americans dead, and George Bush sitting with his thumb up his butt.

Have a nice day.