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roamanddiscover · 1 year ago

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California

California, the most populous state in the United States of America, is known for its beaches, Hollywood, and Silicon Valley. However, there is so much more to this state than just those three things. California is a state that is diverse in every aspect, from its geography to its culture. In this article, we will take a detailed look into California and explore everything that it has to offer. Let's start by tracing the origins of California's name. The name California is said to have been derived from the 16th-century Spanish novel Las Sergas de Esplandián. The novel describes a fictional island called California, located on the western coast of North America. The name caught on, and the Spanish began to use it to describe the land they were exploring. Today, California is known as the Golden State. California has a rich history that spans centuries. The Spanish were the first to establish a colony in California in the late 1700s. They built many missions, and the state slowly developed. However, it was not until the mid-1800s, during the California Gold Rush, that California really took off. Thousands of people flocked to the state to try their luck at finding gold, and California grew rapidly. Over the years, California has become the most populous state in the US, with a population of over 39 million people. One of the unique aspects of California is its geography. California is home to the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Mojave Desert, and the Pacific Ocean coastline. With such diverse landscapes, it's no surprise that California has a variety of ecosystems. From towering redwoods to barren deserts, and from rocky beaches to lush vineyards, California has it all. California also has a unique climate. In the northern part of the state, the climate is Mediterranean, while in the southern parts, it is desert-like. The state also sees a range of natural disasters, including earthquakes, wildfires, and floods. Despite its fame and fortune, California also has its share of environmental issues. Droughts are a recurring problem, and the state has been hit hard by climate change in recent years. Air pollution is another issue, particularly in the major cities. But California isn't all work and no play. The state is home to an incredibly diverse population, with people from all over the world living here. California has a vibrant culture, with art galleries and museums, music festivals, and sporting events. California's major cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, offer a range of activities for tourists and locals alike. From trying the famous In-N-Out Burger to exploring Alcatraz Island, there's something for everyone. The state is also home to some of the most beautiful cities in the world, including San Francisco and Santa Barbara. With so much to offer, it's no wonder California attracts visitors from all over the world. So, whether you're a history buff, an outdoor enthusiast, or simply looking for a good time, California has something for you.

Etymology

The name California has an intriguing history that dates back to the 16th century. It was Spanish explorers who first arrived on the shores of what is now California and named the land ‘California’ after a mythical land described in a popular Spanish novel called Las Sergas de Esplandián. The novel described California as a place rich in gold and ruled by a powerful queen named Calafia. When the Spanish explorers came across similarly lush and abundant land, they immediately thought it was the land of the novel, thus naming it California. However, there is some debate over the origin of the name. Some argue that the name California was derived from the Latin phrase ‘calida fornax’ meaning ‘hot furnace’ or ‘hot oven’. This is due to the state’s reputation for having particularly hot summers. Language Origin Meaning Spanish Based on the name of a mythical land in Spanish literature whose queen was Calafia and was filled with gold and precious gems. Latin Derived from the Latin phrase ‘calida fornax’ meaning ‘hot furnace’ or ‘hot oven’ because of the state’s hot summers. The actual origin of California’s name, therefore, remains something of a mystery. But one thing is for sure – the state of California has established itself as a land of beauty, abundance, and opportunity, whatever its name may mean.

History

California has a rich and fascinating history that spans centuries. The state was originally inhabited by various Native American tribes until the arrival of Spanish explorers and missionaries in the late 18th century. The Spanish established numerous missions throughout the state, which led to the conversion of many California Indians to Christianity. By the mid-1800s, California had become a part of Mexico, until it was ceded to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican-American War. The discovery of gold in 1849 drew massive numbers of people to California in search of fortune, sparking what is now known as the California Gold Rush. The state's population continued to grow rapidly in the subsequent years, driven in part by the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in 1869, which linked California to the eastern United States. In addition, the development of the oil industry in the early 20th century and the rise of Hollywood transformed California into a major economic and cultural center. Throughout the 20th century, California played an important role in numerous historical events, including the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II and the rise of the hippie counterculture in the 1960s. Today, California remains one of the most populous and influential states in the nation, with a rich cultural and historical legacy that continues to inspire and captivate visitors from around the world. Geology When studying California's geology, one comes to appreciate the variety of landforms that make up the state's landscapes. Primarily known for its coastline and rugged mountains, California also boasts vast deserts and fertile valleys. The state's bedrock dates back to the Pre-Cambrian era, and its diversity is credited to the many tectonic plates that meet in California. The state is separated into three primary regions: the Coast Ranges, the Sierra Nevada, and the Basin and Range province. The Coast Ranges represent the state's western edge and are largely composed of sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. The Sierra Nevada range is a dramatic and awe-inspiring mountain range with some peaks rising above 14,000 feet. It's composed primarily of granite and was formed when the Farallon Plate subducted beneath the North American Plate. Californians have always been proud of their mountain ranges, with Hollywood films often featuring their majestic peaks. Covering much of the eastern part of California is the Basin and Range Province. The towering peaks of the Sierra Nevada shield the province and act as a barrier. The basin and range province is an arid land of striking contrasts, with some areas only a few hundred meters above sea level while others exceed 11,000 feet. The landscape is primarily composed of sedimentary and igneous rocks. California's geology has given rise to many unique features, including its hot springs and geysers. Lassen Volcanic National Park is a popular destination for visitors looking to explore California's volcanic history. The park features the now-dormant Lassen Peak as well as various hydrothermal features. California's geology is vast and diverse, resulting in a diverse range of landscapes, from mountains to deserts to fertile valleys. Understanding the state's geology is essential for appreciating its natural beauty, and exploring its unique features is a highlight of any visit. Geography California’s geography is as diverse as it is captivating. From towering mountains to pristine beaches, this Golden State has it all. With a land area of nearly 163,696 square miles, it is the third-largest state by land area in the United States. The state of California shares its borders with Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, and Arizona to the southeast. To the south, it is bordered by Mexico, while the Pacific Ocean lies to the west. The state can be divided into four main regions - the Central Valley, the Coastal Range, the Sierra Nevada, and the Mojave Desert. The Central Valley is a vast expanse that runs north to south between the Coastal Range and the Sierra Nevada. This region is primarily agricultural, providing much of the nation's fresh produce. The Coastal Range runs along the western edge of California and forms a natural barrier between the Pacific Ocean and the Central Valley. The rugged terrain, coupled with the state's Mediterranean climate, makes it an ideal destination for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. The Sierra Nevada mountain range lies to the east of the Central Valley and spans over 400 miles. The highest peak in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney, is located in this range, standing at an impressive 14,505 feet. The Mojave Desert is located in the southeastern portion of the state and covers an area of over 25,000 square miles. Despite being labeled as a desert, the region has a diverse landscape that includes sand dunes, volcanic cinder cones, and Joshua tree woodlands. California is also home to a number of popular national parks, including Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and Death Valley. These parks offer breathtaking scenery and provide visitors with a glimpse of California's unique natural beauty. In terms of bodies of water, California is home to Lake Tahoe, a popular recreation spot in the Sierra Nevada mountains, as well as the Salton Sea, the largest lake in California. The state also boasts an extensive coastline that spans over 840 miles, with cities like San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco serving as major coastal hubs. California's geography is one of the most varied and stunning in the United States. Whether you prefer mountains, beaches, or deserts, this state has something for everyone. Ecology Ecology is a field that deals with the study of the interactions between living organisms and their environment. California is home to some unique ecosystems, each with its distinctive flora and fauna. Understanding and preserving these ecosystems is vital for the state's environmental sustainability. One such ecosystem is the California chaparral and woodlands, which consists of shrubs, small trees, and grasses. These vegetation types have adapted to survive in the Mediterranean climate of California, characterized by hot summers and mild winters. They provide habitat for a wide range of animals, including the California condor, mountain lions, and bobcats. Another ecosystem unique to California is the coastal sage scrub, found in the coastal regions of the state. It is composed of low-growing evergreen shrubs, characteristic of a Mediterranean climate. Many animal species, such as the California gnatcatcher and the coastal cactus wren, rely on this ecosystem for their survival. The Central Valley of California is home to agricultural ecosystems, which provide a significant chunk of the state's revenue. Farmers grow a variety of crops, including almonds, pistachios, grapes, and oranges, among others. These systems rely heavily on irrigation and are threatened by water scarcity and pollution. The Sierra Nevada mountains, with their snow-capped peaks and coniferous forests, are among the most visually stunning landscapes in California. These forest ecosystems support a wide range of wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, and bald eagles. The forests also play a crucial role in the state's water cycle, serving as a source of freshwater for rivers and other bodies of water. In addition to these, California is also home to other unique ecosystems such as deserts, wetlands, and alpine tundra. Each of these ecosystems provides habitat for unique species, highlighting the rich biodiversity of California. The unique ecosystems of California are under threat from climate change and other human activities. The state must take proactive measures to preserve and protect these ecosystems while ensuring that they remain sustainable for future generations. It is also crucial to educate people on the importance of biodiversity conservation and the role that they can play in preserving these ecosystems. Biodiversity California is renowned for its breathtaking scenery, stunning landscapes, and diverse ecosystems. One of the key pillars of California's ecology is its rich biodiversity. Home to a variety of species, California has a marvelous array of flora and fauna. The abundance of vegetation in California is a sight to behold. The state has over 6,500 species of plants - more than half of which cannot be found anywhere else. From towering redwood trees to the vibrant blooms of desert wildflowers, California's plant life is simply astounding. But it's not just about the plants. California is also home to an incredibly diverse and fascinating range of animals. The state boasts over 660 species of birds, over 200 species of mammals, and nearly 90 species of reptiles and amphibians. From the majestic California condor, the largest land bird in North America, to the adorable sea otter, California's wildlife is truly unique. California's marine ecosystem is also teeming with life. The state's coastal waters are home to a wide range of marine organisms - from sea stars and octopuses to whales and dolphins. The coast is also dotted with kelp forests, which provide habitat and food for many species of fish and other marine life. In addition to the wealth of species that can be found in California's natural habitats, the state is also home to a number of important wildlife sanctuaries and parks - including Yosemite National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, among many others. These protected areas help to conserve and protect California's unique biodiversity. Despite this wealth of biodiversity, however, California is not immune to the impacts of human activity. Habitat loss, climate change, pollution, and overexploitation of natural resources are all posing major threats to the state's flora and fauna. It is critical that we take action to protect and conserve California's natural heritage for generations to come.

amphibians Climate California has a highly diverse climate due to its expansive geography. The state's southern region usually experiences a Mediterranean climate, which features mild, wet winters, and hot, dry summers. Meanwhile, the northern part of the state tends to have a wetter climate, with cool, damp winters and warm, dry summers. The state also has an arid desert climate in some areas. The coastal regions of California are cooled by the Pacific Ocean, resulting in a temperate climate and an average of about 300 days of sunshine per year. The state's central valley is hot and dry during the summer months but experiences colder winters, whereas mountainous regions have a predominantly alpine climate, with colder temperatures and significant snowfall in winter. Southern California, particularly the area around Los Angeles, is infamous for its smog problem, which is the result of its location in a basin surrounded by mountains that trap pollutants from traffic and industry. droughts are not uncommon in California, as the state experiences long dry spells that are exacerbated by climate change. Apart from smog and drought, wildfires are also a significant issue in California, especially in wooded and mountainous areas. According to CAL Fire, the state agency responsible for fire protection, California experienced its largest-ever wildfire season in 2020, with over 4.2 million acres burned. Climate change is exacerbating these problems, and California is taking a proactive approach towards addressing environmental issues. Actions such as implementing renewable energy sources, investing in electric vehicle infrastructure, and encouraging sustainable farming practices are among the measures the state is putting in place to combat the effects of climate change. California's varying climates make it a desirable location for a range of outdoor activities, from skiing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to lounging on the beaches in Los Angeles - all within the same state. Visitors and residents alike must keep an eye on the weather, which can change quickly, particularly in mountainous areas, where heavy snowfalls can cause road closures. California's climate is incredibly diverse, with varying temperatures, degrees of humidity, and rainfall amounts. While visitors are advised to be aware of the weather, there is a wide range of outdoor activities to enjoy across the state's many different climates. Environmental issues California is facing significant environmental issues that are affecting the state. One of the biggest problems is air pollution, which results in chronic respiratory diseases and contributes to climate change. The state is also experiencing a water scarcity crisis, which is becoming more and more severe. The drought problem is exacerbated by the rising demand for water from a growing population, and it is affecting agriculture, wildlife, and even the quality of life of residents. Wildfire incidents have increased in recent years due to prolonged droughts and hotter temperatures, causing severe damage to natural habitats, homes, and infrastructure. Another significant environmental issue facing California is the rapid depletion of natural resources, such as forests, fisheries, and minerals. Overuse of these resources threatens the delicate ecosystems and their inhabitants, including endangered species and fish populations. The state is also facing ocean pollution, largely caused by the dumping of plastics and industrial waste into the ocean, which is affecting marine life and contributing to the degradation of the natural ecosystem. Climate change is one of the biggest threats to California's environment, and it is already causing a myriad of problems. The state is experiencing more frequent heat waves, which lead to dehydration and heat strokes. It also causes more intense storms, leading to floods, landslides, and soil erosion. The rising sea level is also causing damage to infrastructure and the displacement of people living in coastal communities. To tackle these environmental issues, California has implemented numerous regulations and programs. The state has invested in green technology, including renewable energy and electric cars, to reduce the carbon footprint and dependence on fossil fuels. The state is also actively engaged in recycling programs and has banned single-use plastics, which have contributed to ocean pollution. California has enacted laws to protect endangered species, preserve natural habitats and forests, and reduce water wastage. California is facing significant environmental issues that threaten the diverse ecosystems and the quality of life of its inhabitants. Read the full article

#Californiatours #CaliforniaTravel #NorthAmericaTours #TravelTheWorld #visitCalifornia

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grapenehifics · 2 years ago

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Thanks, @renlyslittlerose! I love that you think I have ten fics. Or ten friends. But here goes nothing!

I tag @fulcrum843, @sendpseuds, @melli-chou, @ishipallthings, @kittonafoxgirl, and @vorpalstars!

Solsbury Hill

It was a broiling hot August afternoon in Southern California as Obi-Wan Kenobi pushed open the door to his old aquatics center. The heat was familiar, the door was familiar, the blast of strong-smelling chlorine that hit him as he entered was familiar. He felt that he’d simultaneously been gone six years, and not at all.

He’d come between sessions, so there was no one in the water. He wandered over to the office wall, which was kept perpetually covered in photographs of current and former students. He looked over new faces, scanned for old ones, and maybe, if he was being honest, spent a little time checking to see if he’d been replaced yet, when he heard a (familiar, of course) voice behind him.

“Obi-Wan? You, that is?”

Obi-Wan turned, already grinning. “Hello, Coach Yoda. It’s good to see you.”

Sex, Death Sticks, and Rock 'n' Roll

Anakin breathed out a sigh of relief. He was late, yes (he was always late), but there was still one seat around the conference table sitting empty. He raised a hand – the one that didn’t have his motorcycle helmet dangling from it - in greeting, mouthed an apologetic ‘sorry’ at the lecturer in the front of the room, who had paused in giving her presentation when he opened the door, and slipped into the empty chair. He set his helmet in front of him on the smooth wooden table and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the woman on his right do a double-take as she caught sight of his hand, but people staring at his hand happened to him so often that he hardly made note of it anymore.

“Welcome,” the woman at the front of the room said. “We’ve just been going around the room doing introductions. Could you tell us your name, your division, and why you chose to come work at Coruscant Community College?”

“Well, that’s a loaded question if I ever heard one,” Anakin said, with his most charming smile, but only one person around the table smiled.

Jump, Sprint, Climb

Snips: Here I am, another week, another instance of me inviting you to my cycling class and you turning me down

Skyguy: No I really am going to come this week!!!

Snips: Yeah sure Where have I heard that before

The Soft Ones

The earthquake changed everything.

Obi-Wan had worked for the hospital almost two years, the summer he met Anakin Skywalker. He’d stayed in town after graduating with his BSN and gotten a job almost immediately at Tipoca City Hospital. He’d settled into a pretty predictable 12-2-2-3, had his own apartment, bought a car, made some friends, and thought his life was going pretty well, all things considered.

Anakin, on the other hand, was just barely nineteen, and had picked up a summer internship in orthotics between his sophomore and junior years at Kamino State. His supervisor brought him with her to the hospital staff meetings, presumably so he could meet the other staff (or, Obi-Wan joked under his breath to Quinlan, so she could get him to stop talking to her for an hour).

Obi-Wan found Anakin brash, loud, cocky, and annoying. Anakin, for his part, thought Obi-Wan a bossy, stuck-up know-it-all. They contentedly ignored each other for most of June, and probably would have continued to do so for the rest of their lives, if they ever thought about the other at all. Until the earthquake.

An Uncivil War (what I’m posting next after finishing Solsbury Hill)

“Anakin!” Obi-Wan hissed over his commlink as he jogged down the hall.

“Yeah?” Anakin crawled out from under his starfighter and answered him, a smear of grease visible across his cheek even through the holo.

“Anakin, listen to me, and don’t interrupt. I don’t have much time,” Obi-Wan said in a rush. Anakin, mercifully, shut up and listened. “I need you to call Rex and Cody. Assemble as much of the 7th Sky Corps as you can in the main hangar. Then get Ahsoka and come” –

“What, all of them?” Anakin asked, his eyes wide. The 7th Sky Corps, which included both Anakin’s 501st Legion and Obi-Wan’s 212th Attack Battalion, was, all told, about thirty-seven thousand troopers strong.

“Yes, all of them,” Obi-Wan said.

Pick Up the Pieces (Is this cheating? This may be cheating. This is the sequel to An Uncivil War.)

“I literally do not understand why we aren’t just taking that one,” Anakin said, pointing at one of the shuttle transports on the landing pad beside the one they were waiting to board. “Or that one.”

Obi-Wan sighed. “Because it belongs to someone. Because we’re still dressed as Jedi. Because this commuter shuttle is inexpensive and will get us as far as Scarif in the Abrion sector, and from there we can easily barter passage to Rishi and on to Kamino. How many more reasons do you need?”

Anakin pouted. “That one’s prettier.”

“And the owner knows it, or else they wouldn’t have put an infraction restraint on the landing gear,” Ahsoka said, getting up on her tiptoes to look over Anakin’s shoulder at the ship he was mooning over.

“Good thing I had you spend two weeks learning how…to…” Anakin realized Obi-Wan was fixing him with a withering glare. “Leave infraction restraints alone, because they are always there for totally useful and legitimate reasons.”

Down by the Seaside (Obikin amnesia/Overboard AU)

The sun was shining, the dogs were barking, and at least one child was already crying. If he had to guess, Anakin would say it was Ezra, but a headache was pounding in his ears and he might have been mistaken.

The crying child definitely wasn’t Leia, who, when Anakin cracked an eye open, was fast asleep beside him in bed. Anakin wondered how long ago she’d snuck in, and then decided it didn’t matter.

“Dad!” Luke called. His voice sounded like it was coming from outside Anakin’s bedroom window.

“What?” Anakin snapped, sitting up. It was August, and he slept with his window open (even though there was a hole in the screen that he still hadn’t found time to fix yet other than slapping a piece of duct tape over it), so Luke could hear him just fine. Anakin rubbed his eyes, fluffed his hair, and looked at Leia, who stirred but didn’t open her eyes.

“Can you make Leia come outside? I wanna play pirates.” Luke had inherited his mother’s talent for waking up early. Leia, though, took more after Anakin in that department.

Before Anakin had a chance to answer Luke, his bedroom door flew open, and Ahsoka roughly and very unceremoniously shoved Ezra through the doorway. “If you’re not going to pay me to babysit then he’s your problem,” she spat, and pulled the door shut behind her so hard it shook on its hinges.

Share the first lines of ten of your most recent fanfics and tag ten people. If you have written less than ten, don’t be shy and share anyway.

I was tagged by @apfelhalm! Thanks, peach~ ✨

I wasn’t sure if this was the last ten fics I’ve written and posted, or just written so. We’re gonna do just written. Some of these are WIP’s!

Keep reading

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newstfionline · 3 years ago

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Sunday, August 15, 2021

Canada to require air travelers to be vaccinated (AP) The Canadian government will soon require all air travelers and passengers on interprovincial trains to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said Friday that includes all commercial air travelers, passengers on trains between provinces and cruise ship passengers. “As soon as possible in the Fall and no later than the end of October, the Government of Canada will require employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors to be vaccinated. The vaccination requirement will also extend to certain travelers. This includes all commercial air travelers,” his office said in a statement. France announced this week that it will require people have a special virus pass before they can travel by plane, train or bus across the country.

Debt: So long to the savings glut (The Week) “Americans are borrowing again,” said AnnaMaria Andriotis at The Wall Street Journal. After a year in which many consumers reduced spending, stashed savings, and used stimulus checks to pay down debt, more people have gone back to “splurging on cars, vacations, and eating out”—and seeking loans to pay for it. “Lenders originated some 3 million auto loans and leases in March, the highest monthly figure on record,” with the balances for those new originations topping a record $73 billion. A record 6 million new general-purpose credit cards were also issued the same month. The balances on our cards are still “about $140 billion lower than at the end of 2019,” said Alexandre Tanzi and Katia Dmitrieva at Bloomberg. But household debt—which includes mortgages, credit cards, and other consumer loans—rose in the second quarter “at the fastest pace since 2013.” Much of that was driven by the hot housing market—and Americans scrambling to refinance while mortgage rates remained low.

More US cities requiring proof of vaccination to go places (AP) Hold on to that vaccination card. A rapidly growing number of places across the U.S. are requiring people to show proof they have been inoculated against COVID-19 to teach school, work at a hospital, see a concert or eat inside a restaurant. Following New York City’s lead, New Orleans and San Francisco will impose such rules at many businesses starting next week, while Los Angeles is looking into the idea. The new measures are an attempt to stem the rising tide of COVID-19 cases that has pushed hospitals to the breaking point, including in the Dallas area, where top officials warned they are running out of beds in their pediatric intensive care units.

Western fires threaten thousands of homes, strain resources (AP) A month-old wildfire burning through forestlands in Northern California lurched toward a small lumber town as blazes across the U.S. Western states strained resources and threatened thousands of homes with destruction. Crews were cutting back brush and using bulldozers to build lines to keep the Dixie Fire from reaching Westwood east of Lake Almanor, not far from where the lightning-caused blaze destroyed much of the town of Greenville last week. To the northwest, the Monument Fire continued to grow after destroying a dozen homes and threatened about 2,500 homes in a sparsely populated region. They were among more than 100 large wildfires burning in a dozen Western states seared by drought and hot, bone-dry weather that has turned forests, brushlands, meadows and pastures into tinder. The U.S. Forest Service said Friday it’s operating in crisis mode, fully deploying firefighters and maxing out its support system.

500 years later, Mexico recalls Spanish conquest (Los Angeles Times) The final resting place of one of Mexico’s signature historical figures is easy to miss. A simple red plaque—just a name and the years he lived—marks the spot where his tomb is embedded in a wall to the side of the altar in a dilapidated downtown church. The name alone, however, recalls centuries of conflict and a never-ending debate about the essential identity of Mexico: HERNAN CORTES 1485-1547. The legendary Spanish military commander may be hidden away in death, but a few blocks away, authorities are readying a remembrance of his momentous triumph—the conquest of the Aztec Empire. Friday marks the 500th anniversary of the fall in 1521 of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán, now the site of Mexico City. The bloody siege culminating in its surrender launched three centuries of Spanish dominion in Mexico. “We were all born from the conquest, no longer Aztecs, no longer Spanish, but Indian-Hispanic-Americans, mestizos,” wrote Carlos Fuentes, the late Mexican author. “We are what we are because Hernán Cortés, for good or for bad, did what he did.”

7.2 magnitude earthquake hits Haiti; at least 304 killed (AP) A powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck southwestern Haiti on Saturday, killing at least 304 people and injuring at least 1,800 others as buildings tumbled into rubble. Prime Minister Ariel Henry said he was rushing aid to areas where towns were destroyed and hospitals overwhelmed with incoming patients. The epicenter of the quake was about 125 kilometers (78 miles) west of the capital of Port-au-Prince, the U.S. Geological Survey said, and widespread damage was reported in the hemisphere's poorest nations as a tropical storm also bore down. Henry declared a one-month state of emergency for the whole country and said some towns were almost completely razed.

Belarus floods the European Union with migrants (CNN) Desperate, frightened and begging for help, they emerge from the darkness: a group of Yazidi migrants, lost in the forests of eastern Europe. It’s a surreal sight—and one that has been repeated over many recent nights. Having survived persecution by ISIS at home in Iraq, here on the Belarus-Lithuania border the Yazidis find themselves caught up in a breathtakingly cynical plot. Belarus’s authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, has been accused of using these desperate souls as pawns in his high-stakes game with the European Union. Over the course of 24 hours from July 27 to 28, a record 171 people were caught on the border—many of them Iraqis. A total of more than 4,000 have been caught so far this year. European officials say Lukashenko’s bureaucracy is extracting thousands of euros from each traveler then “weaponizing” them—according to Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis—in order to burden Belarus’s neighbor Lithuania. Officials say the migrants are flown from the Middle East to Minsk, and then guided to the Belarus-Lithuania border by unspecified facilitators, where they are allowed to cross, unimpeded by Belarusian border police. Lithuania has called it “petty”—“mass revenge” for sanctions imposed by the EU after Belarus forced a Ryanair plane to land in Minsk so they could arrest an opposition blogger on board. A Western intelligence official told CNN the scheme could not function without the permission of the Belarusian state, and that Lukashenko was likely using the migrants as a way to pressurize the EU into negotiations on lifting the sanctions against him.

Heat wave edges higher in southern Europe (AP) Intense heat baking Italy pushed northward towards the popular tourist destination of Florence Friday while wildfires charred the country’s south, and Spain appeared headed for an all-time record high temperature as a heat wave kept southern Europe in a fiery hold. Italy saw temperatures in places upwards of 40 C (104 F), and Rome broiled. By late afternoon Friday, the heat in Florence reached 39 C (102 F). That city and Bologna also were issued alerts for Saturday by the health ministry. Many southern European countries have suffered days of intense heat, accompanied by deadly wildfires in Algeria, Turkey, Italy and Greece. Wildfires on the Italian island of Sardinia were reported largely contained, but a blaze early Friday near Tivoli in the countryside east of Rome forced the evacuation of 25 families.

At least 40 killed in Turkey flood as search for missing continues (Reuters) Families of those missing after Turkey’s worst floods in years anxiously watched rescue teams search buildings on Saturday, fearing the death toll from the raging torrents could rise further. At least 40 people have died from the floods in the northern Black Sea region, the second natural disaster to strike the country this month. Drone footage by Reuters showed massive damage in the flood-hit Black Sea town of Bozkurt, where emergency workers were searching demolished buildings.

Marine vanguard lands in Kabul as US speeds up evacuations (AP) The first forces of a Marine battalion arrived in Kabul at week’s end to stand guard as the U.S. speeds up evacuation flights for some American diplomats and thousands of Afghans, spurred by a lightning Taliban offensive that increasingly is isolating Afghanistan’s capital. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said “elements” of a battalion were now in Kabul, the vanguard of three Marine and Army battalions that the U.S. was sending to the city by the end of the weekend to help more Americans and their Afghan colleagues get out quickly. The Taliban, emboldened by the imminent end of the U.S. combat mission in the country, took four more provincial capitals Friday, heightening fears they would move soon on the capital, which is home to millions of Afghans.

‘Why did my friend get blown up? For what?’ (Washington Post) After enlisting in the U.S. military against his family’s wishes, Chicago native Tom Amenta said he found himself in “middle-of-nowhere,” Afghanistan, in 2002 as an Army Ranger in a remote area some 15 minutes from the border with Pakistan. He was fighting the initial battles of a war that few knew would stretch on for 20 years. Now 40 and retired from the military, he felt anger foam inside as he watched the evening news. Headline after headline broadcast the latest gains by Taliban fighters, who have seized control of more than a dozen of the country’s provincial capitals as the Afghan government inches closer to collapse in the final days of the U.S. withdrawal. Friends who had been killed there came to mind, including NFL star Pat Tillman. Fond memories of former Afghan colleagues, such as interpreters, who remained in the country and whose fates he didn’t know, also resurfaced. “It makes me angry, really angry,” Amenta said of the U.S. withdrawal, lamenting the billions upon billions of dollars spent on the war effort—not to mention the emotional, financial and human toll suffered by thousands of Americans who served or sent their loved ones to fight in Afghanistan. “I mean, why did my friend get blown up? For what?” said Amenta. “No one’s saying, ‘Hey, you know, at least we did something.’ There’s just nothing to really show for it,” former Army medic Frank Scott Novak said. “And so, everyone’s kind of angry and wondering, why? Why were we even there?”

Nobody running Lebanon, says central bank boss (Reuters) Lebanon’s central bank governor said nobody was running the country as he defended his decision to halt fuel subsidies that have drained currency reserves, saying the government could resolve the problem by passing necessary legislation. In an interview broadcast on Saturday, governor Riad Salameh pressed back against government accusations that he had acted alone in declaring an end to the subsidies on Wednesday, saying everyone knew the decision was coming. The move is the latest turn in a crippling financial crisis that has sunk the Lebanese pound by 90% in less than two years and pushed more than half the population into poverty. Salameh said Lebanon could recover but it was not possible to say how many years that would take. “So far you have nobody running the country,” he said in the interview with Radio Free Lebanon. Lebanon’s sectarian politicians have failed to agree on a new government since Prime Minister Hassan Diab quit last August after the catastrophic Beirut port blast.

#headlines #news

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prorevenge · 6 years ago

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Moving truck smashed our house. Repairs made home value soar

While not as explosively/nuclear vengeful as some of the other stories in here or as the one I first posted, I thought I'd share another pro-revenge story that happened to my father when I was in the 9th grade.

We grew up in a relatively nice suburb of Southern California (Walnut). My family purchased the house for approximately $250,000 in 1987 when track homes were all the rage (I still have nightmares about carpeted bathrooms). Nearly every house in our neighborhood was identical where the only 'customizations' you could apply were the accoutrements to the outside of the home. We opted for polished red brick since it was the least requested feature in the lot. These bricks were super thin (about 3/4" thick) and applied to the house to give it the appearance of being made of brick. See image 1 (this is not our house, but another house in the same area that opted for the same brick we did).

Our home was at the juncture of a T intersection where a steep hill was directly in front of the house (see image 2). On a summer morning in 1991 at 9-something in the morning, a large moving truck parked half way up the hill. It was parked about 200 feet behind where the parked car is in Image 2. The hill is actually steeper than it appears in the image due to the weird lensing effect of Google Maps photography. The truck was delivering furniture to a family who had just moved in up the hill. However, the driver got out of the truck and it started rolling down the hill. We're not sure if the truck's emergency brake wasn't set or if the emergency brake failed, but since our house was directly in front of this hill, it plowed right into the front of our house.

Being in California, we're pretty used to earthquakes. We had the big Whittier quake in 1987 and at first we thought it was a just another quake as we were all sitting at the breakfast table. The entire house shook pretty violently and car alarms up and down the street went off from the boom it created. After the rumbling stopped, we gathered up our stuff to head to karate class (assuming it was an earthquake) and walked into the garage (there was an entrance into the garage from inside the house).

That's when we saw the front of a truck buried into the garage. I've never heard my mom scream until that moment. My dad came rushing in and the list of invectives that came out of his mouth was startling. He was a short-fused man and was prone to angry outbursts, but this was full on rage.

We exited the garage and took at look at the damage. Fortunately it hit the garage and not any of the support pillars inside the garage, but the columns to the left and right of the garage door were utterly plowed.

The moving company accepted fault for the accident. But that's not where the pro-revenge comes in. It turned out that the bricks that were used in the batch of houses in our lot were imported from France and that manufacturer no longer made those bricks. So the moving company had agreed to pay for materials equal in value to the cost of the bricks. The moving company had agreed that they would pay for the labor costs no matter what material we chose.

My father, being the obstinate ass that he is, had an idea. He chose your regular run of the mill red brick for the material. He knew they were super cheap, easy to acquire, and the company would agree to it quickly. The company agreed to reimburse my father for the bricks he purchased. You see, my father, while not a carpenter or construction engineer himself, he ran his own commercial waterproofing company. So he knew what kind of labor costs would go into what he had in mind.

I mentioned earlier that the original bricks were 3/4" in thickness. The standard red brick is 3-5/8" x 2-1/4" x 8". My father purchased the bricks and the moving company thought they got away with a great bargain...until they got a bill for the labor costs.

The standard bricks required hand cutting in order to be trimmed down to the size the original bricks were made to. Because the standard bricks had to be hand cut (using a powered saw of course), and due to their brittleness at that thinness, the number of bricks the labor team had to go through was incredibly prodigious. What was estimated to take just 2 weeks of labor ended up taking nearly 4 months. Even though only the front of the house was damaged, all of the bricks around the entire house had to be replaced so they would match. See image 3. If you notice, the bricks now have a more weathered, textured appearance that look a bit more antique. This was from having to hand saw the bricks and would cause the bricks to get little nicks and cracks in them, giving them that weathered appearance.

The property value of this neighborhood skyrocketed in the mid- to late-90's due to it having a great school district, low crime, proximity to good universities, etc. In the end, because our house was uniquely decorated, by 1997 the value of the house rose to around $750,000 while the neighboring houses were valued at around $500,000-$600,000.

I don't know what the house is worth now as they sold it in 1998 when my parents divorced. But a cursory search for home values in the neighborhood show the surrounding houses are worth roughly $1.4M so I imagine our old house is probably worth a little more.

I was too young at the time to comprehend the legal battle that ensued over the labor costs. All I can recall was my dad popping open a bottle of champagne after the legal contest concluded in his favor and the moving company was forced to agree to paying the labor costs like they originally offered. Those labor costs were insanely high.

TLDR: Moving truck rolled down hill and smashed into our house. Bricks originally used on the house were no longer manufactured so we made the moving company pay for hand-cut bricks which escalated the labor costs and also increased the value of the house significantly.

I know my mother has an old photo album somewhere in her current house that shows the damage the truck did. If I can have her dig it up, I'll try to post it. I live outside the US now so having her dig it up for this might be a bit of a pain.

(source) story by (/u/FalconerXV)

#prorevenge #by /u/FalconerXV #pro revenge #revenge stories #pro revenge stories #pro #revenge #last10

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my-love-peterp · 5 years ago

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A Part of Your World pt. 2

Word Count: 1505

Fic Summary: So this is a work based lightly on the movie First Daughter. It’s a Reader Insert sorta. If you’ve never seen that movie, you should absolutely watch it if you have the opportunity. Peter Parker/Stark!Daughter fic. Rating may change depending on if I’m feeling the smut route (I probably will). Expect updates once a week (as soon as I figure out what day would be best to do it on. They may be more frequent here at the beginning just because the story is really flowing right now. Thanks!

Chapter Summary: I don’t really have one because I’m impatient and I’m taking my partner to see Hozier in a few hours. But Peter does exist in this chapter. Surprise.

Warnings: none! maybe language, I’m honestly not sure.

If you would like to be tagged, reblog/comment/message me and I’ll start tagging you in future chapters.

“I’m too sober for this,” (Y/N) said, plopping down on to the horrifically springy, undressed mattress that was on top of a wooden bed frame. Her bed frame now, she firmly reminded herself.

“You don’t even drink,” Morgan responded, a lot less winded and emotionally drained than (Y/N). She’d always admired her sister’s ability to remain unruffled in the midst of tense or new situations. And yeah, maybe it hadn’t been the best idea to ditch the elevator and take the stairs to her new home for the year, all the way up on the sixteenth floor. But she couldn’t stand the feeling of brushing shoulders with what felt like hundreds of people who stared and lifted their phones to take pictures, or to see one girl turn to someone else and hit them to get their attention and not so subtly pointing to her and Morgan when they had it.

“Yeah, well, maybe I should start,” (Y/N) answered noncommittally. She flopped down on to my future roommate’s bed right across the room. She hadn’t taken the time to read their profile as she’d been emailed it. She wanted to go into this experience blind. And yeah, with her father’s resources and connections, she could’ve known every single aspect of the mystery roommate’s life if she’d wanted to. But (Y/N) wanted to go in blind. Be a normal kid for once. Especially with Mom doing what she was right now.

Suddenly, the door burst open behind them. Lugging in a mini fridge and two bags, Happy grunted and panted as he nudged his way inside. Morgan sat as if to help him but as soon as he saw her move to sit up he barked, “No, no stay where you’re at! I’ve got this, it’s nothing.” His red face indicated he was definitely lying. But nothing came between Happy and his pride.

“It’s not every day,” he said, pausing to pant after setting the fridge down on the countertops, “that your goddaughter goes off to college.”

“Yeah you’re right Hap, it’s not every day that a girl is escorted to her dorm room by her family’s Forehead of Security. Or has to avoid reporters pressing their faces against their lobby windows. Or has the seclude herself until her mother and father and their Secret Service protection detail can join them, since no one was currently on ‘daughters watch’,” (Y/N) made air quotes with her fingers, grumbling about the debacle that had occurred earlier today.

“I don’t trust him,” Morgan remarked from her couch as (y/n) scrambled to get everything she could possibly fathom needing in her dorm room packed into her father’s latest invention. It was basically a play on Dum-E, but with storage that the robot packed her things into itself, to maximize storage efficiency.

“Well, of course, you don’t trust him,” (Y/N) replied, “He’s on the Bachelor. That’s like, a parade of red flags right there.

“(Y/N),” Morgan scoffed, scandalized, her head popping up and over the back of the blue cushions, “it’s the Bachelorette, not the Bachelor, we’ve been over this. Plus, we personally know someone on this season, you should be watching!”

“I’ve seen Pietro make enough stupid decisions in my life to know that this doesn’t rank in the top three, and as such, I will not be acknowledging it.”

The sun had just barely begun to trickle in through the windows, and the watch she’d made herself showed that it was just past 6:15. Why she had procrastinated packing last minute, she couldn’t tell you. Maybe it just felt like the end of something fragile. Or whatever. Her watch caught the first true rays of sunlight and bounced refracted light straight into her eyes. (Y/N) winced but paused to admire her creation. The main metal straddled a fine line between her father’s favored cherry red, and the more toned down rose gold that was all the rage just a few year’s ago. Accented along the outside of the watch frame were little webbings of ice blue, too intentional to be called marbling but too non-descript to look like a spider’s web. Every other accent on the watch was a pearly white.

All of a sudden, Morgan’s phone started blaring the most awful noises she’d ever heard, causing (Y/N) to jump what felt like five feet in the air. She could hear Happy’s exasperated voice shouting into his receiver even halfway across the room. It seemed that she and Morgan were late for fittings and makeup for an impromptu morning press junket.

Those were happening more and more frequently these days, ever since her mother resigned as CEO of her father’s company, relegating it back to him, which he handled begrudgingly, and running for the US Senate. That was ten years ago. Now, her mother, Pepper, was the current frontrunner for the presidency. As if her life wasn’t high-profile enough as one of two daughter’s of the most powerful couple in the world probably.

It seemed that, due to Pepper’s skillful negotiation tactics, dozens of political prisoners were being released back to the United States today. And that meant the mother of all press conferences. On the day that she was moving into her new home for the next several months.

(Y/N) and Morgan were then harried about to get ready by FRIDAY, and AI program her father had invented long ago, in the form of the original JARVIS. Unfortunately, his coding and learned personality were lost when an earthquake struck southern California and shook the Malibu mansion off its cliffside seat and into the murky depths below. Okay, that may be a bit dramatic, but sue her, something needed to spice up the story of life in perpetually sunny SoCal.

Within thirty minutes she and her sister were presentable and ready to head down to where Happy was waiting in the car.

And to make a long story short, (Y/N) had managed to not only nearly knock down the lectern on the stage where her mother would be speaking shortly, but in the fall, she twisted her ankle all the way around. Nothing was broken, campaign medical staff had assured her, but any dummy would know that that footage was right then being broadcast on every phone, StarkTech or otherwise, throughout the nation. So in reality, her ego was bruised and battered more than her ankle was.

What got to her the most, though, was her constant characterization as cold and unfriendly. Of course, the reputation was probably well deserved, as she’d spat in a reporter’s face when she was just fifteen years old. But over time, she’d learned how to stop engaging, how to tamp down her temper. She’d learned that, when her mother was that age, she was quite the spitfire herself. Aunt Peggy would always tattle on her.

So it stung to know that she’d made progress in order to become a more ‘press-perfect’ daughter, just for them to turn around and make jokes about the stick up her ass or that she’d been replaced by an android of her father’s own creation.

And now here they were, hours later, as her mom had to make one last campaign stop before taking the presidential shoes off and trading them for her mom sneakers.

“...I’ll just uh… go get more of the bags from the car then,” Happy stammered, quickly excusing himself from the room.

Silence, comfortable and relaxing silence, filled the space between (Y/N) and Morgan. Of course, you could still hear the bustle of the New York streets below, but her floor seemed to be deserted.

(Y/N)’s eyelids began to droop, growing heavy after such an early morning, but she was abruptly shaken awake by a crashing sound outside her door, that only got louder as the door swung open.

In tumbled a brunette boy with wavy-ish hair and a toothy grin-turned-grimace. His hands were full of what looked like salvaged electronic parts. “Sorry about the noise,” he gasped out between breaths, “I didn’t want to make more than one trip and it seems I overestimated my grip.

Behind him wheeled in a huge suitcase. A few steps after that and an older lady stepped inside. His mother, (Y/N) assumed. Standing up from her spot on her unmade bed, she approached the woman, asking if she needed a hand. She was swiftly turned down and told to relax but (Y/N) didn’t miss the flare of recognition in the woman’s eyes as she put two and two together.

(Y/N) quickly spun around as the boy dumped all of the metal pieces and wires on to his desk before turning to face her and sticking out his hand. “Nice to meet you! I’m Peter. Peter Parker. What’s your name?”

(Y/N) grinned back. She hadn’t had to introduce herself in a long time. But something nagged her from the back of her mind. Peter Parker sounded awfully familiar.

#peter parker x reader #fic recs #reader insert #peter parker reader #peter parker x stark!daughter #stark!daughter #stark!daughter x peter parker #The First Daughter AU #college peter parker #college!au

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thecoroutfitters · 5 years ago

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Written by Guest Contributor on The Prepper Journal.

Editor’s Note: A contribution from Scott Huntington to The Prepper Journal. As a native and one who has been through multiple earthquakes I can say “amen” to holding our breath. There are so many faults that half of the quakes I experienced personally were generated by previously unknown faults in the Pacific plate, still considered the “ring of fire” by scientists worldwide. Whenever traveling to and from California I cross that mother of all faults, the San Andreas, where discussions always gravitate towards…. while the article speaks to California it applies to anywhere along the ring of fire, and yes, maybe Yellowstone as well.

Californians have been holding their breath for 20 years now, waiting for “the big one” to hit. Living in a fault zone can be nerve-wracking. The mental impact of not knowing when an earthquake might strike might be almost as damaging as the effects of the physical quake when you consider it over time.

But you can do some things to feel better. Earthquakes have been taking place since the beginning of time, and people have come to understand how to prepare for them. Here are our suggestions for the best ways to make ready for a quake.

Know If You Live in a High-Risk Area

Prepping for an earthquake might not be a good use of your time if you live in Nebraska. California gets a reputation as a seismic hotspot, which it probably deserves, but other places are high-risk zones as well. The USGS survey identifies areas across the country with seven levels of risk, which you can view in a color-coded map on their website.

The West Coast is particularly suspect when it comes to the risk of earthquakes, with the USGS map indicating the strongest probability of a quake is in Southern Alaska, Washington, California, Hawaii and Nevada. For those who choose to live in these states, there will always be a high risk, although the right construction can reinforce your home against the harmful effects of a quake. There is also a USGS program called Shakealert that claims to offer early warning of coming earthquakes, which might be worth your time if you live in a high-risk zone.

If earthquakes aren’t your thing, move away. That’s the best way to avoid them. But these are excellent places to live (political climate aside), so if you’re going to stick around…

Prepare Your Home

Minimize loose, heavy items in your house by fastening heavy furniture to the wall or avoiding it altogether. If you have the budget, you can consider installing reinforcing walls like we mentioned earlier, which will help ensure your home remains a safe zone during most earthquakes. If you work or live in a tall building, have a clearly marked evacuation plan and make sure everyone knows how to access it.

Have a communication plan with your children, which is fairly simple in the age of cell phones — but, should damaged cell towers cause coverage to go down, it’s smart for children to have a phone number or two memorized and know how to use social media to communicate they’re safe. At a minimum have a stated, know “meet location” for all family members. You really can’t depend on any infrastructure remaining uninterrupted in an earthquake.

An earthquake readiness kit isn’t quite the same as the bug-out bag you’d pack for a hurricane or tornado, but it’s similar. You could be facing a situation where communications and other infrastructure is down, so have extra doses of any special medications your family needs, clean water and snacks, a powerful flashlight and extra batteries. Apportion your supplies to last at least three days. Pack a first-aid kit with medical supplies to treat lacerations and bruises. While off-the-shelf kits are available for purchase, only YOU know your family and their real needs so start with the basics and build out your kit your way. Pick a couple of 72-hour periods and note everything the family consumes during that period, from water to food to medications as a starting point and then do the “what if’s?” – water supply is compromised, home is compromised, missing family member, what is Plan B – always have a backup/Plan B. As any military officer will tell you Plan A is out the window as soon as the first shot is fired.

In addition to these must-haves, some other items will round out your kit nicely, such as two-way radios and pet supplies if you’ve got any furry friends in the family. A multitool is a good idea as a substitute for a full selection of hand tools, and a breathing mask with a particulate filter is another excellent addition to protect your family’s lungs from the smoke and dust that could fill the air in the aftermath of an earthquake.

Know How to Respond During a Quake

Earthquakes are one natural disaster we usually can’t predict until it’s too late. That means you need to practice what to do when one hits before you’re in a bad situation. If you have kids, make sure you have a plan as a family for what to do if an earthquake starts.

As for what to do, less is more in the case of an earthquake. You aren’t going to have time to seek much shelter. The best motto is “drop, cover and hold on,” which is what children learn in school. If you are outdoors, don’t seek cover indoors. If you’re sleeping, use your pillows to protect your neck and head.

If an earthquake occurs while you’re driving, pull over in a space that’s clear of overhead buildings or potential debris. All you can do is wait the quake out in the safest possible place. Once the shaking stops, it’s time to evaluate the situation. Know what natural gas smells like, and immediately disable the gas lines in your home if you smell a leak. There are valves available to automatically shut off natural gas lines in case of an earthquake, have them installed by a licensed professional. Locate your earthquake kit and check in with your family. Once you have everything squared away, you might head out to see if you can help others.

In the Aftermath

Earthquakes often have aftershocks up to a day later, so be vigilant, because these can be severe incidents if the earthquake was powerful. Once you’ve established that you and your family are unharmed, put on your sturdy footwear and take a walk around the perimeter of your home to spot any damage that may have occurred.

Unlike the movies, and like hurricanes, the majority of injuries and deaths occur in the first 72 hours after the event, downed power lines, floods, broken infrastructure like damns and freeway overpasses, etc.

Monitor your radio and other means of communication for information about the damage the quake did and whether there is any public action to help those affected. Depending on your situation, it may be appropriate for you to help, or you may need to reach out for assistance, which is why it’s so critical to have your radio and supply of batteries.

Perhaps the most frightening thing about an earthquake is the way they happen with little to no warning. Having a practical plan and the right supplies in place can give you the peace of mind to get through an earthquake safely. It’s only a matter of time, so think ahead and practice these good habits to be ready when the day comes. Stay safe!

Be Safe out there and be sure to check out The Prepper Journal Store and follow The Prepper Journal on Facebook!

The post How to Prep for an Earthquake appeared first on The Prepper Journal.

from The Prepper Journal Don't forget to visit the store and pick up some gear at The COR Outfitters. How prepared are you for emergencies? #SurvivalFirestarter #SurvivalBugOutBackpack #PrepperSurvivalPack #SHTFGear #SHTFBag

#SHTF #TEOTWAWKI #MARTIALLAW #BUGOUT #PREPPERBAG #USAF #USSOCOM #ARMY #NAVY #SurvivalFirestarter #Sur

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myuun · 6 years ago

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do you live in nz? is it better than usa?

I do live in New Zealand!

HMM… In some ways? I haven’t been to many parts of the US, I mostly stuck to the Southern states and have been to just the general touristy states like New York and California… but even then I haven’t seen all that much and I was a teenager and I really… can’t remember perfectly anymore… ;v; oh my god, I really can’t, I’M SO OLD NOW.

I have also not explored a lot of New Zealand, just Wellington (I live here!) and the nearby towns.

My perspective comes from being raised on a small city in Mexico and studying in a small city in Texas, so I’ll go from there.

I’ll go from the cons, cause that’s funner!

CONS OF NEW ZEALAND:

- EXPENSIVE. Expensive. Expensive. If you come with American Dollars you gain more NZ dollars which is great. But the country is damn expensive. I’m used to my groceries for two people go to the hundreds per week. EASILY. Buzzfeed, save your words, I can’t save money on many things. Some things I can (which I’ll talk about in a bit).

- You pay rent per week. Welcome to hell. Also, getting an apartment is the hardest thing you’ll ever manage to do. Don’t even talk to me about finding a job, even a temporary one.

- Biggest bummer: NEVER ENOUGH JUNK FUCKING FOOD. NEW ZEALAND HAS THE STOMACH OF AN 80 YEAR OLD. Cheetos? Nope. Rice Krispies? NAH. VARIETY OF CEREALS? NO UNLESS YOU LOVE NUTS AND GRAINS. I have such cravings for shitty food. I miss simple, beautiful greasy food. POUR ME A BOWL OF PANDA EXPRESS ORANGE SHRIMP. Everyday I dream about Chick-fil-a and I weep. This country has things similar… but everything here is very healthy… too healthy. Which I guess its good, but when you are raised on grease, you miss it ya’ll.

- It can get boring depending on where you are. New Zealand pretty much closes shop… early. In small towns, malls are closed by 5:30PM (a shocking discovery!). Most restaurants, if they serve at night, they close by… 9-10PM. It is shocking if something is open after that, and it is most likely a bar. We are pretty much in by 6PM and if we are out… we are definitely running late or its a blue moon.

- EARTHQUAKES. This needs no explanation. I hate earthquakes. PETRIFIED. And I live on the top floor and it feels HORRIBLE. No thanks.

- No matter where you go you’ll hit water. My husband loves that we are on an island… I… feel uncomfortable? It’s a small country, we could sink easily if a tsunami hit. This is a bit half and half, it depends on who you talk to. For me, I… I’m not that big into islands. I like land.

- It’s a small country. Again, this depends on who you ask. Some people love it. I personally like it… to an extent. Im at the bottom of the north island and you can get to the top of it within 8 hours. That is… insane. That is HALF THE COUNTRY DOWN. It’s TINY.

- It’s small, so fashion, food, games, fads… all come later for us. So anything trending in the US… we know about it. But we cannot get it until a year later. It’s a cute joke that NZ is always ten years behind.

- The hole in the ozone is right about New Zealand, so you CAN get sunburned on cloudy days. It has happened to me, I swear. There is a SPECIFIC sunscreen made here by the cancer society because skin cancer is so prominent. Wear sunscreen! Fun fact: sun screen is also expensive.

- It’s an island… and yet fish is expensive as HELL. ????!?!??? wh???!whw??? seafood restaurants? what??? who??? for the rich??? same with milk btw

- Lack of true racial understanding. This is a personal one, which I’ll elaborate on. There are SO MANY FOREIGNERS HERE. So many. But white people are the majority. So a lot of white people… have really strong stereotypes about people of color. I, personally, had never seen such incredible diversity before of religion, race, and nationality so to me, it’s amazing how much I learn, but… its a bit cringy as well how a lot of New Zealanders (especially older ones) are… quite… racist… Then again, this happens everywhere. I just thought with such a colorful variation of population… it would be more… open. And it is! But… ya know… YA KNOW.

- People don’t say bless you when you sneeze. ok I know its a small thing but it BOTHERS ME.

- People pretty much dress the same… almost… the same. 90s style hipsters.

- So much hipster.

- HILLS. SO MANY UPHILLS. SO MUCH… WALKING. if you’re into climbing, and foresty, and biking this is the country for you. But I’m not.

PROS OF NEW ZEALAND:

- No matter where you go, it will always… always be stunning. I have a bit of a mocking attitude when people go to “scenic spots” because I feel it’s a waste of time? Personally… THE ENTIRETY of the country is a giant scenic view. No matter where you look, it’s absolutely beautiful. I look out my window and it faces another building and yet the sky and the trees are gorgeous.

- The air is so fresh, that it cleared my skin. This is a no-joke, my skin actually got better when I lived here for a month and then went back to Mexico, and it burst into pimples. It’s so fresh here and almost NEVER humid. Sometimes, but its tolerable.

- There is little, to no danger. We can walk at midnight in fling flang wherever and the likelyhood of me getting robbed is pretty minimal. It HAPPENS but it’s so so so rare. The newspaper writes about your neighbor’s tomato farm (seriously). Not… murders.

- Animal care and respect is SO MUCH HIGHER here. As a huuuge animal advocate that lives for her animal shelter, the love and outpour people give their pets is amazing. It’s INCREDIBLY RARE.. AND I MEAN… RARE. To see a stray dog. In fact, mark my words, I’ve never seen a single stray dog. Maybe a stray cat, but cats are outdoors here a lot, so probably not. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THERE ISN’T ANIMAL ABUSE. There certainly are. But not as rampant as in the US or Mexico.

- It’s rare to eat bad food. I will honestly say in the three years of me living here… I’ve had shitty food… four times? five? And every other time… its been amazing. Idk what it is. It’s always… worth every penny. So I can tell you, when it’s bad… ITS BAD. It’s hard though, you really can’t fuck up here (well, at least Wellington).

- People are so… so nice. I think nice people are everywhere, but New Zealand is especially nice. SO NICE.

- The diversity is amazing. I’ve never seen such a colorful city.

- RECYCLING AND KEEP NEW ZEALAND GREEN. It really has encouraged me to be more thoughtful and resourceful and soon I hope my lazy ass can fucking… whats it called… compost.

- Everything is very close by which can be very convenient. It’s a small country, so we are close-knit.

- OUR PRIME MINISTEERRR. She is as lovely in person (my husband and I are lucky to have a selfie with her) as she is on TV.

- Tons of events, tons of artsy fartsy stuff, so many things to see. New Zealand encourages so much togetherness in their community so tons of events are honestly done by the entirety of the country. Festivals, community services, art stuff… Markets are AMAZIIING.

- If you’re into health, gyms are cheap and walking is even cheaper. We walk… everywhere and everywhere is close by.

- Bus system is fucky, but certainly very useable. It’s all we take and it gets you everywhere.

There is SO MUCH MORE IM SURE, but I’m about to have dinner and I can’t think of anymore. ;v; But I hope this answers your question.

Overall, I do love New Zealand, but there are tons of things I miss about the US… mostly just the food… and all the food. And my family. It’s weird being in a country that is really far away from the world. It feels a bit isolating at times, but the kindness and community shown in New Zealand is fantastic, and I really love this country a lot. ;v; Please if someone here is close to the Chick-fil-a CEO, I’ll donate to have one open in Wellington. We just got Krispy Kreme… in one airport in Auckland.

Someone please sir… a bag of donuts and chick-fil-a waffle fries…

waffle fries i miss you

I don’t think New Zealand is necessarily better than the US because the US has such variety because of all the states and people and natural beauty, but I will say... politics wise, I do think we have a SLIGHT UPPER HAND THERE, SON.

#Anonymous #answered

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nickireadstfc · 7 years ago

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The King’s Men, Chapter 16 – A Team Of Particularly Good Finders

In which I find a new favourite team, Kevin’s angrier half makes an entrance, I find a new favourite team, keys are distributed, faceclaims are suggested, and I find a new favourite team.

Sounds good? Then it’s time for Nicki to read The King’s Men.

Saturday morning Wymack stopped by Fox Tower with a guest. (…)

“Thea,” Kevin finally said, and scrambled to his feet. “What are you doing here?”

Oh HECK YES.

I’ve been waiting for this gal ever since she was first mentioned, and my dudes my pals my homies, let me tell you – her presence does not disappoint.

Thea Muldani is big and buff and bench-presses male egos for breakfast, but also wears pastel makeup, braids and dresses like Beyoncé herself gave her fashion advice.

A certified Boss Ass Bitch, you say? Absolutely.

A definite, definite Venus Williams faceclaim, you say?

Alternatively also Serena Williams?

Absolutely.

Like Kevin, Thea also left the Ravens, but she seems to have quite a different relationship to them than he does.

Even though Thea graduated from Edgar Allan almost three years ago she still wore her Raven jersey number on a pendant around her throat.

Interesting.

Neil then wonders how ex-Ravens fare out there in the Real World, and he voices my thoughts precisely: Do they recover? Do they hang on? And if they do, is it because they’re broken, or out of choice?

This is Interesting Shit that I am very, very much intrigued to know more about. Since I’m not sure we’ll have quite enough time to get into this in what’s left of this book, if anyone has any fic recs dealing with this (= post-Raven recovery), hit me the hell up.

However sadly, Thea is not here to answer my deep psychological musings, and is instead very much here to tear Kevin a new one.

Or five.

“I always wanted to talk, but it was complicated.”

“’Complicated’,” Thea echoed. The air quotes she threw him were angry and mocking. “’Complicated’ is having to find out from a press conference that you broke your hand and left the line-up. ‘Complicated’ is finding out the hard way you disconnected your old number and having to hear from Jean that you didn’t want anything to do with any of us effective immediately. Don’t you dare use ‘complicated’ against me. I deserve better than that.”

OH SHIT.

Exy Venus Williams is mad, y’all – and completely in the right, because Kevin, you done fucked up.

Anyone who figuratively leaves his girlfriend on ‘read’ for two years deserves to have the shit bitched out of them publicly.

However, Kevin has a magic trick to at least somewhat calm his angrier half down:

Fellow ex-Raven and resident human ground beef Jean Valjean Moreau.

They go see him, but like puppies left out in the rain we don’t get to go with, which is a damn shame because I’m getting increasingly interested in how our favourite baguette is going to continue his trauma-filled existence.

“You assume [Nicky] will survive until summer [because he’s annoying the hell out of Andrew with his Andreil shipping],” Andrew said.

“You break him, you owe me a new defenseman,” Wymack said.

Bahahahaha.

Found this chapter’s #dicksoutforwymack, that line was gold, small as it was.

“You have one at Abby’s house.”

DAMN RIGHT. Anyone up for some Fox!Jean? Yes? Yes?

Apparently, not Kevin and Jean, who have irreparably damages their athletic compatibility at the Batcave of Extra, so Fox!Jean is a thing we may have to keep to fanfic.

Again – a damn shame.

What is decidedly not a damn shame is that Wymack has a lil something for Andrew, and when I found out what it was I may or may not have shed a lil tear of pride.

Keys jangled as they hit the carpet, and Neil stared in disbelief. He couldn’t be right, except last summer Wymack had given Neil three new keys, too: a set for all the important doors at the Foxhole Court. (…) “Kevin said to give you those.”

KEVIN IS TRUSTING ANDREW WITH STADIUM KEYS.

KEVIN IS EXPLICITLY INVITING ANDREW TO COME PRACTICE WHENEVER AND UNSUPERVISED.

KEVIN IS STARTING TO BELIEVE IN ANDREW’S FUTURE AS A PROFESSIONAL SPORTSBALL PLAYER EVEN IF ANDREW MAY NOT BE.

KEVIN IS TRUSTING ANDREW WITH STADIUM KEYS.

KEYS!!!!!!!!!!

This has got to be the fourth or fifth time this series has made me emotional about fucking keys, what in the absolute fuck.

[Neil’s] heart was pounding. (…) He thought about fighting for a spot on the US Court and facing the best the world had to offer, Kevin at his side and Andrew at his back.

When will the Kandreil feels end, my money is on fucking never.

With this preliminary banter done, we move on to what’s really important in this chapter:

The first NCAA Exy championship semi-final; University of Southern California Trojans vs Palmetto State University Foxes.

Or, as I like to call it – USC Hufflepuffs vs Kevin Day’s Boner.

So much has been promised about this team, their human sunshine of a captain and their infamous Too Good For This World cinnamon roll-ness, I was buzzing in my seat waiting to get to know them.

“[Think] about what you’re going to say in pre-game.” (…)

“How about ‘We’re gonna own these lowers’?” Nicky suggested.

“And that’s why you’re not allowed to talk to the press,” Matt said dryly.

Bahahahaha.

Nicky, my boy, never change. <3

However, I immediately opposed any ‘loser’ insults as I finally, finally met –

The one, the only, captain of Trojans, idol of Kevin Days everywhere, the OG Cinnamon Roll™ – Jeremy Fucking Knox.

“Kevin, you crazy fool,” he said, less formally, and clapped Kevin’s shoulder in a cheery greeting. “You never cease to amaze. You’ve got a thing for controversial teams, I think, but I like this one much better than the last one.”

Hi, marry me.

Again with the characterizations through first lines in this book, aye? Pretty sure this guy is the only one in the entire world who could bro-hug Kevin, call him a crazy fool to his face, and come away with his nose unbroken.

(He says a little bit towards Wymack before that, but we’re gonna ignore that for the meme.)

But apparently, Jeremy is not the only one who gets to say unexpected things right now.

[Kevin] only said, “I have a backliner for you. Do you have room on next year’s line-up?”

… Does this mean what I think it means.

I THINK IT DOES.

I THINK IT FUCKING DOES.

My dudes, let me tell you, my ass is HERE for Trojan!Jean. Trojean. TROJEAN.

Seriously, if you want someone with a trauma caused by abusive competitive toxic teammates to recover, a team that’s known for being the friendliest, kindest and fairest motherfuckers on the planet is pretty much the absolute Way To Go.

Operation Trojean is the best rehab anyone has ever thought of, ever, and I will hear no other opinions on this.

I was already enjoying this tremendously, good things all around, how much better could it be – when Sunshine Boy decided to pull something so spectacularly Hufflepuff that I swear to fuck I heard badgers singing.

Y’all are not ready.

I was not ready.

“Our line-up,” Jeremy explained. “It’s late to be getting it to you, I know, but we were trying to avoid as much of the backlash as possible.”

Why, what’s happ–

“Two goalies, three backliners, two dealers, two strikers,” Jeremy said. “You’ve made it this far with those numbers. It’s time to see how we’d fare in that situation.”

WHAT

THE

FUCK.

You have got to be kidding me, Sunshine Boy.

You are giving up your gigantic team, your sure-as-life win, your One Big Strength – just because it’s fair? And because you want to learn from your opponents more than you want to win?

I’m out. This is too much. This team is TOO FUCKING MUCH.

“You’ll lose tonight if you play like this.”

“Maybe,” Jeremy agreed, unconcerned. “Maybe not. Should be fun either way, right? I don’t remember the last time I was this psyched for a game.”

There is no way in hell I’m not faceclaiming this guy as known Puff Champion Cedric Diggory now.

No. Way. In. Hell.

Neil finally understood how the USC Trojans had won the Day Spirit Award eight consecutive years.

Bitch, me too, the fuck.

“I take back what I said about earthquakes,” Nicky said weakly. “I have a new favourite team.”

BITCH, ME TOO, THE FUCK.

And with that, the game is on, and I can’t remember the last time I was so pumped for a good ol’ match of Orange Murder Sportsball.

Despite their Line-Up of Dreams, the Trojans pretty much wipe the floor with the Foxes in the first half, as was to be expected.

But in second half – well, let’s just say I ain’t never seen a badger run a marathon.*

USC could have taken control of the game in a heartbeat if only they’d rethink their strategy. If they pulled their three subs from the sidelined players the Foxes’ night was over. But the Trojans had made up their mind and they weren’t backing down.

HELL YES.

BECAUSE THEY’RE THE FUCKING FAIREST BEST FUCKING SPORTS IN THIS ENTIRE DAMNED LEAGUE.

(*For the record: Foxes don’t exactly run marathons either – according to the mighty Internet, foxes can run up to 55 km/h and badgers up to 30 km/h, but both only over short distances. A human Trojan would definitely outrun a fox (or a badger) over a long distance. So much for brand accuracy.)

But then! Oh, who would have thought! This is so completely surprising! The Foxes catch their wind on the second half! Amazing, they start to dominate the game! And – and – and it’s a win! Win for the Foxes! WIN FOR THE FOXES!

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy and excited for them and all, but as if we didn’t absolutely see this coming.

“Is this what dying feels like?” [Alvarez] asked, and called over her shoulder, “Babe, I think I’m dying. Do I still have legs?”

Things like these make my sports-ignorant ass realize just how hardcore the Foxes playing full halves actually is.

No subs, we die like men.

Also, Alvarez’ “babe” turns out to be Laila Dermott, which makes me love the Trojans even more – and I truly did not think this was possible – because Exy Lesbians.

“That was fantastic. (…) I want to do it again. Next year, maybe, when my legs grow back.”

“Stop being such a baby,” Laila said.

This banter is giving me life.

If anyone has any fanart of these two buff buttercups, please send it my way pronto.

Neil didn’t care how many hearts they broke that night. They’d beaten USC. (…) The Foxes were going to finals, and that was the only thing that mattered.

HEEEEEEEECK YEEEEEEEEES.

Before we move on to post-semi-final celebrations, allow me to gush about the Trojans one last time, and then I promise I’m done melting into a puddle every time one of them so much as speaks.

“[Jean] will be back in the fall. He just won’t be back in black.” Jeremy flashed his toothy grin. (…) “He’s transferring to USC for his senior year.”

This is one of the best ideas anyone has had in this entire book. Four for you, Trojean, you go, Trojean.

(And none for Riko Moriyama, bye.)

“We’ll have to get him some sun this summer, though! He’s a little pale to pull of red and gold right now,” Jean laughed.

[To the tune of California Girls] California puffs they’re unforgettable…

Also, in which Jean is #me in summer, all day err’day.

Tanning is for weak people, we sunburn like true Germans.

Nicky (…) cut the TV off. “I’ve got a theory that Renee and Jeremy are long-lost siblings. What do you think would happen if they ever joined force?”

“They’d get murdered,” Aaron said. (…) “War’s profitable; no one wants their world-peace nonsense.”

Gee, thanks, you absolute walnut.

For the record, I agree with Nicky, and I’m also counting this as the reason I immediately fell in love with Jeremy.

What can I say – in a world full of Angst, Drama, Angst, Infighting and More Angst, ya girl loves herself some good sunshiney optimists.

As for post-semi-final celebrations, the gang makes good on an old tradition and goes into town for another Fun Night of Debauchery for what I’m assuming is the last time in this series.

To think that a year ago the prospect of this would have made me break out in protective Neil feels, and now I’m actually looking forward to it.

Man, we’ve come far.

Speaking of – Andrew now apparently has no need for cracker dust anymore(!!!), has nothing against being touched in public (!!!!) and doesn’t seem to mind his Bartender Pal Roland calling him out on his Very Much Gay, Very Much Official Relationship (!!!!!).

Man, we’ve come fucking far.

“How’d you know [about Andrew being gay]?”, [Nicky said.] “Is your gaydar more advanced than mine is or – “ Nicky’s jaw dropped as he clued in. “Wait. No way. No way! Did you two –?”

BAHAHAHA.

LAUGHTER.

BIG FAT LAUGHTER.

Andrew hooked up with Big Intimidating Bartender Pal, this is glorious.

Neil’s clock was still ticking down, but his numbered days followed a different schedule now. Neil had all the time in the world, and that left a heat in his gut stronger than any whiskey could.

Fuck yes.

Fuck YES.

A very good ending to a very good second to last chapter.

...Oh shit.

Second. To. Last. Chapter.

EVER.

Next chapter will almost conclude this series (I’m told there is a short epilogue, so we’re not quite done). Next chapter will almost conclude this blog, holy shit.

We’ve been following the Orange Hellride that is this series for over a year now (thanks to my giant hiatuses in between, oops). This is insane.

I’ll get all emotional and grateful and weepy in the last chapter and final book recap, so dry eyes over here for now, but y’all – get ready.

This ride is about to end, and knowing this series, we’re about to go out with a fucking bang.

Oh dear.

Before I go - a quick note on the update situation for the last few uploads (meaning chapter 17, epilogue, book recap). This feels almost redundant to say after my schedule has been very loose (soz) these past few chapters anyways, but I will be taking some liberties for the finish line.

This blog has been one of my greatest pride and joys over the last year, and I really wanna stick the landing. This means I'd rather spend an extra day refining than update by hook and by crook. As a loose time estimate – expect the last chapter by the end of the week, possibly earlier.

Let me make this good for you guys. I'm way excited (and scared), and I hope you are too.

Peace and love, y'all.

#tfc #the foxhole court #aftg #all for the game #jeremy knox #aka my new husband #tkm #the king's men #nora sakavic #nicki reads tfc #please hold my hand through the last chapter #PLEASE

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steveslepcevic · 4 years ago

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Strategic Response Partners Readies for Earthquake Responses and Offers Tips to Public for Staying Safe and Protecting Property

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 18, 2020 — With its decades of experience, Strategic Response Partners (SRP) lives and breathes planning for and rapid response to all sorts of catastrophic natural disasters. In fact, the Los Angeles-based firm has a well-earned reputation as a leader in the field. In line with its position as an innovator and the nationwide “go-to” disaster preparedness and response firm, SRP continues to lead the path forward in preparing for and responding to all earthquake-related issues. With the number of earthquakes occurring and predictions of more continually on the rise, SRP has made it a top priority to help the general public, commercial building owners, schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure become well-prepared for the so-called “Big One.”

SRP’s Managing Partner Steve Slepcevic points to various recent seismic events and scientific findings to emphasize the importance of preparedness:

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck North Carolina last week — the largest quake to hit the state since 1916, according to the National Weather Service.

The Salt Lake Valley of Utah experienced a 5.7 magnitude earthquake in March.

The U.S. Geological Survey last week noted a swarm of minor earthquakes near California’s Salton Sea that raises concern about the potential for a larger temblor at the San Andreas Fault. Such a swarm is atypical for this particular part of the state.

Geologists predict a chance of a magnitude 9-plus earthquake hitting Oregon and Washington in the next 50 years and a nearly 40 percent chance of a magnitude 8 to 9 earthquake hitting Southern Oregon and/or Northern California.

This month, scientists for the first time confirmed the existence of extremely powerful “boomerang” earthquakes, opening the possibility of even more devastating types of seismic events.

Taking into account his decades of experience, Slepcevic also recommends: “By taking some simple steps in advance of an earthquake or other natural disaster, people can help save lives and prevent injury, all while decreasing the extent of damage to their homes, businesses, property, and personal possessions, as it is also very important to arm oneself with basic knowledge about what causes earthquakes and, in turn, the hazards that can occur.”

Earthquakes occur when rocks underground break along a fault line, resulting in seismic waves that cause the ground to shake. This shaking can last for a few seconds or up to several minutes and can vary in the degree of strength. For Californians, earthquakes are a common occurrence, and Los Angeles is especially susceptible due to its proximity to multiple faults, including the San Andreas Fault, where two tectonic plates come together. This geological phenomenon sits within 35 miles of Los Angeles, subjecting the city to more frequent and stronger quakes than other cities.

Slepcevic further cautions that when an earthquake strikes, landslides, mudslides, and avalanches can occur and structures, whether large or small, can sustain extensive damage. Likewise, saturated soil can cause buildings to sink. Ground displacement and shifting, flooding, and fires also commonly occur as a result of nearby seismic activity.

As a result of the ever-increasing concern of future seismic activity, Slepcevic and his critical response team at SRP recommend a few basic actions that all home and business owners can take to help protect people and property. Specifically:

Secure bookshelves and dressers to walls.

2. Apply an adhesive, such as museum putty, to objects on tables.

Install clips and clasps on cabinet doors to prevent glasses and plates from sliding out and breaking on floors.

Hire a plumber to install earthquake-safety shut-off valves that will quickly turn off the gas supply in the event of a quake

Develop a communication and evacuation plan with employees or loved ones.

There are additional preparedness tools such as mobile apps available for iPhones and Androids that can provide statewide earthquake early-warning alerts. Additionally, Oct. 15 is designated as International Shakeout Day, where people around the world are encouraged to practice their earthquake communication and evacuation plan from each applicable location.

While basic earthquake-preparation steps are always recommended for individual homeowners, commercial building owners, municipalities, schools, hospitals, daycare centers, nursing homes, and all other critical infrastructure, each should have a well-vetted emergency disaster preparedness plan in place prior to any catastrophic natural disaster, including an earthquake. Having the right plan in place, created by those in the know, can make all of the difference to a business’ ability to survive and recover from a natural disaster. According to Slepcevic, SRP can provide each of these entities with a detailed review of their disaster preparedness plan by its world-renowned team of disaster planners and structural engineers to help ensure their current strategy is comprehensive and effective. SRP even assists businesses in designing and implementing a custom disaster preparedness plan.

“Even if disaster strikes and you don’t have any policies, procedures or plans in place, rest assured, it’s not too late for us to deploy the necessary assistance. We also advise the public to immediately call us following a quake so our engineers and technicians can review the structural integrity of their home or business and perform necessary emergency work to avoid collapse, injury or even death,” stressed Slepcevic. “Our emergency service crews also stand ready to check for and stop gas leaks that can cause fires and explosions, and to correct water damage from burst pipes and other sources.”

SRP has become a company that thousands of clients worldwide depend on. It even has a technical rescue team that is activated when individuals may be trapped in compromised structures or by fallen debris. “Anyone familiar with California’s history with earthquakes knows the incredible damage that can be done to property and the number of lives that can be lost when a major one strikes. As these incidents are becoming more prevalent and frequent, we all need to be vigilant in planning and preparing,” added Slepcevic.

SRP’s rapid response team of experts specializes in disaster preparedness, response, and property restoration management resulting from earthquakes, fires, water, wind, hail, hurricanes, explosions and other event-driven disasters, providing complete disaster project management for residential, commercial, industrial, institutional, municipal, and historic properties.

For more information, go to srp24.com or call (888) 582–5848.

Media Contact: Steve Slepcevic, (888) 582–5848 or [email protected]

Related Images

strategic-response-partners.png Strategic Response Partners technical rescue team on site in the aftermath of an earthquake SRP has become a company that thousands of clients worldwide depend on. It even has a technical rescue team that is activated when individuals may be trapped in compromised structures or by fallen debris.

srps-engineers-and-technicians.png SRP’s engineers and technicians review structural integrity of buildings and homes following earthquakes SRP advises the public to call them immediately following a quake so its team can check their home or business’ structural integrity and perform necessary emergency work to avoid collapse, injury or even death.

srp-offers-preparedness-tips-for.jpg SRP offers preparedness tips for protecting lives and property in case of an earthquake With the number of earthquakes occurring and predictions of more continually on the rise, SRP has made it a top priority to help the general public, commercial building owners, schools, hospitals, and critical infrastructure become well-prepared for the so-called ‘Big One.”’

Related Links

http://www.srp24.com

Steve Slepcevic

With 30 years of experience, Steve Slepcevic is a leading consultant in disaster management.

#steveslepcevic #slepcevic #steveslepcevic.com

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nightmare-afton-cosplay · 5 years ago

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How the Coronavirus Is Changing Some Boomers’ Real Estate Plans for the Better

Fancy/Veer/Corbis/Getty Images

For baby boomers, the question of when—and where—they’ll retire is a perennial topic of discussion. But with the novel coronavirus sweeping the globe, it has become an especially pressing question these days.

Many are feeling the pressure to ramp up their decision-making and act fast—between concerns over COVID-19 contagion, rampant layoffs, and new rounds of self-reckoning where they ponder “Why wait to realize my dreams?” Many believe that the time is now to make real estate decisions they’ve been putting off—or they’re changing course entirely.

Whether you’re a boomer yourself or just paralyzed about your next move, these stories might inspire you to get unstuck, or at least realize that you aren’t alone. Here’s how the current coronavirus crisis has radically transformed three people’s best-laid real estate plans for the better.

‘COVID-19 convinced me to stay put’

COVID-19 convinced Kristin Donnan to stay where she was.

Kristin Donnan

Kristin Donnan, 57, an author and arts advocate, had her retirement house all picked out: a one-level cottage in a vibrant, bustling 55-plus community near San Diego. She was preparing to make an offer.

There was just one thing she had to do first: Help her mother sell the property where she’d grown up in Hill City, SD. With 20 tree-filled acres, three buildings, and a barn, it needed some sprucing up and purging before it could fetch top dollar.

Donnan had moved back home temporarily to assist her mother in readying the compound, but had vowed to move on with her own plans once the property sold. But no buyers came knocking, and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

By April, “my urban friends in California were telling me what lockdown looked like,” Donnan says. This prompted her to reconsider her plans to return to the “civilization” where she’d always assumed she’d end up.

“A lot of things made me think about leaving Hill City—including politics and the scarcity of cultural activities,” she says. “I was eager to return to the conveniences of Southern California, willing to deal with traffic, too many people, earthquakes, smog, blackouts … until COVID-19.”

While Hill City may lack California’s cultural buzz and arts scene, she realized there was value in “being out of the rat race and out of the panic,” she explains. “The danger is very low here. My yoga studio just reopened. I can go to the grocery store, take a hike, visit others who are as isolated as I am, see a friend for tea. It’s calming.”

So although her mother’s house is still for sale, Donnan’s life plans have changed course.

“I’ll stay here until it sells and then move elsewhere in the area,” she says. “There are events like wars and 9/11 that change everything. This is one of those moments. The pandemic has made me realize the benefits of having a place in rural America.”

‘COVID-19 motivated us to sell our home ASAP’

COVID-19 convinced Allyson and her husband to put their Westchester, NY, house on the market.

Courtesy of Allyson

Allyson, 60, a college consultant, and her husband, Al, a psychiatrist, always knew they’d sell the Westchester, NY, house where they’d raised their kids someday. The coronavirus, however, prompted these empty nesters to fast-forward their home-selling plans to right now.

“Selling our house has definitely become a priority,” Allyson says. The underlying motivations for unloading their Colonial—“our high taxes, not having kids in the schools anymore, and having more house than we need”—hadn’t changed. So what had?

“I heard that many New York City residents are trying to quickly move to the suburbs,” Allyson explains. “I plan to hustle to get my house on the market and take advantage of that.”

Allyson says she’s been talking with a friend who is a real estate agent, and is busy booking a painter and handyman to get her home in perfect shape for prospective buyers.

Since hiring professionals to come to the house is still dicey, the place may not hit the market until late summer or early fall, but it will definitely happen this year. Although it’s stressful to deal with this work and a move during the coronavirus pandemic, they feel glad to get the wheels in motion for a process that can take many people years to accomplish.

As for where they’ll move next, they haven’t figured that out quite yet. But they are all but certain it will be farther away from the city, not closer. The coronavirus has crystallized that for them.

“I am a little fearful of living near New York City now primarily because of the density: What if this goes on and on or happens again?” she says. “I don’t want to be cooped up with no place to go.”

‘COVID-19 convinced me to move to my retirement home early’

David has been shopping for his retirement home in Panacea, FL, where costs are about half of where he lives in Boston.

realtor.com

David, 66, who lives in Boston, thought he’d stay a New Englander for a few more years. But the COVID-19 pandemic galvanized his long-simmering plans to head south.

“I grew up in Georgia and miss some aspects of Southern life, including the weather,” he explains. “That becomes a bigger deal every year. But I wanted to keep earning as much as I could until age 70, the way you’re supposed to if you want the biggest Social Security income.”

However, since he works in fundraising for an arts organization, he’s seen his work hours dramatically reduced since COVID-19 came to town.

“Our organization came to almost a full stop, and, while still employed, I took a significant salary cut,” he says. “And the fact that the arts will be among the last areas to reopen in hard-hit states makes me think my work life is over.”

David chooses to look at this as a glass half-full.

“It’s a sign to move on to the next phase of life,” he says. “I’ve been talking about buying a little, cheap, beach-bum place in Florida for years. Now, I’m ready. This virus has brought me face to face with my mortality. The time to realize my dreams is now. There are no guarantees.”

He is actively searching online for a cottage or condo near the water in the vicinity of Tallahassee, FL. Working with a local real estate agent, he’s doing virtual walk-throughs on FaceTime. While he’s not sure if he’ll actually buy a house sight unseen, he’s excited to be laying the groundwork for the next phase of his life.

“Right now, I’m terrified to go to the Public Garden [in Boston] to see the flowers in bloom,” he says. “The idea of having a laid-back life, listening to the surf, going fishing in Florida, that will be heaven! For me, this tragedy has a silver lining.”

The post How the Coronavirus Is Changing Some Boomers’ Real Estate Plans for the Better appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

from https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/how-the-coronavirus-changed-baby-boomers-real-estate-plans/

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newstfionline · 4 years ago

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Headlines: Saturday, October 3, 2020

An ‘Awe Walk’ Might Do Wonders for Your Well-Being (NYT) Consciously watching for small wonders in the world around you during an otherwise ordinary walk could amplify the mental health benefits of the stroll, according to an interesting new psychological study of what the study’s authors call “awe walks.” In the study, people who took a fresh look at the objects, moments and vistas that surrounded them during brief, weekly walks felt more upbeat and hopeful in general than walkers who did not. The findings are subjective but indicate that awe walks could be a simple way to combat malaise and worry. They also underscore that how we think and feel during exercise can alter how the exercise alters us. There already is considerable evidence, of course, that exercise, including walking, can buoy our moods. Past studies have linked increased physical activity to greater happiness and reduced risks for anxiety, depression and other mental ills. Feeling a sense of awe also seems to up our overall feelings of gladness and improve health. A somewhat nebulous emotion, awe generally is defined as the sense that you are in the presence of something larger and more consequential than yourself and that this something is mysterious and ineffable.

Trump flown to military hospital (AP) Stricken by COVID-19, a feverish and fatigued President Donald Trump was flown to a military hospital Friday night where he was given remdesivir following treatment with an experimental drug at the White House. The White House said Trump’s expected stay of “a few days” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was precautionary and that he would continue to work from the hospital’s presidential suite, which is equipped to allow him to keep up his official duties.

Americans Increasingly Believe Violence is Justified if the Other Side Wins (Politico) At the presidential debate this week, the Republican candidate voiced his concern about political violence—left-wing political violence. And the Democratic candidate likewise voiced concern about political violence—right-wing political violence. They were both right. Our research, which we’re reporting here for the first time, shows an upswing in the past few months in the number of Americans—both Democrats and Republicans—who said they think violence would be justified if their side loses the upcoming presidential election. This growing acceptance of the possibility of violence is a bipartisan movement. Our data shows that the willingness of Democrats and Republicans alike to justify violence as a way to achieve political goals has essentially been rising in lockstep. Here’s what we’ve found: Among Americans who identify as Democrat or Republican, 1 in 3 now believe that violence could be justified to advance their parties’ political goals—a substantial increase over the last three years. In September, 44 percent of Republicans and 41 percent of Democrats said there would be at least “a little” justification for violence if the other party’s nominee wins the election. Similarly, 36 percent of Republicans and 33 percent of Democrats said it is at least “a little” justified for their side “to use violence in advancing political goals”—up from 30 percent of both Republicans and Democrats in June.

Number of Americans who have no trust in mass media hits record high (Gallup) At a time when Americans are relying heavily on the media for information about the coronavirus pandemic, the presidential election and other momentous events, the public remains largely distrustful of the mass media. Four in 10 U.S. adults say they have “a great deal” (9%) or “a fair amount” (31%) of trust and confidence in the media to report the news “fully, accurately, and fairly,” while six in 10 have “not very much” trust (27%) or “none at all” (33%).Gallup first asked this question in 1972 and has continued to do so nearly every year since 1997. Trust ranged between 68% and 72% in the 1970s, and though it had declined by the late 1990s, it remained at the majority level until 2004, when it dipped to 44%. After hitting 50% in 2005, it has not risen above 47%.

California milestone: 4 million acres burned in wildfires (AP) California is poised to hit a fearsome milestone: 4 million acres burned this year by wildfires that have killed 30 people and incinerated hundreds of homes in what is already the worst fire season on record. Flames have scorched an area larger than Connecticut and fire crews at a blaze in the northern wine country were on high alert as forecasters warned of red flag conditions of extreme fire danger into Saturday morning. Winds up to 30 mph (48 kph) were forecast to push through the hills in Napa and Sonoma counties as the Glass Fire, exploded in size earlier in the week, continued to threaten more than 28,000 homes and other buildings. “It’s a time of nervousness,” said Paul Gullixon, a spokesman for Sonoma County.

Hope in the haze (Poynter) In mid-September, as fires spread across Oregon, photojournalist Beth Nakamura headed to an evacuation site in Springfield. The air was thick with smoke at Springfield High School thanks to the Holiday Farm Fire. She found tables set up with food and clothing as she walked around, getting a sense of the site. Outside, behind the bleachers and onto the field, she saw something else. Belle, Batman and Superman were playing recess games. “It was like a mirage,” Nakamura said. The story she wrote the next morning captured that. “Against the backdrop of this grim, bewildering landscape, Belle sits on a bench and, with cheer and calm, begins to read. ‘All of us in this castle were put under a strange spell some years ago by a powerful enchantress,’ she tells the child seated next to her. ‘I’ve seen you in the movies,’ the young girl says, transfixed.” Amid staggering catastrophe, people are everywhere helping people. At a Holiday Farm fire evacuation site, a few dressed up as characters to comfort & entertain children.

Hundreds of earthquakes continue to rattle Southern California, USGS says (Sacramento Bee) Swarms of earthquakes continue to rattle the Salton Sea area in Southern California, with more than a dozen sizable quakes since midnight, the U.S. Geological Survey reported Thursday. Most of the tremors are below 3.0 magnitude, but a few earthquakes registering over 4.5 magnitude have been recorded, the USGS reports. The agency had recorded at least 240 quakes by Wednesday night. The quake swarms “are located in an area of diffuse seismic activity between the San Andreas fault in the north and the Imperial fault to the south,” the USGS says. Previous swarms happened in 1991 and 2012. The swarm most likely will continue for several days, possibly including quakes up to 5.4 magnitude, but there’s a slim chance of a major earthquake registering 7.0 magnitude or higher, the agency says.

New Layoffs Add to Worries Over U.S. Economic Slowdown (NYT) The American economy is being buffeted by a fresh round of corporate layoffs, signaling new anxiety about the course of the coronavirus pandemic and uncertainty about further legislative relief. Companies including Disney, the insurance giant Allstate and two major airlines announced plans to fire or furlough more than 60,000 workers in recent days, and more cuts are expected without a new federal aid package to stimulate the economy. With the election a month away, an agreement has proved elusive. The White House and congressional Democrats held talks on Thursday before the House narrowly approved a $2.2 trillion proposal without any Republican support. It was little more than a symbolic vote: The measure will not become law without a bipartisan deal. After business shutdowns in the early spring threw 22 million people out of work, the economy rebounded in May and June with the help of stimulus money and rock-bottom interest rates. But the loss of momentum since then, coupled with fears of a second wave of coronavirus cases this fall, has left many experts uneasy about the months ahead.

Subway’s bread (Foreign Policy) The Irish Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the bread used by the popular fast food sandwich chain Subway can no longer legally be classified as bread due to its high sugar content, saying it is closer to a “confectionary or fancy baked good.” The case emerged after a Subway franchisee insisted it shouldn’t have to pay a value-added tax on the bread because it is a staple food, which doesn’t require the payment of taxes in Ireland. The law, however, states that in order for a food to be considered a staple, sugar cannot exceed 2 percent of the weight of the flour. Subway’s bread contains 10 percent sugar.

Europe moves to sue Britain over breaching Brexit withdrawal deal (Washington Post) The European Union launched legal action against Britain on Thursday, saying Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s attempt to rewrite the Brexit withdrawal agreement was “by its very nature a breach of the obligation of good faith.” In Brussels, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said legislation now moving through Parliament was in “full contradiction” to Britain’s previous guarantee to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland. The E.U. is now sending a “letter of formal notice,” which could lead to a legal showdown in the European Court of Justice. Britain has a month to reply. Government ministers earlier acknowledged that their domestic legislation would violate international law. A British government spokesperson said Thursday, “We will respond to the letter in due course.”

After 2 Years of Paralysis, Belgium Forms a (Very Fragile) Government (NYT) For nearly two years, Belgium has been without a formal government, leaving a country that was already divided by language and politics to endure a pandemic with lame-duck caretakers wielding emergency powers. A fragile coalition government finally took power on Thursday, ending one of the longest political stalemates in the Western world. Cobbled together from seven political parties, the partnership keeps a growing far-right movement at bay for now and should allow the country to finally pass a budget and consider a Covid-19 recovery package. But the transition, which is set to be formally adopted by lawmakers this weekend, is not without risk. The governing coalition is now so large that any disagreement has the potential to topple it. And ushering in a new government means forcing out the ministers who have overseen the pandemic response—at a time when infections and hospitalizations are rising.

France announces new coronavirus restrictions as covid-19 cases rise (Washington Post) The French government Thursday announced a set of measures it said it was ready to impose to contain a rapid resurgence of the coronavirus. For weeks, the country has relied on a regional system to implement restrictions in areas where transmission rates of the virus are high. On Thursday, Health Minister Olivier Véran said Paris could soon join the “maximum” risk category, which would mean another complete shutdown of bars, restaurants and cafes. Some cities, notably Marseille, are already on the list. Paris so far has avoided further restrictions since a lockdown was lifted in mid-May. But Véran said that in the last 24 hours, the capital crossed multiple thresholds that make it a maximum-risk environment.

Vatican snubs Pompeo (Foreign Policy) Pope Francis declined to meet with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during his visit to the Vatican on Thursday over concerns that doing so could drag him into the U.S. presidential election. “Yes, he asked [to meet with Francis,]” said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, “But the pope had already said clearly that political figures are not received in election periods. That is the reason.” Pompeo has been pressing the Vatican to condemn China’s human rights abuses, especially in Xinjiang province. Despite not getting an audience with Francis, Pompeo still met with other senior Vatican officials, discussing religious freedom as well as their differences on China.

Harvest workers among COVID world’s last regular travelers (AP) Her hands were hardly visible, so quickly did they press the clippers before dropping grape clusters into red plastic bins. Some distance behind her, in the next row over, Italian students subbing in due to a pandemic-fueled worker shortage tried vainly to catch up. Alexandra Ichim had never worked in vineyards before traveling to Italy’s Lombardy region for the September grape harvest, known in Italian as the vendemmia—the pay is too low in Romania and the working conditions too harsh, she says. For the Italian work, the 20-year-old came on a 12-hour bus ride and returned by plane to her native Arad region when the harvest was done. Eastern European seasonal workers, led by Romanians, are considered essential to getting food on the table throughout the continent. Their willingness to work hard in uncertain jobs for lower wages is sought after abroad, and their income is desperately needed at home. At a time when travel for work is seen as dangerous for everyone, they are among the world’s last regular border-crossers. Around one in five Romanians works abroad. Italy is the top destination for 1.2 million of them, with France and Spain not far behind. Workers can make around 1,200 euros a month working eight-hour days during the vendemmia in Italy, versus around 700 euros for a month of 10-hour days in Romania.

Withdrawal or nothing (Foreign Policy) Azerbaijan has raised the stakes in its ongoing clashes with Armenia, demanding that the country withdraw from the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh as a necessary condition to restoring peace. “We have only one condition,” said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, “the Armenian armed forces must immediately and definitely leave our lands in full force. If the Armenian government complies with this condition, the fighting and bloodshed will stop.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country has strong cultural and military ties to Azerbaijan, echoed Aliyev’s statement while pledging Turkey’s full support for its “brother country.” Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and a commander of Turkish-backed rebels in Syria reported that Turkey has facilitated the transfer of hundreds of Syrian fighters from Syria to Azerbaijan; the Turkish government denies the allegation.

Indian phones to have government software installed (Times of London) India is said to be considering a plan to make it mandatory for almost all new mobile phones to have government software pre-installed, raising the prospect of the state being able to closely monitor citizens. The proposal is part of a wider plan for the country to establish its own app store, independent of those offered by Apple and Google, according to The Economic Times, citing unnamed government sources. It would involve pre-loading government apps on to Android phones, which account for 96 per cent of the market in India. One such app is Namo, which allows supporters of Narendra Modi, the prime minister, to view videos of his speeches.

Coronavirus sparks Philippines online barter trade (Reuters) In the middle of a coronavirus lockdown in the Philippine capital, Grace Lagaday was struggling to breastfeed her newborn without milk storage bottles and nursing pads. With shopping centres shut and public movement restricted, Lagaday turned to a centuries-old method of trade with a new tech twist: online bartering. A search of Facebook barter trade groups found the supplies she needed for her baby girl and they were in Lagaday’s hands the next day, in return for bags of M&Ms chocolates and a jar of Nutella spread. “For a mom who gave birth during this pandemic season, bartering helped me find good deals for my baby.” Lagaday, who has since traded clothes hangers for five kilograms of rice and an electric mosquito killer for two litres of cooking oil, is among hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who have joined Facebook barter groups in recent months. Reuters has identified just over 100 barter groups, some with as many as a quarter of a million members, have sprung up since the Philippines’ main island of Luzon, home to half its 107 million population, entered a hard lockdown in mid-March that lasted two months.

#headlines #news

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bountyofbeads · 5 years ago

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https://t.co/ts7WQqInzG

Btw, the Cali earthquake’s epicenter wasn’t just “near” the Naval weapons base at China Lake.

IT WAS THE EPICENTER.

It occured 1 mile directly beneath it.

Update: The epicenter was in Ridgecrest, CA, the same location as the July 4th shaker. This one, though, was much stronger at 7.1 magnitude. That's larger than the magnitude of the 1994 Northridge earthquake.

California desert braces for aftershocks from second, stronger quake

By Alan Devall | Published July 6, 2019 7:01 AM | Reuters | Posted July 6, 2019 |

RIDGECREST, Calif. (Reuters) - High desert communities in Southern California on Saturday braced for potentially dangerous aftershocks from a major earthquake that damaged buildings, ruptured gas lines and sparked fires near the remote epicenter of the second temblor in as many days.

The powerful magnitude 7.1 tremor rocked the Mojave Desert town of Ridgecrest south of Death Valley National Park as darkness fell on Friday, jolting the area with eight times more force than a 6.4 quake that struck the same area 34 hours earlier.

California Governor Gavin Newsom requested federal assistance and placed the state Office of Emergency Services (OES) on its highest alert.

“We have significant reports of fires, structural fires, mostly as a result of gas leaks or gas-line breaks,” OES Director Mark Ghilarducci told a late-night news conference on Friday.

Violent shaking also caused water-main breaks and knocked out power and communications to parts of Ridgecrest, home to about 27,000 people some 125 miles (200 km) northeast of Los Angeles.

No fatalities or serious injuries were reported from either quake, police said.

“This was a very large earthquake, and we also know there’s going to be a series of aftershocks as a result of the main quake,” Ghilarducci said, adding that his agency faces a challenge getting resources to the isolated quake zone. “This is not going to be something that’s going to be over right away.”

Overnight, about six hours after the main quake, the center of Ridgecrest was quiet, except for the occasional rumble of aftershocks. Some residents could be seen sitting on lawn chairs in the darkness outside. The garage doors of many homes were left open with a car parked on the driveway.

The massive U.S. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake just northwest of town was evacuated of all non-essential personnel following the quake.

The facility, which at more than 1.1 million acres (445,000 hectares) is larger than the state of Rhode Island, reported no injuries. Authorities were assessing any damage to buildings or other infrastructure, according to a post on the base’s Facebook page.

MORE TO COME

Friday’s earthquake was widely felt across Southern California, including greater Los Angeles, where shaking in some areas lasted about 40 seconds. Low-level rumbling extended as far north as the San Francisco Bay area and beyond to Reno, Nevada, and as far east as Phoenix, Arizona.

Seismologists said the initial quake on Thursday, and scores of smaller ones that followed it, proved to be foreshocks to Friday’s larger temblor, which now ranks as Southern California’s most powerful since a 7.1 quake that struck near a U.S. Marine Corps base in the Mojave Desert in 1999.

The U.S. Geological Survey said Friday’s quake was immediately followed by at least 16 aftershocks of magnitude 4 or greater and warned of a 50 percent chance of another magnitude 6 quake in the days ahead. Geologists put the chance of another magnitude 7 tremor at 10 percent over the next week.

As of 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, there had been around 500 aftershocks of 2.5 magnitude or greater in the area surrounding the epicenter, according to data from the USGS.

Victor Abdullatif was helping clean up broken bottles and other debris inside his father’s liquor store, the Eastridge Market, which sustained damage to its ceiling, and found the periodic aftershocks unnerving.

“They’re still scary because you almost don’t know, ‘Is this going to be a full earthquake?’ You have to kind of have faith that it’s just an aftershock,” he told Reuters.

South of Ridgecrest, there were reports of a building collapse and gas leaks in the small town of Trona, home to about 2,000 residents, Ghilarducci said.

A rockslide closed State Road 178 in Kern County, and video footage posted on Twitter showed a stretch of road had buckled.

The last major destructive quake to hit Southern California was the 6.7 magnitude Northridge quake in 1994, which struck a densely populated area of Los Angeles. It killed 57 people and caused billions of dollars in property damage.

The comparatively limited damage from Friday’s quake, which packed greater force than the Northridge event, was a function of its location in a remote, less developed area.

Its ground motion, however, startled seismically jaded Southern Californians over a wide region.

Pools in Los Angeles sloshed wildly, and TV cameras at Dodger Stadium were shaking as they filmed the night Major League Baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

A television anchorwoman ducked out of sight during a local newscast as shouts of “get under a desk” were heard in the background.

Reporting by Alan Devall; Additional reporting by Bill Tarrant, Steve Gorman and Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles

#u.s. news #international news #us: news

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