Purpose

Fiorella just finished watching an episode of Nova that was all about a Himalayan earthquake and its aftermath, and she was impressed that the scientists, not satisfied with merely recording the damage, also analyzed why some buildings fell and others did not, then figured out how villagers could construct earthquake-resistant houses by augmenting the traditional rock and mud construction with wire framing.

And in the warm afterglow of the program, Fio thought about all the other people in the world who use their talents. skills, and  knowledge, not just to further their fields of study or advance their careers, but to help their fellow man.

And Fio wants to be one of them, which is why she writes.

St. Michele

St. Matthew tells us that the rain falls on the just and the unjust alike, but Michele Bachmann begs to differ. According to her, the earthquake along the Spotsylvania Fault and the hurricane that swept the Eastern seaboard are signals of God's dissatisfaction with the state of the union--gay marriage, national health care, inheritance taxes, environmental protection, etc.

Whoops--her spokesperson says it was all a joke. But then, that's our Michele. Not a serious bone in her body.

Wreaking Geologic Havoc

No, no! This is wrong! the United States isn't supposed to have an earthquake--maybe in California, but anything can happen there. Certainly not up east, where people mind their own business.

Fiorella grew up with the perception that the earth convulsed only in places with unstable governments, like South America, Africa, and the Balkans. What a shock when Mount St. Helen's blew. And now there's the Spotsylvania Fault acting up.

Do you think it's the Tea Party?