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Monday, January 03, 2005

The Republicans Want To Cut Social Security The Republicans Want To Cut Social Security: "Plain and simple, it's right here. The Bush administration has signaled that it will propose changing the formula that sets initial Social Security benefit levels, cutting promised benefits by nearly a third in the coming decades, according to several Republicans close to the White House. These are slam dunks, congressional Dems. Slam dunks." (Via Oliver Willis - Like Kryptonite To Stupid.) 11:03:47 PM  Permalink  comment []

Charles Darwin on Tsunamis (1835) Charles Darwin on Tsunamis (1835): "Xeni Jardin: During his crew's historic voyage on the Beagle in 1835, Charles Darwin experienced an earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Snip from Darwin's description: Shortly after the shock, a great wave was seen from the distance of three or four miles, approaching in the middle of the bay with a smooth outline; but along the shore it tore up cottages and trees, as it swept onwards with irresistible force. At the head of the bay it broke in a fearful line of white breakers, which rushed up to a height of 23 vertical feet above the highest spring-tides. Their force must have been prodigious; for at the Fort a cannon with its carriage, estimated at four tons in weight, was moved 15 feet inwards. A schooner was left in the midst of the ruins, 200 yards from the beach. The first wave was followed by two others, which in their retreat carried away a vast wreck of floating objects. In one part of the bay, a ship was pitched high and dry on shore, was carried off, again driven on shore, and again carried off. In another part two large vessels anchored near together were whirled about, and their cables were thrice wound round each other: though anchored at a depth of 36 feet, they were for some minutes aground. The great wave must have travelled slowly, for the inhabitants of Talcahuano had time to run up the hills behind the town; and some sailors pulled out seaward, trusting successfully to their boat riding securely over the swell, if they could reach it before it broke. One old woman with a little boy, four or five years old, ran into a boat, but there was nobody to row it out: the boat was consequently dashed against an anchor and cut in twain; the old woman was drowned, but the child was picked up some hours afterwards clinging to the wreck. Pools of salt-water were still standing amidst the ruins of the houses, and children, making boats with old tables and chairs, appeared as happy as their parents were miserable. Link (Thanks, Avi Solomon)" (Via Boing Boing.) 3:32:35 PM  Permalink  comment []

© Copyright 2005 Steve Michel.