Here’s an explanation in terms of earthquake science: Wednesday’s earthquake was actually two separate ruptures, magnitude 7.2 and magnitude 7.5, that occurred just 39 seconds and 5 kilometers apart in northern Venezuela, killing at least 900 people and injuring thousands … Continue reading →
We’re nowhere near knowing the true toll. But here’s an update: At least 188 people have died and more than 1,500 are injured … Many people are missing or still trapped beneath rubble as rescue efforts stretch into Thursday night. … Continue reading →
That’s big, and it is feared that the damage and loss of life is great. What’s even worse is that it wasn’t just one earthquake; it was two about a minute apart, the first at 7.1 and the second at … Continue reading →
First, a bit of background (if you’re unfamiliar with the story of the Andes crash, there may be a few spoilers here). I first read the definitive book on the subject, Alive, when it came out in 1974. I was … Continue reading →
Very disturbing – so far it appears that air controller error may be the most likely cause. Both pilots have died because it was a frontal high-speed collision. However, the officers in the truck and all the passengers survived, although … Continue reading →
Some men just want to see the world burn. And this man may be one of them [hat tip: commenter “Kate”]: The suspect, 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht, was arrested at his home in Melbourne, Florida, on Tuesday, officials said during a … Continue reading →
It’s been almost a quarter of a century. When put that way, it seems hard to believe, doesn’t it? And yet in some ways a lifetime ago. As the British poet Philip Larkin wrote in a poem looking back on … Continue reading →
Any findings would be disturbing because the crash itself was exceptionally disturbing. But the report raises questions of the worst sort. Simply put, either there was a catastrophic glitch (software? hardware?) that turned both engines off at a low altitude … Continue reading →
We are getting more information on the victims of the Texas flash flood. It’s almost indescribably sad to see their photos and read their stories, including those of so many young girls. Many of the victims at the camp were … Continue reading →
Terrible news from Texas: • Desperate search: Authorities say more than 25 girls are still unaccounted for at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, Texas, where the Guadalupe River rose more than 20 feet in less than two hours during torrential … Continue reading →
Horrific news: An Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner blew up on impact as it stalled off the departure end of a runway in Ahmedabad. The plane slammed into a doctor’s office, presumably killing all 242 passengers aboard and the crew. … Continue reading →
[NOTE: This is a repeat of a previous post.] Today is Mayday. As a child I was confused by the wildly differing associations the word conjures up. It’s a distress signal, for example, apparently derived from the French for “come … Continue reading →