What a bunch of wusses

No offense to the East Coast, but they've certainly "evolved" a purty fer distance from Daniel Boone et. al.

The East Coast was shaken by a 5.8 earthquake a couple days ago. Didn't do much damage except to structures very close to the epicenter in Mineral, VA. I happen to be slightly familiar with the surrounding area because it falls pretty close to Grant's road to Richmond. Not much around there except old battlefields and some pretty rugged, often heavily wooded terrain.

Anyway, some ceiling tiles were loosened in a public school, a couple grocery stores had stuff rocked off their shelves, at least one home was about completely collapsed, and now there's a large crack in the Washington Monument. And no end of whining and hysteria all up and down the East Coast. Especially in DC. A bunch of panicked federal workers scampering around the Mall. Had to leave work early, maybe their swivel chair rolled across the office and would no longer be safe to sit on.

The East Coast has suffered earlier and much worse eathquakes with about half the noise and panic.

A relative of mine lived less than a mile from the epicenter of the Northridge earthquake in L.A. about 12 - 15 years ago. The quake struck very early morning. He told me when he got up, in his kitchen he was knee-deep in broken glass, dishes, and shattered condiments. All the cabinets and the fridge were open. He could never again get glass to fit in the twisted patio doors. Outside, fountains gushed from broken water mains and flames were shooting up from broken gas mains. No phone service. No electricity.

A different relative lived many years in L.A. and told me -- laughing -- about putting her make-up on in the morning, getting ready to go to work, when a sudden tremor rocked her apartment building. She'd been applying mascara and with the abrupt shift in the landscape, ended up with a weird black streak across her face. Hard time cleaning that up, but she made it to work. Just a small setback.

But we're supposed to be all upset about this little tremblor back East.

Now the East Coast is threatened by Hurricane Irene. Last I heard, it had yet to make landfall and was already abating somewhat -- though it could re-energize, I suppose.

Wisely, I think, Bloomberg is shutting down subways, etc. in New York City as of noon Saturday. Irene is predicted to slam right into the city, and if it does with any force, the subways may flood. And all along the East Coast, residents are warned to evacuate. They have plenty of warning.

And because they have plenty of warning, why the panic?

You guys ever go outside, look up, and see the whole sky -- clouds looking like they're torn patches of black cardboard -- revolvng slowly around you? Tornado sirens going off all around. Only last month no one for miles around my neighborhood had any electricity due to fallen trees. The trees pulled down electrical wires. A fallen transformer was blocking a nearby intersection. I mean trees 50 to 100 feet tall uprooted and flung across the streets and highways. Difficult to drive anywhere for thing like candles or even food (no electricity, no refrigeration) -- traffic lights not working, gas pumps not working. And no place to go anyway, as the stores were all closed.

But we're supposed to be all on edge and worried about a dissipating hurricane maybe touching New York City.

Please. Grow up. Evacuate if you're scared. I would. At least you guys have some warning. With tornados, you get 15 minutes if you're lucky. And with those bizarre winds we had -- no warning at all. Just suddenly the wrenching crack of tree limbs (and trunks), roof tiles flying all over... not mention the flooding in low-lying areas, including sections of streets and highways.

And guess what? We all survived.

Save the Republic.