18 Apr 08 Earthquake!

The year was 1906. It was 5.13 am. Most of the people in San Francisco were still in bed asleep when it came, apparently from east to west. It lasted almost two minutes.

Many people were crushed to death, by falling buildings, as they rushed into the streets in panic, mostly in their night-clothes.

Over 3,000 people were killed, thousands were made homeless, as the earthquake struck. About a half of the city was laid waste by fire, and as the water mains were ruptured, there was little fireman could do, but to watch it burn.

The Valencia Hotel, a four-story wooden building, collapsed into its basement, nder which were trapped many dead and dying occupants. The basement filled with water, and some victims were drowned.

Soldiers were ordered to shoot looters, and anyone caught robbing the dead and to guard with their lives the millions of dollars’ worth of property placed in the streets to escape the flames.

Tags: 1906, earthquake, falling buildings, fireman, flames, looters, looting, martial law, nder, night clothes, occupants, san andreas fault, san francisco, san francisco earthquake, valencia hotel, water mains

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12 Jan 08 Water On Tap

More than 8.25 billion gallons of bottled water were sold in the USA in 2006. This created over 1.5 million tons of plastic waste.

The good news? More and more people are turning back to tap water, which for the most part – besides being thousands times less expensive – is more wholesome. Bacteria levels measured in all brands of bottled water were consistently higher, and bacteria in bottled water multiplies during its time on warm supermarket shelves.