Today's Links
The Sumatra earthquake (9.0 on the Richter scale - the greatest in 40 years) and the resulting tsunamis have provided the Internet an opportunity to shine in its ability to disseminate information quickly, if not quietly. Here's some of the better stuff I've found so far:
Some quick statistics: the death toll this evening sits around 68,000. Officials estimate it might pass 90,000+, with 1.5-2 million left homeless.
Digital Globe has stunning before and after satellite imagery of Kalutara, Sri Lanka during the tsunami.
Of course, a Wikipedia entry has been started for the quake/tsunami- including some stunning graphics.
Here's a blogger's dramatic account of the 'real sitation'.
Here's a 3-D animation of the quake from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Here's the same thing in 2-D.
If you want to help or need to know what's going on, this is a good place to start: The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Blog. It's a very good clearing house of links and info.
Of course, the US Geologic Survey has a page of their kind of statistics for the armchair geologists in the audience.
The Moderate Voice has a good collection of Asian bloggers' entries on the tsunamis - some include eyewitness photos.
The Washington Post (registration required) has an amazing story of a fellow who was swimming in the Indian Ocean off Sri Lanka.
Of course, Arthur C. Clarke lives in Sri Lanka... so many geeks are wondering if he's ok. Not to worry. He posted an update on his website.
For some recreational perspective on tsunamis - there are of course surfers in this world who enjoy riding tsunami waves - some of them taller than the waves created by the Sumatran event - but they don't usually have a 9.0 eartquake providing their energy. Surfline, one of the best surfing websites, is a wellspring of surfing info and includes a hefty library of videos of surfers riding the BIG ones. Think, 40 foot waves or bigger. Check the Peahi videos ("JAWS, TAKE ONE")... Amazing.
Getting off the topic of the day, here's some other good stuff I came across over the Xmas break:
The preview trailer for the movie adaptation of Frank Miller's SIN CITY has been released. Looks like they're trying to do Dick Tracy one better for noir-comic visualizations.
Sensory Impact - the Culture of Objects. Looking to salivate over the awesomest stuff ever?
Here's a good one - the LavNav™ - a motion-sensing nightlight for your bathroom that indicates (red or green) if the toilet seat is up or down. No more late-night surprises!