Overhyped news of the week: "earthquake made days shorter"

[angelicwoman]

The media loves to put things out of perspective. Traffic is, after all, how they make money.
The recent Chilean earthquake shifted the axis of the Earth in such a way that days are now 1.26 microsecond shorter, or something like that.

How unprecedented is that? 6 years ago, the Sumatra earthquake shortened days by 2.8 microseconds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Indian_Ocean_earthquake

Why is this important? It's the same mindset that leads media outlets to convert trivial political events into big news.

[Psephos]

1. Anyone can shorten the day by simply walking upstairs. n/t

[DollyM]

2. it's an interesting fact . . .

nothing wrong with noting an interesting occurence in this amazing world of ours . . .

[ingac70]

3. Why, a few more of those and there won't be any days left!

:sarcasm:

[laconicsax]

4. The funny thing is that the moon's gravity slows the Earth's rotation...

The days get longer by about .002 seconds every year. That's 2000 microseconds if I've got my orders of magnitude right.

[RandomThoughts]

5. It may be that the reason the topic is discussed is because it has meaning to many people.

It forms a linkage to events talked about in the Bible.


I am not saying that is or is not the reason for the events, but it has something to do with why they are reported as much as they are. Other comments on the news, do the same thing, and many times news stories comment more on things that can create linkage to other thoughts.

Matthew 24:22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

My personal belief is that nobody knows the time of the end times, so it is my belief we should live in the teachings of love and kindness and try to be the best we can, not for fear of punishment, nor for self glory, but just as a choice of who we want to be. I should note I spend many hours also doing things many disagree with, so do not claim any perfection. But I don't think it is best to only think about end times, like some groups do, but instead try to think if there is anything that can be done that might make someones life better. While of coarse making many mistakes myself.



For the context, here is the Bible Chapter it is from.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+24&version=NKJV

[Enrique]

6. I missed my bus by 1.26 microseconds today

damn earthquake. :mad:

[bridgit]

7. By the time they factor in this one: Taiwan Earthquake 2010: Strong Quake Rattles Taiwan

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/03/taiwan-earthquake-2010-st_n_484993.html I'm hoping there'll be no time left for their idiot commercials