Hurricanes still are better than earthquakes

It was a beautiful Easter evening when suddenly Californians received a few gentle rumblings beneath their feet, continuing to remind them that they are living on a dangerous earthquake fault line.

The 7.2 earthquake was 20 miles below the Baja Peninsula and caused very little damage to the major cities and only one fatality in Baja.

Predictors say the big one is past due but will eventually happen. Small quakes like this may have been lessening the severity of future shaking.

Since the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake that killed an estimated 3,000 people, there have been more than 100 quakes that have killed 371. The most severe was in 1994 Northbridge, killing 60 people.

Florida has had two quakes, one in 1780 and another in 1879. I will stay in the Highlands of Florida and cope with the hurricanes. Florida has experienced 26 storms reaching hurricane level 3 or above since 1906, and except for the four storms in 2004 that affected the Highlands, most danger and damage has been on the costal areas.

Hurricanes can be very dangerous with some 3,706 people having died in them since 1906, but that includes the Okeechobee Hurricane in 1928 that caused a breech in the levy and severe flooding of that area around Lake Okeechobee where more than 2,500 perished.

Senior wedding

I received the following from Dave Boyer who received it from a friend who got it from another person he can't remember. Although I question the wisdom of getting married at their age, a few of the senior generation living here in Highlands County might consider their idea.

Jacob, age 92, and Rebecca, age 89, living in Miami, are all excited about their decision to get married. They go for a stroll to discuss the wedding, and on the way they pass a drugstore. Jacob suggests they go in.

Jacob addresses the man behind the counter:

"Are you the owner?"

The pharmacist answers, "Yes."

Jacob: "We're about to get married. Do you sell heart medication?"

Pharmacist: "Of course, we do."

Jacob: "How about medicine for circulation?"

Pharmacist: "All kinds."

Jacob: "Medicine for rheumatism?"

Pharmacist: "Definitely."

Jacob: "How about suppositories?"

Pharmacist: "You bet!"

Jacob: "Medicine for memory problems, arthritis and Alzheimer's?"

Pharmacist: "Yes, a large variety. The works."

Jacob: "What about vitamins, sleeping pills, Geritol, antidotes for Parkinson's disease?"

Pharmacist: "Absolutely."

Jacob: "Everything for heartburn and indigestion?"

Pharmacist: "We sure do."

Jacob: "You sell wheelchairs and walkers and canes?"

Pharmacist: "All speeds and sizes."

Jacob: "Adult diapers?"

Pharmacist: "Sure."

Jacob: "We'd like to use this store as our Bridal Registry."

Basic politics

The Democrats and Republicans have varying ideas on many issues, some of which are listed below.

Democrats: Prefer decreasing military spending. Republicans: Prefer increasing military spending.

Democrats: Want more gun control laws. Republicans: Oppose gun control laws.

Democrats: It is the woman's right to decide about abortions and hence it is legal. Republicans: It shouldn't be made legal.

Democrats: Do not think of the death penalty as mandatory as a measure to control crime. Republicans: Consider it necessary to curb crime.

Democrats: Say that it's every individual's civil right to choose what they want and hence are for gay rights. Republicans: Believe that marriage should be between people of opposite sex and hence do not encourage gay rights as such.

Democrats: Favor increase in the minimum wage to help workers. Republicans: Oppose raising the minimum wage because it hurts businesses.