latest_adventure

Yes, a first-hand account of the Great Seattle Earthquake of 2001. Scholars will be using this account as the quintessential telling of what really happened and how people reacted.

I've also decided to use my IHT (Interactive Hint Technology), which you may have experienced in the Interactive Bar of this site. It's simple: just watch for and obey the "interactive hints" that show up as you experience this page. The only prop you'll need is a cup of coffee. Ready? Let's go!

Now we're ready to begin.

I was sitting on the 34th floor of the Bank of America Building (the tall black building in downtown Seattle). (INTERACTIVE HINT: hum quietly to yourself). Suddenly, there was a big thump and the windows and walls shook. (INTERACTIVE HINT: shake monitor once, but violently.) A co-worker said, "I think this is an earthquake." Personally, I thought it was gas. There was more undulating movement. (INTERACTIVE HINT: vigorously shake the monitor.) Visibly shaken, the people in my room got up and walked out. Here's where my earthquake training kicked in. I knew I should drop and get under the table and hold on. Instead, I walked out of the room.

People began screaming and tiles fell from the ceiling! Okay, that's not true, but it could have been. Anyway, as I was exiting the room, I recalled that I'd forgotten my coffee. Oh, the horror! I quickly retrieved it. Then I decided that I should save my backpack. Considering that there's nothing of value in it, this was kind of stupid.

The building was swaying! (INTERACTIVE HINT: rock your monitor back and forth, back and forth...) I started down the hallway, to where, I don't know. The floor was very wobbly at this point. A co-worker was standing in a doorway, so I joined her. She commented how scared she was. Bravely, I sipped my coffee. (INTERACTIVE HINT: bravely sip your coffee while rocking the monitor.) I wasn't too concerned until the building kept swaying. First one direction, then another. (INTERACTIVE HINT: keep rocking that monitor.) Eventually, the swaying subsided and we all stepped from the doorways. We went back to work and listened for news on the radio. (INTERACTIVE HINT: you can stop shaking your monitor now.) And that was pretty much it. Well, the elevators didn't work for a few hours and the toilet water was a brownish color (before use). And that's it.

Here's a couple earthquake pictures:

To the left is a picture of the Alaskan Way Viaduct. Do you notice that there're no cars on it? That's because it's a piece of crap, double-decker highway that should be torn down.

See the building above? That's a brick building in Pioneer Square. Who was the brain surgeon who decided to use brick in an earthquake area? It looks nice though. And what's up with the guy hitting on the old man? Hey you two, get a room!