I have been in a few earthquakes in Alaska, California, and Japan, but none stronger than 6.5. A level 9 is almost inconceivable. The earthquake scale is logarithmic, i.e. a 7 is ten times as bad as a 6. Because this quake was in an ocean trench and affected approximately 1000 kilometers of the fault line, the shock wave generated a rolling wall of water at least 40 feet high that sped across the Indian Ocean and impacted countries all along the shore line. The effects stretched all the way to Somalia from Indonesia, with islands disappearing beneath the flood.

Approximately 22,000+ people are presumed dead, but that number is far from accurate as many areas have lost all their modern communications beneath the wave. Until islands and shore communities can be inspected, it is a guess.

Aftershocks will continue for days and there is no way of knowing how many were lost in ships and boats swallowed by the flood.

[Updated 12:14AM 12/27]
[Second update of death toll 1:08PM 12/27]

Well, it looks like Bill O’Reilly may have been correct for the Republicans regarding Christmas, if there isn’t a burst of buying on Boxing Day [the feast of Saint Stephen] this will be a Grinch of a Christmas for big GOP contributors.

The war, deficits, unemployment, maxed out credit cards, no bonuses, and no raises have taken their toll on the consumers and Americans aren’t descending into a massive enough debt to maintain profits for corporations.

Actually, it would help if the complainers would meet a few people who don’t live in their self-contained little gated communities. I’m not suggesting they meet with non-Christians, Heaven forefend, but with Christians that worship in other churches than their own.

Among the Christians I personally know, some exchange gifts on the feast of Saint Nicholas [December 6], others on the feast of the Epiphany [January 6^th, which some call the feast of the Three Kings]. My Orthodox Christian friends will be celebrating Christmas on January 7^th on the Gregorian calendar.

I know a few Christians who consider any link of Christmas with any commercial or government entity to be blasphemy, and others who consider Christmas to be a pagan rite with no connection to their faith.

A small suggestion for Mr. O’Reilly and Faux News lemmings: first get Christians to agree on what and when Christmas is, before you start complaining about the perceived attitudes of those not directly involved with it.

George Bush, proving he is clueless, calls ten members of the military for Christmas. Knowing how limited long distance time is for troops that are deployed, I imagine the people waiting in line were thrilled that the network was taken up by Acme, Inc., instead of being available to contact family at Christmas.

In another move of startling stupidity, Bush dropped by the mess hall at Camp David to spread cheer to the Marines who are not home celebrating Christmas because Bush decided to go to the Marine base and Presidential retreat. If Bush had stayed in the White House or gone to Crawford to harass the Texas Department of Public Safety many of the Marines could have taken a Christmas leave instead of patrolling the perimeter.

Bush could make significant cuts in the Presidential budget by staying in the White House. We have spent an unconscionable amount of money for Bush to traipse all over the country with his security circus.