Loma Prieta Earthquake, 1989

20 years ago


"Loma Prieta Earthquake, October 17, 1989. Structures damaged in the Marina District of San Francisco. The first story of this three-story building was damaged because of liquefaction; the second story collapsed. What is seen is the third story."
U.S. Geological Survey photo by G. Plafker.



"Loma Prieta Earthquake, October 17, 1989. Menlo Park, California. Seismographs at the U.S. Geological Survey record the north-south horizontal, east-west horizontal, and vertical components of the earthquake."
U.S. Geological Survey photo by J.K. Nakato.
I like the gal's look of geek excitement. Big event!


I was in San Francisco for the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989.


Below is an account I wrote shortly afterwards of the trip I took in October 1989 with my s/o at the time, Nancy. Some of you may have seen it years ago on a website I used to have.

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Capitalism - A Love Story

H & I saw Michael Moore's film "Capitalism - A Love Story" today.

A well done film, reccomended.

Moore argues that we need not Capitalism, but rather Democracy.

He seems to identify himself with FDR's New Deal, but has little respect for the majority of the current crop of Democrats.

I think people of other economic/political opinions will find much to agree with as well, including free market advocates-- as long as the latter are willing to make a distinction between actual free markets (ie, where freedom of interaction is the goal) and Capitalism (what some call "crony capitalism", a system rigged by politics and law for the benifit of those with the most capital). His skewering of AIG, Goldman Sachs, and the Giant Bailout are masterful.

Yeah sure, it's infotainment. If you want serious info on serious topics, read a book or at least multi-page articles. And not talk radio or tv soundbite talking heads, which serve less nuance and detail than this film.