5.4

That was it. Originally, yesterday's earthquake was reported as 5.8. That's the score I would given it. 5.4 seems just a little too moderate for all the excitement it stirred.

I was at the office when it hit -- 4th floor of a four floor building. The buildings is only a couple years old, so I can't think of a better place to be. Best timing for an earthquake I've ever been in.

I stood up when it started, more bemused than anything, and just starting looking around the office. I had thought I had felt a couple small tremblers at the office during the last couple weeks, so when I realized this was a real earthquake, I .

A woman a few cubicles down bolted out of the room screaming. I vaguely remembered something about doorway's being safe spotsWe smiled at each other.
so I made my way toward the nearest office doorway. But a woman beat me there. It was her office so I couldn't really hold it against her. She smiled and I said, "I think you're doing the right thing."

The shaking had just reached the point where I was ready to get worried when it began to ease off. As it was intensifying, I heard something fall, perhaps on the roof. That was a little alarming.

One interesting fact I heard during a bit of the Cal Tech news conference I heard during my afternoon break: all buildings built after 1930 should be able to withstand this strong an earthquake.

Google map of the epicenter

Wanted Reviewed

Opening to Anthony Lane's review:

"What is it like being Timur Bekmambetov? No artist should be confused too closely with his creations, but anybody who sits through "Wanted," Bekmambetov's new movie, will be tempted to wonder if the life style of the characters might not reflect or rub off on that of the director. How, for example, does he make a cup of coffee? My best guess, based on the evidence of the film, is that he tosses a handful of beans toward the ceiling, shoots them individually into a fine powder, leaves it hanging in the air, runs downstairs, breaks open a fire hydrant with his head, carefully directs the jet of water through the window of his apartment, sets fire to the building, then stands patiently with his mug amid the blazing ruins to collect the precious percolated drops."

Forget the spectacle and economics of it all -- for me, Anthony Lane's reviews are the only reason mindless Hollywood blockbusters should be made.