…The geological record reveals that “great earthquakes” (those with moment magnitude 8 or higher) occur in the Cascadia subduction zone about every 500 years on average, often accompanied by tsunamis. There is evidence of at least 13 events at intervals from about 300 to 900 years with an average of 590 years. Previous earthquakes are estimated to have occurred in 1310 AD, 810 AD, 400 AD, 170 BC and 600 BC….

…Recent findings conclude that the Cascadia Subduction zone is more volatile than previously suggested. The feared “big one” has many geologists predicting a 10 to 14 percent chance that the Cascadia Subduction will rupture in the next 50 years and is more likely to be a magnitude 9 or higher. Geologists have also determined the Pacific Northwest is not prepared for such a colossal quake. The tsunami produced will reach heights of 80 to 100 feet (24 to 30 m).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1700_Cascadia_earthquake

http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/pp1707/pp1707.pdf

U R Correct. I confirmed with my sources and indeed it is “animal style.” Either way it produces a serious Growler.

COLA For Food Up 3.3% YOY

http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/memorial-day-food-costs-grill-consumers/

RE: Acerun @ 19 – Not in Puget Sound or Lake Washington. The question was “Seattle area.” I don’t consider Long Beach, WA to be the Seattle area. ;-)

It is going to be a 900 foot wave!

Cawabunga Dude!

What has declined in price in the ten years of no income days?

Prices are falling quite a bit these days. Price wars are raging in groceries (see article below), house prices are dropping, and many other things as well. I’ve mentioned before that the private school my brother teaches at is now providing financial aid to over 60% of the student body, up from less than 20% of students 2 years ago. This is a de-facto price reduction despite the fact their official tuition rate hasn’t changed. In fact, I see lots of this kind of stealth deflation taking place. Lays, for example, is now stuffing 20% more chips into Doritos bags, without raising the price.

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2009/09/queen-of-coupons-feeds-family-for-10.html

Who voted for tsunami? Don’t they know that a tsunami would immediately follow a massive earthquake? There’s no way it could be first. ;-)

Not necessarily true.
There could be a significant geological event in say Hawaii that could create a tsunami here.

http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/other/landslide.html

Way to jump the shark, Tim.

Hell yeah that is big news.

What has declined in price in the ten years of no income days?
Not autos or health insurance or Lattes.
Maybe computers and big screen tv’s.

“…Decade of No Income Gains

For the first time since the great depression (and possibly even then), US wage earners suffered through A Decade With No Income Gains.

The typical American household made less money last year than the typical household made a full decade ago.

To me, that’s the big news from the Census Bureau’s annual report on income, poverty and health insurance, which was released this morning. Median household fell to $50,303 last year, from $52,163 in 2007. In 1998, median income was $51,295. All these numbers are adjusted for inflation.

In the four decades that the Census Bureau has been tracking household income, there has never before been a full decade in which median income failed to rise. (The previous record was seven years, ending in 1985.) Other Census data [Historical Income Tables] suggest that it also never happened between the late 1940s and the late 1960s. So it doesn’t seem to have happened since at least the 1930s.

Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage

Inquiring minds are digging into the Slide Show Presentation on Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2009/09/decade-of-no-income-gains.html

Reply to this comment By Guest on 2009-09-14 08:40:51…”

Looks like we can blame Clinton/Bush/Obama for the lost 10 years of wages.

I’d add too that even MSM is now stating per Time’s front cover, Sep 21, 2009, that “…double digit unemployment may be here to stay…”

I find Time magazine a refreshing neutral news source without all the “doncha know” “knee jerk” allegations with no historical reference or scientific common sense I hear from both sides of the extremist politcal parties’ views in America. Wishing for “jobs from nothing” won’t make it true.

I am voting number two because that would be fun to watch on the WSDOT traffic cam website!

The topic is kind of doom and gloom, but the best way for handle any sort of “disaster” is to plan for it. The impacts of any sort of disruption in services can be greatly mitigated with planning and forethought. Discussion of the topic is the first step in that planning…

Gene

Agreed. I’m a bit burnt out of In/Out Burger. A friend said to order it “monster style” and since then the thought of the burgers causes my colon to swell up. But, El Pollo Loco. Thats pure heaven. I also like Togo’s and recently found out there is one in Bellevue. That alone will hold up values in the 98005!

I would also really like Boston Market to come back and Pietro’s Pizza. Just took my family to the one outside Portland and I still like that crunchy crust!

Anybody here have deep enough pockets to get these franchises back??????

What will arrive to Seattle first hereby holding up housing prices far better then the rest of the country? I find the first two places extremely valuable to my quality of life.

In/Out Burger?

El Pollo Loco?

Massive Amusement Park financed by Disney and Bill Gates?

Come on Tim…………………….!!

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/04/09/seattle-earthquake-fault.html

Detroit was a great place to build thing with large amounts of steel and coal. Once the unions there priced themselves out of the market, they had nothing left.

Seattle labor prices are unlikely to get as far out of whack, because both Boeing and Microsoft can outsource so easily. Meanwhile the high qualify labor pool makes it an attractive area for startups and other companies to grow here and thus diversify the local economy.

There’s your answer- Meltdown, not just for Detroit, but for the entire country. If it was a “crisis” before, but is worse now, what should we call it?

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aYdgQkXu9eBg

Just watch how quickly staff gets shed from Boeing and Microsoft as business orders massively contract in the next couple years.

I honestly think that Boeing might leave, but I don’t see microsoft dying or going anywhere in the near future. If both went under or left, however, I could definitely see option #4 as being the model for what would happen here.