In spite of all our differences, the one thing that binds all living creatures is that we each have an expiration date. This finality to our existence is what makes life special, something to be cherished and protected. But occasionally things can go terribly wrong…
A 5.2-magnitude earthquake centered in southern Illinois shook the Midwest early Friday, surprising residents unaccustomed to such a powerful temblor. I woke up to a shaking bed, and my house shook and dishes rattled for about 30 seconds. At left is an official seismograph of the quake.
The earthquake was one of the strongest ever recorded in Illinois and occurred just before 4:37 a.m. It was centered six miles southeast of West Salem, Ill., and 66 miles west of Evansville, Ind. There was minor damage and no injuries reported.
The quake shook skyscrapers in Chicago, 230 miles north of the epicenter, and in downtown Indianapolis, about 160 miles northeast of the epicenter. In Louisville, the quake caused bricks to fall off part of a building near downtown.
