I can picture the scene. RE’s grandfather writing for his local newspaper declares the end of the world is at hand as hundreds of deadly tornadoes cross the Midwest. The year? 1896.
I wonder if it was global warming? Was it a message from God? Never before had there been such devastation. The doomsayers were in their glory. Repent. The end is near.
Or maybe, just maybe, some really cold air bumped into some really warm air and produced a bunch of tornadoes just like had happened for centuries before and will happen for centuries into the future.
And guess what, one of the largest tsunamis in history happened in 1896 too.
The 1896 Meiji-Sanriku earthquake hit Japan on a day when the country was celebrating both the return of soldiers from the Sinto Japanese War and a Shinto holiday. The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that took place was small but the tsunami that struck the coast of Sanriku 35 minutes later was much greater. Waves as high as 125 feet were measured and nearly 9,000 homes were destroyed. 22,070 were reported dead and an unusually high count of victims with fractured skulls and broken or missing limbs. Hawaii also suffered some destruction from the tsunami as waves of 30 feet were measured there.
It’s called nature. We have no control over it. Shit happens. Deal with it. The end of the world is not at hand as the professional doomsters will declare.
The 1896 St. Louis – East St. Louis tornado is a historic tornado event that occurred on Wednesday, May 27, 1896, as part of a major tornado outbreak across the Central United States on the 27th, continuing across the Eastern United States on the 28th. One of the deadliest and most destructive tornadoes in U.S. history, this very large, long-track, and violent tornado was the most notable of an outbreak which produced other large, long-track, violent, killer tornadoes. It caused over $10,000,000 in damage (1896).
The tornado spawned from the other supercell became the third deadliest and the most costly tornado in United States history. It touched down in St. Louis, Missouri, one of the largest and most influential cities in the country. 137 people died as the tornado traversed the core of the city leaving a mile wide (1.6 km) continuous swath of destroyed homes, schools, saloons, factories, mills, churches, parks, and railroad yards. More people probably died on boats on the Mississippi River as the bodies may have gone downriver. When the tornado crossed the river and hit East Saint Louis, Illinois, it was smaller but more intense. An additional 118 people were killed. The confirmed death toll is 255, with some estimates above 400. More than 1,000 were injured. The tornado was later rated F4 on the Fujita scale. Enough damage was done to the city that there was some question that St. Louis might not be able to host the 1896 Republican National Convention in June.
In what was apparently an intense tornado outbreak sequence, other major tornado outbreaks occurred on May 15, May 17, and May 24 – 25, with other smaller outbreaks during the month as well. The middle to end of May was extremely active but sparse records preclude knowing much detail. Tom Grazulis has stated that the week of May 24 – 28 was “perhaps the most violent single week of tornado activity in US history”.
The 1896 tornado season has the distinction of being the deadliest in United States history. There were at least 40 killer tornadoes spanning from April 11 to November 26; including this one, the only one to kill more than 100 people in two separate cities.
AKAnon says:
Tornados, earthquakes & tsunamis-oh my! But no locust plagues in 1896-not truly Biblical acopalypse.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
27th May 2011 at 10:42 am
Administrator says:
Africa had plagues of locusts in 1896. Good year for doom.
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
27th May 2011 at 10:55 am
john coster says:
“It’s called nature. We have no control over it. Shit happens. Deal with it. ” Tell that to the idiots who put Fuckushima on the coast of Tsunami Land.
Like or Dislike:
4 
2
27th May 2011 at 10:56 am
buchjoe says:
Per your “Deal with it” thought. I’ll bet this Senator doesn’t even realize he’s a commie. And this while he’s championing budget reform. Why exactly am I paying to rebuild Joplin?
ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – Missouri Senator Roy Blunt says he’s asking the federal government to reimburse 100 percent of the cost to local governments dealing with the Joplin tornado aftermath.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
27th May 2011 at 11:04 am
AwholeDr says:
Pray for AWD:
The tornado that hit our town:
We’ve been invaded by locusts:
Many residents in the city and rural areas have witnessed the emergence of the 13-year cicada — more commonly, though incorrectly, known as the 13-year locust. A locust is a type of grasshopper.
(not me in the picture)
We’ve been flooded out:
This large aerial photograph of the county is covered with notes indicating sites of flood damage or concern.
But not to worry, FEMA is on the job:
FEMA meets with county officials to assess flood damage
No, that’s not Whoopi Goldberg, it’s the type of people we’ve turned our government over to.
Earthquakes: sorry, no pictures, still waiting for this one, but it’s going to be a doozy, I live much to close to the New Madrid fault:
SPRINGFIELD — Three of the strongest earthquakes in the history of the continental United States occurred far from California — near New Madrid, Mo.
Although measurements of magnitude vary, the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-1812 are counted among the top seven, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
“There were no instruments back in 1811, but we know there were major earthquakes in the past, and there is a lot of evidence it happened then,” said Tim Larson, geophysicist.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
27th May 2011 at 11:26 am
AwholeDr says:
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
27th May 2011 at 11:27 am
Administrator says:
AWD
That’s worse than a proctology exam.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
27th May 2011 at 11:29 am
AwholeDr says:
KYAGB
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
27th May 2011 at 11:30 am
AKAnon says:
Admin said “Africa had plagues of locusts in 1896. Good year for doom.”
I stand corrected-my google search was obviously not thorough. OK, 1896 WAS the end of the world.
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
27th May 2011 at 11:31 am
AwholeDr says:
still tryin:
Like or Dislike:
2 
1
27th May 2011 at 11:31 am
howard in nyc says:
“No, that’s not Whoopi Goldberg, it’s the type of people we’ve turned our government over to.”
really.
really.
three people pictured. all wearing glasses. all wearing polo shirts. one is singled out as ‘the type of p(erson)’ we immediately disdain or ridicule.
skin tone, hair style and gender, tells us all we need to know about the content of this person’s character.
holy fucking shit, am i tired of this kind of crap. on this site, in this nation. every goddamn day of my life in america. the casual, thoughtless, routine ignorant classification and judgment based on fucking garbage preconceptions, on superficial appearances that we are supposed to have transcended. yeah, bullshit.
the only thing that makes me sicker is the bullshit rationalizations and explanations that are sure to follow. save it. spare me. i am uninterested, because i have heard them all before.
lord knows, we can’t just call a spade a spade, when it comes to language and thoughts like these. can’t just see this simple sentence for exactly what it is, no more and no less.
“No, that’s not Whoopi Goldberg, it’s the type of people we’ve turned our government over to.”
fuck you.
fuck racism.
Hot debate. What do you think?
6 
7
27th May 2011 at 12:18 pm
AwholeDr says:
Ya, and two fat white guys that are probably as stoopid as Whoopi. I’ve had reverse racism shoved down my throat for so long it’s given me hemorrhoids. Try to imagine, if you will, the following entities:
United Cracker college fund (as opposed to the United Negro College Fund).
WET: White entertainment television (as opposed to BET)
The magazine “Ivory” (as opposed to the magazine Ebony)
White History Month
Whitefirmative Action
I’ve been to Africa many times for Medical Mission trips. One of my African friends that came here for a visit as was utterly disgusted by “African Americans.” He gave several talks at the local university, saying they should not be calling themselves African Americans since they didn’t grow up in Africa. His advice was not well received. If you’ve ever traveled anywhere in the world, blacks are treated and act like whites, like everyone else, because they don’t have an attitude of victimization. Here they do, and it grates on the nerves.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
8 
2
27th May 2011 at 12:57 pm
howard in nyc says:
“Ya, and two fat white guys that are probably as stoopid as Whoopi.”
thank you. thank you very much. that is all i ask.
(it isn’t the ‘whoopi’ that gets me. it is the ‘type of people’ part.)
sorry about the fuck you. loved your obesity post.
and sorry about my sensitivity. a wound gets poked every day, it gets sensitive.
i got plenty of racist thoughts inside of my own head, and i don’t mean to preach. (well, not too much).
for me, the only way to get past my own racist thoughts and behaviors is to first recognize and acknowledge.
yeah, the reverse racism grates. the forward racism grates. neither justifies or excuses the other, but certainly can help explain and understand their counterparts. and they all need to go. (good news, we are getting there, bit by bit.)
the victimization attitude is a losing one, i absolutely agree. (i’m fucking living proof.) but, it didn’t come from out of the clear blue sky.
again, i apologize for the vehemence, wholedoc. and while i stand by the sentiment, it extends no further than just that sentence fragment. i hate the game; i love the players.
now, jump on with the ‘whiny oversensitive little black bitch’ responses. cause, well, i don’t have much to say to them. (just make them funny, at least)
oh, and how is it all the white doctors in here have donated their time working in africa, yet i haven’t? hell, i don’t even work in a clinic in brooklyn or harlem–upper east side for me, yo.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
6 
0
27th May 2011 at 1:46 pm
AKAnon says:
Howard- I thought your initial rant was showing your true gov’t mole identity, but your comeback cleared things up. Thanks
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
27th May 2011 at 2:09 pm
Reverse Engineer says:
The Mississippi did not flood in 1896.
RE
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
27th May 2011 at 2:55 pm
AwholeDr says:
Howy:
I wish it would all end. It’s a little known fact that most slaves were sold to slave traders by warring tribal leaders. If they hadn’t been sold to the slave traders, they would have been ethnically cleansed (murdered), as so often happens in Africa to this day. There is no excuse for slavery, but better that than great grandpa being dead, hence no life, in the U.S. or anywhere else.
People still buy into the scenes from the movie “roots” where whitey was capturing slaves with nets, like animals. Can you imagine a defensive lineman-sized guy allowing himself to be captured like a wild animal? He would have put a beat-down on the small whitey with the net the likes of which would be life-ending. Its all stereotypes that keep getting passed down from generation to generation. What is to be gained?
It is so pleasant to go to foreign countries and see black people with pride, graciousness, and self-esteem. And, most importantly, they are happy. So happy no matter what they have, some of the happiest people I’ve ever met are in Africa, without a pot to piss in. You forget their skin color in about 1.5 milliseconds. Here, it’s always in your face, you cannot escape it. What happened to the human dignity? Where are the real black leaders in this country? Even President Obama plays the racism/biggot card when criticized. When will the attitude of victimization and entitlement end? I wish to GOD that everyone here could see what I’ve seen, and have African friends like I have, but I’m not holding my breath. I appreciate the comments, the racism card hurts the bearer as much as the receiver, so to speak.
Well-loved. Like or Dislike:
9 
0
27th May 2011 at 3:02 pm
Administrator says:
This natural disaster stuff is all so recent. There is no record of similar things happening. LOL.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_disasters_by_death_toll
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
27th May 2011 at 3:08 pm
Reverse Engineer says:
Its not the disasters that are anything new, it is the frequency at which they are occurring.
Note particularly the increasing flooding and windstorm events.
RE
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
27th May 2011 at 3:42 pm
howard in nyc says:
it’ll end. we as a species will find other ways to discriminate among and hate one another.
and we’ve come further faster in the usa than any other culture in history, afaik (i welcome learning about any exceptions).
if you hung around my family, you might think differently about being around niggas with pride and self-esteem. we tend to have those traits in excess, and it can get grating itself. (we did not think of ourselves merely better than the rest of our brown brothers and sisters, but our white ones as well).
my parents spent time in west africa (liberia, way before the civil wars). and we had african college students boarding with us at times when i was young. helped me get beyond the limits of american (black and white) views of the world.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
27th May 2011 at 4:20 pm
Kill Bill says:
The record of environmental disasters is short when compared to Earths age. IE its not enough to say that these things are increasing over time.
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
27th May 2011 at 4:34 pm
Reverse Engineer says:
“if you hung around my family, you might think differently about being around niggas with pride and self-esteem. we tend to have those traits in excess, and it can get grating itself.”-Howie
On this board Howie, you are just one Egotist among many.
RE
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
27th May 2011 at 4:35 pm
AwholeDr says:
My people can create a Peterbilt out of a Ford 150
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
27th May 2011 at 4:43 pm
Colma Rising says:
Howard’s just pissy because the Giants been losing…
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
27th May 2011 at 5:30 pm
howard in nyc says:
well, yeah
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
27th May 2011 at 7:51 pm
Colma Rising says:
No worries… June Swoon shit a little early…. summer hit early too. Been cloudy and a little rainy but the sun’s peeking out.
As for the racist undertones, I say at least it’s not stark denial like the Marin County White guilt. What a bunch of clowns.
And I for one want to give Fried Chicken Laquisha a big hug.
But the Giants will get in gear come august, and Harbaugh will lead the niners to their rightfull trophy, as Walsh cracks a smile from heaven.
Raiders? Not so much. Big Al’s living in his own world.
Howard for POTUS 2012
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
27th May 2011 at 8:34 pm
llpoh says:
Colma – you want to give her something, but not a hug. Go on, admit it, you want her BAD.
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
27th May 2011 at 9:08 pm
Colma Rising says:
Llpoh… now that’s going a little far.
Maybe one piece of chicken…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
27th May 2011 at 9:22 pm
Muck About says:
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQfGK8IeaVJ5T8QAiEA54ajPpAXfC8XOE1bNu2VtFBeWM8yU6EE
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
27th May 2011 at 9:00 pm
Muck About says:
Forget the last post – it was a trial that failed yet once again. Just something that pisses me off no end.
MA
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
27th May 2011 at 9:01 pm