Chilean Quake May Have Shortened Earth Days

Source: http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/earth-20100301.html

The Feb. 27 magnitude 8.8 earthquake in Chile may have shortened the length of each Earth day.

JPL research scientist Richard Gross computed how Earth's rotation should have changed as a result of the Feb. 27 quake. Using a complex model, he and fellow scientists came up with a preliminary calculation that the quake should have shortened the length of an Earth day by about 1.26 microseconds (a microsecond is one millionth of a second).

Perhaps more impressive is how much the quake shifted Earth's axis. Gross calculates the quake should have moved Earth's figure axis (the axis about which Earth's mass is balanced) by 2.7 milliarcseconds (about 8 centimeters, or 3 inches). Earth’s figure axis is not the same as its north-south axis; they are offset by about 10 meters (about 33 feet).

By comparison, Gross said the same model estimated the 2004 magnitude 9.1 Sumatran earthquake should have shortened the length of day by 6.8 microseconds and shifted Earth's axis by 2.32 milliarcseconds (about 7 centimeters, or 2.76 inches).

Gross said that even though the Chilean earthquake is much smaller than the Sumatran quake, it is predicted to have changed the position of the figure axis by a bit more for two reasons. First, unlike the 2004 Sumatran earthquake, which was located near the equator, the 2010 Chilean earthquake was located in Earth's mid-latitudes, which makes it more effective in shifting Earth's figure axis. Second, the fault responsible for the 2010 Chiliean earthquake dips into Earth at a slightly steeper angle than does the fault responsible for the 2004 Sumatran earthquake. This makes the Chile fault more effective in moving Earth's mass vertically and hence more effective in shifting Earth's figure axis.

Gross said the Chile predictions will likely change as data on the quake are further refined.

Dirty BN Strike Again

BN is the best player in the world for flashing the racial card. With all the political motives, they accused PR for marginalizing the Malays, but there is no basis to such accusations.

When Zahrain and Tan Tee Beng left PKR and became independents, do you really think they were disillusioned with the party leadership? I can clearly tell you, they quit because they can't get the "benefits" and definitely can't survive under the ruling of CAT (Competency, Accountability, Transparency) as what the PR adopted as their guiding principle in the administration.

PKR is totally different than DAP and PAS where half of their members are ex-UMNO. Some of these ex-UMNO are still having the same mindset that "political benefits" will just coming their way once they are in power. When things turned opposite direction, they will quit with some stupid excuses. I think this is good. At least PKR can clear the bad blood and tumour around the party.

BN is playing dirty now trying to regain its two-third majority in parliament, as that would give BN the power to re-delineate constituencies before the next general election and also to amend the constitution. All these acts will put BN to a stronger position that no one can shake its position as federal government.

Put aside the political chaos, close your eyes and try to immune yourself. We must unite to deny BN-rule government for next general election. It's simple as that!

It's Anwar Enterprise, not a Najib & Co. (of course)

Rais commented Anwar’s family monopolized PKR.

“PKR is seen as being monopolized by one family, that of Permatang Pauh MP (Anwar, the adviser), his wife (Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) as the president and their daughter (Lembah Pantai MP, Nurul Izzah) who also plays an important role.”

“It (the party) is seen as a family enterprise.”

I think yes! Anwar’s family monopolized the whole PKR, but definitely not UMNO. In UMNO, 1+1=3, and it is right. This is Malaysia.

So out of six Prime Ministers, why three of them are from the Najib & Co.?
Why Abdul Razak and Najib, but not others?
Abdul Razak was the brother in law of Hussein Onn, another Prime Minister.
Why Hishammuddin became Home Minister?

Why Mahathir and Mukhriz? And yet, Mukhriz is currently the Malaysian Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry.

Why Abdullah and Khairy Jamaluddin? KJ is the head of the youth for both BN and UMNO.

I’m not sure who actually in family business, maybe Anwar is!!!

Syabas to Malaysia (Najib) Sdn Bhd!

(Maybe it works better than Singapore (Lee Kuan Yew) Pte Ltd.)