Video: LA TV Anchors React To Earthquake

KTLA Anchors dive under the NEWS DESK while a 4.4 Earthquake rumbles through Los Angeles.

Matthews With Scoop Tonight: Bush Caused Earthquake

I just heard that Chris Matthews of MSNBC is set to go with a story tonight blaming the DC area earthquake all on George W. Bush. 
Matthews is said to have first-hand knowledge and inside (the pants) information on the quake. 
Here's how it came down:
Matthews didn't know what was happening when everything started to move.
In fact, the first few moments seemed thrilling. 
Matthews actually thought he was feeling another Obamaesque tingle up his leg -- he thought Obama was about to make a huge return-from-the-wilderness comeback -- a sort of cosmic miracle. 
But Matthews realized it was a tremble and not a tingle that he was experiencing. And then, as his cherished copy of Teddy Kennedy's book True North left the bookshelf and landed on his head, Matthews panicked. 
According to reports, his  bowels loosened and he started screaming: "BUSH! BUSH! IT'S BUSH AND CHENEY! I'M UNDER ATTACK!" 
Poor, poor Chris.

Today's Song: I Feel The Earth Move!

Earthquake Rocks East Coast - Center: Mineral, VA.

This afternoon's earthquake was centered near Richmond and jolted much of the East Coast shortly before 2 p.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake was centered nine miles south of Mineral. Va. It was felt up and down the East Coast. It had a preliminary magnitude of almost 6, the geological survey said.
In D.C. fire and emergency medical crews reported no injuries but several building evacuations.

Earthquake Centered in VA/DC; Felt in Philly

An earthquake has rattled Philadelphia and surrounding areas today. Reports are that it was centered in Virginia (Near DC) and was a six on the Richter scale. Police report some buildings are being evacuated. No reports of damage yet.

Philadelphia Region Experiences Earthquake Tremors

The Philadelphia region has just experienced earthquake-like tremors.
The floor, the furniture, shelves -- all shook and rocked at times!
A scary experience!
Details to follow.

Breaking News: Catastrophic 8.8 Quake Hits Chile

Our thoughts are with the folks in Chile.

From USA Today:

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile early Saturday, killing at least 78 people, collapsing buildings and setting off a tsunami.

A huge wave reached a populated area in the Robinson Crusoe Islands, 410 miles off the Chilean coast, said President Michele Bachelet. Tsunami warnings were issued over a wide area, including South America, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand,

"It has been a devastating earthquake," Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma told reporters.

Bachelet said the death toll was at 78 and rising, but officials had no information on the number of people injured. She declared a "state of catastrophe" in central Chile.

"We have had a huge earthquake, with some aftershocks," Bachelet said from an emergency response center. She urged Chileans not to panic.

"Despite this, the system is functioning. People should remain calm. We're doing everything we can with all the forces we have. Any information we will share immediately," she said.

In the 2½ hours following the 90-second quake, the U.S. Geological Survey reported 11 aftershocks, five of them measuring 6.0 or above.

Live Report From Reno!

Our friend Chris Cendagorta, Executive Director
of the Washoe County Bar Assoc. in Reno, Nevada has just sent us this report about the seismic develop
ments in "The Biggest Little City In The World:"
When even Drudge is warning us to hunker down, you know it's serious. Feels like we're facing the end of time here - the quake "swarm" is getting pretty entertaining. The 4.7 Friday night tossed us out of bed and knocked off pictures, items off shelves and even dropped one of kayaks that hang up at the top of the garage by a few inches. We have many new hairline cracks around doors and windows. Amazingly, the only thing that broke was the lid to an old sugar bowl. We had an ancient bottle of brandy that we got from my husband's parents' old drugstore. It sat up on the top of the cabinets with other old booze bottles. The first thing I saw in the kitchen was that bottle sitting in a partially open drawer next to the fridge - that drawer opened about 3 inches and caught the brandy!
They settled a little yesterday and I actually caught myself missing the rumble that precedes the shaking. I'm not sure what that says about me. Now, they are warning for something bigger. We had about 10 that we could feel this a.m. between 4:30 a.m. and the time I left for work - a 4.2 that didn't feel that big (I'm a regular on the seismo lab's page now) and several aftershocks. You can hear the quake before it hits; it sounds a little like the school bus that rolls down our street twice a day. I found myself this morning (after the 4:30 quake) just kind of waiting patiently and sort of rolling with it. Must be the yoga kicking in.
We haven't done any of the preparation stuff, but we may have to rethink that. Jugs of water at least. I've got some good friends from our Friends of Mt. Rose enviro group who are geologists, seismologists and Desert Research people. They've indicated to watch for a bigger one.
Here's what a day looks like at the seismo lab:
http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/Maps/120-40_eqs.htm
Reporting from the (moving) ground in Reno,
Chris