News you might have missed

...or not. Some of you actually pay attention to your world, unlike me. [wry grin]

Tsunami Moved Too Quickly for Warning System
by Christopher Joyce
NPR: All Things Considered, April 2, 2007

The deadly tsunami that hit the Solomon Islands early Monday (4:39 p.m. Sunday EDT) struck faster than scientists could warn residents, despite an elaborate tsunami warning system that spans the entire Pacific. Scientists say earthquakes close to shore create tsunamis that move too fast for their seismic network to pinpoint.

The tsunami that struck the Solomons, in the western Pacific, has reportedly taken more than 12 lives. And there are local accounts of dozens more people missing. Witnesses described waves at least 10 feet high sweeping over parts of the islands, washing away houses and people.

Within about 15 minutes of the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii sent out a warning saying it could create a tsunami. The warning goes out electronically to scientists and public safety officials around the world.

But the quake, with a magnitude of 8.1, struck only about 30 miles from the Solomon Islands — which means that the tsunami probably rolled onto land within five minutes of the quake, according to geophysicist Barry Hirshorn.

Hirshorn says that in Hawaii, "We can issue a warning in about three minutes" because of its extensive system.

But the Solomon Islands doesn't have that kind of sophisticated warning system. Installing one would require dozens of costly tide gauges and tsunami detectors.

Scientists say they have measured some 20 good-sized aftershocks since the quake. And although the tsunami threat has subsided for the moment, they say the quake could have created stress in nearby faults — which could lead to more undersea earthquakes.

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Solomons death toll reaches 24
Posted at 05:05 on 03 April, 2007 UTC

The confirmed death toll following the earthquake in Solomon Islands has now risen to 24.

The National Disaster Council says 12 people are confirmed dead on Simbo and eight in Gizo.

Another two people died in Mondo on Ranongga and two died on Choiseul island.

A spokesman for the council, Julian Makaa, says the most recent reports indicate that more than 900 homes have been destroyed and nearly 5,500 people have been affected by the earthquake and associated tsunami.

News Content ©Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand

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The relatively nearby island nation of Vanuatu has also suffered an earthquake, magnitude 7.3. Specific tsunami danger undetermined.

Today's Asian food experiment: Tea Marbled Eggs

(It's a relief to have something light and short-termed to post.)

in_the_blue posted an original recipe last night (I might try it with edamame instead of chickpeas), so I guess it's my turn to share food.

I saw Tea-Marbled Eggs first, I think, on Cooking Cute or one of the bento blogs the site owner, Ngoc, posts to. They sounded intriguing, so I figured I'd give it a try. However, there's lots of recipes for Tea-Marbled Eggs, from the SCA to Martin Yan to Recipezaar to Epicurious, et al.

I wrote down several of them, compared ingredients and amounts, and came up with an 'average'. I'm, um, using an unconventional teaspoon abbreviation 'cause I, er, wanted to keep my columns even [hides OCDness behind back]:

( Table of ingredients (cut for Flistish courtesy) )

The column with notes in brackets is what I actually used today, because it was here.

I put the eggs in my Zo ricecooker/steamer for their initial cooking while starting the brew in a large saucepan using 3 cups of water (but it's whatever will cover the eggs). I got it to a boil to work the tea, then turned it down to low. The scent is incredible, almost overpowering, even in the living room. The steamer finished the eggs shortly thereafter; I prepped the eggs and popped them into the tea mixture. Simmering time for the eggs in this concoction varies widely. I set my microwave's timer for 99 minutes and will then turn off the heat and let the eggs cool in the liquid.

What actually marbles them is that you crack the hard-boiled eggs' shells gently before putting them into the tea brew without peeling them at all. That's why you cool them a little first, so you can handle them. You can tap the eggshell with a large spoon; I just tapped them on the cutting board and rolled them a little to ensure the cracks went all over. The idea is to not pierce the membrane underneath, though, because then you'd just get tea-flavoured eggs instead of tea-marbeled. We'll see if I was too vigorous - they're not done yet, then I will take them to share with Flor who will share them with Vicky the Professional-Sports Cheerleader and Marketing Major, and also maybe with Elsa if I can catch her.

Quick Antipodean question

Just for the sake of sorting things, who else besides ashavah and lizbee are from the opposite side of the planet to me, please? I'm afraid I've lost track. ^_^

(It's good to know for worrying about hurricanes and such, right?)

Drat. I have no antipodean-type iconage, other than Farscape. John will have to do.