People across Morocco were woken by a rare and devastating earthquake late last night. Early estimates indicate the death toll is well over a thousand, with many more gravely injured. The 6.8 magnitude quake damaged buildings from villages up in the Atlas Mountains all the way down to the historic city of Marrakech.
While the full toll remains unknown, rescuers are struggling to get through roads littered with boulders to access the remote mountain villages hit hardest. The earthquake was the biggest to hit Morocco in 120 years, registering as a 6.8 on the Richter scale with an aftershock measured at 4.9. The Moroccan military deployed aircrafts, helicopters, drones and emergency services to aid rescue efforts to the hardest hit areas.
The earthquake was felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria, and recovery won’t be a quick or easy task. Countries around the world are mobilizing their own aid efforts to support Morocco’s, and I’m sure plenty of US politicians are preparing to send their thoughts and prayers.
Side Items
Sigh…Four More Years: In news that absolutely nobody asked for, the fossil that calls herself Nancy Pelosi announced yesterday that she’s seeking re-election next year. The 83-year-old has represented the Bay Area since 1987 (a solid 5 years prior to my birth) and has presided over the general decline of the democratic party. In her own words, “Our country needs America to show the world that our flag is still there, with liberty and justice for ALL.” Of all the issues this country faces (and there are truly infinite issues) I don’t think the presence or absence of our flag is high among the priorities. I’m sure it won’t be long before we see this artifact draped in kente cloth again, desperately pandering to an audience in dire need of actual political reform
Police Murder in Maine: The attorney general in Maine somehow concluded that there was no criminal conduct when four police officers used a stun gun and beat a handcuffed man to death with a flashlight. Jeremy Lau, 46, was allegedly erratic and making unintelligible noises while on drugs in early March 2022, so of course police responded by using a stun gun on Lau twice and pummeling him while he lay facedown on a porch. Police claim Lau continued to resist them until he was placed in an ambulance, but witness statements indicate a completely different story, imagine that. The state’s chief medical examiner determined Lau’s death was a homicide but three troopers were exonerated by an internal investigation
Hologram of a Racist: For reasons beyond my comprehension, the Dallas Cowboys recently created an interactive AI version of their team owner, Jerry Jones, and fans have the opportunity to ask him questions. Jones made headlines last year when an old photo of a mob of angry white boys in Arkansas opposing integration featured him in the background, likely antagonizing the students of color. Given the opportunity, I’m curious what AI Jerry Jones would have to say about human Jerry Jones and his distaste for black people seeking an education