"N.E. jolted from afar; Canadian temblor prompts local evacuations" by Maria Cramer and Shana Wickett, Globe Staff And Globe Correspondent | June 24, 2010
A 5.0 magnitude earthquake that hit the Ontario-Quebec border yesterday was felt more than 300 miles away in Massachusetts, forcing emergency officials to evacuate buildings and startling office workers and apartment dwellers.
The earthquake, which struck about 36 miles northeast of Ottawa, did not cause any property damage or injuries in New England or Canada, but police officers and firefighters in several area towns said they received numerous 911 calls describing shaking floors and trembling office cubicles....
The earthquake hit at 1:41 p.m., about 9.8 miles below the surface, said A.B. Wade, a spokeswoman for the US Geological Survey. The agency calculated that the epicenter was in a wildlife preserve.
I was blogging at the time!
It was the second time in recent weeks that the Boston area was affected by unusual events in Canada. Last month, the city’s skyline was obscured by smoke coming from 50 forest fires in Quebec....
Related: Something in the Air
New England sits in the middle of the North American plate, which would appear to make the area more stable than California, which is cleaved by the San Andreas fault. That fault separates the Pacific and North American plates, which slowly grind past each other.
But the Northeast is still vulnerable to earthquakes, scientists say.
One theory is that the North American plate, which is slowly moving away from Europe and Asia, is pushing against the Pacific plate. That movement could cause pressure against ancient fault lines in the North American plate, resulting in earthquakes.
But scientists still do not know exactly what causes these quakes, said Alan Kafka, associate director of the Weston Observatory and a geophysics professor.
“It remains a mystery,’’ he said....
--more--"I noticed the earthquake in Haiti was referred to, but not the recent Indonesian quakes the Globe decided not to cover or the record-setting Chilean quake.
Related: HAARP Here?
Breaking News: Earthquake in Canada
Another mystery:
"Murder charges jolt Canadian military; Top commander also accused of sexual assaults" by Rob Gillies, Associated Press | June 13, 2010
TORONTO — Elite Canadian pilot Colonel Russell Williams stands charged with the murder of two women, the sexual assault of two others, and 82 break-ins, during which he allegedly stole women’s panties.
The charges have shocked a country, hurt soldiers’ morale, and prompted fears that the commander of Canada’s most high-profile military base and the man who once flew Canadian prime ministers could be a killer....
Williams, a 23-year military veteran, is suspended with full pay. He has never been in combat but has been stationed across Canada and internationally. Investigators are looking into other areas where he has been posted.--more--"
And it remains a mystery according to my Boston Globe follow-up:
You understand what the blank patch means, right?
