the horror, the horror

[waider]

10.5 is on. Dear god. Does that girl have any settings other than "WHINY PANICKY HAMMY ACTRESS"?

Comments

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

Has the Space Needle fallen on Westlake Center yet?

Do I need to explain the two reasons why this could never happen?

The outrage of geologists everywhere is palpable. (The ones at UW live right next door to the library school—that ripping sound is them tearing their hair out.)

[waider.livejournal.com]

I missed that, actually. So I missed mister BMX Quake Surfing Squashed By Space Needle dude.

As far as plausibility goes, I think facts aren't too important if the delivery and story are good enough. Unfortunately for 10.5 ...

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

I think that, for a story like this, facts are part of what makes a good story. This may be my own personal peeve, but noticeably bad science (and I have very little formal science education, so for me to notice it, it has to be pretty bad) lessens the enjoyment of the story for me. One of the things I love about movies like Apollo 13 and Gattaca was that the scientific and technological parameters help drive the plot. Erik had to listen to me bitch extensively after both Mission to Mars and Red Planet. Even fantasy has to have some sort of internal consistency for me to buy it.

Anyway, the Space Needle is one of the most seismically stable structures in the world. Over half its full length is underground. If an enormous quake did hit Seattle, it would be the last thing standing (although anyone unlucky enough to be in it at the time would be reduced to paste).

Also, it's a mile from Westlake Center, and the Needle just isn't that tall.

[veep.livejournal.com]

Clearly, the solution to both these issues is that the quake pushed the Needle upward first, making it taller AND less stable.

Hope this helps!