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Vienna, Austria Earthquake

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Moderate unusual earthquake in the greater Vienna area, Austria

Last update: October 3, 2013 at 9:46 am by By

Update October 3 09:43 UTC : Local media are mentioning multiple houses with thin fissures, fallen plaster etc. The hypocenter depth of this earthquake has been set in between 8 to 12 km. At least 4 weak aftershocks (there were also some foreshocks) have been measured (not all of them have been felt by the population). These aftershocks can go on for several days and will only end when a new balance is achieved.

Update 19:45 Uhr : Minor damage (cracks in plaster and walls) was caused in some houses.

Update 18:31 UTC : The local press is reporting that the Fire Department has not yet received any reports of damage. Based on our experience, we think that it is far too early to be conclusive. We expect more details tomorrow morning but as said before we do not expect major damage.

Screen Shot 2013-10-02 at 20.38.58

Update 17:50 UTC : Both EMSC and Geofon are now reporting a depth of 5 km which is bad news for the direct epicenter are. We expects slight damage in a radius of max. 20 km.

Screen Shot 2013-10-02 at 20.12.51

Update 17:36 UTC : Be prepared for aftershocks. Aftershocks are normally weaker than the first shock, but in rare cases aftershocks can even be stronger. Never run outside your house when the shaking is still going on ! Please follow this internationally accepted advice for future aftershocks : Be Earthquake Prepared

Update 17:33 UTC : We expect slight damage due to this earthquake if the preliminary shallow depth will be confirmed. Brick houses can be very vulnerable for eventual cracks in walls, fallen chimneys, Plaster falling from the ceiling and some occasionally broken windows etc.

When you are one of the people who felt the shaking of this earthquake, please fill in the form behind “I Felt A (not Listed) Earthquake” on top of the list. Thank you.

Update 17:26 UTC : Geofon now reports a Magnitude of 4.3 at a shallow depth and to the South of Vienna

Update 17:24 UTC : Preliminary Magnitude will be about M4 – Epicenter near the Hungarian border

Screen Shot 2013-10-02 at 19.30.21

25 km S of Vienna, Austria / pop: 1,691,468 / local time: 19:17:37.0 2013-10-02
14 km SE of Neu-Guntramsdorf, Austria / pop: 9,071 / local time: 19:17:37.0 2013-10-02

Most important Earthquake Data:

Magnitude : 4.1

Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2013-10-02 19:17:37

GMT/UTC Time : 2013-10-02 17:17:37

Depth (Hypocenter)  : 5 km

from:    http://earthquake-report.com/2013/10/02/moderate-earthquake-austria-on-october-2-2013/

 

Your Color Vibe for 10/03

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Thursday,  October 3:    Dark Yellow Green

There are deadlines, some you knew about and others that just came up out of the blue.  Today is all about those deadlines.  How real are they to you?  What do they mean to you?  Where do you stand in relation to all of that?  This is a day for decision-making and what you need to keep in the forefront through all of this is WHO you are.  You need to recognize that you are the one whoi s determining where the pieces will fall in your life at this time.  Yes, there are others who have agreed to be part of this along with you, but many of them are waiting on your cue.  Today, therefore, is a day to recognize your power to be responsible for all that you can be, to know what it is that is most important and to move forward on that.

Water Issues Loom for Midwest Farmers

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Farmed Out: Overpumping Threatens to Deplete U.S. High Plains Groundwater

Story at-a-glance

  • In the next 50 years, research suggests 70 percent of the High Plains Aquifer System in the Midwestern US may be depleted
  • Water-intensive cattle and corn crops account for the majority of water usage in the US, and the High Plains Aquifer supplies 30 percent of US irrigated groundwater
  • Once the aquifer is depleted, it would take an average of 500 to 1,300 years to completely refill; farmers would need to reduce their pumping of the aquifer by 80 percent for it to be replenished naturally by rainfall
  • The adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices, including a return to grass-fed cattle, will be necessary to protect water supplies for future generations

By Dr. Mercola

In the US Midwest, corn and cattle are kings, but both require large amounts of water to be sustained. Not only is corn a water-intensive crop, but cattle raised on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are fed mostly corn.

This double blow to water supplies in the region has led to the rapid depletion of one of the most important water sources to Midwestern farmers – the High Plains Aquifer System.

It is this extensive underground aquifer that allowed farmers to grow crops in what was previously known as ‘the Great American Desert.’ It was also in this area where the rush to clear out the area’s natural grasslands and replace them with plowed soil lead to one of the greatest man-made ecological disasters of all time.

Following a decades-long drought in the 1930s, farmers began to use groundwater pumping and sprinkler irrigation to grow corn and wheat in what is now more commonly known as the US ‘dust bowl,’ using the vast aquifer freely.

Now, however, the draw has proved to be too intense and this once seemingly inexhaustible source of groundwater is quickly being depleted.

70% of the Water Could Be Gone in the Next 50 Years

Farmers in the region who hope to pass their farms on to the next generation had better do some quick thinking, because if the water drain continues new research suggests that nearly 70 percent of the aquifer could be depleted in the next 50 years.1

According to the study, by 1960 farmers had already used up 3 percent of the aquifer’s water and by 2010 that rose to 30 percent. By 2060, it’s estimated that another 39 percent of the water will be gone… and this is even taking anticipated irrigation technology improvements into account.

While it’s thought that farmers might be able to pump less water in the coming decades due to newer irrigation technology, corn crops and cattle CAFOs are expected to increase, which will likely negate any of the potential water savings.

The researchers stated:

“Significant declines in the region’s pumping rates will occur over the next 15-20 y given current trends, yet irrigated agricultural production might increase through 2040 because of projected increases in water use efficiencies in corn production.

Water use reductions of 20% today would cut agricultural production to the levels of 15-20 y ago, the time of peak agricultural production would extend to the 2070s, and production beyond 2070 would significantly exceed that projected without reduced pumping.”

It Could Take 1,300 Years to Refill This Aquifer

Tapping this groundwater source for agricultural production is clearly not a sustainable option at today’s usage rates. Cattle and corn crops account for the majority of water usage in the US, and the High Plains Aquifer supplies 30 percent of US irrigated groundwater.

It is, in fact, because of this ‘guaranteed’ water supply that Kansas is able to claim some of the highest market value for agriculture in the US. Yet, once the aquifer is depleted, it will be gone for the foreseeable future, as it’s estimated it would take an average of 500 to 1,300 years to completely refill.

The script hasn’t been set in stone yet, however, as if farmers reduce their pumping of the aquifer by about 80 percent, it would be able to be replenished naturally via rainfall.

But in the Dust Bowl, growing two of the most water-intensive crops that exist, this is unlikely to happen unless major agricultural reform takes place. Cornell University professor of crop and soil sciences Harold Mathijs van Es told Scientific American:2

“We need to think about what’s being grown here and how we’re growing it. This is the Dust Bowl we’re talking about.”

Are We Farming Our Way to Environmental Disaster?

Many farmers in the Plains states rely on irrigation from the High Plains Aquifer to water their crops in times of drought, but what will happen if this water reserve runs out? We could once again be brewing a dust storm of epic proportions, and this is only one of the potential scenarios…

There are many other warning signs that the poor farming practices being used today could backfire in the form of major environmental disasters as well.

Soil is actually depleting 13% faster than it can be replaced, and we’ve lost 75% of the world’s crop varieties in just the last 100 years. Over a billion people in the world have no access to safe drinking water, while 80% of the world’s fresh water supply is used for agriculture. This situation is simply not sustainable for much longer. Yet, as the study’s researchers said, very poignantly and succinctly:

“Society has an opportunity now to make changes with tremendous implications for future sustainability and livability.”

A Return to Grass-Fed Cattle May Dramatically Lessen Water Demands

to read more, go to:    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/09/17/high-plains-aquifer-groundwater.aspx?e_cid=20130917Z1_DNL_art_2&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art2&utm_campaign=20130917Z1

Your Color Vibe for 10/02

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Wednesday,   October 2:    Silky Green

Everything today is on a low key.  If you can keep that in mind, it will assist you in not over-reacting.  Things that are being said are merely part of the whole story.  People are being circumspect.  They are holding back.  There is a sense today that stuff is not quite right.  It would do you well to keep that in mind and not attempt to put the finishing touches on things that are important.  This is also not a good day for starting larger projects.  You will find, if you do, that the original efforts will need to be scrapped and you will have to start all over again.  This is also true in terms of important conversations and decisions.  Let them ride.  There is nothing wrong with taking a little extra time for consideration, for tying up the loose ends.  This is a also good day for some hibernating, so if you can, take the actual time to step away from things and be with yourself.  If you do not have an extra block of time, just go within, do some centering, grounding and, of course, breathe.

Your Color Vibe for 10/01

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Tuesday, October 1:    Light Peach

Yes, things can be just peachy today, so hook into that energy and get some of those loose ends tied up.  You can be surprised by what they are attached to.  As every ending has a beginning, so things follow after things, and right now, that logic has begun to fall apart, you can get some surprising non-sequitur effects that can bring amazingly great benefits, not so much today but as time goes on. This is a day also for serendipity and synchronicity.  It is in a large part dependent upon your attitude.  In the morning, take some time to ground and center, to love yourself, and to open to the best of all you desire.  Then set that as your intention and be open to the surprises that the Universe has for you.  This is a day for joy and laughter, even in things that might on the surface not seem so positive.  You will get it as the day unfolds.

Your Color Vibe for 9/30

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Monday, September  30:    Yellow Straw

Today is a day of endings and beginnings.  It is important that you know the difference.  It is important also that you have some concept of where it is that you are wanting to go as this year enters its last quarter.  This was a year of changes and decisions.  Now it is time to move forward with new intentions and a strongly set direction.  Take time today to go within and to acknowledge all that you have accomplished to this point.  Take time to see the pieces of the pattern and to know that you hold within yourself all the other pieces to make that pattern become what it is you are wishing to create.  This is a large task and one not taken on lightly for there have been many trials, upsets, tears and laughter this year, and now you have the opportunity to bring forth the form of the essence of WHO you are.

Rethinking SELL BY/BEST BY Date

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Is Your Food Expired? Don’t Be So Quick to Toss It

September 30, 2013 |

Story at-a-glance

  • ‘Use by’ and ‘best by’ dates on food are only an indicator of peak freshness, not a measure of food safety
  • In many cases, foods are still safe to eat even after these dates have expired
  • Forty percent of the US food supply is thrown away uneaten every year because of expired food dates, even though the food is often still safe
  • ‘Sell by’ dates aren’t meant for consumer use at all; they’re intended to help retailers ensure proper product turnover
  • The greatest factor impacting whether your perishable food has spoiled isn’t total storage time but rather how much time it spends in the temperature ‘danger zone’ (between 40-120 degrees F)

By Dr. Mercola

Forty percent of the US food supply is thrown away uneaten every year because of expired food dates, but a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Harvard suggests that most of that food is still safe to eat.1

Labels like ‘use by’ and ‘sell by’ on foods aren’t actually an indicator of food safety, as many believe them to be, and, the report found, more than 90 percent of Americans are throwing out food prematurely because of misunderstandings of what food dates actually mean. In short, many foods are still safe to eat even after they’re expired.

There is Only ONE National Regulation on Food Dating

While both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) have the authority to regulate food dating, neither does, with the exception of infant formula (the only food product with a federally regulated date label, as the nutrients in the formula decline over time).

The rest of the food market has no such federal dating regulations, and the end result is a veritable free for all, with some states requiring food dates and establishing selling restrictions based on them and others not.

For instance, 20 states restrict stores from selling products after the use by dates while 30 do not. As the report highlights, are the people in the 20 more restrictive states better off? Most likely not …

Adding to the confusion, even when products are regulated, the rules vary by state and even then definitions are vague and provide little usefulness, if any. According to the report:

  • In Florida, all milk and milk products “shall be legibly labeled with their shelf-life date,” but shelf life date is never defined.
  • In California, milk is required to have a date that the processor decides is the date “to ensure quality, such product is normally removed from the shelf” but sale after that date is not restricted.
  • In Montana, milk must have a “sell by” date within 12 days of pasteurization, while Pennsylvania requires it within 17 days.
  • In New Hampshire, a “sell by date” is required for cream but not milk.
  • New York, Texas, and Wisconsin, among many other states, have no requirements for date labels on milk or dairy.

There is No Way for You to Know How a ‘Use By’ Date is Calculated

It’s not only what happens to products after a ‘use by’ or ‘best by’ date has been applied that’s confusing. Even the creation of the date itself is subject to incredible variance and, ultimately, is up to individual product manufacturers to determine.

Again, while most assume such dates are used as a means for food safety, most manufacturers view them as a tool to protect their product’s reputation. They want you to consume their product at its peak freshness and flavor, which means many set food dates conservatively.

Yet, the food is many times still safe to eat after the date expires, often with minimal, if any, changes in taste or texture. Even the methods used by manufacturers to set food dates vary. The report explained:

“Some use lab tests, others use literature values, and yet others use product turnover rates or consumer taste testing … In consumer testing, some manufacturers will allow for a level of change in quality over time before setting a date limit, whereas others set them more conservatively

… Thus, while open dating appears on the surface to be an objective exercise, consumer preferences and brand protection impact the way most of these dates are determined. In most cases, consumers have no way of knowing how a “sell by” or “use by” date has been defined or calculated, and the method of calculation may vary widely by product type, manufacturer and geography.”

So a package of cheese or a box of crackers may have different ‘use by’ dates simply depending on which brand you choose, or where they’re purchased.

Food Dates Do Little to Protect You

The researchers concluded that food dates generally lead to good food getting thrown away, and may at the same time prompt you to eat a food that’s actually spoiled because of ‘undue faith in date labels.’

to read more, go to:    http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/09/30/food-expiration.aspx?e_cid=20130930Z1_DNL_art_2&utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art2&utm_campaign=20130930Z1

Your Color Vibe for 9/29

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Sunday, September 29:    Magenta

This is a day of opposites when what looks large is actually much smaller than what might appear to be lesser.  This means that you must use your discretion in things that are happening today.  This is not  time for decision making because there is not enough information for you to make an informed decision.  There are those out there who are aware of this vibration and who can be attempting to pull you into agreeing with something that you do not really understand.  Step away from anyone or anything that is attempting to pressure you.  Their agenda is not necessarily in your best interest.  It is time to be strong, to stand in your own power.  You can do it.  You have incredibly deep reserves of power and a great strength of intuition.  It may be time to let you logical mind step back and allow your intuitive to set the course. 

Your Color Vibe for 9/28

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Saturday, September 28:     Dark Purple

There is a lot of pressure today to fall into a kind of lethargy, reverie, to think that all is well, things are find, life is good.  And actually, that would be great, but there is a lot happening under the surface today.  It has to do with what it is you are truly wanting to do at this point in time.  You have been finding out that a lot of the things that you thought were so great, so wonderful are in fact just illusory.  That can be a shocker, but following upon that, it is quite possible that you have been having a shifting in your relationships, in your friendships.  You might be feeling a bit out of sorts today, and that is okay.  You are right now beginning to establish a new pattern and a new way.  It is always hard to leave the past behind, but there can be some really interesting and intriguing things happening today that can change your focus and you expectation and allow you to look to the future with anticipation.

Your Color VIbe for 9/27

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Friday, September 27:    Light Periwinkle Blue

You can find that a lot of things will be missing today.  You can put something down, and when you turn to get it, it has disappeared.  You can run to the bus stop, only to find it has just left.  You can have an appointment and one or more of the people involved will have made a scheduling mistake.  You can plan to make brownies, and find that you are out of the most necessary ingredient.  So, there are lessons in all of this right now.  The energies are sending everyone into a time in which you will have to be able to come up with a quick and effective Plan B.  Today is kind of a practice for all of that.  There can be some mistakes,  there can be some laughter, but all in all, it will be a most valuable learning experience