This totem pole depicts a common theme in Northwest Coast ar…

This totem pole depicts a common theme in Northwest Coast art: Thunderbird with a giant Whale in its talons. Native people of the Pacific Northwest have many legends that are thought to describe seismic activity. Read the following passages and match them to various earthquake-related hazards. The totem pole in the image is by first nations artist Harold Alfred of the Namgis Nation (Vancouver Island, British Columbia).   Figure 14. Totem pole by Namgis artist Harold Alfred.   Story 1: “The Whale was a monster, killing other whales and depriving the people of meat and oil. The Thunderbird, a benevolent supernatural being, saw from its home high in the mountains that the people were starving. The great bird soared out over the coastal waters, then plunged into the ocean and seized the Whale. A struggle ensued first in the water…The waters receded and rose again. Many canoes came down in trees and were destroyed and numerous lives were lost.”   Story 2: “After much struggle, the Thunderbird lifted the evil Whale out of the ocean, carrying it high into the air, then dropping it to the land surface. At this place there was a great battle that shook the earth.”   Story 3: “Thunderbird defeated Whale, but Whale had a son, Subbus, who took Thunderbird several more days to locate and kill. The earth-rumbling struggle persisted, but eventually Subbus was subdued.”

Kathryn is pregnant and very eager to breast-feed after the…

Kathryn is pregnant and very eager to breast-feed after the baby is born. Her friend gives her a supplement to encourage prolactin secretion and Kathryn starts to take it during pregnancy. The supplement works and Kathryn’s blood level of prolactin increases. She does not begin lactating during pregnancy because

Which of the three little pigs is least likely to die in an…

Which of the three little pigs is least likely to die in an earthquake? If you’re unfamiliar with the children’s story, read below the picture.   Homes built by the three little pigs. The three little pigs set off to seek their fortune and went about building homes. The first pig built his house out of straw, the second out of sticks, and the third labored over a solid brick house. Along came the Big Bad Wolf who wanted to eat the pigs. He was able to blow down the houses made of straw and sticks and ate the first two pigs, but was not able to blow down the brick house so the third pig survives. Hooray! But they didn’t consider earthquakes in the story…   *Really, they all made terrible housing decisions. If the house collapse doesn’t kill them, fire will. Get some reinforced concrete, silly pigs. But that’s not how the story works.