Earthquakes for the Clueless Californian

Earthquake damage in Japan

Read enough freelance articles on the internet, and you will soon come to the conclusion that, "Science am hard." It makes no difference whether the topic's astronomy or zoology, your average freelancer can misinterpret or misstate any fact. Want an example? We at the Antisocial Network are happy to oblige: let's look at what HubPages.com's rickrideshorses; a Brit journalist who claims to be from Missouri, has to say. No matter where he lives, we suspect that Rick flunked Rockies for Jockeys, at least based on what he had to say in "What causes an earthquake?" We think that because Rick says; not once, but (at least) twice:

"Tectonic plates are floating on a bed of soft magma and rock below the earth's crust."

Where do morons like this one get the idea that the center of the earth is a vast ocean of melted rock? From "Terminator" movies? Whatever... Rick continues to blather, without a scientific basis, about all manner of things tectonic. Here are some of Mr. RidesHorses other, more doofus, statements: Sometimes [tectonic plates] move away from each other and sometimes they go towards another plate.  When the plates touch they may rub against each other which causes friction ...the weaker plate slips out of position. It may even crack in places... Volcano eruptions are caused when magma shoots up from the earth's crust.

We won't bother correcting this bull, because Rick doesn't care whether he's right or not; he only cares whether his dumbassery (complete with lots of pretty pitchers) attracts eyeballs and therefore moolah. Cash. Bucks. And in our book, being more concerned with picking up pennies for your freelancing than with being right? That's the defining attribute of a Dumbass of the Day. So put that in your saddle bag, Rick!

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