AN: Just something I really thought some of you might want to know. I don't mean to cause any controversy. I just read it myself and it caused myself to wake up. Just thought you guys might want to inform yourselves like I did.
By Steve
Wohlberg One of the largest tsunamis
swept into history May 22, 1960. Off the coast of Chileon the
western edge of South Americaa 9.5 earthquake jolted earth's
crust far below unsuspecting fishing boats. That deadly seismic shift
resulted in a massive tsunami, with waves rising up to 100 feet,
which within 15 minutes caused devastation for miles along the South
American coast. That wasn't all. A gigantic, swirling ripple began
rolling its way across the entire Pacific Ocean. Fifteen hours later
it smashed into Hawaii. Within 22 hours, the tsunami struck Japan.
The whole Pacific basin was affected, resulting in over 2,000
fatalities, half a billion dollars in damage, and over two million
homeless. 1 Like A Rolling Tidal Wave Written by Scottish author, Joanne
Kathleen Rowling who currently is the richest woman1
in EnglandHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone first splashed
into bookstores in September, 1998, with an impressive first print
run of 50,000 copies. The next volume (number two in a seven-part
series), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, broke out in June,
1999, with an initial printing of 250,000. A mere three months later
(September, 1999), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban swept
across Earth's surface with 500,000 copies. Yet the tsunami had
just begun. The fourth title, Harry Potter and the Goblet of
Fire (July, 2000), became "the fastest selling book in history."
2 Its initial run was 3.8 million copies, with the
majority entering eager hands in only one weekend, an all-time
publishing record. Believe it or not, this was easily topped by the
fifth installment, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (June,
2003), which the publisher cranked out to the profitable tune of 8.5
million books. At the date of this writing, over 200 million copies
have been sold worldwide (with translations in over 55 languages),
with two more books still looming on the horizon. How big will this
tidal wave get? Only God knows.
An Amazing Fact: The Japanese word for it is, "tsunami."
Phonetic breakdown: "Tsu," meaning, "harbor or port," and
"nami," meaning, "wave." Often translated: "Ocean wave,"
but most commonly, tidal wave.
Within the realm of
books, another tsunami of gigantic proportions is now rolling across
the entire surface of Planet Earth. The name of this incredibly
powerful current is composed of two simple words, Harry Potter. The
facts are unbelievable!