"Western Washington is in the midst of an earthquake and a rather sizeable one, but have no fear: it’s silent. Researchers at Central Washington University, reporting in tomorrow’s issue of
the journal Science, say the region has in fact gone through eight “silent earthquakes”
since 1992. One in August 1999 released the energy of a magnitude 6.7 temblor, nearly as big as last year’s 6.8 Nisqually quake. But because the quakes stretch out over six to eight weeks, their energy is dissipated and barely noticeable."

• Seattle Times story link