Mindfulness is spellede-a-r-t-h-q-u-a-k-e.

Update on Dec. 6: "TAIPEI (AFX) - An earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale hit the capital and surrounding area, causing buildings to sway, seismologists said.

"The quake struck at 6.15 pm (1015 GMT) with an epicenter around 7.3 kilometers southeast of the capital, the Seismology Center said. The tremor, which originated 64.3 kilometers below the earth, was strongly felt in Taipei, although there were no immediate reports of damage."

So I was standing in class, talking some 5th and 6th grade students through the production cycle of rice, when I heard these surprised "Auooo!" sounds come out of some mouths. I had my back to them while writing on the board, and then I realized that under the sound of the air circulation system was a deeper rumble... and then the room, no, wait, the whole building was gently rocking side to side.

By the time I realized just how undeniable and persistent the vibration was (and my body began to brace), it was over. And then my knees felt tingly and soft, and one of the girls piped up: "Exciting!"

And so now I get to mention the story that was in Friday's Taipei Times, about how some local researchers think that Taipei 101, currently the tallest tower in the world, might be applying too much stress on a fault line in the Taipei basin.