As I ponder a shift in location out west, the possibility that I’ll face an earthquake is of course very real. Today’s 5.8 magnitude quake in the L.A. area made for a reminder of that.

A couple of weeks ago, I had a very vivid dream about an earthquake. I’m out west and I managed to transfer my part time retail job to my new location. (And everyone else at my store seemed to follow suit.) I’m on the floor helping out some customers, when I hear some sort of alarm or siren going off. I ask, “Is this a drill?”

Soon after, I feel some pretty intense shaking and saw people — customers and colleagues alike — running out for dear life from our second floor store. I realized we were having an earthquake and without anything to duck under in my store, I ran out of the mall through a large broken window. The shaking mostly subsided and at that point, it was raining.

My sub-con self ran for about a block before my actual self woke up.

Aside from simulated theme park attractions, the only real-life experience I had with an earthquake was back in 1985. Early on October 19, a magnitude 4.0 earthquake could be felt throughout New York City. Earthquakes are very rare in New York, and although it was strong enough to wake me up, it was early enough in the day that I didn’t have the presence of mind to get to a safe spot. Let’s face it, earthquake drills just don’t happen in the Bronx.

I honestly thought some sort of construction with heavy machinery was going on outside. It wasn’t until much later I realized I felt an earthquake.

Now that I’m older and wiser, I’m sure I’d have a better idea of what to do if I ever experienced an earthquake again. It won’t hurt for me to do some reading up on the subject.

So sayeth an iPhone customer to KTLA reporter Eric Spillman.

Interestingly enough, the female reporter back at the studio is Michaela Pereira, formerly of TechTV.

Gizmodo reports that machines vending pot will begin operation next week in Los Angeles.

To use them, you’ll need to go with a prescription in hand, get fingerprinted and get a prepaid credit card that’s loaded up with your dosage and what strain of weed you want.

I’ve seen vending machines dole out all sorts of stuff. Chips. Beverages in glass bottles. iPods. New and used underwear. (Okay, so I haven’t seen that one in person.) But marijuana? Seriously?!

The report also says the automated drug dealers won’t be situated next to your everyday snack machines. And that’s a shame; think of the money to be made from that!

(Gizmodo link via IM from Trevor)