THE weather patterns that Malaysians may have learned in Geography classes just one or two generations ago no longer hold true. Back then, it was with not a little pride that Malaysian schoolchildren were taught how blessed this land was to have been spared from many natural disasters. Even though we lie on the rim of the Pacific Ring of Fire, we have somehow been extremely lucky to avoid it. The volcanoes, earthquakes and typhoons that plagued our nearest surrounding neighbours somehow skipped us. But, it is no longer unusual to experience mini-earthquakes \u201d aftershocks of earthquakes in neighbouring countries. So, it is little wonder that the violent weather we have been experiencing this month has got people wondering what has happened to change things. \u0153Tornadoes\u009d in Kedah; Klang, Selangor; and off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, have brought people to their knees, crying for physical and spiritual salvation, as humans are wont to do when all else fails.<\/p>\n