As if there is anyone out there who does not know this, I'm going to tell you that we had an earthquake here in the District of Columbia on Tuesday, August 23.  And, as I sit here writing this, we are awaiting the arrival of a hurrican named Irene (although if weather forecasting has any veracity at all, those of us here in the city will only see Irene as a tropical storm). Mostly, I'm writing about this for myself, since it is hardly news.  But I want to remember the events of this week far into the future. I suppose that there are many in this country who think…