Hi Don,

This is one of those times I am grateful you can speak and understand Japanese fluently. I would imagine only in Japanese communities in the larger sense will anyone in America know that a serious earthquake warning is in progress.

We two have been down this road for about three years now in full expectation of a major tsunami along the eastern coast of Japan and today's news brings back some rather dramatic memories for both of us. Tonight I could just see Dave Aldwinkle shaking his head in Japan and saying to himself, "she told us, 3 years ago."

Only outside of America can people be treated with such regard and acknowledgement of intelligence to provide such information and know the entire country is not going to go stark raving mad. As to why we cannot be given the same amount of respect I am at a loss to understand.

The question currently is how will the citizens of Japan who live near the coast continue or change their lives. Will they go along as though the news is just another news story, or will they move inland, or maybe think about some alternative methods of preparedness. Adversity is the Mother of Invention, so perhaps something may come of this that we never expected. We should keep a keen eye open for what lies ahead.

But you know, its not to late to build another ark. Using modern methods one could build a pretty good one with very large pontoons and attach a Johnson outboard motor and tsunami preparedness would be at hand. You never know.

For me, I've already lived it. I've been to the four corners of the universe and yelled like crazy. Almost no one listens. But every now and then a ray of hope arrives and today's message is the most hopeful I've seen in years.

Perhaps by chance those who have the power to deliver such public warnings in America will learn from this experience and gather a sense of what the public can deal with and when our turn comes, we to shall be given a little bit of time to prepare.

Petra