Hi All,

Four years ago when I became avidly interested in earthquake prediction, I thought the humanitarian side of this endeavor was missing and today, I know it is. In totality it is worse now than ever. The past two weeks in working behind the scenes to see what is possible as far as seeking funding or trying to encourage the scientific community to afford an allowance for preparedness efforts reached a frightening and deadly end. There is no money, they don't care and they aren't going to do anything about it. While we have a tremendous expenditure for their projects, they can't seem to reach into the pocketbook of spending resources to afford the general public an education to keep them safe. I find this deplorable.

I know for certain that if a person wishes to practice public earthquake prediction it is possible on the Internet at a very low cost. But scientists who claim they wish to practice this endeavor are looking to make money in this effort. It's for them, not us. This too I find a sad fact.

I made a promise to myself four years ago that if I wrote anything about earthquake prediction in the print medium I would not give anyone a black eye in the process. It's a vow I've kept and every time I try to work on something in this regard, I come to a screeching halt because to say the truth, means the black eye will be there. I'm sorry that I've come to this conclusion, but I'm going to keep my promise because when I make one, I always keep it.

When I came to Earthwaves in 1999 I came at the invitation of Dyan Tinsley because this site was primarily for ear tone sensitives. The atmosphere was happy and I enjoyed it and could see a lot of promising results. In time it has changed and though entirely different now, for a time when we did have participation from the science community, I felt it had a turn for the better. However, I think at this point, we are at an all time low and I really don't feel I can add anymore to what I've already said in the past. I cannot post my ear tone data here because there is another board member who uses it to his advantage and uses it improperly. Thus the focus of the endeavor I began with changed and I'm not happy about that.

While the feedback here has been good on argumentative issues, very little is ever said about the work Don and I have produced in regard to getting out there and doing our field work. This seems odd to me, but perhaps it just isn't that interesting to our readers. I'm not sure.

While I will continue my work on The Seismic Safety Zone, with Don's input on factual data and do what I can personally to promote earthquake safety education, insofar as trying to turn the wheel in expecting the science community to live up to a higher ideal, I have given up and will just let it die on the vine. While I've met some really fine scientists who do care about people, I would say 75% of them only care about themselves and their own work and they could give zero cents about the rest of us.

There is a definitive split between the work they do and the long term outcome. While they will spend endless hours writing papers about one fault or another, the realization that it presents a risk to us and the dissemination of the risk factors to the public doesn't mean anything. We have to remember, they keep telling us we've got thirty years and so why rush to prepare? That's the way they want it and that's the way it's going to be. I cannot change this.

So after the first of January when the contest is over, I'm going to retire from this board and just let it go. I wish to say that I've enjoyed the company of those who have contributed to this effort with the exception of one and he knows who he is. If it was within my power to stop him from making global predictions and making an a*s out of himself, I would, but everyone has a delete key on their computer and that's where his work ends up anyway. There is no success out there today and when it comes it won't come from him or some stupid computer program.

I am a success driven individual and earthquake prediction is a non-successful effort in every sense of its being. Therefore, I will turn my attention to something else, whatever it is, it will be something that someone can do something about and see results.

Wishing all of you the best,

Petra