I think that earthquake prediction has been embraced for millenia, and especially by scientists. Geologists would dearly adore to come up with some way to predict quakes in a reliable, time defined manner. However, as scientists, they must go for testable and repeatable phenomena.

In regard to Petra's comments about ear tones prior to Indonesia, I can only say that people find (or don't) whatever they are looking for. In order to quiz people and amass data, somebody has to be paying for a study. Earth Sciences are underfunded (like totally), fighting religious bias, and working with phenomena occurring on nonhuman time scale. Most geologists I have ever known would test almost anything if they had the resources to do it. You find only what you look for, and you must have motivation to look for it.

And----of course you can part a sea. I saw it done at Universal studios!! Just depends upon what "sea" you are talking about. (hehehe)

Plus--I must say that my right ear has been ringing for about 40 years now, so I can't personally comment on the ear tones related to quakes. However, I have lived all of my life in California, so one might say that my ear is just listening to the ever present stress on the Pacific/North American plates. My MD says differently, but then again---it ain't testable because there are too many variables involved. My allergies and crushed nasal cartilage are possibly involved.

I ain't saying that it ain't so about ear tones and other unproven earthquake prediction methods--what I'm saying is that the frustration many have with scientists is misplaced. After all, we have a current "guvmint" that likes to muzzle the truth-tellers, and a growing global atmosphere of intolerance towards rationality. The current human trends aren't towards funding research, but about killing editorial anybody who doesn't share a faith in an invisible and demanding deity.

I remember reading about a medieval Arabian physician who suggested that a major plague killing thousands in Asia was contagious, and might be avoided. He was murdered by a band of zealots who questioned his faith in Allah. During the Black Death in London, 1666 and onward, the government required all theaters to close to avoid contagion. But they didn't require churches to cease holding crowded religious services.

We haven't progressed very far.

OK...Cheers, PennyB