Hi Marc,

Thank you. Most scientists are thought to be nerdy, geeky and other unpleasant social terms, but I found out from getting to know a number of them that there many who fall way outside of those thought forms, so I wanted to change that untrue imagine and let people know they are not that way at all. The days of "Junior Einsteins" running around are long gone, but the imagine remains. There are a few who could use a little help in the wardrobe department, that's true everywhere.

I believe the readership will be broader than only people who are interested in earthquakes or tsunami activity. However, if you look at how many people are interested in documentaries, they aren't people who follow earthquakes regularly either.

My hopes are that one day we will see a television series every week based on geology and/or seismology and bring something to that part of medium that has never been done before. A little trip through earthquake country that includes a jolt a week would be a great platform to teach earthquake safety. The focus would always be there and people who produce safety products could advertise their products and it would be a win/win situation. Telling people to get ready usually gives thoughts to making an earthquake kit, but safety has little to do with products, but thoughts about what to do when they are "there" and making informed choices. So far as I am aware I am the only person to address that aspect head on. I've taken time to go "there" and think about what I would do and the best solutions to darn scary situations.

My greatest fear is to be on an overcrossing during a serious earthquake and see parts of it fall. I think I'd die out of fright right there and then. There is nothing you can do to prepare for that kind of situation. But if you travel to work and you know there is an unretrofitted overcrossing on your path and a prediction has been issued, it would be wise to find another route to work if possible for the period of the prediction window is open. The rest of the time people won't go around it as it may take to long. In the big picture this too can be remedied by concerned citizens who let the State of CA know they expect action, rather than being lambs to the slaughter as was the case in regard to the Cypress Structure in Oakland. The State of CA compensated every victims family $50,000 for their losses because they were slow to act. A little overtime devoted to that job would have been less expensive and today over 50 people would still be alive. There are answers, but only so many hands at the wheel seeking solutions which are already possible.

I like to think that we as concerned citizens should not be meaningless "voices in the wind", but proactive because we know the results can be dire if we don't speak up. That's why I'm pushing for legislation to require retrofitting of tenant occupied homes. If a homeowner lives in a house that is not retrofitted, that's their choice, but if they have to be responsible for the life of a tenant, then let's put it squarely where it belongs. The cost can be as low as adding a deck to a house and it can be written off on their taxes, so it's not like its a huge financial burden. And again we must ask "what is the value of a human life?" Certainly more than a $1000 dollars or so. I am only one person, but a very determined one and if I can make something happen that should be taken care of, then they had better get to work because I will remain relentless until I see results.

I'm sorry, I just get very emotional when I think there are answers and I run into road blocks and it seems so cold and heartless to let people die when they don't have to. It is up to us to make a difference and it can be as simple as sending an e-mail, but you'd think it was a major undertaking in just asking people to give five minutes of their time to do so.

And lastly, to that end, if I a have the time to attend AGU this year I am going to try one more time to get poster space to cover earthquake safety and hopefully this time I can convince a few that if others can be there and they are not having posters which are factually proven scientific methods they are presenting, then they should be willing to grant me a little space to teach perhaps thousands in one single week that they don't have to die in an earthquake if they know what to do. There's plenty of room too, so that's not an issue. Otherwise it would cost me $1600 to rent a space in the sales section, lose one week from work and the cost of earthquake safety materials, $200 for insurance and all of the other associated costs. IE about $3,000. For an unfunded project, that is not in my budget. I'll take a positive attitude and hope those who make such decisions will see the wisdom in what I'm attempting to do. I think I need a little help from someone who knows those people, but I wouldn't want to ask anyone to go out of their way, just for me.

Petra