First, looking at the current USGS map of CA-NV, does it appear to anyone else that there are a large number of earthquakes on the map? When I just looked a few minutes ago, there were 773. Considering that we have not had any large earthquakes with subsequent aftershocks which would disort the total, this seems unusually high -- or am I wrong? What is an "average" number for that map?

Second, I saw this linked article on foxnews.com about the Negev Desert in Israel. A patch of that desert is reputed to be the oldest place on earth -- in other words, exposed as it is, pretty much as it was 1.8 million years ago. I find this of personal interest since I was there visiting my husband for a month who was working in the middle of the Negev Desert. He was part of the construction team building an airbase there for the Israeli government. (The new airbase was part of the Camp David Peace Agreement since the Israelis were giving up one in the Sinai Desert when the Sinai Peninsula was being given back to Egypt.) It was total desolation all around. Anyway, I brought home the most fascinating rocks from the Negev. I'm no geologist so I don't know what they are. That was about 30 years ago, but I still have the rocks -- funny how I can't bring myself to just toss them in this Nevada desert. Maybe one of these days I'll find out what they are.

Barbara

• Patch of Israel Desert Is Oldest Place on Earth