Thanks, I read it and will email HW the link (she teaches plate tectonics among others). I don't think this will directly lead to short term prediction, but who knows, in combination with other things it could lead to more accurate long-term forecasting (months to decades). Just an opinion/gut reaction, Close monitoring of certain faults in certain places could lead eventually to some short-term (days, weeks) predictions, some of which will be correct and some of which will not be. For example, if the tremor in lower crust at Parkfield that occured before the M6 quake (2004?) but which was not discovered until more recently, was discovered and analysed in near "real time", and alert might have been put out for higher hazard.

Yes, home alone. I actually cooked for dinner last night: a steak, rice, and summer squash. I need to see people so will go in to "Heartland University" today.

Chris