Hi All,

Reading the posts below reminded me about how many faults we don't know about yet. The 150 year time frame for the Southern California end of the San Andreas to break has come and gone, yet there are so many other earthquakes that came into play in the interim. Seems "the big one" doesn't really have to be the big one after all. When we have seen Northridge, Hector Mines and the Landers - Big Bear events it reminds us that what could have been expected years ago from the San Andreas has been set aside and what lies ahead may be truly unknown.

There is much research that is needed with a very tight scientific budget in store. The sad part is that its not likely to be increased in the near future. When you consider other financial needs on the table today, ie the pending possible war, funding for the geo-sciences is not high on the list of priorities.

So what can be done? Well, the first thought that comes to mind, which I'll proudly say was brought to my attention from Lowell Whiteside three years ago; amateur seismologists/geolgists. Perhaps more field study could evolve to lend a hand and further the research with little financial aid required. Would it be possible to train volunteers for research? Perhaps let those who can, learn what is needed from their scientific counter-parts and when something looks promising, a consultation(s) could be arranged and then the expert could investigate further. As Lowell pointed out, not unlike amateur astronomers who look for comets and meteors, these could look a little closer at this terrestial terrain.

In my going out and about the past few days, I've encountered a number of new acquaintences. Of course the conversations led to earthquake safety and I'm pleased to report that these total strangers are very interested in earthquake safety and earthquake prediction. Despite psycological studies that supposedly say the public is not ready to hear about a warning, I have found very few people in the last 3 years who have told me they don't want to know.

Don and I will undertake some field study this coming weekend in a trip to Mammoth Lakes. We have an offer from someone in the geo sciences to have a look at a few selected locations and we are very pleased to have this opportunity. Of course I'm always hopeful for a tremor of sorts but so far I've been aced out. But my luck in other things seems to have been changing, so perhaps this weekend will offer a little earthquake chasing.

I want to be able to say...Wha Whoooooooo....Petra