Dear Friends,

Today in Mexico many families are mourning the passing of their loved ones. It is such a sad time and an unfortunate time in which earthquake prediction is not yet finite enough to have reached out and helped these people.

Sadder yet, there is one amongst you who wishes to claim there was foreknowledge of this event, when in fact there is no proof that it existed. How truly sad this day is. Should I have lost one I loved and have been frightened so much during that time of darkness, I think it would be distasteful to read such words in my moment of grief.

However, let us take a moment of silence for prayer for these poor people who are suffering so greatly and realize a warning was not delivered and even if it had been, it more than likely would not have reached anyone in the general public. If it had, what would these people have done? Stayed outside of their homes, just in case? I doubt it. One must take a dose of realism here and understand preparation can only go so far when you live in places where the walls fall in on you. You cannot afford better living quarters, so you live where you must.

On that note, let me speak of positive events, those behind the scenes which are not in the press yet. In August I planted a seed of hope with the California Seismic Safety Commission when I urged them to adopt legislation to protect renters by requiring all water heaters in rental units be seismically strapped. I received an e-mail a few days ago advising me they were going to attempt this legislative effort. None to soon, I can assure you. For less than $100 landlords can strap those heaters in place and spare themselves from property damage and possible injury or death to their tenants. I can only hope they are successful.

On the ear tone research program there again is hope. The team has had 31 matches in 23 days. I mean exact matches in distance. Not an unknown, but a definite known. But we are a long way from prime time forecasting. We have much work ahead, however, I am hopeful that in time, with repeated results one day something positive can come from this behind-the-scenes work. And it did include today's Nevada quake. Only if and when we feel the work is satisfactory and a quake of some size may appear on the horizon will we disclose this information for public use.

And better yet, there are plans underway for a public earthquake safety event coming up in the future. Not quite close enough for my liking, but it will occur, none-the-less. So, all in all, there is forward movement, slow, but it is there.

Let us remain humbled by the power of the Earth, and live in grace in its shadow,

Petra Challus