Dear Brian,
Again, your words hit a nerve. Not only did you attack a book that you haven't even read, you're treading in water that is very unfamiliar to you. I have been a journalist/author for 20 years. You're off track big-time. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to make this observation.

"Now, when a journalist specializes in a subject, they know better. They know the subject more so than the average bloke. Therefore they write quality stories, and "generally" don't make fools of themselves."

A conservative science editor working for a national newspaper is not going to give earthquake prediction the time of day. They will go to the USGS or a narrow-minded scientist for quick answers. So no, you will not find a science editor who "specializes" in earthquake prediction. And no, the "average" fellow does not know more about eq prediction than what I input in "The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes." No way. You are out of your league. Maybe I don't do stats--but you're in foreign waters and are drowning in a sea of ignorance.

Callie