"Jim can't predict earthquakes, nor can any of the others you wrote about, including the scientists."

Roger,
Are you including Kerry Sieh in the batch of scientists or is he an exception to the rule because he didn't predict--he warned people?

As I wrote in the book, "Not unlike Berkland, he, too, was ignored. . .In the summer of 2004, he believed so strongly in the likelihood of loss of lives that he passed out 5,000 posters and brochures around some of the regions later struck by the monster Indian Ocean quake on Boxing Day. His warning was for people to avoid shorelines. But his meeting with Indonesian officials in December didn't take place, because the officials said they lacked money."

So tell me Roger. Do we tune out predictions and warnings? Tell me, when do we listen? Do we wait for the government to take care of us? Gee, graphic images of Katrina come to mind. Not a pretty picture. Earthquake prediction, no nonsense warnings--these are both helpful tools for people to consider and take care of themselves, doncha think?

Callie