Hi Steve,

There's always something coming down the pike! We need to have lively discussion or this place would be a snore. But honestly, we need to look at the "Big Picture" instead of taking everything at face value. Take off the rose colored glasses and see it for what it really is.

We have to appreciate the fact that we have great sources to gather information; but there's the other side, the one where you find something and no one wants to have a look. See, all this stuff can't possibly happen behind desk, someone has to get out there in the field and see it. Remember it was some Japanese students on a field trip who made the first discovery of a-seismic slip in Parkfield. It was after that when the scientists went out with portable monitors to see what was going on. There was a break in the pavement in the road and a water pipe broke. Of course, that was a long time ago, but today it's a little different in Parkfield because of their SAFOD thing. But I don't if they ever go outside of that place. I've seen something that no one was interested in. A 160 ft fissure near downtown Parkfield, but no one seemed curious about it except the local residents. If it were in my backyard, I'd be more than curious.

But you know it isn't the same in the rest of the world. In some places they are required to go out and they like it too. Perhaps we should rent a bus and take the scientists for a picnic on the Hayward Fault in about a week and see if they notice anything new.

Petra