Hi Bob,

There was one more thing I forgot. I saw a new type of geophone that's pretty nifty. Its rather small with the top being 2"x2"'s and a little pointed metal end that goes into the ground which is about 4"'s long. Then there is a triggering button from the other end of the second cord. Both plug into a simple lap top computer that generates a graph that's like a seismogram. It only costs $3500. I'll put that on my wish list. I'd love to have one of those baby's to use at my study area.

I've had mixed experiences with scientists. Some are nice about answering e-mails and some not so, but when approached up close and personal, I find them quite friendly. I've only gotten to know one woman scientist and she's terrific, but I'd like to have the opportunity to get to know a few more. They still are in limited numbers, like all fields that pay well, but in time, the balance will arrive. Most of them seem quite serious, are great at details and at math, not unlike Einsteins. The one's I saw deliver lectures did an excellent job, were clear speaking, had their materials ready and delivered a good lecture. However, when questioned I did see them back up a bit and this was unlike their male counterparts.

Don is one terrific team-mate. We share a lot of common thoughts and ideals, however, we don't always see eye to eye on everything. But we each allow the other to have their own points of view. Due to my persistent vertigo having a friend like Don made it possible for me to attend the AGU. And yesterday when my legs started giving me problems from irritated nerve endings from sitting to much, he took me home early. Even though I have a backache every single day, there is little that would have kept me from attending this convention. The educational benefits are enormous.

One thing I'd like to empathsize at this point, is that though earthquake prediction on a public level is not here yet, from everything I see and hear, I believe more strongly that the date of its arrival, may indeed be closer than anticipated. There are many components to successful prediction, but there are more than a handful of scientists working on this problem. When one recalls that only the number of people who work for McDonalds are searching the skies for comets and are quite successful, the number of scientists working on the resolution to earthquake prediction are far greater in number.

There is a ray of hope in this yet unlit area of science, and with that, what seems impossible today, may one day be quite routine.

Petra