This is most of the text of a report that was just posted to the sci.geo.earthquakes Internet Newsgroup and several others. Copies of this report will also probably be circulated internationally by E-mail.

PROPOSED NEW EARTHQUAKE WEB SITE

A copy of this report has been posted to the sci.astro Newsgroup
because sun and moon gravity related earthquake triggering theories will
probably be discussed at this proposed new Web site.

An effort is just getting started to create a new earthquake
forecasting and research Web site.

The primary goal of the new site would be to make it possible for
independent researchers around the world plus any interested formal research
groups and government agencies to more effectively work together to learn
how to forecast earthquakes and also do important earthquake related
research such as developing a clearer picture of how earthquakes in
different parts of the world are being triggered.

A major problem with many research efforts, not just ones associated
with earthquakes, results from people around the world not being able to
communicate or work effectively with one another. The Internet represents
something of an ideal resource that could make it possible for researchers
to better communicate with one another. Unfortunately, they often don't
know how to develop Web sites. Or they simply don't have time to do any
site development work.

If this project is a success then it might serve as a helpful model
for how to do research in other areas of science such as developing new
sources of environmentally safe, affordable energy, and finding cures for
various illnesses etc.

THE OFFICIAL HOST FOR THE NEW WEB SITE

There is a tentative arrangement for the official host for this new
Web site to be the International Society Of Earthquake Precursors, a
nonprofit group that I understand is presently based in England. They have
the following Web site:

http://www.isfep.com

I myself don't have any formal links with that foundation or society.
My part in the effort would initially include getting the new Web site
organized and running. The ISEP group members unfortunately don't appear to
me to know too much about Web site development. Otherwise they would
probably have long ago created this type of site themselves.

HOW THE NEW WEB SITE MIGHT WORK

There would be one or more specially designed bulletin boards,
forums, or blogs where researchers could post notes.

Researchers who wanted to participate in Web site development efforts
such as having their own Web page for discussing Earthquake Cloud type
earthquake precursors might be given a subdirectory that they could use for
that on the Web site. Then they could create entire Web pages etc. on their
personal computers, attach their files to an E-mail, add a security word to
the E-mail, and then send it to a specific E-mail address associated with
the Web site. A CGI computer program running on the Web site would extract
the Web page or picture files etc. from that E-mail and automatically store
those files in that person's subdirectory. People around the world could
then see the new Web page etc. by visiting the Web site.

Researchers would probably also be able to get on the Internet,
access a special data entry screen at the Web site, copy their files to that
screen, add a security word, and hit the Submit button. Their files would
then be automatically stored in their personal subdirectory at the Web site.
So, a researcher would not need to have an Internet account or even his or
her own computer. He or she could do all of the Web page development work
by using a computer at a public library.

OTHER ALREADY EXISTING RESEARCH SERVICES

There are some existing groups that offer services that have some
similarities to this proposed new Web site. And if anyone would like to
recommend any of them for consideration then that information would be
appreciated. However, there are certain features that this new Web site
might have that other services do not offer.

For several examples,

There would not be any fee for using the service.

There would be an unusually high level of personal security.
Researchers would need only demonstrate that they could participate in the
effort in a responsible manner. They would not need to supply any personal
information such as a name, location, or even a contact E-mail address.
Site activities would be monitored by ISEP personnel and others. But if a
researcher wanted to remain totally anonymous, even ISEP personnel might not
know whom that person was or have any contact information for him or her.

So, if you were a geology professor teaching at a private university
and you wanted to create a Web page where you could discuss your theories
related to how earthquakes are being triggered, but the head of your
department had published numerous technical papers insisting that
earthquakes are completely random events, by using the new site you might be
able to discuss your theories in public without getting into trouble with
the boss (humor intended).

THE SELECTION OF A COMMERCIAL INTERNET SERVICE

The first step in this effort involves selecting a commercial Web
server that would actually host the domain name for the new Web site.
Squarespace http://www.squarespace.com appears to me to offer quite a few
advanced Web site development resources. But their service also appears to
me to be a lot more expensive than a number of other commercial servers.

If anyone has any strong recommendations for other commercial servers
to consider that offer unlimited bandwidth and Web page storage space and
also allow people to run CGI programs on the Web site then I would be
interested in hearing about them.

These are expressions of my personal opinion. They are not
necessarily the opinions of ISEP personnel. ISEP personnel will need to
give final approval for the project before it actually gets started. At the
moment it is just in the discussion phase.