Good story Shax! thanks. I especially like the author's last sentence: "Just as scientists have been studying ancient myths in the hope of understanding past events such as tsunami, so sociologists recognise that myth-making is a way in which humans confront the incomprehensible." Here's the latest on the event : Tsunami Earthquake Three Times Larger Than First Thought By Michael Schirber LiveScience Staff Writer posted: 08 February 2005 01:39 pm ET A new analysis of the December earthquake that caused disastrous tsunami waves to strike Asia and Africa finds it was three times more powerful than earlier measurements suggested. This would make it the second largest earthquake ever instrumentally recorded. Seismologists Seth Stein and Emile Okal from Northwestern University said Tuesday that the Sumatra earthquake had a magnitude of 9.3. Earlier measurements had estimated the temblor at 9.0. Because the magnitude scale is logarithmic, a change of 0.3 units corresponds to a three-fold increase in intensity. The newly recognized power might explain why the resulting tsunami of Dec. 26, 2004 was so destructive. The only earthquake with a greater recorded magnitude 9.5  occurred in Chile in May 22, 1960. The new magnitude for the Sumatra earthquake does not contradict previous estimates so much as it enhances what is known. The separate numbers come from measurements of seismic wave amplitudes at different periods, or wavelengths. "The magnitude of an earthquake depends on the period that you measure it," Stein told LiveScience in a telephone interview. The original 9.0 estimate of the earthquake was based on 300-second waves. Stein and Okal looked instead at 3,200-second (53-minute) waves, which corresponds to the lowest natural frequency  or fundamental  of the planet. "The 53-minute waves are the slowest free oscillations of the Earth," Stein said. "They are the hardest to excite." It takes a very large earthquake  magnitude 9 or higher  to generate detectable waves at these long period oscillations, Stein said. Most of the energy in the tsunami-causing earthquake was in these slow-moving waves. The energy released by an earthquake depends on two things: the amount of slip in the colliding plates of the planet and the length of fault line affected. Scientists estimate that the Indian plate slipped 33-50 feet (10 to 15 meters) under the Burma microplate on Dec. 26. What they apparently underestimated was the extent of this slippage. "The rupture zone was much larger than previously thought," Stein said. "The initial calculations that it was a 9.0 earthquake did not take into account what we call slow slip, where the fault, delineated by aftershocks, shifted more slowly." By Stein and OkalÂs estimates, the complete rupture zone  both the slow slip and the earlier measured fast slip regions  was 750 miles (1,200 kilometers) long, tripling what the initial calculations had put forth. The north-south orientation of slow slip fault line also helps explain the path of the tsunami, since the highest amplitude waves usually travel perpendicular to the fault line. If the fast-slip region had been the only rupture, the largest waves would have headed in a southwest direction  into the center of the Indian Ocean. "But the alignment of the slow slip region implies that much of the energy was sent towards Sri Lanka," Stein said. An earthquake releases the strain that accumulates over centuries between plates pushing into each other. For this reason, it may be a very long time before anything like a magnitude 9.3 earthquake erupts again in this part of the fault line. But Stein pointed out that there are other areas that still have built-up strain. "The segments to the south could break anytime, even tomorrow," Stein said.

This from someone who was originally interested in HELPING you: In a recent interview Mrs. Selber mentions teaming up with Al Gerhart who has some interest in the granite \radon scare. Al Gerhart is a carpenter whohappens to own a website called the SolidSurfaceAlliance.org. He educated himself, regarding materials he works with that may expose him to harmful elements." Upon further review it seems this "personality" is well known for his view of natural stone. All one has to do is look at the website to get the gist of his viewpoint. Coincidentally, there also seems to be a new business venture for Solid Surface Alliance as the website now sells Geiger counters to detect radiation His debates have earned him quite a place online in forums discussing the subject. After a certain debate on a well known residential forum, a renowned geoscientist in the industry concluded: "Al attempts to hijack debates by choking the system with verbal diarrhea. The problem appears to be that he has a bit of knowledge about some things but not enough sense and understanding of the subjects. In that debate on the Garden Forum he threw in so many fabrications (plain made up lies) that his credibility just plummeted to zero. Anyone who operates this way (by including a number of facts to gain an element of credibility in the eyes of a generally uninformed audience, twisting facts deliberately or because of his lack of understanding, and then throwing in a number of lies) does not deserve extended airtime. Many years ago when doing science psychology I still remember my professor giving the advice to his students that you should never engage a nutter in debate. You can never win an argument with such people. I recognized this early in the forum and that is why I would not engage him in "debate". One of his major problems is that he does not know what the numbers mean and how they are derived." In response to the buildclean tactics, The Marble Institute of America is in the process of doing their own independent study: "The Marble Institute of America (MIA) is grateful for the preliminary response from the members to the newly established Truth About Granite Fund. Based on this positive response, it's clear that their colleagues share their commitment to protect consumers from needless fear mongering by establishing standards for the testing of granite so consumers can safely and comfortably enjoy the beauty, durability and practicality of this natural stone." When we asked the MIA why Sara Speer Selber consider The Truth About Granite Fund as a draconian move that is being waged against BuildClean(TM), they simple responded: "The Truth About Granite Fund was established to help raise funds to develop unbiased, scientific standards for the granite industry, including the testing of granite for radon. No such standards currently exist in the natural stone industry. Previous tests of granite samples have found they are safe. However, the Truth in Granite Fund aims to take advantage of new, advanced scientific instruments that make testing both more practical and more accurate. Our goal is to make sure testing follows consistent protocols, so that future studies are meaningful and based on consistent, approved science not isolated methodologies or unapproved instruments. Ultimately, our goal is to make sure the granite we sell is safe." This latest sales tactic received the attention of an independent group called the Natural Stone Restoration Alliance (NSRA). The NSRA saw Radon testing as an added service that their members could provide to the homeowners along with all their other services for natural stone. I am one of the lead testers and trainer for the NSRA , invited times Members of the SolidSurfaceAlliance.org to discuss and provide proof of this threat to the home owners. The SolidSurfaceAlliance.org agreed to provide an alleged radiation producing granite sample that they claim to have in their possession to do independent testing. After an initial agreement between the two groups it seems the Solid Surface Alliance has reneged on the delivery of the alleged material. I was disappointed of the outcome. The NSRA than requested the name of the company that Mr. Gerhart claimed to just have rejected over 10k worth of radon producing granite. When the information was not provided, I ask if he could purchase the next slab that Mr. Gerhart rejected. But for some reason Mr. Gerhart could no longer find a sample for testing. Mr. Huligar went on to say: "All we care about at this point. As for whether are not Stone adds a measurable amount of "radon" in a home, Mr. Gerhart had agreed to come to NY and pick out a hot slab that I would place in my own home after testing my home for radon. Once the granite was installed I would test my home again as described by the EPA and have it tested by someone approved by the EPA. Not only would we do the short and long term test, we would also video tape the whole event, the selection, the creation, the install, and than setting up cameras for anyone to view the stone and meters on the net. I was looking forward to do this, but at this time it appears that Mr. Gerhart has no plans on doing as he said which is a big disappointment." The NSRA plans to push for this simple test, they feel that the consumers only care about one thing; "whether or not adding granite in your home would significantly change the radon levels in a home". At present, the most prudent consumer should watch the outcome of this debate and make an informed decision, not taken in by a scare tactic by advertisers.

Ha ha, popmama! I have no idea where to put any of my extra iris either, so I bought some Smart Pots and probably will be keeping them there for the season - who knows? I looked at the iris list (old, from Gardenchloe, and from our swaps) and don’t think I have the beautiful one from you. My iris in waiting . . . White Yellow Gingerbread Girl - brown, yellow, white Outreach - yellow, white Swingtown - mulberry wine Celebration Song - pink, purple Lois Ranier - pinky peach Stepping Out - violet, white - (came from my friend Nancy Lee NOID), so it had her name Midnight Dancer - Purple black Red at Night - red

I hear that! One of our most memorable gifts from an employee was a gift box of various 1/4 lb slivers and other charcuterie treats. A nice simple brunch snack. Or an easy meal. No, we are not grocery shopping in house either. WholeFoods is too far for even insta-cart. We have a good delivery system that suits us. I do like igourmet and supermarketItaly on-line but just did each once in April/May.(?) If one gets curbside or delivery?, 50% off is really good.