Earthquake happens right on schedule -- Well, in Geologic Time

Parkfield California lived up to its reputation as the "Earthquake Capital of the World" on Tuesday, when a magnitude 6'er hit the tiny burg of 37. All of them are still around. In 1984 seismologists predicted Parkfield would be the site of a major quake in 1988, give or take five years, and have been hanging around with more quake-sensing equipment than anywhere on the planet ever since. It's the only time the U.S. Geological survey has ever issued a detailed prediction.
While some folks are bagging on the predictors for missing the due-date by 16 years, considering that's not even a blink-of-a-blink in the eye in the life of our lovable, grumbling rock, looks to me like the lab coat guys nailed it.
Liza Fierro, the only teacher at the one-room Parkfield Elementary School, was sitting outside beneath a tree giving a student a test when the ground shook. She told the student to run, fearing the tree might topple over on them, and the other students immediately began coming out of the building.
"It was very scary," Fierro said. "It was strong enough to knock books off the desks."
She dismissed school for the rest of the day.
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