“Earthquakes are of course natural phenomena. But the amount of damage they cause is a function of decisions made by politicians, engineers and business executives. Japan and the United States, two of the world’s most technologically advanced countries, have the same problem — how to protect people and society from earthquakes — and yet they have responded in very different ways.” A very interesting interactive piece from the NYT: Buildings Can Be Designed to Withstand Earthquakes. Why Doesn’t the U.S. Build More of Them? (Did I mention I’m writing to you from San Francisco?)