I know you didn't "feel" it; but did you "see" it? Yesterday's newspapers carried articles highlighting the great earthquake in 1906. Next month - April 18th at 5:12 a.m. - to be exact, will be the 100th Anniversary of the San Francisco Earthquake. These articles reported how the USGC (United States Geological Survey) has created a web site where you can see map-view snapshots and movies illustrating ground motions. Talk about an educational application of ICT - WOW! The 3-D geologic map and seismic velocity model tell the story of this historic event in a way that you'll understandwhat really happened.

Although the movies and snapshots cover a 70 by 155 mile area, you can even move in for a closeup view of the shaking at specific locations in the Bay Area, for example: Concord, Palo Alto, San Jose, and Tomales Bay. On the ShakeMap, there is a "bright red region" (about 40 miles NNW of the epicenter) that highlights the region around Santa Rosa. This site may be viewed at ... http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/1906/simulations/

On Our Radar Screen: Could another earthquake, the magnitude of the S.F. quake (7.8) happen again? The experts think so. Look at this site .. http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2005/15 scroll down until you come to the maps titled, The threat of future quakes extends across the Bay Area and Expected Levels of Shaking from Future Earthquakes. Arre you prepared?

One of my recent meetings was held at the Petaluma Senior Center in Lucchesi Park. It was the fourth Tuesday of the month, the day that the Senior Computer SIG (Special Interest Group) meets from 1:30-3:00 p.m. These SIG get-togethers usually include an ICT (Information & Communication Technology) demonstration, a HELP Q&A session, and optional one-on-one tutoring. It's proof that you're never too old to learn.

Seniors learning about computers and the Internet isn't anything new. It's been happening in Petaluma (Our Cyberplace), for 10 years. How do I know? I was going through some old files and newspapers in the garage. (Seniors don't throw anything away. We're saving this "stuff" for our "old" age.) In this particular case, I came across a SIRS flyer (Sons in Retirement) for Chapter #147, who had members volunteer to tutor any senior who was interested. The date on the flyer was March, 1996. Hewlett-Packard had donated two brand new computer systems to the "old" Senior Center, and "Cybernauts" from SIRS #147 volunteered their time for tutoring a couple of hours every Wednesday.

I discovered in another box an article from the Argus-Courier titled, "Seniors join the computer age." The date was August 13, 1996. Today, the "new" Senior Center has six computers, three printers, and a scanner available for seniors to use in the Computer Lab, plus another two units in the Lounge area for e-mail and surfing the Internet. All of the hardware has been donated and then refurbished by the "Tech Club" at Casa Grande High School. SIRS volunteers have installed and configured all the stations. For more information about the Senior Center computer program, phone 778-4399.

Remember ... WE seniors ... are never to old to learn.

On Our Radar Screen: How can a community create a more effective and efficient health care system through greater use of ICT? Stay tuned!

Yesterday, I participated in three meetings where Cyber "stuff" was discussed or demonstrated. Someone turned to me and said, You call yourself a Volunteer Cybernaut. What do they do? Exactly what is a cybernaut? Hmmmm, I thought - that's a blog topic.

We are all familiar with the word astronaut - n. "someone trained to travel and perform tasks in space." OK, that's simple enough. So, what does the word cyber mean? If one checks the dictionary; in this case, the Microsoft Encarta College Dictionary, which claims to be the first dictionary for the Internet Age, you'll find - cyber - prefix - "computers and information systems." That makes sense; but what's "naut?" ... naut - nautical - "pertaining to navigation." I get it! A cybernaut is "someone trained to navigate using computers and information systems. Right! But where?

How about cyberspace - "that realm in which electronic information exists or is exchanged - the imagined world of virtual reality." WOW! That's a mouthful. Let's keep it simple. How about this explanation found on a web site located in Petaluma, Cyberville-USA http://www.petalumaonline.com/cyberville/index.htm

Like the early Greek navigators of boats ... Cybernauts are individuals who travel in cyber space and encourage others to communicate with each other via the Internet.

Cybernauts are dedicated to the promotion of the greater use of information and communication technology in all sectors of their local communities: education, government, business, health,and non-profit community benefit organizations.

Cybernauts believe that the creation of a telecommunity or a Cyber City is as much a community enhancing and development project as it is a technology initiative.

Hence, our motto: Think globally about Cyberspace, but act locally in your Cyberplace."

On Our Radar Screen: There were three meetings, yesterday. What about the others? What happened? What was discussed or demonstrated? There will be more Cyber "stuff" in future blogs. Stay tuned.

This post is a MUST READ & LISTEN announcement. The following audio program contains great overview and background information related to some of the topics addessed in previous blogs: Broadband - Municipal Wi-Fi - Internet. Although the total program runs approximately 50 minutes, it may be listened to in segments of 6-18 minutes. Here is the program's outline - tune in and listen; then post your comments and reactions on this blog.

Interview with Jonathan Krim (14 mins.), former Washington Post reporter who covered technology policy. His overview includes the FCC, DSL and Cable Broadband, Net Neutrality, and Municipal Wi-Fi.

Report from Philadelphia, (6 mins.)

Debate and Discussion (11 mins.), with industry representative David McClure and advocate Art Brodsky.

The Future of the Internet Q&A (18 mins.)

Thanks to the Anneberg Public Policy Center of the the University of Pennsyvania for initiating this program. It is another example of how Information & Communication Technology (ICT) can be used to spread collective wisdom and knowledge.

http://www.justicetalking.org/viewprogram.asp?progID=539

Please remember - this is a national issue and a global concern with local implications.

It looks like our radar screen will continue to flash updates about issues and concerns that we have commented on in earlier blogs, but these topics are not going away. Why? Aren't they "old" news? Not necessarily; they're important topics that all cybernauts should keep up-to-date on because they will impact - not only - Our Cyberspace, but - Our Cyberplace-Petaluma. For example:

Emergency Preparedness has been touched upon in Blogs #5,6, & 10. It looks like a theme that will be around for some time in Cyberspace. The main question is, What are we doing in our local Cyberplaces to be better prepared? As new programs and projects are created and made available to Petalumans, they will be announced in this column.

Broadband has resurfaced, recently, as a major nation concern. (Blogs #4 & 9). But take a look out into Cyberspace and you will find an interesting quote from a Canadian Telecommunication "Policy Review Panel" ... The government's objective is to ensure that Canada has a strong, internationally competitive telecommunications industry, which delivers world-class affordable services and products for the economic and social benefit of all Canadians in all regions of Canada.

WOW! Wouldn't it be great if our City Council made a similar statement (perhaps in our new General Plan), that would declare such a target objective as "official?" Then the Telecommunications and Technology Advisory Committee could move forward and make recommendations that would help achieve the objective.

Municipal Wi-Fi Networks is another local concern. Once, again, a Cyberspace source http://www.thenation.com posted online on March 24, 2006, an article titled, Google's Wi-Fi Privacy Ploy. The message was that cities all across America are rushing to create Wi-Fi zones that are free or low-cost. They recognize that such networks are needed if their city is to be economically sustainable (remember Broadband, above?) At the same time,they realize that there isn't anything like a "free lunch." The money to build and maintain such a network has to come from someone's pocket - public and/or private. As various proposals appear in the many eNewletters devoted to Wi-Fi, they will become "food for thought" in our blog.

As we have have often said when signing out, stay tuned. Please feel free to add your comments to these blogs. Share your wisdom, knowledge, and creativity.

ICT can help us get ready. This information is available 24/7, with a stroke of a key. Click away and see for yourself. Return periodically to these Emergency Preparedness sites for updates.

City of Petaluma

Disaster Preparedness http://cityofpetaluma.net/fire/disaster.html

Are You Prepared? http://cityofpetaluma.net/fire/prepared.html

Disaster Preparedness http://cityofpetaluma.net/police/disaster.html

Sonoma County

Department of Emergency Preparedness

http://www.sonoma-county.org/des/emerg_manag.htm

American Red Cross

Sonoma County Disaster Services http://www.sonomacounty.redcross.org/?id=6&sid