I had the strangest encounter this morning. Let me start off by saying my daughter in Texas called to say they had had a 4.6 earthquake; not that anyone felt it or that is caused any problems. I know a few months ago we have had these little seismic events in south Mississippi too. So I looked in the blue pages of the big phone book and found a number for the USGS Mississippi H2O Science Center.

I phoned to ask a question. Since I didn't know the name of anyone specific, the receptionist said well, I'll connect you to R----- Goo. Mr Goo picked up and I introduced myself and asked "How do you say your last name?" "He said why do you want to know?" I said "Well, it's an unusual name I thought the receptionist said Goo."
"He says why is it unusual?" I said "I'm not the FBI or IRS, I'm a little ole lady in South Mississipi who wanted to ask you a question. You know who I am, I just wondered if your last name was Goo."

He says "What's the question?" I said "Have any studies been done on seismic activity and the effect on our aquifers?" Silence.
I said "Hello?" He says "I'm waiting for your question."
I said "I asked about earthquake activity and it's possible effect on our aquifers." Silence.
I said "Do you know what seismic means? Do you know what and aquifer is? Because for all I know it lunchtime, everybody else is gone and the receptionist handed the phone to you and you may be there with a mop bucket cleaning the floors. What is your title?"

He says "Hydrologist."

I say "Well do you know what I'm talking about?" He says "I'm waiting for a question."
Me: This is the most inane conversation I've ever had. Are you on LSD or something? Is this an episode of Saturday Night Live?"

I mean this guy was spacey. I called him a bad name and hung up. Then I checked this agency on the computer. There is a new site on it about earthquakes and hydrology, but this d---head seemed clueless.
I figure it's Friday, this guy has a government job and was left to field calls and that's the way employees of the USA act now.
I don't think I called him enough bad names, but it's awful enough if his name is Goo or Goop or most likely "poop_head."

susil