George spoke with geologist Richard Moody Jr., who discussed his theory of tectonic plate dynamics, as well as global earthquake activity and quake prediction. He said we may be at the beginning of a surging episode, and, if so, he predicted that within 100 years there wouldn't be a single masonry building left standing (in areas prone to quakes).
Moody blamed lack of funding as the major cause for not having better earthquake prediction capabilities, and said it's anybody's guess when the next big one hits Los Angeles. He suggested that one day it may be possible to predict when large earthquakes will strike. With advance notice, Moody continued, the fault zones could be lubricated and cities such as LA could be evacuated and utilities shut off to prevent fires.
Next, Bill Zebuhr, technical editor for Infinite Energy magazine, talked about science and alternative energy. Zebuhr identified problems with solar and wind energy, stating that many communities are resistant to utilizing these technologies because solar panels and windmills are not aesthetically pleasing. He said geothermal is always there, but harder to get at. Zebuhr thinks the answer to our energy needs may lie with cold fusion, a development that he said could be possible within 10 years.
Ron Rice, Suntan King
The first hour featured the second in our ongoing series Great American Success Stories with Ron Rice, the founder and former owner of the sun care product manufacturer Hawaiian Tropic.
Rice said he grew up in a log cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, where as a kid he ran a roadside stand selling apples, walnuts, honey, Christmas wreaths, and whatever else he could sell. He went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee and then worked as a chemistry teacher and football coach in Florida for $4,300/year.
While working as a lifeguard, Rice got the idea to create what would become Hawaiian Tropic sun tan lotion. He said he mixed his exotic concoction of oils in a 20-gal garbage can, using a cut off broom stick to stir his homemade brew. Rice began selling his product in the mid-60s and within seven years had sold a million dollars worth. He eventurally built Hawaiian Tropic into a company with more than $200 million/year in sales and recently sold it to Playtex.