It's January 17, which means it's time for the anniversary of Northridge stories. Of course, there's not a whole lot of new info to squeeze out of a story that's as old as your average middle-schooler, but that's not gonna stop from the local news media from trotting out the "where were you when" stories.

Still, looking back at the quake and it's aftermath is instructive in that it reminds us that it will happen again, and that there are steps we can take to reduce the loss of property and lives.

The State Department of Insurance is certainly taking this opportunity to urge Californians to take a home inventory, in order to help expedite a claim in the event that your home is stricken by an earthquake, mudslide, wild fire, or a kharmically-induced case of bad vibes.

As for myself, I will once again resolve to hoard water and food, keep a flashlight and shoes by my bed, and move out of the cunningly constructed death-trap of an apartment I call home.

What resolution will I keeep? I might remember to leave my shoes by the bed, if kicking them into the corner counts.

You can click here for the Home Inventory Guide. You can click here for that old-timey classic "Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country" (available in HTML and PDF formats). To supplicate the supernatural to spare us from a rupture on the Puente Hills Fault, you can click here to find the seismic deity of your choice, and then provide a sacrifice, offering, or prayer as appropriate, repeated as necessary.  ¶ 11:03 AM