On 6/11/2012 9:46 PM, Bastette wrote:
Jack Campin wrote:

I grew up in a wooden house in NZ, and went through a tremor big
enough that it might well have cracked a brick one (the house just
rocked like a boat). Structural brick was illegal, and for good
reason; look what happened to older brick buildings in Christchurch,
like the Cathedral.

Arkansas is part of the region most affected by the New Madrid
earthquakes, the most damaging in the history of the US.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquak.../1811-1812.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1812_New_Madrid_earthquake

I would NOT like to be inside a brick building for a repeat of that.

Ditto. In Washington DC the earthquake of Aug last year caused many
structural problems for buildings not meant for earthquake country and
Wash DC doesn't have those, but we did. The buildings affected most
were brick - the Monument and the Wash Cathedral.

Besides, brick is ugly. It reminds me of my elementary school building.

I think it can be charming. But everyone's tastes are different.
And in termite country, it can be a house-saver.