The earth moves in mysterious ways

The Los Angeles Times reported that southern California has been experiencing increased seismic activity this year

Southern California, along with Baja California, has seen a surge in moderate earthquake activity this year and scientists are trying to figure out what's causing the uptick.

There have been 70 quakes greater than a magnitude 4.0 so far this year. That's the most of any year in the last decade -- and, it's only April. There were 30 in 2009 and 29 in 2008.

Seismologists say they are looking into the recent surge but they can not yet fully explain it.

Meanwhile, AP has reported that an Iranian cleric is blaming women who dress immodestly and engage in promiscuity for the cause of earthquakes

"Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes," Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi was quoted as saying by Iranian media. Sedighi is Tehran's acting Friday prayer leader.

Women in the Islamic Republic are required by law to cover from head to toe, but many, especially the young, ignore some of the more strict codes and wear tight coats and scarves pulled back that show much of the hair.

"What can we do to avoid being buried under the rubble?" Sedighi asked during a prayer sermon Friday. "There is no other solution but to take refuge in religion and to adapt our lives to Islam's moral codes."

Now, neither of those two news reports are related.

Perhaps a plausible explanation is geological faults and in many cases, due to tectonic plate movement.