I think you have some very good points Arney. Techniques that might save you in one case might very well get you killed in another. Yes, there would seem to be a major divide between what works in areas with strict versus lax building codes, and strong versus less strong construction. But even given the optimum technique matched to the peculiarity of the building codes and construction in any particular area your relative rate of survival using one method or another seems to be a crap shoot.

I am suspicious of quick and easy answers. Particularly when the methods promoted seem to be based in anecdotal evidence, personal observation. Not backed up by any real research.

He presents an interesting case but at best it can only be applied in the heat of the moment and there is some chance that while your figuring out what to shelter beside you might be better off leaving the building entirely. An earthquake might be over in thirty seconds. Assuming you take a few seconds to figure out it is an earthquake, and one serious enough to worry about, your going to be running short of time and likely to find any activity challenging. Also consider that any earthquake sufficiently strong to take down a building is going to make any action difficult.