I just learned today of the Momeny Magnitude Scale
http://school.discovery.com/homeworkhelp/worldbook/atozscience/m/367270.html

I also like the simplicity of the Mercalli scale
http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/doc/mmi.html since it measures quakes in terms comprehensible to those of us whose earthquake vocabulary stops at RUN!
One of the things I like about the compact, single level house in which I live is that I am never more than half a dozen paces from a doorway, which is I cower away the quakes we have. I have never experienced a 6.8, but the 6.5s I have felt are enough to generate real sympathy for any who experienced yesterday's shake. I hope that any who felt it are OK, and would like to point out the one postive consequence: The world was spared one more Bill Gates shill session.