Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: RT: Eyjafjallajokull

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  • Craig Ranapia,

    Still cackling about Mt Fluffy Bunnies...

    For ease of foreign pronunciation when New Zealand is wiped out in a volcanic holocaust: We live in Mordor, and were wiped out by Mt. Doom.

    Thank you for your attention. It was a good life while it lasted.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • recordari,

    "eh-a-fiatla-jokult"

    Ahh, so it's not yoghurt, it's that lesser known Japanese Pro-biotic drink made from fermented skimmed milk called Yakult. So you're walking down the street in Singapore, and you see a new Fiat 500, and then offer your friend a nice milky drink. 'Eh ya, Fiat la. Yakult?'

    Got it.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Ben Austin,

    It certainly is rather odd living in West London right now, with no plane noise or contrails to disturb our quiet enjoyment.

    I visited Kew Gardens in the weekend and the loudest noises were that of the birds in the gardens.

    Outside, the Lib Dems competing with the Tories to solicit voters, this being a marginal Lib Dem held seat, being pursued by Zac Goldsmith (Jemima Khan's brother and environmentalist)

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report

  • Alastair Jamieson,

    Actually, as I understand it, the Auckland sort of volcano doesn't erupt twice on one site. So the next one to blow will be anywhere but at the location of an existing cone.

    That's generally the case, but recent research at the University of Auckland has shown that things can be a bit more complicated. The composition of lava and ash from Rangitoto has now conclusively shown that it is the result of two quite separate eruptions (probably a few decades apart), while evidence suggests that Pupuke volcano erupted on more than one occasion.

    The most disturbing thing is that there's now evidence that the volcanoes aren't all necessarily separated very distantly through time. This raises the possibility of several volcanoes erupting in different parts of Auckland within a relatively short period (i.e. decades not thousands of years), or perhaps even simultaneously.

    But I still think that Auckland's better off than the more earthquake-prone parts of the country in one respect: We will get some warning (days to weeks) of the next eruption, whereas earthquakes are entirely unpredictable.

    In the past, the region has also been affected more frequently by ash from central North Island volcanoes and Taranaki, than by local eruptions.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 99 posts Report

  • Kath Davies,

    According to the TV news here last night, the Dunkirk style evacuation tried and failed yesterday (Sunday) - a UK TV presenter/historian organised a flotilla of private speedboats to "bring our people home". Unfortunately, the French didn't like the idea, and after raising the hopes of hundreds of stranded Britons, almost all of the boats returned to Dover empty.

    The reason given was "not following Customs procedures", apparently...

    Meanwhile, my husband is "stuck" in Lausanne instead of working in Manchester this week. Silver linings :-)

    Switzerland • Since Oct 2007 • 3 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    This raises the possibility of several volcanoes erupting in different parts of Auckland within a relatively short period (i.e. decades not thousands of years), or perhaps even simultaneously.

    That sounds very bloody inconvenient, doesn't it?

    Are there any other cities in the world built on an active volcanic field like ours?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Samuel Scott,

    Yuss my WW2 fantasies are being stretched by the mainstream media;

    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/world/europe/19evacuation.html?hp

    which has me wondering; how will Glenn Beck blame the Volcano on liberals? Or does it not mater because any pinko stupid enough to go to Europe should stay there and rot in socialist hell!

    South Wellington • Since Feb 2008 • 315 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    which has me wondering; how will Glenn Beck blame the Volcano on liberals?

    Too late: Rush Limbaugh has already suggested to his listeners that it's God's punishment for US healthcare reform.

    Serious. He did.

    For other interesting theories, see Gawker's The Iceland Volcano: A Crazy Person's Guide.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    Rush Limbaugh has already suggested to his listeners

    So many Americas - just no way folk so thick as pigshit could create as much cool stuff

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    So many Americas - just no way folk so thick as pigshit could create as much cool stuff

    And also the bizarre self-centredness of it.

    If God really was angry about HCR in the US, why would He have shown His anger by messing up air transport in Britain, France and Scandinavia?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Ben Austin,

    I had heard that some right wing commentator (Rush?) has stated the ash cloud is God's punishment to America for passing the healthcare legislation...

    London • Since Nov 2006 • 1027 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Too late: Rush Limbaugh has already suggested to his listeners that it's God's punishment for US healthcare reform.

    I assume this is the same vengeful God who punished the faggots by sending flying bombs to the Pentagon and WTC, missing Manhattan and DC's gay neighbouthoods by miles.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Are there any other cities in the world built on an active volcanic field like ours?

    I'm adding this to my "List of reasons I moved away from Auckland once I was old enough".

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    Are there any other cities in the world built on an active volcanic field like ours?

    Reykjavik

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • andin,

    any pinko stupid enough to go to Europe should stay there and rot in socialist hell!

    That would be me of I can get out of this hellhole.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Alastair Jamieson,

    Are there any other cities in the world built on an active volcanic field like ours?

    The short answer is no.
    The slightly longer answer is that there are plenty of cities near to volcanoes (e.g. Naples near Vesuvius in Italy), and plenty of other basalt volcanic fields similar to ours (e.g. West Eifel volcanic field in Germany, or Craters of the Moon in Idaho), but no other city is located directly on top of a volcanic field like Auckland is. It's part of what makes the place unique!

    Aside from any future hazards it might pose, the Auckland Volcanic Field is on NZ's tentative list for nomination as a World Heritage Site, for its outstanding geological, archaeological and (in the case of Rangitoto) ecological values.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 99 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    List of reasons I moved away from Auckland

    So it wasn't taxes

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    So it wasn't taxes

    No. Property prices though, if I'd been thinking about such things when I was 17.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Leopold,

    If God really was angry about HCR in the US, why would He have shown His anger by messing up air transport in Britain, France and Scandinavia?

    So among the attributes of God, in addition to being eternal, infinite, indefinable and omniscient, we can include having a bad aim and/or peculiar sense of humour?

    Since Jan 2007 • 153 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes,

    If God really was angry about HCR in the US...

    Apparently he had his kid nailed to a piece of wood for healing the sick or something so who knows?

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Lyndon Hood,

    we can include having a bad aim

    Well, from God's distance 'you look like my friend even though we are at war', so I reckon one continent probably seems much like another too.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1115 posts Report

  • Sacha,

    So abuse sanctioned from above is not unique to the Catholic church?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    If God really was angry about HCR in the US

    And more of the same stuff, this time from the original Ayatollahs...

    Scanty clothing causes earthquakes - cleric

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • recordari,

    Scanty clothing causes earthquakes - cleric

    Lady Gaga. A walking EMP.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Question for the room.

    I know there's legitimate news value in listening to airline PR flacks bitching and whinging about how being grounded is costing them loadsacash (sorry, having a "potentially catastrophic economic impact").

    But has anyone estimated hat a fully laden airliner crashing over Heathrow (or Orly or Tempelhof) would do to their bottom lines -- forget about those boring dead people.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

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