Well, if you consider "because British Airways put some planes up and demanded to land at Heathrow" sound.....sure.

Indeed – and perhaps I've missed something, but I'm rather surprised at how relaxed (to coin a phase) the British Transport Secretary seemed to be with that stunt.

And perhaps I'm rather…

Sofie: I hope I'm being way too cynical, but I really hope that these decisions are being made on the basis of sound scientific advice and not ferocious lobbying and media pressure.

Well, if you consider "because British Airways put some planes up and demanded to land at Heathrow" sound.....sure.…

Passengers with current tickets were being given priority – stranded passengers were being told to either pay for a new ticket, take the first available flight or to use their old ticket and wait for days, or weeks, for the first available seat.

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)…

Scanty clothing causes earthquakes – cleric

Lady Gaga. A walking EMP.

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

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.

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

So it wasn't taxes

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

List of reasons I moved away from Auckland

So it wasn't taxes

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…

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.

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

Reykjavik

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".

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.

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…

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

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.

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!

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…

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…

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…

"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…

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.

Srsly, at your average motorsport event the spectators burn orders of magnitude more fuel than the competitors.

I saw 5 mins of that car race while I was waiting for a plane (that damn volcano's even delaying Auckland-Wellington flights).

Seriously, it was a bunch of saloon cars (with poorly appointed…

The floods that come out of the glaicers -from all the melting ice are call jokulhaups.

Anyway pyroclastic flows are the result material collapsing out of an ash…

Autistic savant Daniel Tammet learned Icelandic in a week. He's written about how easy it was in his book Embracing the wide sky.…

the spectators burn orders of magnitude more fuel

and that's just the hotdogs

Just lug everything over the hill to the Wairarapa.

No, I'm pretty sure the Wairarapa is just as unsafe as Wellington, if not more so. In fact I distinctly recall a DomPost article in which they suggested that a Wairarapa earthquake might destress the Wellington faultline and buy the capital…

Had a dour laugh or two when I saw a HCC sign suggesting that spectators take a 'green' route by walking to the track--so they could watch expensive cars going round and round in circles, burning up finite fossil fuel!

Srsly, at your average motorsport event the spectators burn **orders…

Heh. Fair enough. I take it you will join my campaign to move the capital to Palmerston North?

Nooooooo! We may be faultless, but we at least have undulations in our favour.

Heh. Fair enough. I take it you will join my campaign to move the capital to Palmerston North?

That's taking things a bit far, surely.

Just lug everything over the hill to the Wairarapa.

What I said about Auckland volcanoes? Doesn't apply to fault lines. Sorry.

Heh. Fair enough. I take it you will join my campaign to move the capital to Palmerston North?

Oh yes. And I say that sitting directly above a major faultline.

What I said about Auckland volcanoes? Doesn't apply to fault lines. Sorry.

What fools we mortals be.

Precisely what I thought as tidied up the vege garden yesterday, listening to the roar of V8s in downtown Hamilton. Had a dour laugh or two when I saw a HCC sign suggesting that spectators take a 'green' route by walking to the track--so they…

in tins?

Naturally

There's something about literally living in the shadow of a volcano (even an extinct one) that seems...silly.

Oh yes. And I say that sitting directly above a major faultline.

I've had a couple of nightmares involving volcanic eruptions since I moved to Devonport. There's something about literally living in the shadow of a volcano (even an extinct one) that seems...silly.

Actually, as I understand it, the Auckland sort of volcano doesn't erupt twice on one site. So the next…

You might be saying that without sarcasm when he comes home with the expenses claim. I've always been under the impression that Cannes isn't exactly a haven for the budget traveller. :)

Oh, quite. Just as well he's there with The Boss.

There's something about literally living in the shadow of a volcano (even an extinct one) that seems...silly.

Different from all other human behaviour how?

What fools we mortals be.

Meanwhile, my friend Brian has been stuck in Cannes for days now. I know, I know – poor bugger.

You might be saying that without sarcasm when he comes home with the expenses claim. I've always been under the impression that Cannes isn't exactly a haven for the budget traveller.…

That was actually quite scary.

The Pompeii exhibition included a short 3D movie showing the eruption and aftermath. I found that quite terrifying, considering the number of volcanoes in NZ!

Given Te Papa's long opening hours, it's not unlikely that when the big time comes there'll be somebody in the earthquake simulator. No doubt they'll think oh baby, this thing ROCKS.

... unless the two cancel each other out.

I think this is the right place to tell you all about Höpöhöpö Böks, which is an Icelandic poem composed using only one vowel, making it a univocal lipogram.

"This is why you should never listen to poets, they lie to you":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jX9y6AA5oOo

I've had a couple of nightmares involving…

imported Sardinians

in tins?

I was recently speaking to someone in a similar role in Auckland who was frustrated beyond belief that no matter what they did, he was unable to get Aucklanders to fully appreciate the natural hazards the city faces or to prepare their households for a possible emergency.

What, you mean…

Winston Churchill celebrating the end of wartime austerity with a photo op of himself handing a schoolgirl a banana.

Caption: Paedophiles for healthy nutrition?

drunken britons running out of money -

Those will be sent for a week's stint on Sommes Island along with a contingent of imported Sardinians. Cure them right up.

I bought a wind-up radio

You're having us on

He's just winding us up...

But, he did mention this when we discussed the Emergency Preparation thing not so long ago. Mine has a torch too.

Yes yes, another droll badge to add to my collection. Better droll than troll, right?

drunken britons running out of money -

That looked like a preview of Party Central, except there'd be a few lads(BG) pissing in the harbour.

Dear Iceland, we said "Send Cash".

It's been pointed out in this context that there is no 'c' in the icelandic aplphabet.

Strange to think it wasn't really so very long ago that oranges were desirable enough in Europe to be given as Christmas presents.

Times do change. Winston Churchill…

I bought a wind-up radio

You're having us on

unable to get Aucklanders to fully appreciate the natural hazards the city faces or to prepare their households for a possible emergency.

But we're building more and wider motorways to escape on – to Helensville and beyond!

I was recently speaking to someone in a similar role in Auckland who was frustrated beyond belief that no matter what they did, he was unable to get Aucklanders to fully appreciate the natural hazards the city faces or to prepare their households for a possible emergency.

I bought a…

Hopefully won't coincide with Rugby World Cup 2011.

Are you kidding? We'd have the captive, stranded tourists we've always hoped for.

The idea might sound great in Wellington but drunken britons running out of money –

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiJyC0mSTpY

Interesting to see all the news reporters around the globe studiously avoiding pronouncing the real name of that which will forever be known as That Bloody Volcano in Iceland

At first I thought the title of this post was Russell mashing keys from lack of imagination. So that's the name…

Airlines testing low-altitude flights, desperate to get in the air again? I imagine some interesting conversations with insurers.

I imagine that if they stay below a ceiling of say c.5000m, they could avoid the higher level ash cloud until they get beyond its limits then lift up to a normal…

(and certainly if it's your job to!)

Eggs-Zachary!

Hey, ya fergot La Yogurt.

Ahh, America, we loves yous!

PS. I've found that works if you channel either Billy Connelly or Father Ted, depending on which accent you do better.

Eyjafjallajökull – You're doing it wrong!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jq-sMZtSww

Chortle.

Hat-tip to NZ-based Icelandic singer Hera Hjartardottir.

Dear Iceland, we said "Send Cash".

Surely being English it would have read Dear Iceland, we said "Send Cash" you unt.

I've uploaded an MP3 of the pronunciation.

Not that it really helps.

I can safely say my guess at the pronunciation was not even close. How to pronounce Eyjafjallajökull.

They don't really seem to agree with each other. Although maybe the latter is breaking it down slowly for us.

Ay-ya-fyat-lie-ya-kut…

Reports indicate a shortage of tropical fruit is imminent, green beans are in short supply and a crisis looms in Kenyan flower supplies.

Truly, armageddon is upon us.

Strange to think it wasn't really so very long ago that oranges were desirable enough in Europe to be given as Christmas…

I'm digging the scene:
North Pole-Dancing
HoHoHoHoHoes n hotties
in lavalavas everwhere
itsa disco inferno
ptui classic lycra elastic
I like my ash pyroclastic!

Is this the video?

Dear Iceland, we said "Send Cash".

Thanks for the simulation of the volcano in Auckland harbour. It scared the crap out of my son when his grandparents took…

I like my ash pyroclastic!

Genius.

Now, if only that Icelandic poet above could rap. That would be something...

...why, that would be
HipHöpöhöpö!

I'm digging the scene:
North Pole-Dancing
HoHoHoHoHoes n hotties
in lavalavas everwhere
itsa disco inferno
ptui classic lycra elastic
I like my ash pyroclastic!

I noted a little while ago that a suburban volcano in Auckland would take out Auckland airport for weeks or months. Hopefully won't coincide with Rugby World Cup 2011.

yeah, cause those hoping to rent their houses out to RWC visitors won't be able to leave for their holidays in…

Dodgy bankers, dodgy volcanoes

Best line I saw on Twitter (from @Chelfyn or our @DavidSlack, I believe):

"It was the last wish of the Icelandic economy that its ashes be scattered over…

And an anthropomorphically unnerving picture from the air.

Are we really surprised that Volcano Whose Name Cannot Be Spoken turns out to be a portal to the deepest reaches of hell? If they'd just called it Mt Fluffy Bunnies we wouldn't be in this mess...

Hopefully won't coincide with Rugby World Cup 2011.

are you kidding? those of us who are dreading the RWC have already started out on the volcano worship .... these days it seems virgins are hard to come by which means the rugby people have little chance of stopping us ....

Truly, armageddon is upon us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hc9RQBk61Os

And an anthropomorphically unnerving picture from the air.

The headline Surtur smiles is (obviously – duh!) a reference to Surtr the jötunn, signalling the arrival of Ragnarök.

We're all doomed.

My mind is boggling at the thought of long lines of tourists snaking down the beaches in Northern France (lets say for the sake of argument in the region of, ohhhh I dunno,…

Concluding thought: the Icelandic language would seem to be a rich trove of un-guessable passwords …

Eyjafjallajökull?

It would be very funny if [people] around the world started copying and pasting this into the password fields. I can hear the screams already. "Shit, how do you do that bloody dotty…

I imagine loads of perishables rotting in various airports in Asia & US.

And a lot of Kenyan farm workers being laid off.

Not that it really helps.

That was actually quite scary.

I was scared watching the simulations of the activity of Egmont Volcano (as opposed to Mount Taranaki) at the New Plymouth museum last week. The region changed shape quite impressively.

(To say nothing of when it was Taupo that remodelled the Taranaki.)

So seriously does anyone know how to pronounce that?

Sure. (Care of Wikimedia.)

Hopefully won't coincide with Rugby World Cup 2011.

Are you kidding? We'd have the captive, stranded tourists we've always hoped for.

I noted a little while ago that a suburban volcano in Auckland would take out Auckland airport for weeks or months. Hopefully won't coincide with Rugby World Cup 2011.