Volcanic eruption on Iceland (& similar natural disasters across the Globe)

Coffeehouse · 04-18-2010, 06:35 PM

Volcanic eruption on Iceland (& similar natural disasters across the Globe)

Ash cloud above the Eyjafjallajökull volcano

Radar image of the crater at the Eyjafjallajökull volcano

Thought I'd make a quick poll

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Which of the following views most closely resembles your understanding of the ash-spewing volcano on Iceland?

A. The volcanic eruption on Iceland is due to the geological location of Iceland and as much as it is a natural disaster it has occurred before and will occur in the future and there is little we can do to buffer against its activity.

B. The volcanic eruption on Iceland is due to the geological location of Iceland and, as a large-scale natural disaster, shows the over-dependence of Europe (and the rest of the world) on air-travel. It also highlights our over-dependence and misplaced trust on technology to solve our problems when faced with dangers in the natural world.

C. The volcanic eruption on Iceland is an act of God and is meant to symbolize and to some extent punish Europe (and the rest of the world) for the path that it has elected to pursue both spiritually, economically and societally.

D. The volcanic eruption on Iceland is a yet little understood phenomena and we know too little about it to draw any conclusions on its nature or activity.

E. The volcanic eruption on Iceland is the weapon used by the Icelandic people to punish Europe (and the rest of the world) for abandoning it in the current financial crisis and letting it move towards the edge of bankrupcy. As such the volcano is a geopolitical tool, the eruption being initiated by concentrated large-scale explosives that the armed forces of Iceland have developed over many decades.

F. None of the above

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hectorberlioz · 04-18-2010, 06:45 PM

Coffeehouse, without answering your poll questions, I just want to say that I have been keeping up with all the earthquake/volcano news. It all disturbs me greatly. I'm just praying Yellowstone isn't next!

I'm not a 2012er in any way, and I haven't interpreted the series of quakes/tremors in any particular direction. I'm just hoping and praying people will be safe, ultimately.

***Varnafindë*** · 04-18-2010, 07:12 PM

A, and to some extent B. There is little we can do to stop volcanoes from doing what they have always been doing.

We are very much dependent on air travel - this is a foretaste of what will happen when there is no more fuel left that aircrafts can use.

Unless our technology finds a new kind of fuel for them before that.

inked · 04-18-2010, 07:39 PM

CH, you forgot

G) the "spooky face" shown by radar is one really pissed off Mother Nature

F) the "spooky face" shown by radar is due to Mother Nature's constipation

H) the whole bit is due to Mother Nature's ejection of greenhouse gases due to her feeling inadequately warmed by alleged anthropogenic global warming

I) alternatively, Mother Nature is having a hot flash.

Gwaimir Windgem · 04-18-2010, 08:22 PM

I would assume A and D. I must not know enough about volcanoes, but I'm not sure what the connection with B is?

***Varnafindë*** · 04-18-2010, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwaimir Windgem

I would assume A and D. I must not know enough about volcanoes, but I'm not sure what the connection with B is?

Quote:

B. The volcanic eruption on Iceland is due to the geological location of Iceland and, as a large-scale natural disaster, shows the over-dependence of Europe (and the rest of the world) on air-travel.

I guess it would be clearer to say that our reaction to this large-scale natural disaster, shows ... etc.
The eruption, as such, is not what shows our over-dependence on air-travel.

***Earniel*** · 04-19-2010, 06:29 AM

NASA too has an awesome picture today of the sky in Iceland. Although I think the calderas remind me more of Sauron's ugly mug, signalling he is rebuilding the vulcano as his new Mount Doom!

Especially since I heard that the part of Iceland between the volcano and the sea is under perpetual darkness now, somewhat like Gondor when Sauron attacked it in LoTR.

The Eyjafjallajökul's timing is not bad, Easter Holiday was just ending this weekend over here which meant that thousands of people were meant to return home. I reckon quite a few students won't make it back in time for school. While the ash-clouds are terrible for the air travel companies, I take it the trains, ferries, rentable cars and travelling busses must be making a fortune right now!

I do admit to thinking briefly, upon hearing the volcano blew ash-clouds our way that Iceland was sending their problems once again to the rest of Europe.

But I won't be going around yelling 'I hate Iceland!' like that guy in the youtube-video. If a volcano's going to blow, she's gonna blow, and what exactly are we going to do to change her mind?

Insidious Rex · 04-19-2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffeehouse

E. The volcanic eruption on Iceland is the weapon used by the Icelandic people to punish Europe (and the rest of the world) for abandoning it in the current financial crisis and letting it move towards the edge of bankrupcy. As such the volcano is a geopolitical tool, the eruption being initiated by concentrated large-scale explosives that the armed forces of Iceland have developed over many decades.

F.

No not explosives but FRICKIN HUGE LASERS! The true tool of the evil geniuses of the world. *puts pinkie to edge of mouth and laughs* Very soon the world will have no choice but to give Iceland ONE MILLION KRONA which we will use to buy a cup of coffee with...

Coffeehouse · 04-19-2010, 02:27 PM

Neat picture from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano

The Gaffer · 04-19-2010, 02:35 PM

Holy mackerel. Reckon that's a better Mount Doom than we got in the films.

Not looking forward to the train journey tomorrow. All flights cancelled = ordure-filled trains.

hectorberlioz · 04-19-2010, 04:38 PM

I've always found natural disasters to be extremely frightening. I am personally scared on behalf of all the people who live in that area...

Comic Book Guy · 04-19-2010, 05:39 PM

I find the near sense of incredulity and outrage at this powerful natural phenomenon quite baffling. The inexorable forces of nature bear no relation to the demands of an insignificant, commonplace hominid species. It's a real human weakness: the attempt to find some personification and meaning in natural events where there really is none. So I guess my answer would be amalgamation of a and d.

04-18-2010, 06:35 PM	#1
Coffeehouse Entmoot Minister of Foreign Affairs Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Copenhagen Posts: 2,145	Volcanic eruption on Iceland (& similar natural disasters across the Globe) Volcanic eruption on Iceland (& similar natural disasters across the Globe) Ash cloud above the Eyjafjallajökull volcano Radar image of the crater at the Eyjafjallajökull volcano Thought I'd make a quick poll ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Which of the following views most closely resembles your understanding of the ash-spewing volcano on Iceland? A. The volcanic eruption on Iceland is due to the geological location of Iceland and as much as it is a natural disaster it has occurred before and will occur in the future and there is little we can do to buffer against its activity. B. The volcanic eruption on Iceland is due to the geological location of Iceland and, as a large-scale natural disaster, shows the over-dependence of Europe (and the rest of the world) on air-travel. It also highlights our over-dependence and misplaced trust on technology to solve our problems when faced with dangers in the natural world. C. The volcanic eruption on Iceland is an act of God and is meant to symbolize and to some extent punish Europe (and the rest of the world) for the path that it has elected to pursue both spiritually, economically and societally. D. The volcanic eruption on Iceland is a yet little understood phenomena and we know too little about it to draw any conclusions on its nature or activity. E. The volcanic eruption on Iceland is the weapon used by the Icelandic people to punish Europe (and the rest of the world) for abandoning it in the current financial crisis and letting it move towards the edge of bankrupcy. As such the volcano is a geopolitical tool, the eruption being initiated by concentrated large-scale explosives that the armed forces of Iceland have developed over many decades. F. None of the above ------------------------------------------------------------------------- __________________ "Well, thief! I smell you and I feel your air. I hear your breath. Come along! Help yourself again, there is plenty and to spare."

04-18-2010, 06:45 PM	#2
hectorberlioz Master of Orchestration President Emeritus of Entmoot 2004-2008 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lost in the Opera House Posts: 9,328	Coffeehouse, without answering your poll questions, I just want to say that I have been keeping up with all the earthquake/volcano news. It all disturbs me greatly. I'm just praying Yellowstone isn't next! I'm not a 2012er in any way, and I haven't interpreted the series of quakes/tremors in any particular direction. I'm just hoping and praying people will be safe, ultimately. __________________ ACALEWIA- President of Entmoot hectorberlioz- Vice President of Entmoot Acaly und Hektor fur Presidants fur EntMut fur life! Join the discussion at Entmoot Election 2010. "Stupidissimo!"~Toscanini The Da CINDY Code The Epic Poem Of The Balrog of Entmoot: Here ~NEW! ~ Thinking of summer vacation? AboutNewJersey.com - NJ Travel & Tourism Guide

04-18-2010, 07:12 PM	#3
*Varnafindë* Princess of the Noldor (and Administrative Empress of the Lone Islands) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Imladris (and sometimes Norway) Posts: 3,304	A, and to some extent B. There is little we can do to stop volcanoes from doing what they have always been doing. We are very much dependent on air travel - this is a foretaste of what will happen when there is no more fuel left that aircrafts can use. Unless our technology finds a new kind of fuel for them before that. __________________ Signature picture art - Bard the Bowman - by vigshane Avatar art - Footsteps of Spring (a young Luthien) - by Henning Janssen

04-18-2010, 07:39 PM	#4
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	CH, you forgot G) the "spooky face" shown by radar is one really pissed off Mother Nature F) the "spooky face" shown by radar is due to Mother Nature's constipation H) the whole bit is due to Mother Nature's ejection of greenhouse gases due to her feeling inadequately warmed by alleged anthropogenic global warming I) alternatively, Mother Nature is having a hot flash. __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

04-18-2010, 08:22 PM	#5
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	I would assume A and D. I must not know enough about volcanoes, but I'm not sure what the connection with B is? __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

04-19-2010, 06:29 AM	#7
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	NASA too has an awesome picture today of the sky in Iceland. Although I think the calderas remind me more of Sauron's ugly mug, signalling he is rebuilding the vulcano as his new Mount Doom! Especially since I heard that the part of Iceland between the volcano and the sea is under perpetual darkness now, somewhat like Gondor when Sauron attacked it in LoTR. The Eyjafjallajökul's timing is not bad, Easter Holiday was just ending this weekend over here which meant that thousands of people were meant to return home. I reckon quite a few students won't make it back in time for school. While the ash-clouds are terrible for the air travel companies, I take it the trains, ferries, rentable cars and travelling busses must be making a fortune right now! I do admit to thinking briefly, upon hearing the volcano blew ash-clouds our way that Iceland was sending their problems once again to the rest of Europe. But I won't be going around yelling 'I hate Iceland!' like that guy in the youtube-video. If a volcano's going to blow, she's gonna blow, and what exactly are we going to do to change her mind? __________________ We are not things.

04-19-2010, 02:27 PM	#9
Coffeehouse Entmoot Minister of Foreign Affairs Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Copenhagen Posts: 2,145	Neat picture from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano __________________ "Well, thief! I smell you and I feel your air. I hear your breath. Come along! Help yourself again, there is plenty and to spare."

04-19-2010, 02:35 PM	#10
The Gaffer Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In me taters Posts: 3,288	Holy mackerel. Reckon that's a better Mount Doom than we got in the films. Not looking forward to the train journey tomorrow. All flights cancelled = ordure-filled trains.

04-19-2010, 04:38 PM	#11
hectorberlioz Master of Orchestration President Emeritus of Entmoot 2004-2008 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Lost in the Opera House Posts: 9,328	I've always found natural disasters to be extremely frightening. I am personally scared on behalf of all the people who live in that area... __________________ ACALEWIA- President of Entmoot hectorberlioz- Vice President of Entmoot Acaly und Hektor fur Presidants fur EntMut fur life! Join the discussion at Entmoot Election 2010. "Stupidissimo!"~Toscanini The Da CINDY Code The Epic Poem Of The Balrog of Entmoot: Here ~NEW! ~ Thinking of summer vacation? AboutNewJersey.com - NJ Travel & Tourism Guide

04-19-2010, 05:39 PM	#12
Comic Book Guy Best Ex-Administrator ever Join Date: May 2001 Location: Ireland Posts: 60,547	I find the near sense of incredulity and outrage at this powerful natural phenomenon quite baffling. The inexorable forces of nature bear no relation to the demands of an insignificant, commonplace hominid species. It's a real human weakness: the attempt to find some personification and meaning in natural events where there really is none. So I guess my answer would be amalgamation of a and d.