Seriously thoughtful UK flights grounded by Icelandic volcano

[cmdahler]

Originally Posted by HarryT

How essential is flying to most people? We may have become used to getting anywhere in the world in a day, but I'd guess that there are very few people who actually NEED to do so. Eg, you can get pretty much anywhere in Western Europe on the train in a day (24h); I'd guess that the same would be true in the US, too, with modern high-speed trains.

That really isn't the case in the U.S., at least not without several tens of billions of dollars invested into creating a high-speed rail infrastructure that just doesn't exist here. You can get anywhere in the Eastern seaboard in a day by rail, but that's just about where our efficient rail system ends. Rail was never seen as very practical in the U.S. for passenger transport after flying became popular just because of the distances involved, and flying became the de facto standard here for distance travel long before high speed (~200km/h) rail was developed. If aviation came to a halt in the U.S., it would be several years before high speed rail here could come close to replacing it, especially when you get west and south of, say, Detroit or Chicago. It would be pretty devastating to our economy, no doubt.

[Sparrow]

Bring back airships!!

[Madam Broshkina]

The Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull keeps spewing ash high into the atmophere, wreaking havoc upon air travel and seriously dampening the global economy. One of the least obvious -- but far from least suffering -- victims of the volcano has been the book publishing industry.




See full article from DailyFinance:

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/me...stry/19445647/

[Bilberry]

This ash cloud reached Russia but it won't be harmful for people's health as specialists say.
Interesting facts: there are 40 volcanos in Iceland, 28 of those are active. Seismologists predict that there will be more eruptions in Iceland
Don't you think too much disasters happen in our world!

[vivaldirules]

Originally Posted by Madam Broshkina

The Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull keeps spewing ash high into the atmophere, wreaking havoc upon air travel and seriously dampening the global economy. One of the least obvious -- but far from least suffering -- victims of the volcano has been the book publishing industry.




See full article from DailyFinance:

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/me...stry/19445647/

"The canceled flights have slashed trade-fair turnout, disrupted author book tours and delayed shipping of books across the Atlantic."

I believe we could suggest a solution to that last one.

[Ea]

Originally Posted by Bilberry

This ash cloud reached Russia but it won't be harmful for people's health as specialists say.
Interesting facts: there are 40 volcanos in Iceland, 28 of those are active. Seismologists predict that there will be more eruptions in Iceland
Don't you think too much disasters happen in our world!

submit free press release

There's an area in north-east Iceland, near the Krafla power plant, were there were volcanic activity in the 70's and early 80's and even today steam rises from the warm ground. It's a very interesting area to visit.

I don't know if too many disasters happen. I am sure there are no more nor fewer that there would happen naturally (obviously). It is the way of the world and we must live with it.

[markbot]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Many flights into and out of the UK today are being grounded due to meteorologists forecasting that a large cloud of ash from a volcano that's errupting in Iceland will drift across Britain today. Not exactly the typical reason for flights to be cancelled around here!

the gods hate Iceland. first their financial disaster....now it has been struck down with a volcano.

[poohbear_nc]

Can we mount GIANT fans over the volcano - reverse their blades - and suck all the ash back into the volcano?
[OK - I took cold meds for my pollen-induced illness - and my ideas are a bit wild.]

[Ea]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Can we mount GIANT fans over the volcano - reverse their blades - and suck all the ash back into the volcano?
[OK - I took cold meds for my pollen-induced illness - and my ideas are a bit wild.]

Yeah, they sorta are But fun to contemplate. Iceland has survived much worse than this though, so we should just be optimistic

[beppe]

Originally Posted by markbot

the gods hate Iceland. first their financial disaster....now it has been struck down with a volcano.

It is an international sign for the annulment of a malefaction.
It also indicates that the partner of whom this sign is exhibited to is not precisely faithful.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by markbot

the gods hate Iceland. first their financial disaster....now it has been struck down with a volcano.

Maybe if they gave the money back????????

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by HarryT

How essential is flying to most people? We may have become used to getting anywhere in the world in a day, but I'd guess that there are very few people who actually NEED to do so. Eg, you can get pretty much anywhere in Western Europe on the train in a day (24h); I'd guess that the same would be true in the US, too, with modern high-speed trains.

I spent a year and a half flying to a different city every week to upgrade the communications systems in banks. the mentality in the US is like that, our work and play schedules revolve around being able to fly anywhere anythime

[GeoffC]

a disaster only occurs when it affects people ....

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

a disaster only occurs when it affects people ....

Which is why we have more now, because there are more people on Earth than there ever was.

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

Which is why we have more now, because there are more people on Earth than there ever was.

Probably - but perhaps it's another way for nature to try and curb humans ....