Dumbest. Thing. Ever. Said. (at least for today)

[Brad Johnson]

Earlier today I overheard what may be the dumbest thing ever said.  If not, it should be right at the top of the list.  The conversation was of the Icelandic volcano that's wreaking havoc with air travel in Europe.  One person said, "Why are they (the Icelanders -Brad) just sitting around.  Why don't they do something about it!?"

*Double-take* Wha-wha-WHAT!??

IT'S A FREAKIN' VOLCANO!  What are they going to do, walk up and ask it nicely to stop?

Brad

[Nick1911]

Yea man, you have to snuff those out before they cause property damage. 


 

[makattak]

Dude, seriously. All they need to do is drop a glacier on that thing. DUH.

[roo_ster]

Airborne Laser Volcano Lancing.

If only BHO hadn't 86'd that program...

(Shamelessly plagiarized from Jonah Goldberg)

[mellestad]

I'm picturing a giant air filter.

Or maybe a volcano condom.

[AZRedhawk44]

This would be a GREAT time for the Germans to attack the Brits via Zeppelins again.

The RAF couldn't fight in that soup, and the Zepps would probably do okay.

[RoadKingLarry]

I think the UN needs to slap a hefty fine on Iceland for all the pollution being spewed into the air. They also need to ID and monitor that gases being used to heft that much ashinto the air. We can't allow any single landmass to impose its will on the rest of the hemisphere in such a reckless manner.

[Laurent du Var]

Nuh, Europe couldn't drop a fine on Iceland - they're dead broke already.
But it is true that so far 75 % of all flights on the continent are cancelled
which causes great trouble because on part of Europe is at the end  of Easter
holidays and the other par just starts them. Everybody needs to move right now and there are no planes... . 

[41magsnub]

I'm picturing a giant air filter.

Or maybe a volcano condom.

Obviously the answer is to set up a really big fan to blow it all back out to sea!

[HankB]

Maybe they should build a giant pipe to gather the gasses, move them to an unused cave, and sequester the vapors underground . . .

Or they can just buy carbon credits from Algore and all will be well . . .

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

If only we had a global treaty against this kinda stuff.

[AJ Dual]

Which is rather ironic.

Iceland actually DID "stop a volcano"... (well sort of, or at least they tried....)

There was a lava flow that threatened to cut off a vital harbor, so in desperation, the Icelanders went out in ships with pumps and fire-hoses/water jets etc. and tried to harden/divert the flow to prevent it from completely closing off the harbor.

There's some debate that the thermal mass of the flow was just too great for any amount of pumping to slow or stop it, but the flow did stop in time, and actually made the harbor better and more protected.

So it's kind of funny for you to mention this. Because AFAIK, the Icelanders are the only people who have ever tried to "Do something about it."  

Of course the basic premise of your acquaintance's stupidity is not in question here.  

What I want to know is, if this is the "Worst ash-eruption in 100 years from Iceland to blanket Europe, what did all the commercial airlines do about it back then?"

[41magsnub]

There was a lava flow that threatened to cut off a vital harbor, so in desperation, the Icelanders went out in ships with pumps and fire-hoses/water jets etc. and tried to harden/divert the flow to prevent it from completely closing off the harbor.

Hey, I saw that movie too but it was in Los Angeles!   

[AJ Dual]

Hey, I saw that movie too but it was in Los Angeles!   

Probably where they got the idea from.

http://wapedia.mobi/en/Eldfell

[HankB]

. . . What I want to know is, if this is the "Worst ash-eruption in 100 years from Iceland to blanket Europe, what did all the commercial airlines do about it back then?"

I'd be remiss if I failed to point out (to those who may have missed the sarcasm in your question) that fewer people relied on commercial air travel in 1910 than rely on it in 2010. 

[crt360]

Isn't a human sacrifice supposed to work?

[AJ Dual]

I'd be remiss if I failed to point out (to those who may have missed the sarcasm in your question) that fewer people relied on commercial air travel in 1910 than rely on it in 2010. 

Well, I've been searching, and there should be some news reports archived of it on YouTube or something...

[Tallpine]

Well, I've been searching, and there should be some news reports archived of it on YouTube or something...

All those archives were lost when civilization ended on 12-31-1999 

[AJ Dual]

All those archives were lost when civilization ended on 12-31-1999 

What about on the other side of the Earth? Did it end there too?

[vaskidmark]

Isn't a human sacrifice supposed to work?

Good luck finding a virgin over there.

However, if you are thinking of heading in that direction to undertake the project, give me a call before you leave.  I'm already packed.

stay safe.

skidmark

[Mabs2]

[RoadKingLarry]

Isn't a human sacrifice supposed to work?

I can suggest a long list of candiates .

[HankB]

I can suggest a long list of candiates .

The Icelandic equivalent of Hawaii's Pele would probably throw Nancy Pelosi back . . .

[Tallpine]

What about on the other side of the Earth? Did it end there too?

What other side...?  It's flat, you know 

[230RN]

What's this "virgin" thing you're talking about?