Top Diaries

wow. I never realized how active the Ring of Fire was!

by stevesim on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 12:38:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

And notice the obvious 'gap' along the California coast...an area that is just waiting to 'pop'.

by ElaineinNM on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 12:43:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

oh that would be catastrophic.

by stevesim on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 12:52:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It might be that the rate of subduction is much greater along the Asian boundary of the Pacific Plate than along the North American boundary. That is my poorly informed surmise. Anyone have any data on that? Or is there a good reason why the expansion should be close to equal in each direction?

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 05:37:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I wonder why there are so few in the mid-Atlantic ridge compared to the Ring of Fire.

by stevesim on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 12:57:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

N Atlantic ridge is expansion, ie it's two plates moving apart.

Ring of Fire is subduction, ie plates moving under, or moving past. Completely different dynamics

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 01:58:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

hence the volcanic activity in the mid-Atlantic! I get it now.

by stevesim on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 02:12:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

not just mid-atlantic

Etna, 8 Februar

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 02:15:48 PM EST
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I've come to the sudden realization that when I die, it will be without having ever visited Japan.

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 02:20:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

well, I hope there is still time to change that.

by stevesim on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 03:09:25 PM EST
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Where you're living, you'll have to make do with a lot of Japanese visiting you.....

by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 05:19:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Indeed. Everywhere I've traveled in the last few years, it's evident that the Asians have large travel budgets and big-time travel fever.

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 01:20:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/monde/story/Kim-Jong-Un-a-t-il-ete-assassine--18341419

breaking: according to a Chinese blog, the North Korean leader has been assassinated in Beijing during an official trip and the NK army has been mobilized

by stevesim on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 01:06:03 PM EST

http://gawker.com/5884033/chinese-twitter-says-kim-jong+un-was-assassinated-this-morning-in-beijing

in english

by stevesim on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 01:07:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 5)

This is probably just a rumor. The Diplomat has a good story on it here.

The brothers Kim have been at it for the past month, so that's probably why this thing spread.

Kim Young Un's older brother was the heir apparent until he got caught trying to sneak into Japan with his family on a trip to Disneyland. On a fake Dominican passport.

Because of this the older brother was basically exiled to Macau where the Chinese have apparently been stage managing him. He did an interview with Japanese press last month badmouthing his brother. The younger Kim apparently has been working to kill his older brother for a while because he sees him as a threat.

Even if the younger Kim is killed, it probably doesn't matter. He's basically being put through a regency with his aunt and uncle really being in charge while he builds his credibility with the military.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 01:53:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

well maybe not (none / 0)

BBC Live News (bbclivenews) on Twitter

Confirmed breaking news. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un assassinated. Updates to follow.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:02:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

although having looked further it appears to be a fake account

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:05:37 PM EST
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Re: well maybe not (none / 1)

What does unassassinated mean?

"Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

by Melanchthon on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:06:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Could mean "as yet".

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 05:41:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

unassassinated would seem to imply an undoing, or am I inferring that?

perhaps this would be better?

mis-1
a prefix applied to various parts of speech, meaning "ill," "mistaken," "wrong," "wrongly," "incorrectly," or simply negating: mistrial; misprint; mistrust.

by stevesim on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:08:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: well maybe not (4.00 / 4)

Korean leader Kim-Jong-Mis assassinated

"Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

by Melanchthon on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:11:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: well maybe not (4.00 / 2)

No, they Mis-ed

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 02:19:52 AM EST
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@WootLive

Kim Jong-Un's assassination and China's invasion of North Korea is either super scary news or the most successful twitter prank ever.

tens of millions of people stand to see their lives ruined because the bureaucrats at the ECB don't understand introductory economics -- Dean Baker

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 05:51:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Gallant hordes of North Korean young-uns celebrate the un-assassination with a traditional folk tune

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 04:10:31 AM EST
[ Parent ]

BBC News - Today - Alan Moore's alternative Thought for the Day

Guest editor Stewart Lee wasn't keen to suggest a guest for our Thought for the Day slot, but instead asked writer Alan Moore to provide an alternative Thought for the Day for his programme.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 03:01:12 PM EST

Richness unbound

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 03:05:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

BBC News - Viewpoint: V for Vendetta and the rise of Anonymous

well he's also come out with a sentiment I can most definiely agree with

Without wishing to overstate my case, everything in the observable universe definitely has its origins in Northamptonshire,

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 03:16:11 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well, from a Northamptonshire-based solipsistic point of view, it is true...

"Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

by Melanchthon on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:05:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Extremely dangerous. They're Across The Border.

Seen from a southern Leicestershire village, true omphalos.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 02:40:05 AM EST
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Inspiring dinner tonight at the Book Club for birthday friends of a Finnish movie director (and toy collector). Cigar smokers were welcomed.

Interesting discussions with professionals on the state of foley today, the ramifications of digital theatres, online movie criticism and self-organization in education. I won't bore you with the details. But the Cuban cigars were a delight.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 03:57:39 PM EST

ah, Finns with Cubans. and people complain about globalisation!

by stevesim on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:09:55 PM EST
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Finland-Cuba is a relationship that's been going since the late 60s. I was a house producer for the Large and Leftist Love Records from 74 to 79, and many Cuban bands such as Irakere came to record and play in Finland. They always brought the best cigars with them.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:27:46 PM EST
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and what Finnish specialty did they receive in return?

by stevesim on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:30:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Women.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:46:59 PM EST
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and sometimes, someone once said, a cigar is only a cigar.

by stevesim on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:53:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

A clear case of denial on his part.

by gk (g k quattro due due sette "at" gmail.com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 05:20:31 PM EST
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A bad cold probably

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 02:20:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Before and after tsunami clear up photos.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/asia/japan-tsunami/la-fg-japan-tsunami-before-after-sl ider,0,4227302.htmlstory

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:30:50 PM EST

David Allen Green (jackofkent) on Twitter

Oh now this looks like it could be Interesting....

Just heard of possible hacking story which is of Dowler proportions. Checking it out now, wonder if anything in it... #Leveson

David Allen Green (jackofkent) on Twitter

If this hacking story actually comes up to proof, remember my last tweet. #Leveson

David Allen Green (jackofkent) on Twitter

An event happened one Friday, which became very politically significant... #Leveson

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 04:37:46 PM EST

Hmmm, could be anything and nothing. Wonder why he wanted to tweet it ? Is he trying to claim ownership of a prospective story or is he trying to flush something out ?

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 02:22:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Private Eye | Official Site

More flush something out I think. but he doesn't have a rep for hype and things he's come out with have ususally played out, so as he's sayingit's as big as the Dowlers if true then there is much slavering going on.
He has said this morning that it's nothing to do with the eight arrests that have taken place this morning reaching up to the depputy editor, chief reporter and picture editor.

according to private eye, one of the last batch of arrests appears to be an open and shut case.

Operation Elveden, the Met's investigation into illegal payments to police, was tipped off by supergrass Will Lewis and his colleagues on News International's management and standards committee, which handed over a stack of incriminating paperwork last autumn including an expenses claim rather carelessly made out for "£500 for paying police officer".

(my bold)

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 06:56:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Winter appears to be making its belated arrival tonight in Mountain Home, AR. The forecast is for a low tonight of 18F, (-17.8C), a high Saturday of 30F, a low Saturday night of 13F, (-10.5C) and then two days with highs in the mid to low 30s. We have needed a good freeze to kill many harmful invasive insects, etc. but the unusually warm January and February to date has our daffodils just starting to flower, with many in bud. To make matters worse, north winds up to 25 mph are forecast. Oh, what to do?

Well, I have just finished two hours of work covering the flowers with leaf mulch and then tarps, held down by a variety of means from nails into landscape timbers to rocks and logs. Spring is usually the one season where we have an abundance of flowers and I hate to see it lost. Will hope for the best and now go back out to get some wood for the wood stove. This will be the first time it has been used since late November, as it is usually reserved for temperatures below the mid 20sF. Nothing notable compared to what has been the case in Europe recently, but none-the-less significant for us.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 05:59:41 PM EST

Our apricot buds are starting to swell....way too early as we will undoubtedly get a cold snap.

by ElaineinNM on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 08:57:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

At this time of year we usually have a few feet of snow on the ground (3-4). This morning I could see the grass.

No one has seen a winter like this around here before that I have talked to. Currently we are getting a couple of inches of snow. -13 tonight getting above freezing by the end of the week.

I'm somewhat worried that we may get a real cold snap with no snow to protect plants.

We just planted a couple of Paw Paw's in the fall that we grew from seed. The very warm winter may end up causing problems.

_{aspiring to genteel poverty}

by edwin (eeeeeeee222222rrrrreeeeeaaaaadddddd@@@@yyyyaaaaaaa) on Fri Feb 10th, 2012 at 09:47:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

A plastic tent might help. I saved the blooms on an azelia bush from an April frost a couple of years ago with one made from found sticks and painters plastic drop cloth. But that is only likely to help if the freeze is by only a few degree. With my flowers I only have the consolation that I have done what I could.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 01:43:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Ah, you're almost in Missouri, eh? I have a mom and two sisters in Little Rock, so they may not get as cold as you will. I hope your efforts to save your blooms will be rewarded in a month or two.

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 01:29:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]

18 miles south of the border, but it is a couple hundred feet higher up there as well.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 01:44:43 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Banksy? (4.00 / 3)

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 04:34:42 AM EST

Great Writers (none / 0)

... are made, not born.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 04:43:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Banksy? (none / 1)

Title: "La glandeuse"...

"Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet

by Melanchthon on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 04:54:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

It's still cold here in these parts, and nobody has wanted to venture out. Last shopping trip (Jan. 13), we decided to see if we could go for a full four weeks without making another trip to the store. We did it, but come this morning we were down to a few celery stalks and hummus, and a couple bites of kimchee. The birds had also run out of food, after we decided they needed the last of our stash of organic seeds and nuts more than we did.

This little experiment has saved us having to deal with much of the cold weather. On the other hand, today was not the day I would have chosen to go anywhere; it was a cool minus 30 when we left to walk to the bus. I'd never really been out in such cold weather for any sustained period of time before, and had no idea how difficult it would be breathe, to walk, or to do anything. It was a dash from one warm place to another. Quite an experience. I can't imagine having to work outside in this weather.

by sgr2 on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 11:48:27 AM EST

Oooh, that would be a good comment on today's OT (sorry it went up a bit late).

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sat Feb 11th, 2012 at 12:12:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]