Mt. Vesuvius – the Sleeping Beast

I found a recent article by Zahra Hirji “Are We Underestimating Mt. Vesuvius?” that offers a new theory on why so many died in Pompeii and in surrounding areas.  Since there is only one recorded eyewitness account of what happened in 79 A.D. it has been the long going theory that 1,000 of people died of suffocation from volcanic ash.

However, there is new supporting evidence that it was a massive heat wave producing temperatures close to 500  degrees Fahrenheit in the city and over 250 degrees 6 miles away from eruption.  This would indicate that those exposed would have died immediately from the heat.

Unlike in 79 A.D., if Mt. Vesuvius explodes today more then 3 million people are at risk.

Why Animals Eat Their Young?

So, in this day an age of time-outs and more civilized ways of handling mischievous behavior of our children, one thing has become clear.   I totally get why the wild eat their young!

Is it just me? Or do others also look at their kids and think, “If I did that I wouldn’t be able to sit for

a week.”

I think I am the average parent who tries to give my kids what they need and

make life a little better than I had it growing up.  I try not to yell to much or whack them to where teeth go flying and yet …. Well, let’s say my kids are no “Leave it to Beaver” and a little more like Bebe’s Kids.

I used to think that my parents shouldn’t give me a butt smacking and that when I had kids I would do it the right way.  Well, Mom I know you have been waiting a long time for this …

“You were SO right!”

Just the other day, I was giving a firm talking to my 7 yr. old.  About two minutes in, she makes the timeout ref motion with her hands.  She interrupted me to say, “I just want you to know that I will need stuff for school soon.  I am good on crayons and markers, but I REALLY  need all the other stuff. Oh, and new clothes.”  (Yeah I wanted to give her the official sign for holding)

I thought of my youth and if I would have stopped my mother while she was scolding me to give a list of things I needed and what the outcome would be …

Protect the Gulf marine ecosystem and save the sperm whale

I just sent a message through Greenpeace to Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, asking her to protect the sperm whale and the entire Gulf ecosystem by establishing marine reserves in ecologically critical areas. We can’t afford another disaster like the one in the Gulf. Join me and take action here:

Greenpeace has sent a ship to the Gulf to do an independent assessment of the possible damage done to the sperm whale population. Hopefully, people like Dr. Lubchenco make sure the next disaster never happens.