116,000

[X'an Shin]

We are not immune.

Ever heard of the La Palma volcano?

In other words, any time in the next few thousand years a huge section of southern La Palma, weighing 500 thousand million tonnes, will fall into the Atlantic ocean.

What will happen when the volcano on La Palma collapses? Scientists predict that it will generate a wave that will be almost inconceivably destructive, far bigger than anything ever witnessed in modern times. It will surge across the entire Atlantic in a matter of hours, engulfing the whole US east coast, sweeping away everything in its path up to 20km inland. Boston would be hit first, followed by New York, then all the way down the coast to Miami and the Caribbean.

There are few basements in Florida. The highest point in the state is 40 feet above sea level. Could be tomorrow, could be 6000 A.D.

Root article here : http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/horizon/20 ... nami.shtml

I really loathe scare articles like that. It's not that it couldn't happen, because I have no doubt that it could; it's the timing of the article that's bothersome. I've read a few this week already that are doom and gloom predictors for the US. Like you said, it could happen thousands of years from now.

Thanks, BBC, for trying to scare us. We appreciate it.

[Jaminos]

Well forgive me of what I am about to say if you disagree. God is someone who we will never comprehend. His power works in many ways. We must remember for each life is taken that a new one shall be born. Yes many people died but those people show an example that God exists. (At least for me) It reminds me that what we take for granted can be swept away before you even knew what hit you. I believe this is reminder from god that our lives are limited and what you once held dear can be taken from you instantly.

ok 3 questions:

1. what makes you think that they believe in your mysterious god? Maybe they believe their god isn't mysterious and wouldn't wipe out a bunch of them for no reason. Maybe they believe it's just nature.

2. It takes the death of untold thousands of people to show you that God exists? That he didn't like those thousands of people so he decided to slap the ocean and wipe em out?

3. it also takes the death of ALL of these people to remind you life is short?

Damn it skarr I am not meaning that. I have always belived he existed and alway will know now before you get into any more of your scoldings can you just let it be and let my words be said with out any arguing. I would have said more but I only a few minutes to post before I had to go to bed so I posted the gist of my meaning. Now this is my lost post in this topic so keep your thoughts to yourself.

[Skarr]

Damn it skarr I am not meaning that. I have always belived he existed and alway will know now before you get into any more of your scoldings can you just let it be and let my words be said with out any arguing. I would have said more but I only a few minutes to post before I had to go to bed so I posted the gist of my meaning. Now this is my lost post in this topic so keep your thoughts to yourself.

1. I am not scolding you
2. I am not arguing with you
3. I am just discussing and trying to figure out what you meant. Your words tell people that your god is vengeful against the poor and innocent, and that it takes a tremendous disaster to remind you of stuff.
4. This is a puplic forum and no one keeps their thoughts to themselves

[Skarr]

anyone else find it weird that almost no celebrities are trying to help or sponser organizations, etc? Maybe it's because the disaster was too big or maybe its because it's not in our backyard? I don't know, The only thing I've heard of is the band Linkin Park setting up an org with the Red Cross..



LP Helps Set Up Tsunami Charity
Linkin Park have joined forces with the American Red Cross to establish Music for Relief, a new charity which will help victims of the tsunami disaster in southern Asia.

MTV.com reports that Linkin Park have donated $100,000 to the charity.

"As a band, we were in a position to help, but this needs to be a lot broader effort - both by our fans and by other musicians," said Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson.

"If one of our fans can donate $10, then that's going to help, and the faster we can do it, the better."

"The whole thing is really a race against time," Delson said.

In June, Linkin Park played a massive outdoor concert at the Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand. Today, a few miles away, that city's international airport serves as a makeshift triage station, with victims of the disaster receiving medical treatment on the tarmac.

"We played what was the largest Thai concert in the past 10 years. It was an amazing show, and I carry with me the hospitality of the Thai people and the people of southern Asia," he said. "And having been there, I can just say that people there were so welcoming to us, and I really hope that through this effort we can help in some small way."

Donations can be made at MusicForRelief.org, which goes live Wednesday (today) at 4pm EST and at American Red Cross' site, RedCross.org

[RTE.ie Entertainment and MTV.com]

[Keer]

I really loathe scare articles like that. It's not that it couldn't happen, because I have no doubt that it could; it's the timing of the article that's bothersome. I've read a few this week already that are doom and gloom predictors for the US. Like you said, it could happen thousands of years from now.

Thanks, BBC, for trying to scare us. We appreciate it.

X'an, old boy, check the date on that article. It's from the year 2000.

Rather than scare, I'd say that they were just talking about science. Ahead of the curve by five years.

[Skarr]

new "official" tally: 121,000


Donations to aid in the crisis

USA $35 mil
Pfizer $35 mill in cash and drugs
Coca cola $10 mil
Exxon $5 mill
Citigroup $3 mil
Bill Gates foundation $3 mill


whoops, this just in, the president can't look bad so now USA is donating $350 million so we can be #1 on the list, which breaks down to $1.25 per person...still seems kinda small to me.

[X'an Shin]

I really loathe scare articles like that. It's not that it couldn't happen, because I have no doubt that it could; it's the timing of the article that's bothersome. I've read a few this week already that are doom and gloom predictors for the US. Like you said, it could happen thousands of years from now.

Thanks, BBC, for trying to scare us. We appreciate it.

X'an, old boy, check the date on that article. It's from the year 2000.

Rather than scare, I'd say that they were just talking about science. Ahead of the curve by five years.

I understand. As I said above, though, this week I've seen three of those kinds of articles printed. Did you find it by digging through their archives, or did they dig through their archives and throw it up on the front page for you because they felt it was somehow a relevant story compared with current events?

If it was the latter, my distain for its timing still stands.

[Jaminos]

Well I think spending 350 mill is a ton of cash. Grant it we are in the hole by the trillions from WWII and Vietnam among other things. I know many have died but we also have things on our own soil we have to patch up. People are still tryiung to recover from the hurricains that came in and hit us. I am not trying to be cheap but that is just alot of money we have spent.

[Keer]

anyone else find it weird that almost no celebrities are trying to help or sponser organizations, etc? Maybe it's because the disaster was too big or maybe its because it's not in our backyard?

whoops, this just in, the president can't look bad so now USA is donating $350 million so we can be #1 on the list, which breaks down to $1.25 per person...still seems kinda small to me.

At first look it could seem cheap, especially in comparison to some of the other causes that celebrities and the US government spend more money on. But, I still felt put off by reports of how some people here and abroad turned their noses up at the money that was given initially.

As individuals, many celebrities adopt a "pet cause" as soon as they make it big for reasons deep or shallow. They devote a steady part of their take home pay to that cause but that's it. Anyone else comes a knockin' and they gets nadda. Personally, I'm the same way. Millions or not, I have a set group of charities that I consistently give to but I have to draw the line somewhere.

For government, I have several serious beefs with, but I think that we could have gotten a lot more respect from folks all over based on 60 years of steady international aid. From the Marshall Plan to the Peace Corps I think that we've been mega-helpful.

I'm not saying anyone should bow down, but we deserved better than a quickdraw chastise from the people that we're trying to help.

[Skarr]

Well I think spending 350 mill is a ton of cash. Grant it we are in the hole by the trillions from WWII and Vietnam among other things. I know many have died but we also have things on our own soil we have to patch up. People are still tryiung to recover from the hurricains that came in and hit us. I am not trying to be cheap but that is just alot of money we have spent.

ummm, we are in the hole by trillions from Bush and the war in iraq...under clinton we had a budget surplus...and if you think $1.25 is too much, I'll cover ya and donate $2.50

[X'an Shin]

whoops, this just in, the president can't look bad so now USA is donating $350 million so we can be #1 on the list, which breaks down to $1.25 per person...still seems kinda small to me.

At first look it could seem cheap, especially in comparison to some of the other causes that celebrities and the US government spend more money on. But, I still felt put off by reports of how some people here and abroad turned their noses up at the money that was given initially.

I'm not saying anyone should bow down, but we deserved better than a quickdraw chastise from the people that we're trying to help.

Amen to that. The idea that what we donate "per capita," i.e. this $1.25 figure is rediculous. We donated more than anyone else for worldwide relief BEFORE Bush gave the go-ahead for the 350 mil. If people or countries say we're stingy now, then let's pull all the money back and use it at home.

Then how stingy will we be? We're already stingy, let's live up to the name at the very least.

All kidding aside, even the 350 mil number is low. The asshat UN Undersecretary who made the "per capita" claim in the first place only looked at the government handout for this one instance, not, as Keer pointed out, our 30 year track record of global handouts, and completely and flatly ignored the BILLIONS in private handouts by the wealthy (not celebrity; millionaire investor types) that happen every year. And let's try to keep in mind that it's not the U.S.'s responsibility to pay ANY money to ANYONE outside of U.S. territories. Any money foreigners get from us is pure gravy, plain and simple. People complain when we don't give money, and then they complain when we do.

For crying out loud, we BORROWED this money to hand out for tsunami relief. Saying America is cheap or stingy is one of the lowest and cheapest attacks anyone could hope to make.

What, is it opposite day or something?

[Skarr]

You have read the first paragraph of that artical. It made me laugh so hard!

http://www.news24.com/News24/World/Tsun ... 25,00.html

can you explain how that is so fucking hilarious, ya douchbag....