At least it can be pronounced!

LONDON - A second, much larger volcano in Iceland is showing signs that it may be about to erupt, scientists have warned.

Since the start of the Eyjafjallajökull eruption, which caused cancellations of thousands of flights in Europe because of a giant ash cloud, there has been much speculation about neighboring Katla.

An initial research paper by the University College of London Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction said: "Analysis of the seismic energy released around Katla over the last decade or so is interpreted as providing evidence of a rising ... intrusive magma body on the western flank of the volcano."


"Earlier seismic energy release at Katla is associated with the inflation of the volcano, which indicates it is close to failure, although this does not appear to be linked to seismicity around Eyjafjallajökull," it added.

"We conclude that given the high frequency of Katla activity, an eruption in the short term is a strong possibility," the report said. "It is likely to be preceded by new earthquake activity. Presently there is no unusual seismicity under Katla."

Icelandic President Ólafur Grímsson has warned governments around Europe that a significant eruption at the volcano is close. "We [Iceland] have prepared ... it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over Europe and the world to start planning for the eventual Katla eruption," he said.

And according to the "Global Volcanism Program" website:
Katla volcano, located near the southern end of Iceland's eastern volcanic zone, is hidden beneath the Myrdalsjökull icecap. The subglacial basaltic-to-rhyolitic volcano is one of Iceland's most active and is a frequent producer of damaging jökulhlaups, or glacier-outburst floods. A large 10 x 14 km subglacial caldera with a long axis in a NW-SE direction is up to 750 m deep. Its high point reaches 1380 m, and three major outlet glaciers have breached its rim. Although most historical eruptions have taken place from fissures inside the caldera, the Eldgjá fissure system, which extends about 60 km to the NE from the current ice margin towards Grímsvötn volcano, has been the source of major Holocene eruptions. An eruption from the Eldgjá fissure system about 934 AD produced a voluminous lava flow of about 18 cu km, one of the world's largest known Holocene lava flows. Katla has been the source of frequent subglacial basaltic explosive eruptions that have been among the largest tephra-producers in Iceland during historical time and has also produced numerous dacitic explosive eruptions during the Holocene.

If you thought that "That which can not be pronounced" was a heck of a volcanic ride, this'll be a bit more hair-raising methinks....

Dear Lord....

An Ode to Granny Panties

This morning while getting dressed I looked at my underwear collection and thought how sad it really has become. What used to be filled with shiny things from Fredrick's of Hollywood is now loaded with mostly white cotton comfort things from Walmart. One little imperfection on one of those shiny pairs of undies and out it went ~ and new ones were bought to replace the offending pair immediately. But now, a well worn, somewhat greying pair of granny's with elastic on it's last leg is a treasure to hang onto til that leg finally goes and it needs to finally be put out of it's misery. Then there is the mourning and a few stages of grief after the tossing out. How things change as you get older...

Since it's Saturday and I have nothing to do (except laundry, dishes, vacuuming, floor washing, toilet scrubbing, dusting, gardening and duck feeding) I looked Granny Panties up on Google and found something entertaining at the Urban Dictionary website. This is what it says:

1. A term to describe the kind of women's underpants that are considered "uncool" if you're under the age of 60, or something. In this aspect they are similar to tightie whities for boys. Granny pants are usually high cut, with a highly elastic waistband that will come up to at least your belly button. They may also come in floral patterns, pink patterns, or other "old lady" looking styles- just like any other type of underwear, actually, anything's possible stylewise.

People who wear granny underwear usually wear it because:
A) their mom bought it for them
B) they don't like thongs or bikini cuts
C) they're playing some kind of sport (oh, c'mon, you don't seriously think that all female athletes wear thongs, do you? Most "sporty" girls underpants are NOT thongs or really low cut.)
D) they just like them and don't care what others think.

Locker room:
-"Ew, you wear granny panties?"
-"Yeah, that's right, I do. Get over it. At least they don't go up my a** like thongs."

2. A pair of underwear which are usually A) larger than the woman who wears them. B) Very stretchy and elastic. C) The best pair of undies you'll ever wear.
Most people frown upon them because, as we all know, the smaller your undies are, the cooler you are. But in terms of comfort and practicality they beat thongs by a mile or more.

I wear granny panties because I'd rather have baggy undies than a string in my ass.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=granny%20panties

Duran Duran, Nagel and the potty lady...

One of my most favorite bands as a teenager was Duran Duran. Loved them and couldn't hear them or see them enough. Oooo and that Simon LeBon, he was quite the hottie to my then teenage eyes, oh yeah he was the cat's meow! That was quite a while ago and finally getting to see them 2 years ago was still quite a thrill to me. Like a dream come true over twenty years later... Well better later then never I suppose. Whoa! A few months ago he turned something like 52 years old or whatever ~ THAT made me feel really really old! Sigh.

Anyway, so it was their album Rio that introduced me to the artist Patrick Nagel who did the cover art. You know the one who did all those beautiful, sleek art deco like ladies. And Rio was a lovely lady, no?:

So the other night I'm surfing the web as usual and came across more pictures of women by the same artist, all in style similar to our friend Rio here. Very sleek, elegant ladies that you would expect from Mr Nagel. Finally I came across one that I had never seen before and couldn't believe my eyes ~ I had to laugh as it caught me completely off guard. Never expected to see one like this!! But I must say, Nagel even made something as mundane as usuing the toilet very elegant indeed!

"You know you're something special and you look like you're the best..."

Cute Silent Film Blurb

You know, just thinking about it makes me wish I had some good New York Cheesecake right about now... Oooo and a hot cup of tea too. Yummo!

Hoppy & Gabby together again...

Before you start singing "Back in the saddle again..." wait til you read the rest. This is quite the coinkydink if I don't say so myself. Last Friday I went to Hendrysburg to see the actual house that William Hopalong Cassidy Boyd was born in. It's a quaint rather unassuming, bit smallish box on the side of an impossible to find (almost) country road. Thus a few hundred feet and a short busride back is this sign:

Sweet, huh? I think so. The fun part is this: Stand in front of the William Boyd birthplace sign and take your picture. Then all you have to do is turn 180 degrees around and you will see this sign:

Now, how can any Hopalong or Gabby Hayes fan NOT appreciate that?! Too fun!

Flappers and the Roaring 20's