Pompeii - Mt Vesuvius

Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius or Vesuvio, the volcano near Naples, is an interesting place to explore. Mount Vesuvius, one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes, has an eruption cycle of about 20 years, but the last eruption was in 1944. Lets continue to find out more about Pompeii Mt Vesuvius.

Mount Vesuvius Active Volcano

When you finally reach the edge of the crater, you will be staggered at its size. Inside the crater itself, it is possible to see glimpses of steam rising from the side of the crater demonstrating that Mt Vesuvius is an active volcano.

Eruption of Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii

It is unknown how many people left Pompeii after the first earthquake, but a considerable number did indeed leave the devastation behind and move to other cities within the Roman Empire. By the 1st century, Pompeii was one of a number of towns located around the base of Mount Vesuvius. Love and sex were considered earthly practices of a man's life that were encouraged by the benevolence of Venus. Some aspects of the Pompeii culture were distinctly erotic, including phallic worship.

Pompeii Eruption of Vesuvius

The eruption was documented by contemporary historians and is generally accepted as having started on 24 August 79, relying on one version of the text of Pliny's letter. The overall experience of the Vesuvius eruption, must have been etched on Pliny's memory given the trauma of the occasion, and the loss of his uncle, Pliny the Elder, with whom he had a close relationship.

Mount Vesuvius What Happened?

The last major eruption was in March 1944 and it destroyed the villages of San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Massa di Somma, Ottaviano, and part of San Giorgio a Cremano. The eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 1906 was particularly destructive, killing over 100 people and ejecting the most lava ever recorded from a Vesuvian eruption. Since 1944, the volcano has been silent.

Pliny The Younger Mt Vesuvius

Many contemporary sculptures are described and discussed by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia published in 77 AD. Campi Flegrei, furthermore known as the Phlegraean Fields (from Greek meaning burning fields), is a large 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) wide caldera situated to the west of the city of Naples. Pliny was here with his Uncle when the eruption of Mt Vesuvius happened. Pliny's uncle, the naturalist Pliny the Elder, was in charge of area warships, but he turned his fleet to rescuing residents and died.

Mt Vesuvius Lava

Mount Vesuvius was built up by a series of lava flows and a number of smaller explosive eruptions interspersed in-between. The lava is composed of adesite, viscous in nature. The whole of Mount Vesuvius comprises layers of lava, volcanic ash and pumice.

Pompeii Volcanoes Area

The pyroclastic blast from the eruption incinerated the inhabitants of Herculaneum. Almost 2,000 years later, You have the opportunity to explore the preserved ruins of this famed disaster.A busy commercial centre with a population of 10,000-20,000, the ancient Pompeii covered about 160 acres on the seaward end of the fertile Sarno Plain. Along with Herculaneum, its sister city, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning two days in 79 AD.

Pompeii Herculaneum

Both Pompeii and Herculaneum have since been excavated to reveal many intact buildings and wall paintings. A full day Pompeii and Herculaneum tour can be a historical discovery exploring the archaeological sites of the Bay of Naples. Silent for thousands of years, Pompeii and Herculaneum are now living museums of life in the Roman Empire.

And now I would like to invite you to visit the following link for more information on visiting Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi Coast, City of Naples and other places in the Bay of Naples when you visit http://Pompeiitours.org/mt-vesuvius/ (<--click this link)

From Francesca Laguida - expert local guide and author on Pompeii, Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast, Capri and the city of Naples Italy.

(c) Copyright 2010 and Beyond - All rights reserved.
Webmasters: Get unique articles like this by contacting me at above link, or republish with all links intact

Journey to the Centre of Tenerife

The best thing about Tenerife's unique landscape is that it has everything from sandy beaches, mountains, volcanic rock formations and forests offering a great outdoor adventure for the nature lovers. The island features two main mountain areas and two national parks.

The Teide National Park in Tenerife is the biggest natural attraction on the island. The park covers an area of 18,990 ha and boasts the highest peak in Spain, the Teide-Pico Viejo strato-volcano. Standing 3,718m above sea level and 7,500m above the ocean floor, it is considered the third tallest volcanic structure in the worlds. What's most spectacular is its environment which represents a rich and diverse collection of volcanic features and landscapes. The park itself lies about 2000m above sea level and is known as the most visited National Park in Spain and it entertains 3.5 million visitors annually. Winters are cold with snow fall and gale winds whereas during summer temperature reach well above 40 degrees Celsius making the area arid and landscape closely resembling a scene out of a cow boy movie. The Park can be easily accessed by bus or private vehicle and the volcano can be access either by foot or by cable car. The peak offers breathtaking views of Gran canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro - certainly is the height of Tenerife.

For those interested in experiencing the Tenerife adventure, the island hosts a range of lodging options. Hotels in Tenerife include luxury accommodation, budget hotels, self catered apartments and even cottages. For the extreme outdoor type and the best ever encounter with nature, many areas in the island feature camping sites. Enjoy nature and adventure Tenerife style.

Los Gigantes offer adventure as well as relaxation. Located on the west coast of Tenerife, in the Santiago del Teide municipality, the town's main features are giant rock formations which rise 500 - 800 metres above sea level. Known as the Acantilados de los Gigantes, these giant cliffs feature astonishingly sheer rock walls practically plunging into the ocean below. For the best views of the cliffs and to experience their true magnitude try a boat ride from the nearby marina. Across the bay you can find the resort town and port of Los Gigantes - major tourist attraction in the island. It features a small black sand beach, a small town and a heap of hotels and apartments.

The northeastern part of Tenerife is dominated by Macizo de Anaga. This mountain range extends from the northeastern Punta de Anaga to the southwestern Cuz del Carmen. The range features mountain points of Bichuelo, Anambro, Pico Limante, Cruz de Taborno, Chinobre, and Cruz del Carmen. The cliffs are treacherous and therefore not easy to access by vehicle. The only road runs through San Andres and the northwestern part of the mountain range. The altitude of the mountains and its location on the island has helped in the existence of a rare diversity of natural habitats. The natural park was founded in 1987 and is known as Parque Rural de Anaga.

Tenerife hotels and Tenerife destination reviews etc. He is currently working for roomsnet.com which offers visitors the option of world wide hotel bookings. Roomsnet.com offers many last minute Tenerife hotel deals for holidaymakers.

Volcano Tour From Oahu

The Island of Hawaii has five separate volcanoes that erupted somewhat sequentially, one overlapping the other. These are: Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, Mauna Loa and K+lauea.

Mauna Loa is the world's largest volcano and one of five volcanoes that form the Big Island. Mauna Loa has no recent eruptions, but eruptions in 1926 and 1950 destroyed towns. The city of Hilo is partly built on lava flows.

Kohala is probably the oldest volcano that composes the Island of Hawaii. This extinct volcano is 5.480 feet above sea level.

Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano and is the highest point in the state of Hawaii with 13.796 feet (4.200 m). Muna kea means "white mountain" in Hawaiian language; this name makes reference to its regularly snow-capped during the winter.

Hualalai is the third youngest and third-most historically active volcano on the Big Island.

Take the best volcano tour including a 40-minutes walk were you can see the most active volcano in the world: The Kilauea. This volcano has been erupting steadily since 1983. Kilauea lies next to the much larger Mauna Loa volcano.

On this adventure tour you will visit one of the most volcanically active environments in the world. Pele, Hawaii´s volcano goddess, will surprise you with its anger. Get impressed by the beauty of Pele´s creations which includes Hawaii´s unique black sand beaches.

Later, you will get in touch with a much more calm landscape: the tropical rainforest and the cascading waterfalls, while you learn about Hawaii´s culture and history.

If you are staying on Oahu but you would like to visit a neighbor island for a day, you might go to the Big Island and get as close to the active lava flows as Civil Defense allows. One of the visits that the Oahu tours offers to you is the Big Island Volcano and Waterfalls Tour.

Article by Kani Amea

Mount Etna - A Thrilling Sicily Destination!

When you hear of active volcanoes, one cannot help but think of Mount Etna, one of the world's most famous volcanoes. Located on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Mount Etna is the largest active volcano in the world. It is known as a stratovolcano, which means that it is conical and was built by the eruption of lava, ashes and pyroclastic flows. Currently it stands about 3,329 meters (10,922 ft.) high, but this is constantly changing due to summit eruptions.

In ancient times, the Greeks believed it to be the home of the god of fire, Vulcan. They also thought that when the mountain was erupting it meant that Vulcan was forging weapons for Mars, the god of war. Mount Etna is reported to have had erupted approximately 200 times since 1500 BC, with the most recent major eruption occurring in 2001.

Mount Etna creates a majestic dominant feature against the Sicilian skyline. It is Sicily's greatest natural attraction and much of the tourism of Sicily is due to this awe-inspiring volcano. In fact, the volcano forms part one of Italy's greatest and most beautiful national parks, Parco Regionale dell' Etna.

The mountain's surface is covered with solidified lava but much of its slope is also covered in forests where various species of oak, stone pine, birch and beech grow over its sloped surface. The changing tree colors in autumn make it a truly spectacular sight.

Mount Etna's forests are home to an abundance of wildlife. Fox, squirrels, weasels, hedgehogs, porcupine and possible a few wild cats live in the forests, and owls, falcons, partridges and even golden eagles can be viewed circulating above. There are also herons, ducks and other migratory birds in the nearby Gurrida Lake area. Apart from the awesome hikes in the woods and up the mountain in the summer, Mount Etna also offers skiing in the winter months. All of this adds to the tourist's pleasure of enjoying this natural wildlife area even more.

Of course, the major attraction for most tourists would be the thrilling hike up the mountain. The majority of tourists visit the south side of the mountain and hike only a short distance up the mountain. This trail is free for all to use.

There is, however, another hike which adventurous visitors may take where they can traverse to the summit for a breathtaking view into the eye of the volcano. For this a guide is needed, but the hike is well worth the effort because it allows the tourist to experience the full impact of the smells and views and even feel like they are a part of the volcano's turbulent history. The hike to the top is not an easy one because it becomes quite steep when the summit is approached and the cinders and ash make it rough going. It is a dark, inhospitable landscape and because of this it is often used by scientists to test robots before sending them to Mars. The atmospheric and geological conditions are deemed to be much the same.

A visit to Mount Etna would make an exciting and thrilling destination for any tourist. The thrill of climbing an active volcano, the wonder of hiking through various nature trails along the way, and experiencing the fantastic Sicilian culture all make Mount Etna worth adding to any tourist's next travel itinerary.

I have loved Sicily for as far back as I can remember and I return to this island paradise every chance I get. My grandparents came to America from this beautiful land in the early 1900's, bringing with them all the tradition and passion that is Sicily. From the beautiful beaches and Roman architecture, to the heavenly food and romantic charm, I hope you will come to love Sicily as much as I do! Stop by for a visit at http://www.beauty-and-romance-of-sicily.com

Global Warming

Is globe sitting on active volcano?
Are the world leaders aware and really know?
Do they know entire globe is on fire?
Industries and pollution they encourage and admire,

Weather changes fast with unseasonal rain,
Flood is creating havoc ant that is worry main,
Everything we stand to loose and nothing to gain,
All efforts are wasted and going in vain

World's powerful nations flout the rules
Advise other nations and look they fool
Rain brings storms and snow in deserts,
They hold meetings only for concerts,

Glaciers are drifting and slowly melting,
Cold regions boil and people are sweating,
Human race is in danger and survival at stake,
People not bother and are not still awake,

Seas and oceans are rising and may swell,
Waves may sweep areas and not speak well
Shores may be washed and play havoc
Destruction will be as times cloak

Nothing will be left and efforts fail to save
Nature's fury will add to injury and will not pave
Neglect of nature means digging grave
Who can offer solution and act as brave?

Forests are over and vastly vanishing,
Green belt only in name and finishing,
Oil, gas, smoke generally polluting the air,
You may find your children with white hair,

Diseases of several kinds may not find cure,
Unnatural deaths certain and asking for sure,
We displease the nature and inviting wrath,
Inhaling poison inside which is difficult to breath,

One fifth of land will be totally submerged,
Sea will rise enormously and can't be contained
Situation so alarming that it can't be managed,
No solution in sight and resolutions not arranged,

Something is to be done in earnestness,
Industries can thrive but with neatness,
Water can be used freely but with purpose
Human lives can be saved before they are disposed

Can we not be serious again?
Back to nature and energy regain,
Lovely green fields mushroom with fresh air,
Will the efforts not be necessary and fair?

hasmukh amathalal

How to Save Nature

We know that mother nature has given us all the things we need, i.e., food, cloth and shelter. Our ancestors were also completely depend on nature. They gave complete respect to nature. They take how much they need and what they need.

But as the civilization progress, the greed's of human also cherishes. As the population increases, more destruction was done to nature. They started to cut trees for land and farming, killing animals so that they can capture the place where animal live, etc. But the thing was in limit.

As the industrialization and globalization trend came, more harmful destruction is done. Now for setting industries the land is required, so forest were cut. For connecting one city to other city, mountains were drilled so as to make roads and railways. Also dams were made to generate ever increasing need of electricity. This all caused heavy load on the heart of mother nature.

The main destruction caused by nature is Global Warming. Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation. Due to Global warming the glaciers will melt and the level of sea water increase. If it continues, then one day whole earth will be sink.

Now we had done so much damage to nature, now its our responsibility to prevent damage to nature. We all can follow some simple but effective measures, which is as follows:-

1. Plant more and more trees.
2. Switch off lights when not needed.
3. Use CFL instead of bulbs.
4. Use public transport more and more.
5. Use cycle for travelling near distance.
6. Encourage car pool.
7. Use solar energy and wind energy for household purpose.

I want to say that please visit my blog daily as I post new and latest research news on our environment.

The view expressed in this article is of own ideas and knowledge. I post my opinions on my blog http://swatzfalcon.blogspot.com/ which is based on nature.

Costa Rica Travel Tips

Costa Rica is mostly a friendly, hospitable and tropical paradise when one considers it. There are just a few peculiarities about this jewel of the Caribbean before one visits it. One great thing to mention about it is that it is a great place to get sick! That may seem ironic, but Costa Rica is world famous for its excellent health care system. This has brought a certain amount of "medical tourism" to the country. The downside of its health issues surrounds dengue fever outbreaks and malaria infested mosquitoes. Take precautions against these potential health threats.

Getting Around Safely

Before traveling to the wild and jungle zones of Costa Rica, one may be required to travel around its more civilized zones. This may require a great deal of caution as Costa Rica is known for having one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the world. One great example - that is not always obvious - is to avoid a pole or a branch poking out of the road. This is a warning sign that it is a pothole or an open manhole or sinkhole. When you see these symbols steer clear!

Speaking of which, traditional road signs are almost always absent. Even the locals may not know the name of the street or the road they are on. And driving under the influence is never recommended - it could land the DUI driver in prison for up to 3 years. Pedestrians also need to be extra cautious as they have no right of way!

Alternatives and Some "Risks"

Taking a cab or a bus can be safer. Just be sure the cab is red with a yellow triangle. If you fall asleep on the bus, you could wake up without your baggage! The US State Department (TravelState website) has offered warnings that such crimes are on the increase. These seem relatively minor offenses compared to those of other countries in the region (notably Mexico). The wise traveler will always take precautions against theft. Other than the few wily pilferers and unsafe drivers, the rest of the Costa Ricans are very friendly, helpful and kind.

Nature's Hazards

Mother Nature and her creations are present in abundance in Costa Rica. It is wise to be aware of these things when one steps on the ground in Central America. Volcanoes are present in the country and should have their own natural warnings. However, there are always fatalities when people and volcanoes get together. If one visits Arenal volcano, it is important not to get to close to the edge or lip and fall in! The same goes if one decides to camp in a quarry or natural ravine. The camper could roll into a deep gully or river. Some do not survive.

The beaches do not have life guards. If one doesn't know how to swim against a rip tide, it is best to stay out of the waters. Bull sharks and crocodiles are known to inhabit these territories. Be on guard for these stealthy ambush predators!

Jaguars and stray dogs can also be found in the jungles. Jaguars do not usually attack humans. Stray dogs can be found just about anywhere. Do not approach them. Oh, and do not pick up or handle the colorful poison dart frogs. Just admire their beauty from a distance.

Matthew Kepnes has been traveling the world for four years and runs an award winning travel website that has been featured on websites like the Huffington Post, AOL Travel, and the New York Times. His site focuses on traveling on a budget and saving money. You can find out more about backpacking central America on his destination guide section including more Costa Rica travel tips.

Going Into Battle on Oahu Volcano Tours

When you think about going on Oahu volcano tours you usually don't think about going into battle; about waging war and combating enemies. The Hawaiian Islands are usually places of peace in the minds of visitors, places of rest, relaxation, and tranquility.

Hawaii is all that and more. It is a geological and botanical paradise. It is a surfer's and sunbather's paradise. It is a place of deep spirituality and innate mysticism. It is a storyteller's heaven with its ancient legends and oral traditions.

But Oahu is also a place where battles were fought; some only mere decades ago, and some, hundreds upon hundreds of years ago. Climbing to the top of Diamond Head Crater on Oahu, you see the juxtapositions of peace and war quite clearly.

There is the breathtaking beauty of looking out over Waikiki and the Pacific Ocean from the top of Diamond Head. It is a majestic view filled with all the tranquility associated with Hawaii. But as you ascend Diamond Head, you also learn about how this natural crater was seen and used as a place to conceal weapons of war and to mount a defense or offense against invaders of the harbor.

Arrays of cannons were once concealed in this crater, and in the late 1800's and early 1900's, a defense fort, Fort Ruger, was built atop this volcano. An entire underground war complex was built with a tunnel carved through this volcano for access to Fort Ruger.

This place of beauty and wonder was a natural place to conceal those who wished to defend Hawaii from those who wished to wage war with America. An observation platform was built for soldiers to sight targets from, and it wasn't until the invention of more electronic target-sighting methods that this underground bunker and military fort was abandoned.

Even in ancient times, Diamond Head was a place where war was honored and revered. It is thought to be an ancient burial ground, and that at one time a "heiau" (Hawaiian temple) existed there that was dedicated to Ku, the Hawaiian God of War. It is also believed to be a place where human sacrifices were made to appease and honor Ku.

In more modern times, after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, Diamond Head Crater was also used as a lookout point for invaders of Hawaii and it was stocked with artillery and weaponry used for battle.

There is peace at the top of Diamond Head Crater and there are remnants of war. Both are important to experience when you tour this Oahu volcano. Diamond Head is an incredible wonder of nature and also an important place in the history of American and Hawaiian warfare.

Learn more about ancient and modern Hawaiian warfare on your Oahu volcano tours. Battle your way to http://www.hawaiitours.com/oahu-volcano.php for more information.

List of Highest Mountains

There are fourteen mountains on Earth reaching the heights of over 8000 meters. Lets have a look at ten of the highest mountains in this article.

1. Mount Everest
This beautiful mountain stands 8,848 meters above the sea level. It belongs to the Himalaya range. This mountain is located in Nepal with all its glory. Tenzeng Norgay and Edmund Hillary were first to summit this mountain in 1953.

2. K2(Godwin Austen)
It is the second highest mountain peak in the world and is located in Pakistan. It is 8,611 meters above the sea level. A. Compagnoni and L. Lacedelli of Italy were the first people to summit this mountain. They climbed it in 1954.

3. Kangchenjunga
Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain peak in the world and is located in Nepal. It is 8,596 meters above the sea level. G. Band, N. Hardie, J. Brown and S. Streather of United Kingdom were the first people to summit this mountain. They climbed it in 1955.

4. Lhotse I
This fourth highest mountain peak is located in Nepal. It is 8,516 meters above the sea level. F. Luchsinger, E. Reiss of Switzerland were the first people to summit this mountain. They climbed it in 1956.

5. Makalu I
This mountain peak is 8,485 meters high and is located in Nepal. It belongs to the Himalayas or Himalaya mountain range. A team of French mountain climbers was the first to ascent this mountain in 1955.

6. Cho Oyu
Cho Oyu is 8,188 meters above the sea level and is located in this beautiful country full of high mountains i.e. Nepal. It comes under the Himalaya mountain range. H. Tichy, S. Jöchler of Australia and Pasang Dawa Lama of Nepal were the first climbers of this mountain and they did this in the year 1954.

7. Dhaulagiri
Dhaulagiri, the seventh highest mountain peak belongs to the Himalaya mountain range. It is present in Nepal just like so many other highest mountain peaks. A. Schelbert, E. Forrer, K. Diemberger and P. Diener of Switzerland, Nyima Dorji and Nawang Dorji of Nepal were the first to ascent it in the year 1960.

8. Manaslu I
Now this eighth highest peak in the world also belongs to the country of Nepal. Just like most of the other highest mountains, Manaslu I also belongs to the Himalaya mountain range. First climbers were T. Imamishi, K. Kato, M. Higeta of Japan and G. Norbu of Nepal.

9. Nanaga Parbat
Nanga Parbat which is present in Pakistan is 8,126 meters high and belongs to the Himalaya mountain range. Hermann Buhl of Austria was the first to ascend this peak in the year 1953.

10. Annapurna I
Annapurna I, the tenth highest peak in the world is present in Nepal and belongs to the Himalaya mountain range. M. Herzog and L. Lachenal of France were the first people to summit this peak in 1950.

David R. likes to compile lists on http://www.listsencyclopedia.com/. Mountains is one of his favorite topics, especially the list of 14 highest mountains. So read the full list of fourteen highest mountains and other lists on the given links.

Guidelines And Emergency Preparations During Volcanic Eruptions

One creation that can really attract people is a volcano. Volcanoes with their drastic yet exquisite appearance have been perfect spots for tourists and travelers.

The perfectly cone-shaped Mayon Volcano in the Philippines and the gorgeous-looking Mt. Fiji in Japan - both are truly a part of nature's wonders.

Though volcanoes are fascinating in appearance, these creations can also be very destructive that even human lives can sacrifice. Volcanoes have two types - dormant and active.

Dormant volcanoes are those, which do not erupt. On the other hand active volcanoes can be very dangerous as eruption can take place once some geothermal activity inside these volcanoes starts.

There are volcanoes that are active and most of these volcanoes are found in the Pacific's Rim of Fire. These volcanoes have the intensity to kill crops, vegetation and human lives. Volcano ashes can also cause a lot of lung diseases and health problems.

Frequent volcanic eruptions also accompany high earthquake intensities. These can be very precarious for citizens around the area and if rain occurs, it would be very hard to respond as mudflows can make the situation harder.

Volcanic eruptions can be detected unlike other catastrophic natural disasters. The volcano will show some signs if it is about to erupt. Also, the lava formation, which will trigger the eruption, will take some times to build up.

Through this, volcanologists (volcano experts) can warn people living in the volcano's vicinity to prepare out for an upcoming volcanic eruption. Below are some helpful tips that could help you to prepare for volcanic eruptions:

1. If you live next to the volcano it is more advisable for you to evacuate immediately to a safe evacuation center. It is also important to bring along with you necessary things that you will be needing all through out your stay in the evacuation center.

As much as possible, remain calm during the situation and try not to panic.

2. Whenever mudflow occurs, stay to a safe area away from the mudflow ways. Mudflows are hot enough to boil an egg that's why you must keep yourself away from it to avoid any burns, which can lead to a more serious skin disease.

3. Be sure to stay inside a safe shelter all throughout the volcanic eruption. There will be falling debris like stones and rocks once the volcano erupts.

4. Use gas mask to secure yourself from suffocation of volcanic sulfur. This sulfur can be very dangerous to your health especially to your lungs and can give you difficulties in breathing.

5. Always seek advices from volcanic experts or government public services for you to be able to know when to go outside safely.

Volcanoes are one of the nature's most beautiful sights yet one of the most destructive forces. For people living in the volcanoes area, considering the above tips and guidelines is barely important thus no serious situation can happen, as we know that life cannot be reverted again.

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Volcano Rocks Tourism Industry

Tourism to active volcanoes is suddenly surging thanks in part to the recent volcanic activity of Iceland's volcano Eyjafjallajokull. On Wednesday April 14th, Eyjafjallajokull erupted, forcing the evacuation of 700 people. The volcano was thought to be dormant, not having erupted since 1821. The eruption was such a major event that it forced most of Europe into a no-fly zone, stranding travelers across the world.

The volcano drew spectators so close that some were pelted by rocks and ash. Some innovative chefs took advantage of the situation by realizing that the lava was not only a tourist draw, but a good source of heat, where they sold lava-grilled lobster at top dollar. Would that then be a rock lobster? I'm curious.

Visiting a volcano is risky business because you never know when a new fissure will crack open. Volcanoes are unpredictable by nature, volatile, not to mention deadly. Volcanoes have the power to shape the earth by creating and destroying land, in addition to changing global climate for centuries.

One of the most notorious and deadly volcanic eruptions was Italy's Mt. Vesuvius explosion in 79 AD, which led to the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum and resulted in the death of an astounding 10,000 to 25,000 people.

The fury of nature has such magnetic appeal to thrill-seekers, geologists, and the curiosity of human nature that there is a whole specialized branch of the tourism industry catering to volcanic destinations.

Some of the more popular tourist volcanoes are:

• Mount Mayon, Philippines
  Towering at 8,081 feet, this volcano is one of the world's most active volcanoes and said to be one of the most beautiful.


• Mount Etna, Italy
  Sicily's 10,922 foot Etna is the largest volcano is Europe. Etna erupted smoke rings, an extremely rare event, in the 1970's and then again in 2000.


• Mount Rainier, Washington USA
  Standing taller than Mount Etna at 14,410 feet, Rainier (which is also a national park) has been described as "a utopia for adventure tourists" and is the most heavily glaciated peak in the continental United States.

Personally, I would rather view the many spectacular images of volcanic activity that are available online with my satellite Internet than put myself in any kind of danger, but what can I say, my sense of adventure resides on cold, stable ground. However, if being up close and personal to one of these great giants floats your boat, there are many tourist companies ready to take you on a powerful trip you aren't likely to forget. They include:

Go Magma (gomagma.com)
Go Magma promises you an extraordinary experience with local or international volcano experts and the opportunity to return home with pictures everyone will want to see, with safety being one of their primary concerns.

Volcano Discovery (volcanodiscovery.com)
Volcano Discovery offers tours to volcanic areas for small groups and individuals and offers accompaniment by volcano experts, who will guide you through your experience and share their wealth of knowledge.

Volcano Travel (volcanolive.com)
John Seach has 21 years of tour guiding, and his services have been used by Discovery Channel, BBC TV, Land Rover, Japanese TV, and National Geographic. Departures every day of the year!

There are many other volcano touring companies around the globe, so hop online, do some research, and pick one that is right for you.

Hugo Grosz loves internet culture. Although he only recently began writing about the internet, you can be sure that if it's been blogged about, dugg, tumbled or tweeted he has seen it and probably reposted it somewhere. Relying solely on his weatherworn laptop powered by Hughesnet internet, Hugo travels to the four corners of the World Wide Web exploring digital tourism, geocaching, telecommuting and every other meme imaginable.

Baldev Mirza's Vision of Man, Nature and Love - An Appraisal

The life of man is a continual change of visions. As experiences come to a man one after another, it is as if he rises from one level to another as he climbs up to a mountain side, and therefore, his visions steadily change. As it is also well-known that man has two types of visions possible, one for the ordinary man of the world and other for the great ones; poets come within this ambit who like the true sages depict the sores of mankind and solutions for the malady. Poets like Baldev Mirza always convey the heart-stirring ideas blended with purposeful message. We know that scientists admit that all the aspects of nature and man are still undiscovered. Advancement of science has not succeeded in casting a brilliant light on the cause of man's existence and its relation to nature and the most thrilling phenomenon called love. Poetry alone has explored new milestones in this field and Baldev Mirza, the poet and researcher of man seems to have scrutinized much more than even scientists.

"Dr. Baldev Mirza," says Oliver Friggeri, "is now well-known for his constant efforts to produce verse which is neither complicated nor inane and devoid of meaning."1 Mirza's poems do not interpret man in terms of the knowledge of the external world, intellectualism, fantastic El dorado of imagination, or fake and false dreams but they voice the delicate feelings of a poetic heart well. He admits:

"I am not talking about hands/I am talking about feet that/Feel the warmth of earth/I am not talking about lips/I am talking about eyes that/Feed the emptiness lurking in me/I am not talking about me/I am talking about the heart that/ Never shuts its door." 2

Man is too deep and too many-sided in terms of any physical science or attempt that the materialistic, mechanistic, chemical and biological conception of man is very superficial, partial and unsatisfying but the poetry of Baldev Mirza gives a deeper probe into man's quest of knowing himself. He asserts:

"I am the embodiment of darkness/Its soul is my soul/Its harvest I reaped all my life/Light is a trap I refused to accept/It inflicted wounds I carry in my soul/ This is the only truth I have ever known." 3

Although, Man has a meager, shallow and vague knowledge of man, his constant search of inquiring the self and admitting the ultimate reality of man as the celestial entity and part and parcel of the divine indicates that man has reached on the pinnacle of perfection. And the poet, when admits the ultimate divinity trading alike omnipresent lord, it seems, he is hoisting his flag of perfection on the zenith of poetic satiety and his confusion of denying the presence seems right when he say:

"I do not know/Where/To throw away/The faded flowers/You seem to be standing/ Everywhere." 4

Again, the worldly achievements seem to be a futile pursuit for the true Sadhaka (Seeker)
"Lord Krishna classifies the seekers of Truth in four types. One who is always worn out by ills that affect the body; is 'Artha', Another is worried by the struggle for prosperity, property, posterity etc. He is the Artha-Arthi ,a third yearns for the realization of the Atma; reads the scriptures and sacred books, moves ever in the company of scripture Sadhakas a etc on the lines laid down by the sages as Sud-Acharya, and is always motivated by the eagerness to reach the Sannedhi of the lord. He is Jignaasu, the fourth is Jnani, immersed in Brahmattawam." 5

Dr. Mirza seems to be the third type of person ever-ready to serve lord. Standing on the threshold of silence, the poet wishes and says:

"Life is both for winner and the loser/What ! if I have been a loser whole of my life/What if I didn't gave anything/I am trying to stretch myself/Beyond the boundaries/Of silence." 6

But the fate of man is altogether different from what it approves to be from distance.
"There is nothing Divine about it/It is Man who rises to great heights but/Crumbles down like a muddy wall/Flows like nectar from here to there/From person to person." 7

The poet, with brilliance and divination of the divine set-up always pines to obtain celestial happiness in future as well as he invokes his other self for or the (No-self) for the spread of illumination the almost corners of the earth. He sings with love:

"Let us grow/A silvery tree/Like moon/With leaves/Like stars/Then sit under it/Waiting for the birds/To come and peck/At the seeds of darkness." 8

The spiritual manifestation of divine light which is inhaled by a true poet is same epitomized in poetry as breathes in a peculiar poetic way. Geoffery Hodson says,:

"Perhaps the most magnificent of all literature has been evoked by the contemplation of the Divine and attempts of authors, philosophers and poets to put into words the sublimity of That from which we came forth." 9

Mirza also accepts the same truth of 'Divine spring' and gradual development of Manhood to Godhood, the journey of man to God which is beautifully narrated in symbolic manner in Buddha My Love when he sings:

"I am an unsung melody of /hungry generations/ - the miserable / - the helpless / you strove to circumscribe / with your words carved out / of light / - a divine feet / people applauded and followed you / one day / you crossed the boundaries / of darkness / chased the light / and disappeared under the tree / you did appear again / but in stones, bronze, brass / to sit meditating eternally. ......" 10

Nature

Nature covers generally the outer elements like the sea, the woods and the forest or anything other then man and God or as the process of Eternity in which we exist. But Nature is on all sides of us, of which we are a part and which sometimes so dominates us that we feel utterly helpless before her. It is not what our modern scientists assume a mechanical phenomenon. C. Jinrajadasa, an eminent theosophist classifies four types of approaches to nature, by the worship of nature, study of nature, love of nature and the 'Re-fashioning of nature'. According to him some poets or artists refashion nature:

"The artist is who is able to refashion nature and give us the thing as it stands eternally perfect and inseparable too from our own unending life. This is what mean by saying that the artist's work is to re-fashion." 11

In this sense Mirza is an artist who 're-fashions' nature and revives its glory and magnificence in his poetic works in such a creative and artistic way that his word-pictures evince his permanency and unchangeableness, Mirza, like all great artists grasps the fleeting and reflects it as immutable and long-lasting or 'Arche-type' as Plato would say. One such incident can be marked out as:

"Two pine trees/played merrily/With their shades/bathed in sunshine capered with the winds/lay down on the green grass fond sometimes/they extend their arms/to touch the feet of some passerby/and sometimes/recalled/silken touch/stared at each other/and wept bitterly." 12

Another instance which can be compared to Wordsworth's famous lines 'To me the meanest flower that blow can give thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears' evince the love of Mirza to nature and divine vision behind it:

"Trees are the eternal preachers /Their sermons are as sound as their trunks/Their verdure silence is like/That of a sage in meditation/Visions flow from them like the morning breeze/Beauty never falters from their orbit." 13

Mirza mingles mental disposition, emotions and natural phenomenon remarkably in a picturesque way but before it he seems to have studied all the aspects of Nature from alpha to omega. His poetry breathes such kind of excellence where his medley of emotions high sensibility, susceptibility tenderness and sensitiveness with natural surroundings and entire macrocosm:
"The Distances vibrate/With the sounds of the dreams' footsteps/Memories drift like snow flakes/And stir the dead leaves scattered around." 14

* * * * *

"The sea is a showman/who swallows the ball of fire/Everyday/and in the evening/goes to the shore/to get his reward/but the shore/Is blind and deaf." 15

* * * * *

"Clung to the flower petals/we keep floating down the ill fated/paths running amuck/humming a song of stones/Soaked in blood/when thirsty/we get down to a pool/sip a drop or two/and joined the winds again." 16

The verses of Baldev Mirza are abundant in mirror like images and transparency. Prof. Satish Kumar's comment affirms:

"The feel of words the concreteness of images and transparent clarity of language impart vividness to Mirza's lyrics." 17

His deep kinship with nature, its components and man immortalize his poetry when he says:
"Listen to the chorus/Of the tired winds/Coming from the Jungles/Blown up by the men." 18
And his gentle touch of words with climatic change in Environment suffused with myriad colour makes even ordinary phenomenon into an extraordinary one and Simple into a beautiful expression:

"Every Year/spring opens its casement/and watches the retreating/steps of snow/sunbeams mush out of the clouds/rollicking like children." 19

One who has a divine vision of nature longs to make every child of God like himself. That is why all lovers of nature cannot separate themselves from man. They long that man everyman, too should be released, and those who love nature long to bring their inspiration into the city, into the slum and into every commoners' like as feebly felt by man, surge to its full through all their days. Baldev Mirza also can not remain aloof from man and humanity, it appears aright when he says:

"Have you ever know/The artist who paints/Faces Torn with pain and hunger/He observes during the day/And cries as loudly as he can." 20

At another place he scribbles:

"While scribbling my fate/I wrote of the whole world/But every word turned into a volcano/Love flowing out of it/I cry from star to star./My earth is lost." 21

But the most philosophical musing of the poet comes to limelight when he creates an analogy among important factor of nature and gives the hint of superiority naturalism:

He claims:

"Sun sea and Man/Are nothing but time keepers/All rooted in their spots/The old pendulum never gets rusty/It swings only within the triangle/Which stays where it is ever/The conflict goes on between the three." 22

LOVE

Love forms a matrix of experience in the poetry of Baldev Mirza and he visions it from his early childhood days and blending with deft use and dexterous approach to poetry, draws it in a proper perspective. Dr. O.P. Bhatnagar affirms it:

"The poetry of Baldev Mirza is of private musings going back to childhood and states of growing with the self confronting the realities of the world outside in a personal way." 23

Alike all love poets Mirza deals with love's Kaleidoscopic forms and tries to speak the unspeakable and impalpable but the most empowered phenomenon of world, the cause of creation, the essence of human life and heart and soul of poetry. His vision of love commences with a question to his love when he asks:

"Are you/A gust of breeze/Fragrance/Of a rose/Of a sweet memory." 24

But, if remains no longer confusion, and he feels the omnipresence of love:

"I do-not know/How to sip/From the cup/Every drop/Reflects/Four image." 25

The poet, in this ecstasy of love, finds his love thoughts getting puzzled even.

"When I think of you/Fairies of my thoughts/Get lost on the way/And knock at every door/Perhaps in search of you." 26

But this rosary of love thoughts continues and he asserts in an altogether different way:

"Every moon lit night/A Taj rises/Out of/My thoughts/A Taj melts/Into my Tears." 27

And he wishes to his lover saying:

"I went you/To get closer/With only moon beams/Melting between us." 28

And adds further:

"With only/A tear or two/In your eyes/To tread/Your heart/With mine." 29

Mirza's love-laden heart sometimes converses to his long and invokes him saying:

"Let us write a poem together/On the shut of love/In the lock/Of own blood." 30

And out this furore he admits:

"Dear friends/Perhaps you don't know that/I am also a cage like you/Life wonder the barren tree." 31

Baldev Mirza is not only a lover of passion but he also feels the deepest agony of a true lover which is his most precious jewel. His memories haunt him and create a potent nostalgia:

"Once again/Some Memory took to the streets/Hair disheavelled/Looking for the quivering lips/And wet eyes/Somewhere." 32

Though Mirza admits the predominance of love yet his narration of his predicament is also worth-noting.

"You are unforgettable, my love but listen/Your memory is punctuated/By the Parrot repeating/Kill and burn/Kill and burn." 33

The love of Mirza flows along the canyon fire of time and the gravity of it remains the same for love has been a bed-rock in Mirza's life and the source of 'Amrita' to quench the thirsty heart:

"Year back/You appeared like a dream/Lit with sun-flower petals/Wet with dew/To quench my thirst." 34

Down the valley of time lovers of Mirza flow to gather But all of a sudden a strange thing happens.

"The moment I spoke about/My wet soul/You became a flash of lightning/To dazzle my eyes." 35

The monological poems of Mirza deal with the themes of love where he seems to have indulged in the dialogue of one soul to the other, eager to clasp into one. These poems are a divine revelation of a seer-poet desirous of merging not the body but the soul i.e., the candle light into ultimate light or the drop into ocean. His poetry, to a large extent, unfolds the mystery of life that tells us that all the majesty of the world is ours and its joys are some where hidden within us. With that divine vision of comes at-onement with man, and God and nature and the realization of that indescribable truth, that the 'All' returns to the 'All'. Certainly his poetry appears to succour man on the road to God; Like a fingerpost to a weary traveler hinting him to lead life celestially living in world beyond all experiences.

Manifestation of a Supreme Power in the Film Baraka

According to the ancient Sufi word, Baraka is translated to mean, "A blessing, or as the breath, or essence of life from which evolutionary process unfolds." Based on this definition, the film Baraka unfolds the natural essence of a "Supreme Power." It also unveils the spectacular nature of such a "Supreme Power" with awesome manifestation in the film.

First and foremost, the music from the Monks of The Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery lends lineage to this manifestation in the film. The lineage goes back to the birth of Prince Siddhartha Gautama by Queen MÄyÄ and King Suddhodhana in 563 BCE. Prince Gautama manifested himself in the body of the Great Buddha, who helped many across the world to find peace through meditation and following the breath. He presented to the world his philosophy of the breath as a sustaining force in life.

The film also manifests the essence of a "Supreme Power" as the creator of the universe by the following: a) it shows natural landscapes; b) dedicated people praying; c) picturesque volcanoes; d) spectacular waterfalls as a cleansing power; e) natural forests; f) magnificent mountain ranges with snow glaciers; and, g) a variety of bird flying in unison. Some of the shapes resemble the "Garden of the Gods" in Colorado and the naturalness of God's creation. The beginning of time and its continuous development is tracked in the film which shows the beauty of earth and sky. The beauty of the rainbow flowing from above the earth and the setting sun are all manifestations of a "Supreme Power" in the film.

Additionally, the name Baraka and its relationship to a "Supreme Power" is further extends in the following areas based on its interpretation across the globe:

1. The principle of Judaism in that Berakha (Baraka) is a blessing that is usually recited in Jewish religious ceremonies.



2. Baraka in the essence of Islam and the Arabic language has influenced parts of the cradle of civilization and languages such as: Swahili, Urdu, Persian, and Turkish. The spiritual meaning of Baraka in these civilizations relates to the wisdom and blessings from God in the Sufi context.



3. Baraka also means "May the blessings be" or just "Blessings be" which is a Sufi expression used in Eckankar. This is the religion of light and sound of God, which is a major religious tradition in the Punjab area of northern India.



4. Baraka additionally means "Blessing," which is a spiritual power one believed to have possessed in the following languages: a.) Arabic, which is one language member of the West Semitic group of the Semitic subdivision of the Afroasiatic family of languages; b.) Swahili, a Bantu language spoken in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Congo-Kinshasa; and c). Urdu, the official tongue of Pakistan, which is one of the 15 languages recognized in India.

Furthermore, the Mala Beads used by various individuals in the film manifests the "Supreme Power." The Mala and the Rosary are similar. They both relate to the sacred nature of religion and its extension of spirituality. Many Christians and Islamic practitioners have classified the Mala Beads as the prayer beads. The Mala signifies a rose, a garden of heavenly garland which has the ability to move the believer into the heart of the garden while offering blossoms to the deity. Counting the beads brings the individual into the divine presence of a "Supreme Power," and unleashes the inspiration of spirituality in the soul similar to the Christian Rosary.

Additionally, the power of the word "OM," which is voiced in the film, tunes the entire human race with the music of the Divine. It brings the soul in direct contact with the in-dwelling and all-pervading reality of a "Supreme Being." Chanting the sound "OM" (pronounced "Aah-ooo-mmm") from which the universe flows is considered as the original source of all language, the one eternal syllable in which the past, present, and future are simultaneously shown to exist in the film.

The film Baraka also shows pictures of dwellings once lived in by the Anasazi Nation, in New Mexico. Baraka to the Natives could be translated to mean "Life being out of balance." Actually, the words of the Native Americans from the past may have appeared to be a prediction coming to past, which is now one of the manifestations in today's society regarding our quality of life, society's poor conduct in treating others, and the mistreatment and mismanagement of God's creation.

Joseph S. Spence, Sr. (aka "Epulaeryu Master"), is the author of "The Awakened One Poetics" (2009), which is published in seven different languages. He also co-authored two poetry books, "A Trilogy of Poetry, Prose and Thoughts for the Mind, Body and Soul" (2005), and "Trilogy Moments for the Mind, Body and Soul," (2006). He invented the Epulaeryu poetry form, which focuses on succulent cuisines. Joseph is a Goodwill Ambassador for the state of Arkansas. He has completed over twenty years of service with the U.S. Army.

http://www.trilogypoetry.com/

Volcanoes in the Philippines

The Philippine Islands host over 22 active volcanoes and many people do not realize this. It should not surprise anyone that each year the Philippines have at least a couple of eruptions; some are large but most are small. Currently the Mayon Volcano looks as if it is going to blow and at the last corruption was in 2001.

This particular volcano has erupted 47 times in human written recorded history, no one is very surprised that the volcano is going to erupt, but the Filipino authorities are playing it smart and evacuating some 50,000 people. It has already sent out tons of ash 1000 feet into the air.

There have been a few false alarms with this volcano in the past however the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said they have no doubt this time. There have been rumblings and earthquake swarms underneath the volcano, as well as six volcanic explosions signaling a Level Four Alert. The highest Alert Level is Level 5, which signifies that a full eruption is taking place at the moment.

As if this volcano was not enough problems for the Philippine Islands they also appear to be in the path of some typhoons which may hit them as well. The Philippine Islands are beautiful and some say a paradise and yet Mother Nature never lets mankind off the hook when presenting such beauty. Paradise has its price. Please consider all this in 2006.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

That Volcano in Iceland - The Eyjafjallajokull Effect

When a minor European Volcano decides to erupt, it does not often make the major headlines of the news. But the Eyjafjallajokull effect has been a different story, closing down European aerospace and casting a large cloud of volcanic dust across much of Europe. What is the potential effect of 'that' volcanoes eruption in Iceland?

Europe is not usually associated with volcanic activity, neither is Iceland much in the news nowadays. But when Eyjafjallajokull, started to erupt and spit out ice and lava earlier this year, few people noticed, until airports were closed.

Eyjafjallajokul, sounds spectacular but the name simply means the "islands mountains glacier". Icelanders generally see this volcanoes sister, Katla as the biggest threat but are probably bemused as the current cloud of ash is floating across mainland Europe, and the UK causing some panic.

Norse legend has it that humankind was created after the volcanoes in Iceland erupted. These potent and often ignored Volcanoes are a modern day source of geo-thermal energy, and a must see spot for curious tourists. But also serve as a warning as to how nature can disrupt modern hi-tech societies.

Despite claims that the eruption of Eyjafjallajokul, is subsiding some geologist fear a repeat of the last great eruption of 1821-23 when the first volcanic eruption, lead to the second eruption of Katla-causing much more damage then just closed airports.

If Katla does erupt, then experts state that sea levels may rise due to the break up of ice in the area surrounding both Eyjafjallajokul, and Katla. Whilst the volcanic dust cloud could get far worse, and close off much of Europe's airspace for months - not only disrupting air traffic but grounding it.

How this would effect Europe's transport routes and trade is anyone's guess. One theory is that the areas affected by volcanic dust may get colder, whilst global trade would switch to shipping, rail and road transport. This could hurt perishable products, which often need air transport like pharmaceuticals, fresh fruit and vegetables- driving up prices.

It could also effect the up-coming European tourist season, were traditionally people head for warmer climates like Southern Europe, and Turkey for their vacation. If flights are grounded, then Europe's roads will be congested, whilst long-haul destinations could see a further fall in tourist numbers.

One potential winner in all this could be Iceland. Currently mired in a deep recession, curious visitors could flock to see the volcanic activity, and create a much needed minor boom in ecological tourism. If they can get to Iceland by sea.

Yet, the final result of a possible dual eruption of both Eyjafjallajokull, and Katla could be the realization that humankind has no control over nature, despite the technology we use. And as in old Norse legend, the eruption of Volcanoes may after all, create something very new.

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And Then What? [Part 1/3]

Back in May 2010, at the time of the eruption of Eyjafjallajökul, the Icelandic volcano, I wrote a five-part blog, Lid Blown on What's Brewing Below, on how collectively *we* have managed to make the planet angrier with our mindless progress and its corollary - a penchant for taking as much as we can of whatever, matched by a limited ability to give much of anything to anyone... unconditionally.

As a result, collectively, regardless of which part of the world we happen to be living in, nature a.k.a. the Cosmos is making us accountable. It is forcing us to reap collective karma that needs to be amended collectively.

Back in May, while the BP spill was still spreading its oily ugliness across Florida's coastline and into the Mississippi delta, I concluded one of my articles with this thought: The forces of nature along with personal as well as separate/collective karma are going about the business of teaching us, mankind, essential lessons in spiritual survival with a single-mindedness similar to one who, stranded on an island, must break open coconuts with bare hands to get to the sweet milk within.

By that I meant that nature is stirring and shaking our psyche by finally reacting up close and personal with us who live in so-called civilised parts of the world as opposed to those it has challenged for decades - those who live in harsh lands and remote areas of Third World countries. Separately and together, it would be best if we managed to rethink our thinking in regards to *science*, *progress* and *lifestyle* because the viability of personal options are narrowing, as we speak.

According to a snip on Wikipedia, in April 2010, Ólafur Grímsson, the Icelandic President warned about a second much larger volcano: 'The time for Katla to erupt is coming close...we [Iceland] have prepared...it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over the world to start planning for the eventual Katla eruption.'" [1]
Right. And then what? I asked myself.

On the 7th of November 2010, on a lovely sunny Sunday somewhere in Australia, I read that international flights have been suspended to and from Indonesia and that Air Asia has cancelled 11 of its own because the activity of Mount Merapi, a volcano, a few hundred kilometres out of Jakarta, in Indonesia.

Today, a week later, I see that villages and all that makes them - from huts to buildings, to statues, to the common place palm trees and roads in between - are *ghosted* by layers of sticky, thick, grey ash. 206 people have so far died. 400.000 more have fled their homes and the clean-up cost is counted in billions of dollars.

The ancient ones considered volcanic ash the messenger heralding the awakening of the earth-shaking, fire-spitting dragon - the eruption of lava. Indonesia has had an uneasy past and, to this day, corruption is rampant and costly. Again, it might well be that for the local government, as well as for the world around, an eruption of molten lava there should be interpreted as yet another of nature's gesture to cleanse, not just the immediate area, a mere dot on the world map, but to burn out the spread of the pandemic virus identified as GaD, short for Greed and Deceit.

No one can ever know why it has so far been the Indonesians' collective [inherited] karma to bear the brunt of these acts of god/nature but, knowing that disasters are not only aimed at the ones, victims and survivors who are directly affected, it certainly would not hurt if all government officials, big billionaires, little millionaires, business folks as well as us, little people, currently suffering from the GaD syndrome managed to wake up long enough to address our priorities and redress our M.O. while we still can.

Sadly, it is also in Indonesia that, in 2006, a giant wave killed more than 130,000 people - only two years after another ocean quake triggered off the coast. That monster wave, referred to as the Boxing Day tsunami, plucked 230,000 people off the coast line of fourteen neighboring countries.

News headlines make it clear that, as rolling waves born out of nowhere suddenly ride hard the horizon line to slam against jetties and destroy livelihood, flood our streets and occasionally take lives, the answer to "And then what?" has already come to us in multiple ways.

Last month, also in Indonesia, on Mentawai island, a legendary destination for surfers, more than 400 people died including many children when the approaching giant wave failed to trigger alert warnings.

Interestingly, back in May 4 2010 - freak waves batter la Promenade des Anglais, in Nice, France - my hometown. The reality of a sea storm on the famed Riviera is even more 'odd' when we know that on the littoral, the Mediterranean sea, unlike the Atlantic, is normally quite still.

Only days before the official opening of the tourist season, this natural disaster spelt economic doom for the season. The cost of repair, mostly of the sea front restaurants between Nice and Cannes, was estimated to be between 3 and 8 millions of Euros.

Most of us do nod in agreement that everything happens for a reason, but we usually fail to search for *the reason*. Contextualizing natural events, these so-called Acts of God, helps make meaning out of events that are occurring more frequently and with more intensity than in the past.

Saying that these disasters are due to global warming or to the El Nino effect only addresses the symptoms not the primary cause. It's no different than saying that cancer is caused by the genetic mutation of cells while the real question is the one that precedes why have cells mutated in any one particular human being?

Also in May 2010: in Poland, village residents found themselves flooded by the Visla river. Their Prime Minister reassured them that financial aid was on its way and that they would be able to rebuild their lives.

Again, I remembered thinking, And then what?

As an aside, what I found symbolically interesting is that the Vista's swell reached all the way to the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site. About time! Its flood finally cleansed the horrid energy that undoubtedly still lingered, as energy does, so many years after the last prisoner walked out of the gates.

The death camp 'artefacts' were moved to higher grounds, which in itself suggests the symbolisms of Elevation and Purification. Why dismiss the notion that this *act of god* - one that did not take any lives - could be the hint that generally speaking, we all need to forgive, forget and move on?

The thing to keep in mind it that the greater the flood regardless of where it happens, the greater the need for us, individuals, to wash off ourselves in the present moment the deeply engrained scenarios from the past that have long dropped out of real-time, the ubiquitous suspicion of others' motives, the dark emotions and the murky fears of the future that, too, only exist in our mind. It's either that or risk being flooded by them, swept away and left to drown in them - literally as well as figuratively.

Since, it has been confirmed that 20 million people have been affected by the devastating monsoonal floods that began drowning Pakistan in July. One side-result of the catastrophe is that 99 cases of cholera have been detected since, and another is that there have been more than 3,000 cases of Dengue fever leading to 29 deaths, and counting.

In June 2010, came the string of nimble-footed, beautiful and massive supercell storms that hit Dakota.
In the face of more frequent natural and man-made disasters pockmarking our landscape, heart-in-mouth won't do. Heart-on-sleeve won't do.
Heart and soul would fare much better.

Early in October, this year, still in 2010, too soon on the heels of the BP spill, Hungary found itself besieged by toxic red sludge of comparable amplitude. The waters of the famed *Blue Danube* have since become poisonous.

"According to the current evaluation, company management could not have noticed the signs of the natural catastrophe nor done anything to prevent it even while carefully respecting technological procedures," said a statement issued by the company, Hungarian Aluminium Production and Trade Company. [2]

The residents of Kolontar, the area nearest the leaking reservoir, are due to return to their homes any day now. Apparently, a protective wall erected for that purpose will keep them safe from further leakage. Within the context of this article written for a readership interested in understanding day-to-day matters from a spiritual perspective, I think it is safe to say that this so-called protective wall symbolizes the hard wall that is around the heart of the industrial hunger we, as a consumerist society, keep feeding.

One month before, in September, a massive earthquake shook the city of Christchurch in *little* New Zealand. The city sustained NZ$ 4 billion worth of damage - a massive amount for any country of its size - but, again, the fortuitous lack of casualties points to the fact that nature knows well that the purse strings around our collective heart are knotted so tightly that the purse has to be slashed open.
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1. msnbc.msn.com/id/37371442/ns/world_news-europe
2. telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/hungary

Dear Reader, should you wish to explore more of my articles in their original format - in most cases complete with color illustrations - feel free to explore http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/CCSaint_Clair and, for your viewing pleasure: 18 podcasts is a 10 minute-long reading supported by my personal collection of still pictures.

http://spiritualawakening.magnify.net/watch/recent FYI, I am not selling anything; no workshops; no massages; no seminars; no retreats; no crystals and no books on the Law of Attraction. There is nothing here, there or anywhere that I have written on the topic of Spiritual Philosophy that can be bought, but there is plenty that can/should be/ought to be practiced - daily:)

Costa Rica - Not Your Ordinary Walk in the Nature Park

Pop quiz: Where can you enjoy majestic rainforests, breathtaking beaches that lie off both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, glorious volcanoes, exotic mammals, birds, sea creatures and other magnificent sights while walking? Costa Rica!

Aptly named the "rich coast", this vastly popular Central American destination's amazing geographic and biological diversity possesses a wealth of unique wonders - particularly for those who enjoy walking. Costa Rica is definitely a country best explored on foot, with so much to do and so many sights to see. So, what can you see when nature walking in Costa Rica? Here are three top favourites:

1. Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve

With its mysteriously misty cloud cover, spectacular views and densely lush vegetation, this fascinating eco-tourism spot is one of the most amazing areas to go nature walking. Costa Rica's indigenous flora and fauna reside right here - some 2,000 species of plants and trees, 1,200 species of amphibians and reptiles, more than 100 species of mammals and 400 species of birds, including the famed Quetzal.

After this dreamy adventure, wake up and smell the coffee with a tour through the area's nearby plantations - you'll gain new appreciation of the historical, cultural and economic significance of Costa Rica's "grana de oro", or golden grain, along with steaming hot mugs of the perfect brew.

2. Tortuguero

Costa Rica's Caribbean coastline is popular for its great beaches and seascapes where you can go swimming, snorkelling and diving; but go a bit northwards and you'll meet some of the most interesting denizens while walking! Costa Rica is home to many of the world's endangered sea turtles, including the hawksbills, loggerheads, leatherbacks and the most endangered (and thus protected) of all, the green sea turtle.

The shoreline and sea turtles aren't the only things that make Tortuguero National Park an interesting place to go walking. Costa Rica's wildlife also abounds in the area, such as caimans, manatees and crocodiles in the rivers, and jaguars, three-toed sloths and four different kinds of monkeys in the forests. And birds, birds, birds-there are about 375 species in the area!

3. Rincon de la Vieja

Literally a hotspot for adventure, this fascinating region boasts four volcanoes that make up the Guancaste Mountain Range. Along the hike you will encounter a vast array of bubbling mud pools, and fumaroles as well as hot sulphur springs that you can relax in after a day of walking. Costa Rica natives swear by their therapeutic and medical properties.

With about a quarter of the country reserved for nature, in the form of national parks and protected conservation areas, the terrain offers a vast variety of trails and routes for walking-- Costa Rica nature hikes can be tailor-made to suit anyone's fitness & walking ability, whether you're a vigorous trekker or an amateur stroller.

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. They offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in over 65 different countries. While walking Costa Rica with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, you will see scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices.

Is Global Warming Naturally Occurring?

The Earth is getting warmer. NASA has compiled the Earth's annual mean temperatures since 1880 by using ships logs, weather station, and satellite data. Their data shows that the trend in the Earth's temperature has been mostly upward and that the Earth is now about 1.3 °F warmer than it was a century ago. Scientists point to an increase in greenhouse gases from fossil fuel use as the major cause, but skeptics claim the warming observed is natural. The Sun, clouds, particulates, volcanoes, and greenhouse gases all affect the Earth's temperature. The question is "What part does each play in global warming and what part does man play?"

Energy balance: The Earth has a solar energy balance. Of all the Sun's energy coming to Earth, 30% is reflected immediately back into space by the surface, particles, and clouds. About 20% is absorbed into the atmosphere where it runs the weather cycle.The remaining 50% heats the land and oceans. All the absorbed heat is eventually radiated back into space as infrared radiation. It's a balanced energy budget with 100% of the incoming energy eventually going back into space. Anything that reflects sunlight into space, such as an increase in particulate matter in the air, would cause the Earth to cool. Anything that increases the amount of sunlight received or delays the energy's trip back to space such as greenhouse gases do, would cause the Earth to warm. What factors determine the energy balance?

The Sun: Solar radiation from the Sun has varied very little over the last few million years. The Sun has cycles where its output varies slightly such as Sunspots which cause the amount of solar radiation to vary in approximately 11-year cycles. Increased sunspot activity causes the Earth to warm. However, the effect of Sunspots is so small that they do not show up above the other small variations in NASA's temperature record. Long term variations in the Sun's intensity does not seem responsible for the current warming. Satellite measurements of solar radiation show that the solar radiation reaching Earth has declined slightly over the last 30 years - yet the Earth still warmed.

Milankovitch Cycles: Small wobbles in the Earth's orbit such as variations in the eccentricity, axial tilt, and precession of the Earth's orbit affects the amount of solar radiation the Earth receives. Both scientists and skeptics seem to agree that these cycles are responsible for the Earth's change from warmer to cooler periods and for ice ages that occur in roughly 100,000-year cycles. In the part of the cycle where the Earth receives more solar radiation, the oceans slowly warm and release CO2. The CO2 further amplifies the warming by the greenhouse effect. As the Earth moves into the part of the cycle where it receives less solar radiation, the oceans slowly cool, the CO2 dissolves back into the oceans and another ice age starts. The patterns of wobble in the Earth's orbit are predictable and the model predicts that a minor cooling trend, which began some 6,000 years ago, will continue for the next 23,000 years. The current warming trend is too rapid and in the wrong direction to be a part of the Milankovitch Cycles.

Clouds: Clouds have a dual role. They cool the Earth in the daytime by reflecting solar radiation back into space but they also warm the Earth by their greenhouse effect. First frosts are more likely to occur on cold clear nights. The average cloud cover over the entire Earth remains relatively constant from year to year. Clouds could be considered to contribute to the current warming trend only if the average cloud cover could be shown to be increasing over the years.

One unusual theory tries to do just that. It claims that the number of cosmic rays from the stars that strike the Earth is increasing. That would lead to more clouds since cosmic rays produce charged particles in the atmosphere that seed clouds. It's an interesting theory, but there is no data showing that the number of cosmic rays are actually increasing. Also, there are plenty of particulates in the air to seed clouds and any effect from cosmic rays would be small in comparison.

Greenhouse gases: If the Earth had no atmosphere, its average temperature would be much colder. Most of the Sun's energy comes to Earth as light in the visible and ultraviolet region of the spectrum but it leaves as heat energy in the infrared region. The atmosphere's clouds, water vapor, and CO2 traps some of the infrared radiation headed into space and directs it back to Earth, helping to warm the Earth. This is called the greenhouse effect, as it is similar to the effect that keeps greenhouses warm on cold nights. Recent research shows that about 75% of the greenhouse effect is due to water vapor and clouds and the rest is due mostly to CO2.

Water vapor is removed from the air whenever it rains so the average amount of water vapor in the air remains somewhat constant from year to year. However, the amount of CO2 in the air has been observed to be increasing. Measurements of the concentration of CO2 in the air have shown that it has increased from 280 ppm to 385 ppm in the last century. The physicist G. N. Plass determined the effect of the increase of CO2 on the Earth's temperature. In 1956, he calculated that doubling the concentration of CO2 in the air would cause a 3 to 4 °C increase in the Earth's temperature. A number of more recent studies have confirmed his results but the most important thing is that the rise in temperature he predicted 50 years ago in consistent with the increase in temperature we have observed. Certainly, the increasing amount of CO2 is a main factor global warming. But, is the increase in CO2 natural or man-made?

Volcanoes: Although impressive, the amount of heat released by volcanoes has a minuscule effect on the Earth's temperature compared to that of the particulates and greenhouse gases they release. Particulates reflect sunlight back into space and cause the Earth to cool while the greenhouse gases released cause the Earth to warm. Particulates from large eruptions, such as Mt. Pinaturbo, cause a very quick decline in the Earth's temperature. However, the particulates settle out or are removed by rain in a few years after the eruption stops. The CO2 released by the eruption causes greenhouse warming for a long time as it persists in the air for many decades. Volcanoes, however, play a small role in the current global warming compared to man. Man's activities currently emit about seven times the particulates and 150 times the CO2 as all the world's volcanoes together.

Fossil fuels: Since the 1800′s, scientists have been concerned with whether our use of fossil fuels might affect the temperature of the Earth. Burning carbon fuels releases large amounts of CO2, and there was speculation about whether an increase of CO2 in the air might actually change the energy balance of the Earth. Recent research has shown that CO2 plays a very important role in global warming and one scientist even labeled CO2 the "control knob" for the temperature of the Earth. The amount of CO2 man releases into the air is no longer minuscule as our emissions amount to 30 billion tons of CO2 each year. The concentration of CO2 in the air has increased from about 280 ppm to 385 ppm and the Earth's temperature has increased by 1.3 °F. Clearly, CO2 is the main factor in global warming and our use of fossil fuels is the main cause of the increase in atmospheric CO2.

It's not natural: Climate scientists agree. In 2004, a survey of 928 climate papers published in Science found that none of the authors argued for a natural explanation of global warming. So there we have it. Global warming is not caused by volcanoes, clouds, sunspots, changes in solar output, or cosmic rays from the stars - and it is not part of the natural cycles of nature. As much as we may dislike the idea, the major cause is man.

Dr. J.C. Moore is a physical chemist whose interests are spectroscopy,computational chemistry, professional ethics, and science education. He taught chemistry, physics, and general science at the college level for 38 years. Since retirement, he has established http://JCMooreonline.com, a website that examines current events from a science and research perspective.

Volcano Movie and Me

As many of my close friends and associates may already be aware of I have currently returned to school in an effort to obtain a degree in Emergency Management. I had previously taken a large number of FEMA classes on location as well as online in an effort to hone up my knowledge of emergency actions. You may ask why I would even want to do such work. The answer is simply I enjoy the thought of working at a job that offers me a degree of satisfaction and I feel that I can best contribute something useful to the emergency actions program as well.

This past evening I was comfortably sitting on the sofa watched the 1997 movie release entitled "Volcano". If you think back you will recall this movie as the disaster video which theoretically took place in the center of Los Angeles. According to the script this undetected underground volcano was effectively making short work of the city as it destroyed everything that came into its path. The showed featured the fabulous acting talents of Tommy Lee Jones who played the role of Mike Roark. Roark was the director of t4eh LA city emergency operations. During disasters he would ultimately have the final decision on what does and does not get accomplished under the name of disaster management. He was the man in charge of determining what actions the various agencies would take to combat this threat to their city.

As I watched the TV show it displayed how Tommy Lee would rattle off orders and in general how he handled the emergency situation. Most of the time Tommy Lee's actions called for making instant split second decisions which often involved life or death situations. I wondered than as I watched him in action if when my time came to do so, would I be able to act in such a proficient manner as he had.

Don't get me wrong as I have handled my share of instant decisions while employed with Uncle Sam in the military environment. This however made me take a double look at my role in emergency management. It certainly made me think seriously as to whether I could actually initiate those vital decisions which affect so many other lives. I realize that this predicament was nothing more then a mere Hollywood movie and the actual concept were skillfully picked from the figment within some writer's imagination but the ideas are still setting deeply within my mind.

By the end of the movie I realized that these people had an enormous task at protecting the safety and wellbeing of our people. They may not always make the right decisions but I am sure that at the time they seem to be the proper course of action. Hopefully I can do as well if and when my time arrives.

By Joseph Parish

Copyright @2010 Joseph Parish
http://www.survival-training.info

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.info

Top Three Luxury Hotels in La Fortuna/Arenal

One of the most sought after destinations in the world, Costa Rica is home to breathtaking landscapes, beautiful national parks, dizzying and active volcanoes, and marvelous white sand beaches where you can relax after wearing days hiking in the lush forests of the countryside.

The impressive Arenal Volcano, located about 90km from San Jose and next to the small town of La Fortuna, is one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world, and a must-do on any traveler's list to Costa Rica. Why not treat yourself to a little luxury as you stay there, and enjoy some pampering after long days hiking around the volcano? Here is a selection of the best hotels in La Fortuna/Arenal to plan.

Rated number one hotel in the Arenal National Park, the Springs Resort & Spa Hotel is nothing short of incredible. Sitting above the Arenal Valley, guests will enjoy the most breathtaking views are they are treated to the best services in the region. This Hacienda-style hotel features exquisite accommodations dotted with hardwood floors, plush furnishings and luxurious ceramic-tiled bathrooms. Take a dip in one of the eighteen pools, treat yourself to a relaxing massage in the Spa and Fitness Center, and try one of the delicious Costan Rican specialties at the first class restaurant, Las Ventanas.

Located at the foot of the mighty Arenal Volcano, the excellent Tabacan Grand Spa Thermal Resort awaits you with for an unforgettable Costa Rica vacation. Enjoy luxurious rooms and personalized service in the most beautiful tropical setting. With hand-made furniture and nature-inspired décor, all rooms boast a beautiful elegance combined with the highest standards of comfort. Cool off in the swimming pool, unwind in the thermal Jacuzzi, and enjoy exquisite local and international fare at one of the two on-site restaurants.

Ideally located and boasting spectacular views of the Arenal Volcano, the Arenal Kioro Hotel features 27 acres of land surrounded by two streams of crystalline water. Understated elegance and luxurious services characterize this amazing hotel. Make sure to stop by at the hotel's natural hot springs after taking advantage of the many outdoors activities, which include hiking, rafting and canopy tours.

This guide to the best luxury hotels in Arenal was written by a Costa Rica travel expert at Costa Rica For Less available to help you custom design exciting and adventurous Costa Rica vacations.

Volcanoes Affect History - From the Exodus to the Dark Ages

Iceland Volcano Conjures Up Recollections

Iceland has caused us to ponder. "Wow. A volcano can happen anywhere!" Of course, heated molten rock has nothing to do with the local weather. Volcanoes happen where they happen. They are the 800 pound gorillas of the earth's surface. Hawaii exists because of volcanoes. Iceland would not be there were it not for what we are watching on TV. But since we are the creatures that we are, we settle on the land and notice its properties, and start to plant and live and make babies and establish villages. A local Icelandic farmer who farms nearby asks why he is being punished. "My great grandfather started this farm". The "gods" might say: "Seems to me you guys got a great reprieve."

Iceland Makes Us Realize Volcanoes Aren't Just Far Off and Away

As a species we are downright amazing to watch. We forget, and forget, and then we go into trauma, then we forget again. There are millions of people now settled around Mt. Vesuvius. What was once a desolation of the City of Pompeii is now a tourist spot and romantic center of Southern Italy. History is meaningless and dire warnings are futile. Naples is like San Francisco. People develop a "devil may care fatalism" or a resigned philosophy. "If I die, I die." Mt. Rainier peers out toward Seattle and terrifies people and the prognosticators say: "Not in our lifetime". That's probably good enough for most of us. We hope to get our "3 score years and 10" and our grand kids, well, we have to deal with what we have to deal.

Krakatoa - Pacific Nightmare Near Java

The last Iceland Volcano in 1821. They say it lasted one or two years. No one wants to even think about that. But the thing volcanologists love to think about, (but only historically) is Krakatoa. Since it is far away for must of us, it has to be considered the A Number One Boil on the planet by most scientists concerned with the topic. It is theorized that one super eruption darkened the sun for years. It occurred in the 500 AD's and affected weather patterns for almost a century; cooling northern climes and cementing the "Dark Ages". It is said to have changed agriculture in Northern Europe for a long time, and, as one speculated, to the rise of the plague in the 600's, the end of the "Arthurian time" (Camelot) and the rise of Islam, as the southern parts of that region thrived. Krakatoa of the late 1800's, it is postulated, caused the devastating harsh winters in America in the 1880s. Krakatoa is on simmer right now, but the simmer is forming a new island as we speak.

The Eastern Med - Volcano Country - An Incredibly Active Seismic Zone

In the Eastern Mediterranean about 3500 years ago, it was much different from today. Today, many tourists travel to the white-painted villages on the Isle of Santorini. If you have flown over it, it looks like a finger nail clipping in the deep blue waters of the Mediterranean. It now makes an idyllic retreat for worn out Americans and Europeans who just want to kick back, lounge, drink Ouzo and bask in the warm sunlight. The people are wonderful, tourist tuned and have the handsome look of an ancient people. At least that's what the travel agencies tell us and the experienced traveler can attest to.

But once upon a time, this finger nail clipping of an island was the center of Mediterranean life. They were the Minoans, a powerful sea faring and trading people in the Late Bronze Age. They made this island one of their homes for their nearby capital of Crete. This is Volcano country if you have ever heard of it. Countless small eruptions over the centuries have occurred on small islands, reformed others and made a panoply of historical moments for the peoples of that region.

There was a volcano there in 1650 and many more small ones. The most recent in 1949 made the news but didn't cause cataclysm. The destruction of the Minoan civilization on Crete and these neighboring islands actually made way for replacing cultures and civilizations. The power vacuum created at that time, allowed for the rise of Grecian city states, and the Phoenicians of Biblical Lore and other powers to then dominate and influence this area. Egypt, was historically already founded and was not permanently damaged by the Volcano. However it might have been affected in another way, by assisting Moses with his people-moving exercise, and thus causing a diminution of their power and influence.

Santorini Was The Island of Thera

This volcano truly popped. It literally blew away the island, then known as Thera, and created the Caldera that is now Santorini. Then, tsunami waves crashed into Egypt, the east, the north and the west, continually pounding the region with large waves and causing dense dark ash thickened skies. The ash, they say, ascended to 50,000 feet. When it blew, it just turned villages into mist and crashed boats and ships for miles and miles. Archaeologists that study this keep on finding evidence of the destruction. Newer theories about the story of Exodus and the Children of Israel have made fabulous TV watching and tie in various issues that many have thought about for years, such as the possible location of Mt. Sinai, and even the Sea of Reeds, versus the "Red" Sea.

While the particulars as to how these effects might have caused the Plagues of Egypt are for a book, or at least another article, the fact remains that this volcano caused the displacements of peoples, movements into old areas and new commerce and cultural identity of formerly unknown peoples.

Historic Power and Destruction - Exodus and Diasporas and Immigrations

The "Danous" people that came to Greece are thought to be the Israelitish movement after Moses' relocation efforts. Golden images and relics make connections back to the peoples who were on the move after the Exodus. The tribe of Dan was always in motion. Dr. Herman Hoeh, an expert on legends concerning this time, talked about how Moses sons, having lost a real place at the table because Brother Aaron's children became the Aaronic priesthood, took a trip out of the area of the Holy Land, around the Pillars of Hercules to the Ancient Land of Ireland. The "Cohan" (priesthood and name of Moses kids) is a familiar Irish name. George M. Cohan, being a modern representative. The people who left Egypt eventually created a land that would become known for its outermost limits. As we would say from "Maine to California", or from "Florida to Alaska", the land was said to encompass from "Dan to Beersheba" (Dan, up north by modern day Syria, and Beersheba in the southern desert). The Children of Israel would eventually make a true Kingdom under Davidic lineage through Solomon. The lineage continuing through Nathaniel to the family of Mary, Mother of Jesus.

Greece itself, without the competition from the destroyed Minoan civilization began to thrive, and Alexander in the 300's BC took his Macedonian armies all the way to the Indus River, and established a Hellenized culture that affected the very nature of western culture. The western part of the Mediterranean was not as affected as much by this volcano, and it also thrived after this period. Villages grew and cities blossomed. The Minoans were not around anymore, controlling commerce, so western "vills" could make their own impact on history. Places like Carthage and Rome might come to mind.

No More Hubris

Since the Minoans were gone, people like the Phoenicians also make their mark on history. They were excellent sea faring peoples. These Semitic peoples made commerce through the Straits of Gibraltar (the Pillars of Hercules) doable. Their sailing technologies and skills allowed for movement around Spain to England and Ireland and the Eastern part of France. Hubris, a word for "excessive pride" was coined because that is what the Greeks called Gibraltar. In their minds, you were taking your life in your hands, and were defying the gods if you went past that sign post into the Atlantic. The Greeks and the Romans were not exceptionally skilled seaman and their boats did not cut through the waves, like the Phoenecians' did. (The Greeks and Romans made their living fighting on land.) The Phoenicians were the Navy of the Mediterranean, and this is the way they established themselves and promoted trade after the Theran Destruction. It no longer was tempting the gods with "hubris" to go through Gibraltar. Joseph of Arimathea's tin trade with Britain shows how trade developed in Roman times.

Causes of Volcanoes

Perhaps the biggest mystery of all is the Timing of Volcanoes. Astrological cycles try to track them to the movement of Pluto or Neptune. Astrology and astronomy may indeed have undetectable influences, but the very earth that we stand on is the main object of study. Still, predicting is beyond our wizardry at this moment. When we stare at the might being displayed on periodically historical moments, maybe we should lie down and put our heads in our pillows with a little more thankfulness. Thankfulness that these volcanoes are as measured and non-periodic as they are. Christofer French is the Founder of Astrologygetalong.com.

http://www.astrologygetalong.com