Stromboli volcano is in the middle of a bit of activity, which is why some kind people set up the new webcam I mentioned the other day. Last night it gave a good display. Today it is puffing and panting away with the occasional spurt. If you don't want to watch but don't want to miss some action, just put this live action up on a separate tab and listen out for the occasional extended gasp that the volcano makes [oh yes, there's sound too], and wait for the spurt. Remember, this is live action in pretty high definition: https://www.skylinewebcams.com/en/webcam/italia/sicilia/messina/stromboli.html
Here's a pic of Stromboli from today. It's a little puff I managed to capture, and they don't show up well during the day anyway: Here's something much better from a month or so ago in May: Same camera but zoomed in. Last night it did similar stuff but I missed taking a photo. You can catch these for yourselves. Good fun for having on in the background while you're doing something else. Funnily enough, I love the sounds the volcano makes. The little sighs and then the occasional big gasps, like the biggest ever whale might do.
A flight in China was delayed for 5 hours after an elderly passenger threw coins into the aircraft’s engine for good luck. The 80 year old passenger, surnamed Qiu, was boarding the China Southern Airlines flight from Shanghai to Guangzhou with her family when she stopped to make the ‘blessings’. Then she threw 9 coins at the aircraft’s engine turbine. Concerned fellow passengers alerted airline staff. It prompted a full examination of the engine, which in turn led to the evacuation of the 150 passengers. 8 or the 9 coins had missed but one had got inside. The woman was later detained by police. The airline said. "After investigation Qiu said she threw the coins to pray for safety. According to Qiu's neighbour, Qiu believes in Buddhism." Being a believer in Buddhism is fine. Throwing coins into a jet engine is another. It's not the Trevi fountain. Jet engines are pieces of precision engineering. Perhaps they should have optional prayer wheels at the boarding steps.
It's up to you now BLACK , to carry on with her face . http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-40516754
No, I'm sorry France. I'm not impressed. You're going to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2040: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40518293 If you had said 2025 or so, I would have let out a little wahoo.! That would have been proper leadership. But 2040.? That's a big lazy window. I doubt if anyone will still be making a fossil fueled car by then. Least of all Renault, Citroen and Peugeot. Volvo will not design any fossil fuelled cars after 2019. That's not to say they won't release existing designs, but that's pretty good. No more new burning fuel designs after 2019. Impressive. And that's from a SAAB person.
It's a good headline, leading the way and all that. But like you say, it needs to be far sooner than 2040!
I read, a few days ago (can't remember where so can't link it), that the government were considering introducing a new tax for electric cars that use "dirty electricity" for recharging. It went on to name two companies that generate 25% and 30% of their electricity using fossil fuels. Possibly British Gas and SSE? It got me thinking as to how this would work. Would it only apply at charging stations or to households as well? Would the government seriously put two massive utility companies at risk of losing business/customers or would the owners (and probable Tory party donors) prevent what could be considered unfair interference into how a business is run? Or, more probably, would the tax be included in the charging price paid for by the user? In which case would their home bills be increased ad hoc or would there be a way of differentiating between how the household has used it's electricity If it is the third option, it won't necessarily push the suppliers into changing their methods of generating electricity, unless they start to lose numerous customers who change to companies that are greener.
RIP Bradley You were, too briefly, an inspiration to all of us, and a reminder that for all our petty complaints about life, things could be so much worse.
Just returned from Matlock in Derbyshire. Didn't go off piste, but what a lovely area. Also visited Ely in Cambridgeshire on way back....great cathedral surrounded by beautiful old buildings. Have gone on a few UK jaunts recently...amazing how each county varies in style, but always includes a few beautiful cathedral and market towns.
