Discovery Channel Blows Its Top and Its Credibility

Free Market Project ^ | 04/11/2005 | Dan Gainor

[Hatteras]

"I live in Phoenix, I'm safe from the super volcano, and mega tsunamis. But Killer Bees will likely do me in, if the Fire Ants don't get me first. "

Hurricanes and kudzu here...

[nothingnew]

...although it has happened approximately every 640,000 to 800,000 years...

Did you say every 640,000 to 800,000 years!!!!??? Whew...I thought you said every 64,000 to 80,000 years! I can kind of relax now...I think...

FMCDH(BITS)

[advance_copy]

It's Bush's fault.

[Dan from Michigan]

I take that back, Crater Lake was a VEI 8. I think Yellowstone is the biggest of all of them, but I'm not so sure now.

[Dan from Michigan]

VEI scale.

VEI 0 - Hawaiian, example - Kîlauea
VEI 1 - Hawaiian/Strombolian, example - Stromboli
VEI 2 - Strombolian/Vulcanian, example - Galeras 1992
VEI 3 - Vulcanian(Sub-Plinian), example - Nevado del Ruiz, 1985
VEI 4 - Vulcanian (Sub-Plinian)/Plinian, example - Galunggung 1982
VEI 5 - Plinian Eruption(Vesuvius in 79AD), example - Mt St Helens 1980
VEI 6 - Plinian/Ultra-Plinian (Krakatoan), example - Krakatau 1883
VEI 7 - Ultra-Plinian(Krakatoan), example - Tambora 1815(Caused the year without a summer, 1816)
VEI 8 - Ultra-Plinian (Krakatoan), example - Toba(Supervolcano)

Examples of VEI 8 Mount Aniakchak, Alaska, United States
Aso, Kyûshû, Japan
Campi Flegrei, Campania, Italy
Kikai Caldera, Ryûkyû Islands, Japan
Long Valley Caldera, California, United States
Mount Mazama, Oregon, United States (now Crater Lake)
Lake Taupo, North Island, New Zealand
Lake Toba, Sumatra, Indonesia
Valle Grande, New Mexico, United States
Mount Warning, New South Wales, Australia
Yellowstone Caldera, Wyoming, United States

[thegreatbeast]

I have my own little antagonism to vent about. Is The History Channel really the history channel? So many times I've caught them in small inaccuracies and improper biases. How many people sit watching their shows and thinking that this is the true story being presented?

[discostu]

I thought the killer bees had stalled pretty much south of Tucson (with occassional incursions), didn't like the cold weather. If they don't like cold weather they way didn't like this winter.

[Arkie2]

So we've got at least 40,000 years? Yawn. Wake me when it happens.

[OrioleFan]

Did Brokjaw say that if this thing blows, it will be George Bush's fault?

[Captain Rhino]

Caught it. Since this is a Hollywood movie, the Prez has got to be Hilary, right?

[miliantnutcase]

What if Bush accidently hits his supervolcano button?!!

[nevergore]

Even worse than Hollywierd, I noticed the BBC sponsored it....

NeverGore :^)

[zlala]

2-3 inches of ash just isn't that much. Remember, Herculaneum was buried under *yards* of the stuff. Yellowstone going "foom" would cover Nebraska in yards of the stuff as well. It's happened before, it'll happen again.

I agree, it isn't much. But the statement on the show (at that point) wasn't put into context of "how much" it would take to have those effects take place.

Yes, it will happen again. This show should have not promoted itself as being the truth, it should have said it was science guessing. I imagine there was a portion of the public that watched and took what was said as science truth.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

The U.S. government was portrayed alternately as evil/corrupt or just incompetent and unable to figure out to handle the disaster.

Just like at Waco when Clinton was President???

[Ditto]

Hmmm? I missed it. A Discovery Channel show about something other than fat guys with too many tattoos building 'choppers'? Wow!

Is this some sort of new trend? Maybe the Learning Channel will start showing something beside interior decorating.

[free_at_jsl.com]

Make a new hat!

http://www.johnf-ingkerry.com

[markman46]

I watched it last night too, moat of the main characters were from the Star Gate series on SCiFi,was slow, and didn't need to be 2 1/2hrs.

[Grut]

WATCH OUT! ..for the Giant Gila Monsters.

Oh, the spider ate them.

[Tennessee_Bob]

WATCH OUT! ..for the Giant Gila Monsters.

If they show up, I hope there's some James Dean type with a hot rod and a case of nitro handy...

[COEXERJ145]

And I wonder how many other folks heard the line that:

"Air Force One took the President to an Air Force base in Florida but the information was to remain confidential because "SHE" didn't want to appear as if she was running away."

I caught it and seeing how this was a BBC production, immediately assumed they meant "President Hillary Clinton".