"Don't Look Now....But" by Fly on the Wall | The Pilot: Southern Pines, NC

Don't Look Now....But

April 15, 2010

Those doomsday movies have great computer-generated special effects but the content is laughable. I can tell from the previews and reviews since I'd never throw good money at a guy who wants to be the last man surviving a cosmic holocaust. But I must admit, recent events have me antsy. First, the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Then another in Chile. And another in California. And another in China. Now, a volcanic eruption in, of all places, Iceland has grounded air travel over Europe and beyond. After one of these events I read that the earth's axis had shifted a wee bit, or some such calculation. Wednesday night a meteoroid the size of a Volkswagen and brighter than special effects lit up the skies over Wisconsin before burning out. Some viewers assumed an outer-spacecraft that would disgorge little green creatures with quivering antennae. Hmmm. I'm sure the brainiacs (plus Steven Spielberg and James Cameron) are onto this and just as sure they're keeping quiet so as not to create panic of Toyota/H1N1 proportions. Still, I'd rather die in a skyscraper tsunami than a Lexus. There's a lighter side. I received some affirming emails following my column about why people hate Duke even more now that they won the NCAA championship. We went round the barn and had just decided fans of any sport need a Wicked Force to hate when along came another idea from a very smart guy which, as a Dookie, he'd have to be. This fella had read the Sports Illustrated commemorative issue; the back page (sponsored by Nike) has a Blue Devil head followed by four words: Order Has Been Restored. Nike or not, even I admit that's a tad arrogant. My email pal suggested, humorously of course, that these natural disasters might be a cosmic reaction to the victory. In other words, Duke angers even the gallactic warriors. I'm hoping that's the reason. If not -- what's going on?

Amazed 3 years, 1 month ago

That's got to be it...the gods are angry...for dook has turned things upside down! :-) GO HEELS!

GoldenDreams 3 years, 1 month ago

Deb, Deb, Deb, where is your Bible knowledge? Since you and I are both transplanted New Englanders living in the Bible Belt, you should at least have a clue about what the Bible says about end times, just as I now do. One of the major signs is the increase in earthquakes and other cosmic phenomena. Read Revelations, the last book of the New Testament. It's fascinating!

debsalomon 3 years, 1 month ago

Dear Golden Dreams...I'm too scared to read REvelations. I guess the earth has survived plenty of natural disasters since then, so maybe we're safe. Others would blame Malthuseus...especially since the pundits are saying that Haiti will emerge "a better place." As in fewer people to feed. The thing that distubed me most was that one of these incidents knocked the globe a fraction off kilter. Would a bigger one send us spinning out into space? I don't think anybody's made that movie yet. debster

GoldenDreams 3 years, 1 month ago

Debster, since when are you afraid of something....like reading Revelations? You are one gutsy woman! Give it a try. The point I was trying to make, though, is that the natural disasters are happening at record speed. That's what has the Christians so interested. Have a great weekend!

debsalomon 3 years, 1 month ago

Dear Golden: Afraid isn't the right word. Fear doesn't help. Natural disasters happen...not much we can do, with all our machines we still can't predict most of them in time to make a difference. I'm just an interested observer who can't resist putting two and two together, preferably not resulting in four. I know doctrines of many religions recognize signs in nature that foretell happenings, good and bad.. But I'm inclined to believe that these ideas orginate with well-oiled human brains rather than anything divine or supernatural. Who knows? Debster

theonewithsense 3 years, 1 month ago

Fact 1: The frequency of earthquakes and other natural disasters has not increased in resent years. Fact 2: all earthquakes modify our center of rotation. It's called physics. Most of the time it is not measurable or so minute that it doesn't matter.

debsalomon 3 years, 1 month ago

To theonewithsense... Whew. I'll sleep better tonight knowing the earth will continue its prescribed rotation despite Duke winning the national championship. All this ballyhoo is just another example of media over-reaction. Anything to hawk a rag. But, did you see the video of that meteoroid? Pretty spectacular, considering no Photoshopping involved. Where is Orson Wells when we really need him? (Hope you're old enough to get the reference.) debster