The latest science news, nicely coinciding with the belching of Mount St. Helens: some time, not sure when, an extra-giganto-huge volcano is going to erupt and kill a buncha people. Might be in Yellowstone, which is 40,000 years overdue for a super explosion and has inspired a BBC docudrama (check out the still of a pick-up truck fleeing the scene). Or might be somewhere else around the world. Might be tomorrow. Or might be thousands of years from now. But whenever it happens, it’s going to be ugly. And, scientists say, there ain’t nothin’ we can do about it.

Is it any wonder people (and when I say “people,” I mean me) bury their heads? The planet is scary, the experts who talk about it are scary, and we are helpless.

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OK, well, got to get back to writing silly headlines.

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