Signs of 2012

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Europe’s Danube River froze in February for the first time in 25 years. And now it’s melting. A bitter cold snap that swept across Europe either completely or partially froze the river between Austria to the Black Sea. The 1,777 mile-long river flows through a total of nine countries and is a vital throughway for the continent. Last week, temperatures began rising again from lows of minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit to upwards of 50 degrees. The thaw is causing large chunks of ice to dislodge and float haphazardly along the river. In Serbia, the melting ice has already crushed hundreds of small boats. Despite the thaw, many communities and countries continue to battle record temperatures and heavy snowfall. More: Danube River freezes for first time in 25 years Melting ice on Danube damages hundreds of boats Freezing winter continues to cause problems for Europe

Europe’s Danube River froze in February for the first time in 25 years. And now it’s melting.

A bitter cold snap that swept across Europe either completely or partially froze the river between Austria to the Black Sea. The 1,777 mile-long river flows through a total of nine countries and is a vital throughway for the continent.

Last week, temperatures began rising again from lows of minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit to upwards of 50 degrees.

The thaw is causing large chunks of ice to dislodge and float haphazardly along the river. In Serbia, the melting ice has already crushed hundreds of small boats.

Despite the thaw, many communities and countries continue to battle record temperatures and heavy snowfall.

Source commons.wikimedia.org

Are you a prepper? Doomsday Preppers premiered on National Geographic earlier this month. Yes, it features people who are actively preparing for the end of the world. From NatGeo: “The lives of otherwise ordinary Americans who are preparing for the end of the world as we know it. Unique in their beliefs, motivations, and strategies…” While we are not yet preppers ourselves, here are the ten suggested principles of preparedness to mull over: Spiritual Preparedness Mental Preparedness Physical Preparedness Medical Preparedness Clothing/Shelter Preparedness Fuel Preparedness Water Preparedness Food Preparedness: Financial Preparedness: Communication Preparedness More: The full principles of preparedness TV: Doomsday Preppers Doomsday Dashboard - trending theories Get more tips: Preparedness Pro

Are you a prepper?

Doomsday Preppers premiered on National Geographic earlier this month. Yes, it features people who are actively preparing for the end of the world.

From NatGeo: “The lives of otherwise ordinary Americans who are preparing for the end of the world as we know it. Unique in their beliefs, motivations, and strategies…”

While we are not yet preppers ourselves, here are the ten suggested principles of preparedness to mull over:

  1. Spiritual Preparedness
  2. Mental Preparedness
  3. Physical Preparedness
  4. Medical Preparedness
  5. Clothing/Shelter Preparedness
  6. Fuel Preparedness
  7. Water Preparedness
  8. Food Preparedness:
  9. Financial Preparedness:
  10. Communication Preparedness

Source National Geographic

A mysterious epidemic is quietly devastating Central America. More than 24,000 people have been killed since 2000, striking thousands more with chronic kidney ailments at a magnitude not seen anywhere else in the world. The outbreak is centered in El Salvador and Nicaragua, but scientists have received reports stretching as far north as southern Mexico and as far south as Panama. Symptoms of the disease come on suddenly and by the time they’re noticed, it’s often too late. Manual laborers are struck far more often than others, especially construction workers, and the region’s sugar crop workers. Chronic dehydration is a common thread for those afflicted, but it’s a condition not isolated to this region, adding to scientific bafflement. Scary stuff - Mystery disease kills thousands in Central America

A mysterious epidemic is quietly devastating Central America.

More than 24,000 people have been killed since 2000, striking thousands more with chronic kidney ailments at a magnitude not seen anywhere else in the world.

The outbreak is centered in El Salvador and Nicaragua, but scientists have received reports stretching as far north as southern Mexico and as far south as Panama.

Symptoms of the disease come on suddenly and by the time they’re noticed, it’s often too late.

Manual laborers are struck far more often than others, especially construction workers, and the region’s sugar crop workers.

Chronic dehydration is a common thread for those afflicted, but it’s a condition not isolated to this region, adding to scientific bafflement.

Source commons.wikimedia.org

Northern California started the week with a rumble. First, a 4.4 magnitude temblor hit near Santa Rosa Sunday evening. Midday Monday, a moderate 5.6 quake struck northern California. The epicenter was a rural area near the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation, about 240 miles north of San Francisco and 60 miles south of the Oregon border. The USGS published the following probability for aftershocks: 28% chance of aftershocks 5.0 and larger in the next 7 days 5-10% an aftershock will equal or surpass the 5.6 main quake 100% chance that 12-40 small aftershocks (3-5 magnitude) To the south, Costa Rica was hit by a 5.8 magnitude quake early Monday off the Pacific coast. More: 5.6 felt across California’s north coast Costa Rica hit by 5.8 magnitude quake USGS: Recent quakes larger than 5.0 magnitude

Northern California started the week with a rumble.

First, a 4.4 magnitude temblor hit near Santa Rosa Sunday evening. Midday Monday, a moderate 5.6 quake struck northern California.

The epicenter was a rural area near the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation, about 240 miles north of San Francisco and 60 miles south of the Oregon border.

The USGS published the following probability for aftershocks:

  • 28% chance of aftershocks 5.0 and larger in the next 7 days
  • 5-10% an aftershock will equal or surpass the 5.6 main quake
  • 100% chance that 12-40 small aftershocks (3-5 magnitude)

To the south, Costa Rica was hit by a 5.8 magnitude quake early Monday off the Pacific coast.

Source Los Angeles Times