BS: some places the earth falls in

Subject: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: leeneia
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 02:25 PM

I don't know how long this link will be good, but this article

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060814/NEWS01/608140373/1007/NEWS01


tells of a sinkhole in southern Missouri which took a man's garage and car. Now it's getting the house.

("Sinkhole" is certainly a prosaic name for a collapse which rumbles like thunder for 15 minutes.)

I was impressed (but not surprised) by the low-key courage of his reaction. He's lost everything he has, but he jokes about his tankful of gas.

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 03:04 PM

The Missouri Sinkhole

Sinkholes are not really too uncommon, but a sudden collapse like this one is not often observed. Most of them probably do start with a relatively quick appearance at the surface, but the real concern is the continuing growth of a hole once it's appeared at the surface - which may continue for years.

In addition to the underground erosion by natural processes, there are a number of "famous" sinkholes that have eaten entire towns in mining regions, where the mineshafts have begun to collapse after mines were abandoned.

John

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: leeneia
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 05:39 PM

Thanks, John, for the blue clicky. I try to make them, and they never click.

It finally dawned on me after the second reading that Mr. Scrivener had been mowing his lawn the day before the collapse. If his land had collapsed one day earlier, he might have plunged to his death. It gives me the shivers just to think about it.

I wonder what people will do now? I have no idea how the authorities cope which such openings in the long run.

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: Little Hawk
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 05:52 PM

This is one area that I don't think Hollywood disaster movies have really exploited effectively yet. Think of the possibilities.

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: leeneia
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 05:55 PM

That is a good observation. Hollywood probably can't think of a gripping title with the word "sinkhole" in it.

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: open mike
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 06:07 PM

ah that is where they got the saying "that sucking sound"

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: Little Hawk
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 06:37 PM

I'm envisioning a huge summer blockbuster called "Sinkhole!" produced by the guy who did "Independence Day". In it you get to see pretty much all of Los Angeles get swallowed up into a gigantic hole in the ground...a suburb at a time!

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: bbc
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 06:45 PM

My mom was just telling me about this last night. It is only a few blocks from where she lives.

bbc

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: Little Hawk
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 07:03 PM

What you don't want in your yard...

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: GUEST,TIA
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 08:11 PM

For my real job, I have had to do Google searches that include the word "sinkhole" (really - no kidding). It is shocking what comes up. Much safer is the Euro word "doline".

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: bobad
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 09:36 PM

Well of course after that teaser we have to try it.

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: bobad
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 09:44 PM

Hmm, this is about the closest possible "shocking" thing I came up with, but you would need a really vivid imagination.

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 09:47 PM

Some time ago I saw a doco on the Dead Sea area - because of all the water being pulled out of the stream feeding it, the land is drying up as the water table falls. The subsequent leaching of the salt out of the soil is causing large numbers of sinkholes.

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: catspaw49
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 11:33 PM

Sinkholes? BFD, I mean really....WHOGABRA?

In Mississippi there is actually a place where the world ends.....truth! Anyone who has been to Mississippi can attest to the fact that the place is the end of the earth and that ain't no shit!

Spaw (awaiting khandu or patty clink)

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: leeneia
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 12:12 PM

Spaw, dear, are you all right?

"BFD, I mean really....WHOGABRA?" Can you smile, talk, wave your arms?

Anyhow, the end of the world is in Africa. I saw it myself in "The Gods must be Crazy."
-------
Little Hawk, was your linked photograph a picture of the collapse in Nixa? If so, the entire house is gone now, not just the garage.

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:40 PM

Spaw - I thought Brisbane was the arsehole of the earth...

Subject: RE: BS: some places the earth falls in
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 07:53 PM

If his land had collapsed one day earlier, he might have plunged to his death. It gives me the shivers just to think about it.

There is supposed to be a case (early 20th C I think) in the village I live in of a horse and cart and a couple of people plunging into a hole that suddenly opened up.