60% of air traffic has been resumed but they're saying it may still take a couple weeks to get everyone to their destinations.

 hippiechick wrote: 
I wondered about that myself.  From Smithsonian.com :

...The scientists now believe that volcanoes can produce two kinds of lightning during an eruption. The first type, which has been understood for some time, occurs in the volcano's smoke plume a few minutes after the eruption ends. In this case, highly energized hot air and gases clash with the cool atmosphere, creating the sort of "organized," branched lightning found in a thunderstorm, says Thomas.

The second kind of lightning, which the authors called "a newly identified explosive phase," came as a surprise, says Thomas. As magma, ash and rocks spewed from Augustine carrying great electrical charge, they created continuous, chaotic sparks near the mouth of the volcano.

"There's some mechanism in there that's making it come out charged," says Thomas, who hopes the new observations will lead to a better understanding of both kinds of volcanic lightning.

Not all volcanic eruptions produce lightning, says McNutt, but the new equipment might be used to track the ones that do-particularly those in remote regions.

 hippiechick wrote: 

 miamizsun wrote: 
Why does the volcano make lightning?

Damn fine pics of Eyjafjallajokull.

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
A guy living in the shadow of Chaiten volcano (which is still erupting btw, nearly two years later without a break) said raw onion was the only thing they found that relieved the congestion/abrasion/pain up the nose from volcanic ash. Main thing is keeping the damn stuff out of the house. In Iceland they tape up their windows. Might be a bit excessive as it is bound to clear up in a day or two if it hasn't already. Good luck!

 MrsHobieJoe wrote: 
I don't have any tonsils

 pdhski wrote: 
It's what us Brits say when a man has a heavy cold, sort of mickey take. When women have a cold they say they have a cold, when men have a cold they say they have flu, hence manflu.

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 

Could be tonsillitus although asthma sufferers are being recommended to stay indoors if dust is settling.

 pdhski wrote: 
As opposed to WOman flu.

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
wot?

 mzpro5 wrote: 
Road trips would increase.

 samiyam wrote: 
Be aware of the fly!

 NoEnzLefttoSplit wrote: 
Global cooling?
Poor Al Gore will be out of a job.

 ndg wrote: 
I just got an email from aer lingus for a special 100 discount - I checked the fare and it was 1300 - exactly 100 more than the typical  I can get through the usual internet agents. Last year the same flight was 500. I wonder how much the air fares will go up now because of the money they're losing. 

 geordiezimmerman wrote: 
Sucks for sure. I read it is the glass that is the big problem. It turns molten inside the jet turbo engines and gums them up. Your must be breathing that...That sucks...Get a mask.

What's also rather worrying is there are absolutely no health warning on the news about this. It's all about those deserted and how much money is being lost. Mrs Hobie mentioned earlier that there is some of this fine rock on the ground in the south west. If it's on the ground it must be in my lungs. I'm actually quite sick right now with what feels like man flu but my throat is extremely sore. Ok, this could be a coincidence but some advice would be helpful but there's none at all. What goes up must come down so to speak.

 JrzyTmata wrote: 
this is how Iceland will get out of it's financial crisis... bag that stuff up and sell it!

 hippiechick wrote: 
the good news is that it will kill all the slugs in the garden.