A few extreme lows is to be expected as a slow transition from La Nina takes place, but the annual average for this year is likely to be above the 30-year mean. (see NOAA Climate Diagnostic Center)

It never ceases to amaze me when I see folks declare a cold day during winter justifies dismissal of an empirically evident shift in the climate.

liphttam - Population density isn't a big factor at present with due exception to those volcanoes that have a past event measuring exclusivity index of 7 or 8. Annual deaths and property loss have declined with the ability to monitor conditions and build models from data that can help predict eruptions, blast waves, pyroclastic/lava flows, and ash/gas generated.

The link also doesn't really address the significant toll massive eruptions like Toba or mantle plumes from flood basalts in igneous provinces(e.g. half of Siberia's crustal layer collapsing into a sea of magma).

If you bring in a product playing on the insanity of Ron Paulb/paultards, Neatorama's affirmative action trifecta will balance. But the griefers win. =(

Neatorama is as niche-less as claimed; you can take a look at the archive categories to verify tor yourself.

Jill went to the effort to premptively resolve potential misunderstanding about a lighthearted post covering a public figure who, meeting an apparent market demand I suppose, can find her image and quotes printed upon toilet paper. The point was and continues to be required as a few folks seem to get upset enough to comment.

Now that the hippie sasquatch ninja-wonk that is the neatorama hive mind has been outed, perhaps you'll kindly include an off-limits list of topics so the people who run, contribute content,and enjoy viewing the site can keep you from being devastated by quick post addressing a $9 roll of tacky but funny toilet paper.

RW - Do a search for astro-photography and Milky Way. You'll find it's not only done with long exposures but stacking those pictures to isolate details. It's no less beautiful because of the technique used, but it doesn't represent how you would perceive galaxy.