Comments on: Weird-looking dust storm in Australia http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: ROSSINDETROIT http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419840 ROSSINDETROIT Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419840 Maybe driving into this wasn't as dangerous as the video makes it look, but it looks plenty frakkin' dangerous to me. And what would you tell your insurance agent after joining the 50 car pileup? "Yeah, we saw the huge opaque mass from miles away but decided to drive right into it at full speed anyway" Maybe driving into this wasn’t as dangerous as the video makes it look, but it looks plenty frakkin’ dangerous to me.
And what would you tell your insurance agent after joining the 50 car pileup?
“Yeah, we saw the huge opaque mass from miles away but decided to drive right into it at full speed anyway”

]]> By: phillamb168 http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419842 phillamb168 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419842 I feel rather silly for my first thought: "Why are they driving on the wrong side of the road?" I feel rather silly for my first thought: “Why are they driving on the wrong side of the road?”

]]> By: raguero255 http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419845 raguero255 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419845 these are called Spring afternoons in Lubbock, TX. We often saw them coming, just like this. It'd get so dark the street lights would come on in the middle of the day! They still get them. these are called Spring afternoons in Lubbock, TX. We often saw them coming, just like this. It’d get so dark the street lights would come on in the middle of the day! They still get them.

]]> By: arkizzle http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419853 arkizzle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419853 Isaac, yep, was gonna comment the same thing. But his lips aren't pursed, he has his tongue out and he's flipping the bird (his left hand, to the lower-right of his face). Also, don't these people watch disaster films? <i>Yi-ikes!</i> Isaac, yep, was gonna comment the same thing. But his lips aren’t pursed, he has his tongue out and he’s flipping the bird (his left hand, to the lower-right of his face).

Also, don’t these people watch disaster films? Yi-ikes!

]]> By: TEKNA2007 http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-420110 TEKNA2007 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-420110 It's cool how well-defined the front wall of it is. I would have stopped at the edge and filmed upwards. Great find, BB! It’s cool how well-defined the front wall of it is. I would have stopped at the edge and filmed upwards.

Great find, BB!

]]> By: Itsumishi http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-420113 Itsumishi Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-420113 Haha. Not trying to be righteous. Trying to be jerk. Often am. As Takuan has pointed out though I'm not only a jerk, but an idiot jerk to. Should probably check spelling before I get all uppity. Also nope, don't know the Malcom X gag. Can you point me in the direction? Haha. Not trying to be righteous. Trying to be jerk. Often am.

As Takuan has pointed out though I’m not only a jerk, but an idiot jerk to.

Should probably check spelling before I get all uppity.

Also nope, don’t know the Malcom X gag. Can you point me in the direction?

]]> By: Scixual http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-420626 Scixual Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-420626 The car coming OUT of the cloud looked okay to me. I would definitely have gone into it. I go to Burning Man. I'm not afraid of dust. Besides, didn't it look like there was a gap between the cloud and the ground? Eerie. The car coming OUT of the cloud looked okay to me. I would definitely have gone into it.

I go to Burning Man. I’m not afraid of dust.

Besides, didn’t it look like there was a gap between the cloud and the ground? Eerie.

]]> By: MrScience http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419866 MrScience Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419866 I was going to say the same thing #22.... "Talk about thrill seeking!" :) I was going to say the same thing #22…. “Talk about thrill seeking!” :)

]]> By: adamnvillani http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-427806 adamnvillani Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-427806 <i>50 car pileup? Google maps Wilcania and Broken hill - check out what's between the two.</i> So what? The point is that if you can't see the road, and other people on the road can't see you, don't drive! All it takes is one other car on the road to seriously ruin your day. 50 car pileup? Google maps Wilcania and Broken hill – check out what’s between the two.

So what? The point is that if you can’t see the road, and other people on the road can’t see you, don’t drive! All it takes is one other car on the road to seriously ruin your day.

]]> By: fnc http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-420127 fnc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-420127 That is a fantastic looking storm. I've experienced a few here in Phoenix. They're not as apocalyptic as they look around here. They seem to carry only the finest of dust along, and once they pass there's usually just a fine layer of dust on any flat surface. I have sat through one out in the middle of a field (hit while I was photographing the storm). Visibility was nil, it shook my truck pretty good and sounded like a sandblaster, but the truck still had all of its paint after it passed. The desert actually has its own defense mechanism against the winds, "desert pavement". It's essentially just the rocks and pebbles left behind after a few storms have stripped the lighter soil away, and serves to save the soil left underneath. Of course, clearing the ground for agriculture leaves the soil exposed and ready to be picked up by the next storm. That is a fantastic looking storm.

I’ve experienced a few here in Phoenix. They’re not as apocalyptic as they look around here. They seem to carry only the finest of dust along, and once they pass there’s usually just a fine layer of dust on any flat surface. I have sat through one out in the middle of a field (hit while I was photographing the storm). Visibility was nil, it shook my truck pretty good and sounded like a sandblaster, but the truck still had all of its paint after it passed.

The desert actually has its own defense mechanism against the winds, “desert pavement”. It’s essentially just the rocks and pebbles left behind after a few storms have stripped the lighter soil away, and serves to save the soil left underneath. Of course, clearing the ground for agriculture leaves the soil exposed and ready to be picked up by the next storm.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419876 EH Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419876 Huh, I had no idea there were no headlights in Australia. Huh, I had no idea there were no headlights in Australia.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419879 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419879 instead of landing on Ayres rock Ayres Rock landed on them instead of landing on Ayres rock
Ayres Rock landed on them

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-420405 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-420405 Instead of landing on Uluru Uluru landed on them Jeez even better - now it sounds like some sci-fi legend. Instead of landing on Uluru
Uluru landed on them

Jeez even better – now it sounds like some sci-fi legend.

]]> By: buddy66 http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419894 buddy66 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419894 Got caught in one of these once in AZ. My truck came out of it with a nice sparkly windshield, which I thought was kind of cool until night and the oncoming headlights... Got caught in one of these once in AZ. My truck came out of it with a nice sparkly windshield, which I thought was kind of cool until night and the oncoming headlights…

]]> By: Cupcake Faerie http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419898 Cupcake Faerie Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419898 It has the look and structure of a severe, rotating thunderstorm. I wonder, with all that dust bumping into each other, if a charge is generated and if there is lightning? Wind speeds anyone? It has the look and structure of a severe, rotating thunderstorm. I wonder, with all that dust bumping into each other, if a charge is generated and if there is lightning? Wind speeds anyone?

]]> By: Ratdog http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-420412 Ratdog Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-420412 Does anybody else think of The Mummy when they see this? That other car was probably wondering why these idiots would be driving head-on into it. Does anybody else think of The Mummy when they see this? That other car was probably wondering why these idiots would be driving head-on into it.

]]> By: trr http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419905 trr Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419905 Seems like it would be be bad for a car to drive through that - clogged air filter, abrasive, etc. Why would they choose to do it? How long do they last? Seems like it would be be bad for a car to drive through that – clogged air filter, abrasive, etc. Why would they choose to do it? How long do they last?

]]> By: entheo http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419927 entheo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419927 I thought the scary thing was the person driving was an "L" plater, meaning he didn't even have his drivers license (you can see the L plates in the lower left side of the window). Now learners are supposed to get experience driving in all conditions before going for their drivers license, but I think that's taking it a little bit too far. I thought the scary thing was the person driving was an “L” plater, meaning he didn’t even have his drivers license (you can see the L plates in the lower left side of the window). Now learners are supposed to get experience driving in all conditions before going for their drivers license, but I think that’s taking it a little bit too far.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-420447 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-420447 Any ideas what song is playing in the background? Any ideas what song is playing in the background?

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-420454 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-420454 ever see this, Mojave? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076299/ ever see this, Mojave?
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076299/

]]> By: Spikeles http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419944 Spikeles Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419944 That's not an L plate, it's a standard vehicle registration sticker. L-plates in Australia are bright yellow with a black L. That’s not an L plate, it’s a standard vehicle registration sticker. L-plates in Australia are bright yellow with a black L.

]]> By: buddy66 http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-420201 buddy66 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-420201 <i> "Also, the Malcolm X gag doesn't work with Ularoo - I'm assuming you got the Malcolm reference, right?" </i> Malcolm X? Oh, you mean the <i> Cole Porter </i> line that Malcolm later kind of cribbed? <i> Instead of landing on Plymouth Rock </i> <i> Plymouth Rock landed on them </i> “Also, the Malcolm X gag doesn’t work with Ularoo – I’m assuming you got the Malcolm reference, right?”

Malcolm X? Oh, you mean the Cole Porter line that Malcolm later kind of cribbed?

Instead of landing on Plymouth Rock
Plymouth Rock landed on them

]]> By: dvisme http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419955 dvisme Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419955 why would you drive into that? let alone on the wrong side of the road! ;) why would you drive into that? let alone on the wrong side of the road! ;)

]]> By: skatanic http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419957 skatanic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419957 So i guess they never made it out? Makes me wonder how the video survived. But on top of that, they compound the dangers of driving into a dust storm by driving on the wrong side of the road. So i guess they never made it out? Makes me wonder how the video survived. But on top of that, they compound the dangers of driving into a dust storm by driving on the wrong side of the road.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-420222 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-420222 I'm sorry, I was just clearing my throat, what was that again? I’m sorry, I was just clearing my throat, what was that again?

]]> By: Teresa Nielsen Hayden / Community Manager http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-430479 Teresa Nielsen Hayden / Community Manager Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-430479 J France, Adam, you're both right: if you can't see, pull over. Also, turn out your lights. That way, if another driver gets confused, they won't mistake your rear lights for a car ahead of them on the road, try to follow you, and plow into your rear end. If stopping would have dire consequences, try opening your door a few inches (or better yet, having your passenger open theirs) and see whether your emergency flashlight can pick out the road's centerline or edge. Take it slow. If stopping would have dire consequences, but you absolutely can't see where you're going, stop anyway. If you don't, you'll run off the road; whereas if you wait, visibility might improve before things get critical. J France, Adam, you’re both right: if you can’t see, pull over. Also, turn out your lights. That way, if another driver gets confused, they won’t mistake your rear lights for a car ahead of them on the road, try to follow you, and plow into your rear end.

If stopping would have dire consequences, try opening your door a few inches (or better yet, having your passenger open theirs) and see whether your emergency flashlight can pick out the road’s centerline or edge. Take it slow.

If stopping would have dire consequences, but you absolutely can’t see where you’re going, stop anyway. If you don’t, you’ll run off the road; whereas if you wait, visibility might improve before things get critical.

]]> By: urederra http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419732 urederra Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419732 OMG, We are heading towards LOST island. OMG, We are heading towards LOST island.

]]> By: afo http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419988 afo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419988 In Soviet Australia, storm dusts you! In Soviet Australia, storm dusts you!

]]> By: buddy66 http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-420500 buddy66 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-420500 <I> "It's a haboob-style dust storm with a thunderstorm sitting right on top of it. If you're underneath one, the day turns dark as midnight. Then it rains mud." </I> Whoa! I take it back; I've never seen one of those, and I'm glad. Sandstorms are bad enough. I'm thankful for all the little adventures I've had, but grateful for the many like this I've missed. The thunderstorm sitting on top and the raining mud would definitely unsettle my cheerful disposition. “It’s a haboob-style dust storm with a thunderstorm sitting right on top of it. If you’re underneath one, the day turns dark as midnight. Then it rains mud.”

Whoa! I take it back; I’ve never seen one of those, and I’m glad. Sandstorms are bad enough. I’m thankful for all the little adventures I’ve had, but grateful for the many like this I’ve missed. The thunderstorm sitting on top and the raining mud would definitely unsettle my cheerful disposition.

]]> By: GregLondon http://boingboing.net/2009/02/23/weirdlooking-dust-st.html#comment-419733 GregLondon Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-419733 wild wild

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