Don't blow your top!

May 18th

 

On this day in 1980 in the state of Washington, Mount St. Helens erupted and killed 57 people. Geologists had been observing the volcano for years and knew an eruption was imminent, thus saving hundreds of lives. Although the images of the eruption are amazing and seem as though it was a huge eruption, on the scale of historic volcanic activities this was merely a small eruption. Check out the results of Krakatoa, Tambora, or even Yellowstone.
Also in 1980 Ian Curtis of Joy Division hanged himself in his apartment. The 23 year old singer was best known for "Love will tear us apart". From the ashes of Joy Division the surviving members created the band New Order.

Yesterdays blog mentioned the Brown vs Board of education ruling. That ruling reversed the results of the Plessy vs Ferguson ruling that happened on this day in 1896. If you really care, then you know I talked of it yesterday. Just a weird that both rulings happened on nearly the same day in history.