Sinkhole Montreal

Sinkhole Montreal the latest puzzling pit:

Not more than a week has passed since the Kansas sinkhole in Hoss' hayfield emerged without warning, and now a second hole in the ground has just given way. This time in the middle of a busy street in downtown Montreal Canada.

At approximately 25-feet across (so far) Montreal's sinkhole, however, is considerably smaller than the one which continues to grow in the state of Kansas. 

Nevertheless, it still managed to suck down an entire backhoe -- sans its operator, thankfully.

Sink-holing is relatively rare in Kansas, but the metropolis of Montreal and parts thereabout have regularly done battle with them. In fact, this newest one is the third or fourth to develop in that particular neighborhood, some of which have swallowed up more than one vehicle!

The Toronto Sun reports that, as with most of the other sinkholes that suddenly appeared in their region, the cause of this latest one is most likely decrepit infrastructure as well.

A sewer main had been leaking for weeks in that exact location, its effluence slowly but surely undermining the earth right beneath the pavement.

Hoss' pocked pasture, on the other hand, is still being investigated, as there is no known geological reason for why the bottomless pit should have begun growing there overnight.

No scientific explanation has yet been offered either, but usually in rural areas like Kansas heavy rains or severe droughts are the culprits. Especially when soluble soils, which are notoriously unstable, are involved.

As can be seen by the dramatic image above, sinkholes can pose significant hazards and some people have actually died as a result. Fortunately though no one was hurt in either recent episodes. 

You can view more images of Sinkhole Montreal here, and see a picture of the massive Kansas sinkhole too, plus learn about the science behind this weird phenomena, here.

Bloodhound Gang banned and bloodied in Russia

An overseas fray involving the Bloodhound Gang and, specifically, an obscene prank their bassist pulled onstage with a Russian flag has left them black-and-blue and barred from further performances at other Russian venues.

It's a painful reminder that, although it may be just a piece of cloth, you don't mess around with another nation's flag unless you're prepared to take some heat for it. Especially when you're a guest in their land.

A concert video of the American band's pariah guitarist Jared Hasselhoff stuffing the Russian flag into the front of his trousers and then pulling it out from the back of them has now gone viral, both here and abroad. 

The incriminating film footage shows Hasselhoff simultaneously yelling "don't tell Putin" to a boisterous audience before tossing the desecrated banner into the crowd.

That buffoonery was enough to get all the Bloodhound Gang members ejected from Russia and ambushed by a small mob of angry nationalists whom they say attacked them at the airport with fists, feet and whips.

There were no serious injuries reported in the altercation apart from some bruises, but the Bloodhound Gang was then escorted by Russian guards -- for their own protection and to ensure they catch their departing flight. 

Lollapalooza 2013, Elton John, and a missing appendix

While the Lollapalooza 2013 music fest rocks on, Sir Elton John is missing out on all the art and fun, stranded as it were across the pond in a hospital bed.

He's recuperating today at his home in Nice France, after recent surgery to remove his appendix.

Britain's aging knight of glitter rock and pop suffered a prolonged bout of appendicitis during which he managed to complete at least ten major performances "in agony" before succumbing to the condition this past week.

The 66-year-old could have died from the abscess and inflammation, he acknowledged, but he's alive and well, and for the time being taking it easy.

Most of Elton John's concerts planned for this summer have understandably been canceled now, but his publicists and promoters say they expect he'll be well enough to return to the stage by September or October.

The grammy-winning superstar also has a series of American gigs scheduled here in Las Vegas this autumn, provided there are no related health complications of course.

Last week he was able to post a gracious message of thanks to all his concerned fans and well-wishers worldwide:

"I would like to thank the literally thousands of people who have sent me get well cards and messages over the past two weeks," he said. "Your well wishes have touched me deeply and will play a big part in my recovery. I cannot wait to see you all and thank you in person when I resume my concert schedule later this year."

We'll content ourselves with Lollapalooza 2013 until then. Get well soon, Elton John.

What to do about Kansas sinkhole

Huge pockets of collapsing earth, like the Kansas sinkhole that formed overnight this week in Dalton Hoss' cow pasture, are becoming a frequent occurrence now.

Normally sinkholes develop after periods of heavy rain and flooding or where man has wantonly overdeveloped, shifting rock and soil deposits and thereby compromising the land's natural integrity.

But, assuming Kansans know what they're talking about, the Kansas sinkhole is an anomaly in that there aren't any large wells, caverns or mines in the area, and the region hasn't experienced that much precipitation either.

In fact, experts theorize that the recent lack of normal rainfall throughout large swaths of America over the past several years could be the clue as to why sinking land is on the rise lately.

It's basically yet another symptom of a hotter, ailing planet, they say.

Whether through excess water or drought conditions, the destabilizing effect on soil containing large amounts of soluble rock such as limestone, gypsum and salt, could be the same: It gives out suddenly, in the process of crumbling or resettling creating massive cave-ins.

Geologists familiar with sinkhole dynamics claim nearly 20 percent of communities in the United States are situated on the type of potentially unstable earth -- called 'karst terrain' -- that could one day, without warning, start to sink.

Key U.S. states where sink-holing is not so rare are Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. But the phenomena has been spreading.

What should we do with our new, fast-growing bottomless pits, besides exercising an abundance of caution when taking pictures of them? Why, fill these ever-expanding holes in the ground with tons and tons of trash, of course!

Unless, like Americonic Art, you intend to repurpose your garbage.

(Read about Sinkhole Montreal next.]