> I think it's slightly hypocritical to suggest that everyone avoid even marginal risks like this, and then fly during a time of elevated terrorist threat so that you can spend time on the slopes of an active volcano.
>
> Aree you sure *you* aren't a Risk Taker?
>
> winter"Also, motor scooter are more dangerous than cars"mute

Hmmmmmm. Good point. I have also explored caves. Can I choose between hypocrite and risk taker, or do I have to be both?

It isn't possible to avoid all risks. But I try to stick with things that are relatively low risks. I think flying is very safe. Probably safer than riding in a car.

I also know a good bit about volcanoes. They give much better warning than rattlesnakes. And the Hawaiian volcanoes are the safest in the world. They don't explode like Mt. St. Helens. It all has to do with the temperature and gas content of the lava. Hot lava flows, but cooler lava tends to clog up the volcano and build pressure. The lava in Hawaii is about twice as hot as the lava in the volcanoes of the Cascade Range.

Yes, you can crack your coconut riding a motorscooter. But they aren't motorcycles. 35 mph is fairly fast on a scooter. And you don't ride an antique in traffic. I'm more of a collector than a rider. I ride about 150 miles a year. That's the total of all my scooters. It's all relative.

With good common sense, anybody can explorer caves and be as safe as walking through a park. Maybe safer.

But yes, there are risks in everything we do. I just try to avoid the foolish risks. Life might be pretty dull if it was perfectly safe.
Howard